Nine Lives: A Lily Dale Mystery by Wendy Corsi Staub

In Nine Lives, Bella Jordan and her son seek refuge in Lily Dale, New York after a storm delays their drive to Chicago. Bella's husband has just died and she needs a change of scenery. As it turns out, Lily Dale isn't just an ordinary small town. It's filled with psychics and mediums. Soon after she arrives, Bella is asked to help out at the local hotel, who's hostess has just died. Murdered, in fact. Even though she's new in town, Bella is determined to find the killer.

This is definitely a cute cozy mystery. The mystery was fun to follow and all of the characters were likeable. A few things felt a little contrived, but all and all I enjoyed it.

I'm not a huge believer in psychics and that sort of thing, but I found that I liked reading about this community and its inhabitants Some weird things definitely happen, but it's only not clear whether or not these happenings are supernatural. Perhaps the author is leaving that up to the reader to decide or maybe answers will be forthcoming in the next installment of the series.

Chance the Cat and her movements were among those unexplained things. She certainly had a knack for getting around. She turned up in the oddest places without a seemingly rational explanation. Max, Bella's son, knowledge about certain events was also left open-ended.

There was lots of talk about psychic readings, but I don't seem to remember one actually taking place within the storyline. Or maybe I just missed it. Anyway, that might have been fun to read about.

Recommended for cozy lovers. I think those who believe in mediums and psychics will enjoy it more than those who don't. Also, if you like cats, that would help, too. I enjoyed reading the book, but I don't know if I liked it enough to seek out the next book in the series. We'll see, I guess.

For more information about this book, please visit the Crooked Lane Books website.

For more information about the author and her other books, please visit Wendy Corsi Staub's website.

Thanks to Sarah from Kaye Publicity for this review copy.

Nine Lives: A Lily Dale Mystery by Wendy Corsi Staub, Crooked Lane Books (The Quick Brown Fox & Company LLC), ©2015. ISBN 9781629532486(Advance Reader's Edition), 279p.

Plantation Shudders by Ellen Byron

In Plantation Shudders, Maggie Crozat returns to her family's plantation in Louisiana after breaking up with her boyfriend in New York. The plantation, now a bed and breakfast, is full of guests. When two guests, an elderly couple, die within minutes of each other, everyone at the B&B comes under suspicion. Maggie must work with the town's new detective, Bo Durand, to find the killer and clear her name, while keeping the business going. As she investigates, she uncovers some interesting and mysterious information about her guests.

I really enjoyed this debut cozy mystery. The story is filled with lots of humour, a little romance, a little spookiness, and a whole lot of fun. I wasn't able to guess the culprit ahead of time, but that didn't really bother me. I certainly enjoyed all of the red herrings that kept me guessing until the reveal.

I really liked Maggie. She wasn't as flighty as some of the other cozy mystery characters I've read about. That was a bonus, for sure. When I found out that she was an artist, I was hoping that her art would figure into the story a little more. Perhaps the author could consider that for a future book in the series.

The other characters had a variety of personalities. Some were easy to like; others, not so much. Each of their backgrounds and possible motives were varied enough to make for an interesting read. I especially loved Maggie's grandmother. She was awesome!

I haven't been to Louisiana, but from what I've read and seen on TV, Byron represents the sights and sounds of Louisiana quite well. I'm sure those familiar with the area will get a kick out of reading about the area.

The book also contains a few recipes that might be fun to try. The one for Crawfish Crozat looks amazing, but there's no way I'm going to find crawfish (or a few of the other ingredients) here on the Canadian Prairies. Maybe one day I'll be able to find some suitable substitutes.

Highly recommended. I'd definitely read another book by this author and am really looking forward to the next book in the series.

For more information about this book, please visit the Crooked Lane Books website.

For more information about the author, please visit Ellen Byron's website.

Thanks to Sarah from Kaye Publicity for this review copy.

Plantation Shudders by Ellen Byron, Crooked Lane Books, ©2015. ISBN 9781629532509(Hardcover), 282p.

Kneading to Die by Liz Mugavero

In Kneading to Die, Stan, short for Kristan, is making a new start in a small Connecticut town after losing her high-stress PR job. Her new focus is creating and baking organic treats for pets. Her homeopathic/organic approach doesn't sit well with everyone, though, and when the resident veterinarian, who uses conventional medicine turns up dead, Stan becomes a suspect. Being new in town can be either a blessing or a burden as Stan is about to find out.

This was a fun book! The mystery was a little confusing, but overall it was a good story. Stan was a great main character. I especially loved how she talked to the dogs and cats in the story as though they were people. (That's what I do, too.) I liked reading about the animals, too, especially Nutty, Scuffy and Duncan.

Having said that, there were a number of things that I didn't like or quite get. I found the story a bit muddled, especially near the end. Also, Stan's theme song references were lost on me. A few of them were familiar to me, but many weren't. I don't think they added much to the story.

I thought Stan's relationship with Richard was a bit cool and was so absent from her life that I forgot who he was a number of times. It didn't seem like they had much of a relationship and didn't seem like a good fit. It was all a bit weird.

Another thing that troubled me was Stan's total reliance on homeopathy and organic measures to treat her animals. I don't want to expand too much on that, other than I think it can coexist alongside conventional medicine; not totally replace it. Therefore, alienating the local vet soon after she moved there probably wasn't Stan's best option. Granted the vet was antagonistic, but one day Stan might have needed her services or advice.

While this advanced copy doesn't include any recipes, apparently the finished published one does. Those might be fun to try out for those who have pets.

Recommended for cozy mystery and pet lovers. While I mostly enjoyed the book, I don't think liked it enough to read any other books in the series. It does appear to be quite popular with other readers, though. As I'm writing this, there are three other books in the series.

For more information about this book, please visit the Kensington Books website.

For more information about the author and her other books, please visit Liz Mugavero's website.

Thanks to those nice people from Kensington Books for this review copy.

Kneading to Die by Liz Mugavero, Kensington Books, ©2013. ISBN 9780758284785(Mass Market), 331p.

Plain Killing by Emma Miller

In Plain Killing, Rachel Mast and her cousin Mary Aaron discover the body of Beth Glick, an Amish girl, floating in the quarry. Beth had left the Amish to join the English world, so it's not clear why she's back or why she's in Amish clothing. As it turns out, Beth isn't the only Amish girl they are concerned about. A few other girls have left and have never been heard from again. Beth's family along with the rest of the Amish community aren't keen on talking to the police. So it's up to Rachel, who used to belong to the group, along with Mary Aaron to help the police get information from the community to solve the case.

I really enjoyed this book, the second in the series. I don't really know much about the Amish or the Plain lifestyle, so I was particularly fascinated by the details about Old Order Amish life. I can't say if it was factual or fictional, but the information was definitely interesting. The cousins' adventure in New Orleans was especially exciting. It didn't seem like a probably scenario, but it sure was fun to read about.

It was fun to read about Rachel's interactions with the Amish. She's no longer belongs to the community, but because she left before being baptised and hasn't been shunned, the Amish people (with the exception of her mother) still confide in her and give her vital information, which she passes onto the police to help with the investigation.

Even though this book is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone book. I have the first one in the series, Plain Murder, on my to-be-read shelf, but I haven't read it yet. I probably should have read them in order, but this second one jumped out at me first.

Highly recommended for cozy lovers.

For more information about this book, please visit the Kensington Books website.

Thanks to those nice people from Kensington Books for this review copy.

Plain Killing by Emma Miller, Kensington Books, ©2015. ISBN 9780758291745(Advance Uncorrected Proof), 282p.

Staged to Death by Karen Rose Smith

In Staged to Death, Caprice De Luca stages homes to look their best. This is especially helpful for those wishing to sell their homes. Her old friend Roz Winslow has recently asked her to revitalize her mansion in hopes of bringing in prospective buyers. When Roz's husband is found dead, stabbed with his own antique dagger, Caprice is determined to support her friend and find the killer.

I enjoyed this cozy mystery. All in all, it was quite a good book with an interesting easy-to-follow mystery. Some fascinating family dynamics rounded out the story. There were a couple of awkward spots in the writing, though. In a few cases, it was hard to tell which "she" was being talked about and I had to reread those sections. Also, there was one character introduction that was unusual. I don`t want to nitpick, so I won't go into details. [Note: I read an uncorrected proof of this book. Hopefully, those things were fixed before final printing.]

I found Caprice's home staging business interesting and I liked learning more about it. I didn't quite understand staging a home with a theme, especially one that's being sold, but to each his own, I guess. I also liked all of the side stories: retro clothing, animal rescue, cooking, antiques, party planning, etc. However, I think the mystery suffered a little and got lost in the side stories and Caprice's profession. Perhaps Caprice's interests should have been pared down a little so more focus could have been put on the mystery itself.

The author included a few recipes for the food that was mentioned in the book. All of them sound delicious. Since this book was about staging a house, though, I'm not sure why they were included. I would have been just as happy to see something related to the main part of the story. Some examples: staging tips; furniture arranging tips; real world statistics about home sales for homes that have been staged versus those that haven't been. That sort of thing.

This is my first book that I`ve read from this author. I was a little worried when I found out that she also wrote romance books. I was afraid that this book was going to contain more romance and less mystery. However, that wasn't the case. There was a bit of romance, but nothing over the top.

Recommended.

For more information about this book, please visit the Kensington Books website.

For more information about the author and her other books, please visit Karen Rose Smith's website or Karen Rose Smith Mysteries.

Thanks to those nice people from Kensington Books for this review copy.

Staged to Death by Karen Rose Smith, Kensington Books, ©2013. ISBN 9780758284846(Advance Uncorrected Proof), 357p.

Green Living Can Be Deadly by Staci McLaughlin

In Green Living Can Be Deadly, Dana Lewis organizes the Green Living Festival for the town of Blossom Valley. She's also has set up a booth for her employer, the O'Connell Organic Farm and Spa. When green energy guru, Wendy Stevens, is found dead in the booth next door, Dana has to use all of her detecting skills to find out the truth before the whole festival is deemed a failure.

This is such a fun book. I really enjoyed reading it. It contained a pretty good mystery with lots of red herrings and plenty of suspects. I especially liked the cast of characters. There were those involved in the festival, those at the farm, those in her personal life, and those directly linked to the murder. All of them were varied, interesting and so much fun to read about, even the ones that were hard to like.

I really liked Dana. She was determined to get the job done no matter what it was. Like with the previous book, Dana has her hands full with working at the farm/spa, family commitments, and a journalist boyfriend, yet she still manages to find the time to ferret out the murderer. Her investigative methods were orderly, making following along very easy.

I was amazed at some of the food that Zennia, the cook from the spa, came up with. It sort of gives healthy food a bad reputation. In the last book, I was chiding Dana because she didn't like "healthy" food, but even I wouldn't have eaten some of her food this time around, even though in general I enjoy lots of healthy/vegetarian options with some pretty weird ingredients.

McLaughlin including some tips from the organic farm at the end of the book. These include controlling garden pest naturally, making a banana smoothie, and learning to meditate. All good advice.

I've also read the second book in the series, All Natural Murder. I enjoyed it, too. This really is a fun series.

Highly recommended for cozy mystery fans.

For more information about this book or to browse inside, please visit the Kensington Books website.

For more information about the author and her other books, please visit Staci McLaughlin's website.

Thanks to those nice people from Kensington Books for this review copy.

Green Living Can Be Deadly by Staci McLaughlin, Kensington Books, ©2013. ISBN 9780758275028(Mass Market), 366p.

Board Stiff by Annelise Ryan

In Board Stiff, the body of Bernie Chase, CEO and owner of the Twilight Nursing Home, is discovered in the bathroom of the facility. Back at work as the deputy coroner, Mattie Winston soon discovers that the suspects are plentiful, including the elderly residents, who have their own reason for wanting Chase dead. Working with Hurley again isn't going to be easy for Mattie, but she must use her skills to uncover the clues and figure out who killed Chase.

I really enjoyed this book. I especially loved learning about Mattie's job as a deputy coroner. It's so fascinating. Ryan, the author, provides just enough detail to make it interesting, but not so much so that it's over my head, dry, dull or gory. I loved how the book picks up the story a few months after the last one ended. Luckily, Ryan summaries the events of the last book in a way that it immediately jogged my memory.

Mattie Winston is an excellent main character. She's a funny, woman-of-size, who has a knack for solving puzzles. I just wish she'd have a little self control when it came to her love interest, Hurley. She keeps saying that she shouldn't be with him, yet that resolve doesn't last long when he's around. I wish that she'd make up her mind with regards to him and stick to it. She's too smart and self-confident to lose control so easily. I believe I had similar thoughts with regards to her gambling addiction in the last book.

This is the fifth book in the series. While I did read and enjoy #4, Lucky Stiff, I haven't read the first three. Because Ryan does an excellent job of introducing characters and relating earlier events, I believe the book can be read as a standalone book. It's so good, though, that you'll want to read the others as well. So, if you can you might as well start at the beginning.

Highly recommended. This is such a fun series, I'm definitely looking forward to the next one. At some point in the future, I hope to read the first three books in the series.

Annelise Ryan is the pseudonym of Beth Amos.

For more information about this book, please visit the Kensington Books website.

For more information about the author and her other books, please visit Beth Amos's (Annelise Ryan's) website.

Thanks to those nice people from Kensington Books for this review copy.

Board Stiff by Annelise Ryan, Kensington Books, ©2014. ISBN 9780758272768(Mass Market), 360p.

Lucky Stiff by Annelise Ryan

In Lucky Stiff, Mattie Winston, nurse turned deputy coroner, is at the scene of fire where a body has been found. It turns out the victim was a paraplegic who had just won the lottery. Together with Detective Steve Hurley, Maggie is convinced that the guy was killed for his winnings. After awhile, though, they aren't so sure. With lots of suspects to investigate, Mattie must use her forensic skills to find the killer before he strikes again.

I enjoyed this book. However, it didn't start out that way. In fact, I almost put the book down on page 2, when I came across the phrase "pocket rocket" to describe a part of the male anatomy. Uggg... Really? After putting the book down for a few minutes, I figured I'd give it a chance despite that unfortunate choice of wording. I'm really glad I did because the book as a whole was well written and I ended up really enjoying it.

The book is part of a series (#4), but it doesn't really read like one. There are hints of a past between Mattie and Hurley, but not so much that I felt like I was missing something.

Besides it being well written, there was lots I liked about the book. It was informative about police work and the work of the Medical Examiner. I found it all interesting. Ryan introduces all of the characters quite well. This was especially important to me because I hadn't read the previous books in the series. I also liked that the ending wasn't all sunshine and roses. It's probably a setup for the next book in the series, but I still liked it. Not every story/event/life has a happy ending, right?

My one small complaint was that perhaps there was a little too much lusting going on between Mattie and Hurley. However, that sexual tension actually added something to the story. I'm amazed that I'm even saying that; I don't say it often!! Now that I think about it, there was one other thing that I didn't like. Mattie seemed much too smart to believe that she could win really big at the casino.

Annelise Ryan is the pseudonym of Beth Amos.

Highly Recommended. I'd definitely read another book by this author.

For more information about this book, please visit the Kensington Books website.

For more information about the author and her other books, please visit Beth Amos's website.

Thanks to those nice people from Kensington Books for this review copy.

Lucky Stiff by Annelise Ryan, Kensington Books, ©2013. ISBN 9780758275761(Mass Market), 366p.

Buried in Buttercream by G.A. McKevett

In Buried in Buttercream, P.I Savannah Reid is all set to marry Dirk Coulter. When Madeline Aberson, the wedding planner, turns up dead, though, the wedding is put on hold so that Savannah and Dirk can solve the mystery.

I thought this book was just okay. Luckily, it was a quick and all in all pretty fun to read. I was really in the mood for something that wouldn't take much effort on my part; this one fit the bill. However, there were many times I wished that I had read the previous book or books in the series. I definitely needed some back story to know what was going on, especially when it came to previous events. It serves me right trying to jump into a series, at #17, no less. Oh, well. I mostly enjoyed it nevertheless.

The whole southern "thing" was cute at first, but got a little annoying after awhile. Maybe I was just getting annoyed that I felt left out. Also, because I hadn't read any of the books, I had a hard time caring about the characters' predicament, especially Savannah's previous brush with death and postponing the wedding again.

One thing I couldn't believe was that Savannah had her whole family visiting (and living with her) for the wedding. Yet, when the wedding was postponed, they didn't go home. If that wasn't bad enough, they were so lazy and ungrateful. She should have sent them packing. I know I would have.

Recommended for cozy lovers. However, I think those who have read the previous books will enjoy this one more.

G.A. McKevett is a pseudonym of Sonja Massie.

For more information about this book, please visit the Kensington Books website.

For more information about the author and her other books, please visit Sonja Massie's website.

Thanks to those nice people from Kensington Books for this review copy.

Buried in Buttercream by G.A. McKevett, Kensington Books, ©2012. ISBN 9780758238139(Mass Market), 298p.

Red Velvet Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

In Red Velvet Cupcake Murder, Hannah Swensen has been hired to bake some goodies for the grand opening of the recently renovated Albion Hotel. At the party, it's a surprise to everyone when Doctor Bev, Hannah's nemesis, turns up on the arm of a major investor in the project. It's even more of a surprise when one of the guests later falls off the roof. Before the police can determine what really happened, though, Doctor Bev is then found dead and Hannah quickly becomes the chief suspect. While baking up a storm, she has to solve the mystery and clear her name.

This book was just okay. I'm really glad that I had read the book just previous to this one Cinnamon Roll Murder (my review) because there are numerous references to that story in this one. It doesn't exactly pickup where that one left off, but it's close.

Even though I haven't read all of the books in the series, I've read a few and really enjoyed them. They felt substantial to me and not fluffy like other cozy mystery series. I loved the recipes and how the author incorporated the recipes into the story itself by having the characters make the recipes and eat the results. They were fun to read. However, I think I'm getting a bit tired of it all. It's starting to feel like the recipes/baking/eating are taking over the story and the mysteries are being forgotten until the very end.   At one point, I even forgot there was a mystery to solve.  As much as I love baking and eating, I just wish the characters would spend more time investigating and solving the mysteries.

While some of the recipes sound delicious, I wouldn't make any of them solely based on the fact that the instructions next to the ingredient "flour" says to "pack it down in the cup when you measure it". That's not the proper way to handle flour. Ever. Besides that, I find the recipes to be excessively wordy. They come across as homey and cutesy, which makes it feel like the recipes were actually written by the characters. However, I prefer my recipes to be concise and to the point.

Hard-core fans of this series will probably love this one. As for me, I think I'm going to give this series a rest. I might try one of Fluke's thrillers, though.

For more information about this book, please visit the Kensington Books website.

For more information about the author and her other books, please visit Joanne Fluke's website.

Thanks to those nice people from Kensington Books for this review copy.

Red Velvet Cupcake Murder by Joanne Fluke, Kensington Books, ©2013. ISBN 9780758280343(Trade paperback), 325p.

Ten Lords A-Leaping by C.C. Benison

In Ten Lords A-Leaping, Tom Christmas, his daughter Miranda and the vicarage housekeeper, Mrs. Prowse are visiting Eggescombe Park, an English Country House. Tom has come to skydrive for charity, along with the Leaping Lords. Things don't go as planned when a rough landing and a faulty chute leave the jumpers shaken. That's not the end of it, though. Little does Tom know that before he leaves Eggescombe Park, he'll have to catch a killer.

I really loved this book, the 3rd in the Father Christmas Mystery series. Personally, I think it's the best one in the series so far. Written in the style of a traditional British cozy mystery, this book is a wonderful read with solid likable characters.

One of my favourite part of the book is the vicarage housekeeper's letters to her mother. Mrs. Madrun Prowse periodically writes updates to her mother to keep her informed as to what is happening at the vicarage or in this case at Eggescombe Park. For the reader, the letters provide a nice recap of the mystery, as well as some new information that Madrun picks up or overhears, including bits of juicy gossip. The letters are written in a conversational style, just as she would talk. She's hilarious.

Father Christmas is one of my favourite characters in cozy mysteries. What I love the most is his way of getting to the bottom of things, which doesn't entail traditional investigating. He mostly does it by asking the right questions, noticing things that others miss, and putting it all together before drawing conclusions. In this story, we get to see how vulnerable he is, both physically and emotionally. Even though he's a man of the cloth, he's not invincible, nor is he a saint.

Jane Bee, the housemaid, from the Her Majesty Investigates series, also by C.C. Bension, is a major character in this story. She's Lady Kirkbride now. I've only read one of those books (so far), but I just love her. I was ecstatic to see her in her new role and hope to encounter her again. The next book, maybe? Two other characters that I really liked were Roberto Sica, the artist, who sculpted in the nude, and Maximilian, the fanciful young boy, who kept Tom Christmas's daughter, Miranda entertained during their visit.

Despite the family tree (which I appreciated very much) and cast of characters that the author provided at the beginning of the book, I still got some characters and family relationships mixed up. Part of it was the titles, Lord this and Lady that. I didn't know that earls, viscounts, and marquesses (among others I'm sure) were all addressed as Lord. Of course, there's a similar list for females with titles, who are addressed as Lady. Anyway, I think I had it straightened out by the end of the book.

Here are my reviews for the first two books in the series: Twelve Drummers Drumming and Eleven Piper's Piping. I loved them both. I also read Death at Buckingham Palace before I started blogging. You can read what I thought of it over at Bookcrossing.

With regards to the reading order in this series, I think it's probably best to start with the first one. It's a great series and you won't be disappointed. Besides, this story contains quite a few references to other "cases". If you're not bothered by that, though, there's nothing wrong with starting with this one. As I said before, I think it's the best one to date. You could always go back and read the others.

I still have a few older books by Benison on my to-be-read shelf. I really have to dig them out.

Highly recommended. I can't wait for the next book, which should feature Tom Christmas and the Nine Ladies.

C.C. Benison is the pseudonym of Doug Whiteway. He lives in my hometown: Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

For more information about this book and the author, please visit the RandomHouse website.

For more information about the author and his other books, please visit C.C. Benison's website.

I'd like to thank the author, C.C. Benison, who generously sent me a copy for review.

Ten Lords A-Leaping by C.C. Benison, Delacorte Press (Random House), ©2013. ISBN 9780385344470(Advance Uncorrected Proof), 491p.

Clutches and Curses by Dorothy Howell

Clutches and Curses is the fourth book in the Haley Randolph mystery series. When an altercation with a customer leaves fashionista Haley Randolph with a curse instead of her dream purse, she's is transferred to the new Holt store in Las Vegas. Shortly after arriving, she finds the body of an old classmate and nemesis, Courtney Collins. Because of their rocky past and the fact that she's the one who found the body, Haley becomes the prime suspect in Courtney's death. With this curse hanging over her head, she's going to need some luck and hard work to get to the bottom of the mystery and clear her name.

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. I'm not a fashionista, so I don't get the finding-the-perfect-handbag thing, but I liked the story and the characters nevertheless. It was a whole lot of fun to read and definitely wasn't boring. I even learned a thing or two. I might just have a inner-fashionista-diva after all.

Haley was a bit wishy-washy for me. She reminded me of Becky Bloomwood in Sophie Kinsella's Shopaholic series. However, for some reason I didn't find Haley nearly as endearing. Having said that, I really liked her detective skills, her ambition, and her desire to do things on her own rather than accept the various extremely tempting offers from her sort-of-boyfriend, Ty. I probably would have dropped everything and went wherever he wanted to take me. If only he were real!

Highly recommended for cozy lovers. I'd definitely read another book by this author. I have the next one, Tote Bags and Toe Tags on my to-be-read shelf. I hope to get to it sooner rather than later.

For more information about this book or to browse inside, please visit the Kensington Books website.

For more information about the author and her other books, please visit Dorothy Howell's website.

Thanks to those nice people from Kensington Books for this review copy.

Clutches and Curses by Dorothy Howell, Kensington Books, ©2011. ISBN 9780758253316(Mass Market), 343p.

Eternally 21 by Linda Joffe Hull

In Eternally 21, Maddie Michaels becomes a coupon-clipping, money saving, budget-crunching blogger after her husband high finance husband, Frank, loses the family's nest egg in a Ponzi scheme. While Maddie was shopping at Eternally 21, the store manager, Liala, drops dead and Maddie becomes a suspect in the death. In an attempt to clear her name, Maddie starts investigating who could have wanted Liala dead and soon discovers that there is no shortage of suspects.

This is such a fun book! I love cozy mysteries and this one is no exception. The mall setting provided lots of interesting suspects, but I found the logistics a little confusing and had trouble remembering some of the minor characters. It didn't stop me from fully enjoying the book, though.

I really liked Maddie and her secret alter-ego Mrs. Frugalicious. She was extremely organised and inventive in coming up with all of her tips for her readers all the while keeping her secret identity from her husband and sons. I would have loved to read a few more of her blog posts.

There are lots of good bargain hunting and coupon clipping tips in the form of footnotes scattered throughout the book. At least at the beginning. I sometimes find footnotes distracting, but I didn't mind so much here. The tips were informative and useful.

Highly recommended. I'd definitely read another book by this author.

For more information about this book or to browse inside, please visit Midnight Ink's website.

For more information about the author and her other book, please visit Linda Joffe Hull's website.

Thanks to those nice people from Kaye Publicity for this review copy.

Eternally 21 by Linda Joffe Hull, Midnight Ink (Llewellyn Worldwide), ©2013. ISBN 9780738736897(Trade paperback), 342p.

All Natural Murder by Staci McLaughlin

In All Natural Murder, the downturned economy has forced Dana Lewis to take a marketing/general staff at O'Connell Organic Farm and Spa. She didn't realize that she'd also be investigating murder, but when her ditzy sister, Ashlee, becomes a prime suspect in the death of her Monster Truck driving boyfriend, Bobby Joe Jones, Dana jumps at the chance to clear her sister's name.

I really enjoyed this second book in the Blossom Valley mystery series. I haven't read the first, but now I'd really like to. This one was fun, intelligent and contained a well-thought out mystery and some interesting characters.

The whole investigation and wrap-up of the mystery was well done. There were plenty of suspects and motives that had me guessing until the final reveal.

I really liked Dana and her tenacity. She really was determined to make sure her sister wasn't charged with the crime by finding out who did have the means, motive, and opportunity. She had a lot on her plate: her job, which she (mostly) did, her personal life with her reporter boyfriend, Jason, and investigating the murder. Her investigation methods were orderly and easy to follow, which made reading this book most enjoyable. The only thing that bugged me was her continued complaining about the health food served at the spa. Even though the food didn't sound all that appealing to me either, it got a little old. She doesn't like health food...I get it.

Speaking of the food, I think the author could have made the food more appealing. Healthy food can be wonderful and interesting. It's not all tofu and natto beans.

I didn't find any new-to-me words in the book, but I did find an unusual use (or misuse) of one. The word "palate" was used instead of "pallet" on page 294: "...unloading a palate of toilet paper...". I only point this out because I had to look it up to be sure that the author used the wrong word.

I haven't had that much time to read this summer, so I mostly read this book in bits and pieces, in-between other books and when I had a few minutes to spare. Despite this each time I picked up the book, the whole story came right back to me. I didn't have any trouble following what was going on.

I appreciated the tips from the organic farm given at the end of the book. These include cleaning windows and mirrors (with eco-friendly ingredients, of course) to making basil oil.

Highly recommended. I'd definitely read another book by this author.

For more information about this book or to browse inside, please visit the Kensington Books website.

Thanks to those nice people from Kensington Books for this review copy.

All Natural Murder by Staci McLaughlin, Kensington Books, ©2013. ISBN 9780758275011(Mass Market), 332p.

Eleven Pipers Piping by C.C. Benison

In Eleven Pipers Piping, Father Tom Christmas isn’t that excited to attend the annual Robert Burns supper at the hotel. He’s even less excited to eat the haggis that is traditionally served. As the chaplain to a traditional Scottish pipe band, he’s been invited to deliver the grace and is obligated to attend. As the supper commences, Will Moir, the hotel owner, goes missing and is later found dead. When the cause of death is determined to be poisoning instead of the initial suspected heart attack, the town comes alive with gossip. Suspects and suspicions abound as Father Christmas’s keen sense of observation leads him to the killer.

I really enjoyed this second book in the Father Tom Christmas mystery series. This traditional British “cozy” mystery is evenly paced; never hurried or rushed. At 470+ pages, it’s a tad long but it really didn't feel like there was anything extraneous, even though Father Christmas did a lot of things other than look into the mystery. The story takes place around two ceremonies/celebrations: Robert Burns supper and wassailing. I didn’t know much about either, so it was interesting to read about them.

The other major event that takes place in the story is a heavy snowfall. I loved Benison’s descriptions of all of the piles of snow and how people were responding to it. Something I can definitely relate to.

I especially loved the letters by Madrun, the Vicarage housekeeper, to her mother. She's hilarious! I loved how the author used these letters to sum up the parts of the story as well as add some new information. A lot of authors use this technique, but aren’t always as successful as Bension. He does a fantastic job of making them fit right in.

One addition I would have liked to see in this book is a map of the village, even a crude artist's rendition. I had a little trouble picturing how the various locations in the story were situated in relation to others. The author did describe the locations quite well, but I'm a visual person and love maps.

Father Christmas is one of my favourite amateur detectives. He’s a young widower raising a young daughter in a small town in the UK. He doesn’t really do any traditional investigating. He basically just goes about his life and duties all the while making keen observations about the people he talks to and the things he sees.

My favourite quote from the book:

The taste was compounded of damp grass, prawn casings, and iron filings with boiled liver notes and a dishwater finish. (page 305, a description of the tea that Molly served Father Christmas)

I love learning new words. Here's a sampling of the new-to-me words in this book:
apostasy (page 23): renunciation of faith/political belief or allegiance
epenthetic (page 46): adding a sound to a word
abrogated (page 91): do away with something
sclera (page 131): tough outer coating of the eyeball
cranachan (page 143): traditional Scottish dessert
opprobrium (page 146): scorn
cagoule (page 172): lightweight anorak (UK)
adipose (page 200): fat
quotidian (page 204): commonplace
tabaccanalia (page 291): Hmmm...I couldn't find a definition for this one
uxorious (page 300): excessively devoted to your wife
cheder (page 341): Jewish religious education classes
ruana (page 356): poncho
cresset (page 360): a metal cup or basket containing something flammable
invidious (page 430): unpleasant

I've read two other books by C.C. Benison. Here's the review for Twelve Drummers Drumming. I read the other one, Death at Buckingham Palace, before I started blogging. You can read what I thought of it over at Bookcrossing. I'd highly recommend them both. I have a few other books by Benison on my to-be-read shelf. I hope to get to them one day.

Highly recommended. I’m anxiously awaiting, Ten Lords A-Leaping, which was already mentioned in this book. It should be a hoot!

C.C. Benison is the pseudonym of Doug Whiteway. He lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, my hometown.

For more information about this book, please visit the Random House website.

For more information about the author, please visit C.C. Benison's website.

I'd like to thank those nice people at Random House for this review copy.

Eleven Pipers Piping by C.C. Benison, Doubleday Canada (Random House) ©2012. ISBN 9780385670159(Hardcover), 474p.

Easter Bunny Murder by Leslie Meier

In Easter Bunny Murder, Lucy Stone, reporter for the Pennysaver, is attending the annual Easter egg hunt at Pine Point, the private estate of Vivian Van Vorst (VV). She's attending with her daughter-in-law Molly and her grandson Patrick. When the three of them show up, along with many others, something is obviously wrong. The gates are locked and there are no festivities in sight. Suddenly, a staggering Easter Bunny shows up, then collapses before he reaches the gate. When resuscitation efforts begin, Lucy realizes that it's Van Vorst Duff, VV's grandson, inside the rabbit suit. Lucy immediately jumps into her reporter role to figure how what's going on. Her discoveries about what's going on at the estate include inheritances, death, neglect, and nasty relatives. All much more serious than a missed Easter egg hunt.

I enjoyed this book. It was an easy, fun read. I especially liked that, even though there are a number of other Lucy Stone books, it didn't feel like it was part of a series. It really can be read as a standalone book. A newcomer to the series can easily jump right in with this book and not feel lost. Although I have a number of Meier's books, I've only read one other.

One of my favourite parts of the book was the trial. It was interesting and gave a little edge to the coziness in the story.

Lucy Stone is a great character. I loved the descriptions of her job of reporter for a very small publication. She was always rushing around trying to get everything done; writing, reporting and investigating on top of being a mother and wife. It came across as believable.

I liked Lucy, but my favourite character was Fran, the private investigator from New York. I loved her no nonsense, straight-to-the-point, approach. Her role in the story was cut short, though. I would have loved to see her much more involved. I don't want to give too much away, so I'll leave it at that.

Favourite quotes:

Business ethics... It's not actually about right and wrong, it's about what you can get away with, without breaking any laws. (page 144)

I've also read Meier's Tippy Toe Murder (my review). I read it some time ago and I don't remember much about it, but from my very brief review, it appears that I liked it. I also have several other books by Meier on my to-be-read shelf, but haven't read them yet. That's what happens when you can buy books faster than you can read them.

Recommended. I hope to read more books by Meier.

For more information about this book, please visit the Kensington Books website.

For more information about the author and her other books, please visit Leslie Meier's website.

Thanks to those nice people from Kensington Books for this review copy.

Easter Bunny Murder by Leslie Meier, Kensington Books, ©2013. ISBN 9780758229359(Advance uncorrected proof), 263p, includes recipes.

Popped Off by Jeffrey Allen

In Popped Off, stay-at-home dad Deuce Winters, is the head coach of his 5-year-old daughter's soccer team in a small town in Texas. When Moises Huber, the president of the soccer association, disappears along with thousands of dollars of the association’s registration fees, Deuce is determined to find him and save his daughter's soccer season. This investigation leads him into the different worlds of gambling, smuggling and mega-churches.

I enjoyed this book. It offers a refreshing male perspective in the world of cozy mysteries. Since many cozy mysteries are written by females and written about female protagonists, I wasn't sure if it was going to work, but it did! This is the second book in the Stay at Home Mystery series, but the first one I've read.

Both the overall story and mystery were likeable. The author threw in a couple of twists and turns to keep me guessing and to keep it interesting. Even though the investigation takes Deuce into some dangerous situations, the story doesn't stray from the cozy mystery genre. It remains light and humorous.

I liked Deuce. He was a down-to-earth, caring father and husband, who had his priorities straight. He did lie to his wife, but it wasn't as bad as it could have been. A few of his actions or reactions, however, seemed uncharacteristic. He came across as mild mannered (at least to me), but got extremely agitated, when two men in suits approached him at the blackjack table. Deuce knew they were from the casino, yet he refused to cooperate with them. I couldn't figure out why. The whole scene was just odd and didn't come across as believable. Also, the ribbing he gave his partner, Victor, was funny, to a point, but got old fast. In my opinion, some of it was mean, over the line and uncalled for.

Overall, Allen presents a good mystery with a sound resolution and satisfying ending.

I haven't read the first book, Stay at Home Dead, but I'm going to keep my eyes open for it.

Recommended. I enjoyed this one enough that I'd probably read the next one, Father Knows Death.

For more information about this book or to browse inside, please visit the Kensington Books website.

Thanks to those nice people from Kensington Books for this review copy.

Popped Off by Jeffrey Allen, Kensington Books, ©2012. ISBN 9780758266903(Mass Market), 281p.

Footprints in the Sand by Mary Jane Clark

In Footprints in the Sand, Piper Donovan is in Sarasota, Florida for her cousin's wedding. Not only is she making the wedding cake, but she's also the maid of honor. When one of the bridesmaids disappears and some other incidents threaten to postpone the wedding, Piper steps in to solve the mystery and save the day. She's got her work cut out for her though, because everyone's been keeping secrets and even the most innocent actions are suspect.

I really enjoyed this 3rd installment of the Wedding Cake Mystery series. Even though it's part of a series, I think it can be read as a standalone book. I'm not totally caught up on all of the books; I've only read one other one, the 2nd. In this book, I don't remember many (if any) references to previous mysteries, so anyone new to the series shouldn't have any trouble starting here.

The short chapters and the way in which Clark skipped amongst the different story lines really added to the suspense. The author had me reading as fast as I could and rapidly turning the pages, just to see what would happen next.

As usual, Clark has put together a great mix of eclectic characters. Piper is always fun to read about. She definitely has a unique set of skills. I wasn't sure I liked her postings on Facebook, but that's individual taste. I also liked reading about Isaac, who left the Amish life behind to become a wedding planner.

The location specific details really made me feel like I was in Florida. Clark presented some fascinating information about the sea turtles and a little about the invasive Australian pine. I loved reading all of that new-to-me information. However, I'm not entirely sure the mystery itself hinged on any of it. Change a few details and the mystery could easily have taken place on another beach halfway around the world.

By having a few Amish characters, Clark is able to touch upon some Amish traditions, such as Rumspringa and shunning. She was also able to insert some charming Amish proverbs. Like the sea turtle information, it was interesting and added another dimension to the story, but I don't think it was a natural fit with the rest of the story. Clark definitely made it work, though, and I enjoyed learning a little more about the Amish.

New Word:
netsuke (page 23): a carved wooden or ivory ornamental toggle on a kimono cord.

As I said above, the author included some Amish proverbs. My favourite appears on page 289:

Even a saint is tempted by an open door.

I've read a number of other books by Clark, all of which I enjoyed. My review of The Look of Love can be found here. The first one of the series is on my eReader, but I still haven't gotten to it. Clark also writes the KEY News Thrillers series, which is also good. I've only read the last three. For those reviews (and more), visit my Reviews by Author page and scroll down to Clark, Mary Jane.

Recommended. Despite my small complaints about this story, I'd definitely read another book by this author.

For more information about this book or to browse inside, please visit the HarperCollins website.

I'd like to thank those nice people at HarperCollins for this review copy.

Footprints in the Sand by Mary Jane Clark, William Morrow (HarperCollins), ©2013. ISBN 9780062222824(Uncorrected Proof), 367p.

Fonduing Fathers by Julie Hyzy

In Fonduing Fathers, Olivia (Ollie) Paras, the White House executive chef, learns some new information about deceased father. Her mother has been keeping it secret all these years, but now it's time to reveal the truth. As Ollie digs deeper into his death and past, she makes some shocking discoveries about his work and how he died. Apparently, he's not the stand-up guy she believed him to be. However, she doesn't believe the allegations and is determined to clear his name and prove his innocence.

I loved this book, the 6th installment of the White House Chef mysteries. It's always fun to drop in on Ollie and the others at the White House to see what they are up to. I think this is my favourite of Julie's so far. Like the previous book in the series, this one seems to be edgy, dark and dangerous. Of course, there are some lighter moments, but the situations that Ollie gets into threaten not only US national security, but also her life. I really like how this series is progressing. In this one, we learn more about Ollie's family and her relationship with Gav.

I love Ollie and really enjoyed reading about her cooking lessons with Josh, the President's son. His enthusiasm for cooking is contagious. I was a little taken aback by the President's attitude towards his son's interests, though. Isn't he a little young for his interests to be discounted and discouraged? He's got lots of time to figure what he wants to be.

Sensitivity Director Peter Everett Sargeant, Ollie's one-time nemesis, is as crusty as ever and I'm loving it. He's such a great character. I hope we see lots more of him in future. I also like reading about Gav, Ollie's boyfriend, and the other members of Ollie's team.

Again, Ollie is spending a lot of time doing other things than cooking at the White House. In my review of the last book, Affairs of Steak, I mentioned that I loved seeing her in the kitchen and would like to see more of that. However, this story was so compelling I didn't mind one bit when she was pulled away to do other things.

Even though it's part of a series, I think it can be read as a standalone book. However, because I've read a few of the others, I might be a little biased. I don't remember very many references to past events so it should be easy for newcomers to the series to jump right in.

Hyzy included a number of delicious-looking recipes at the back of the book. I especially want to try the "Goat Cheese and Mushroom Bruschetta". A number of the others (Pumpkin Cheesecake, Panna Cotta, and Cheese fondue) are also on my list of ones to try. Yum!!

Julie Hyzy also writes another series, Manor House Mystery series, which is just as fun and wonderful as this one. For all of my reviews of Julie's books, please see the Review By Author page on this blog. You can't go wrong with any of her books.

Highly recommended. I'm anxiously awaiting the next one.

For more information about this book, please visit Penguin's website.

For more information about the author and her other books, please visit Julie Hyzy's website.

Thanks to Dana Kaye from Kaye Publicity for this review copy.

Fonduing Fathers by Julie Hyzy, The Berkley Publishing Group (Penguin), ©2012. ISBN 9780425251812(Mass Market), 293p, including recipes.

Rest in Pizza by Chris Cavender

In Rest in Pizza, Eleanor runs The Slice of Delight, a pizzeria, with her sister Maddy. Not far away, there's a book store opening and TV host and famous chef, Antonio Benet has agreed to do a book signing and cooking demonstration for the grand opening. The owner has enlisted help from both Eleanor and Maddy. Things don't work out as planned, though, and Chef Antonio is found at the pizzeria with a knife in his back. Suspects abound as everyone from his assistants to Eleanor and her sister come under suspicion.

I enjoyed this book. I love both pizza and books so the settings were ideal for me. The story charming, light, humorous and easy to read. It's as much about their personal lives as it is about the murder and solving it. I liked reading about the inner workings of a the restaurant and kitchen as the two prepared the pizzas and served the patrons.

I liked both Eleanor and Maddy. Both were hard working and quick on their feet. Running a restaurant is hard work, so I was surprised they had so much time to investigate the murder and do all of the other things mentioned. I'd be really tired after doing all they accomplished.

Rest in Pizza is the 4th book in the Pizza Mystery series, but the first one I've read. In this case, I wish I had read the others because I felt like I was missing a lot of stuff because I hadn't read them. For example, the character of Art Young, a friend of Eleanor's. He drifts in and out of the story without having much, if anything, to do with the plot. I think there were a few other instances where some background information would have helped me. While it's nice for regular readers of this series to have some continuing characters and storylines, it's not that welcoming for new comers. I felt left out.

A couple of things about the story itself left me confused. First of all, I read that the pizzeria "closed for lunch". Huh? I thought they meant that they closed at lunch time. That wouldn't be too advantageous for a restaurant owner now, would it? However, as I read further, quite a bit further actually, I realized that they closed in the late afternoon so that the employees could have lunch before reopening for the evening. I wish that would have been clearer from the beginning. Another thing that left me scratching my head was the logistics involved in the book signing and cooking demonstration. I couldn't figure out who was supposed to be where and at what time. Maybe I just read it too fast, but it seemed confusing to me. I'm glad the characters had it all figured out.

The book left some loose ends (not dealing with the murder) dangling at the end of the book. That's not unusual with books in a series. Perhaps these will be wrapped up or dealt with in the next book.

The author included two recipes for dessert pizza. Both look yummy, but use store-bought cookie dough for the crust. I wish he'd included a recipe for a homemade crust for at least one of them. I also wish that he included a recipe for a savoury pizza.

Recommended for fans of this series. Cozy lovers might also enjoy it, but I'd recommend reading the others in the series first.

Chris Cavender is the pseudonym for an Agatha Award Nominated Author, Tim Myers.

For more information about this book or to read the first chapter, please visit the Kensington Books website.

Thanks to those nice people from Kensington Books for this review copy.

Rest in Pizza by Chris Cavender, Kensington Books, ©2012. ISBN 9780758271501(Uncorrected Proof), 248p. Includes recipes.