Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Review: A Case for the Toy Maker by Candace Havens @CandaceHavens #CozyMystery ~ Series: Ainsley McGregor, Book #3

A Case for the Toy Maker
Candace Havens
(Ainsley McGregor #3)
Published by: Tule Publishing
Publication date: October 26th 2020
Genres: Adult, Cozy Mystery


About the Book:

Ho. Ho. No…

It’s Christmas in Sweet River, Texas, and the whole town is feeling festive apart from Ainsley McGregor. Ainsley has never enjoyed the holidays and would rather ignore them, but with her shop Bless Your Art busier than ever and filled with happy shoppers, even she’s feeling some Christmas spirit. That is, until her Great Dane, George Clooney, sniffs out a dead body in the Santa House at the Christmas Festival.

When one of her favorite crafters becomes the prime suspect, Ainsley is determined to prove his innocence. The case is full of so many twists and turns that even Ainsley begins to fear the truth. Is she protecting a killer?

With help from her friends and some extremely nosey townsfolk, Ainsley and her dog hurry to find the truth––as long as they can outwit and outrun the killer first. Otherwise, this Christmas might just be her last.

Add to Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

My Review: 

A Case for the Toy Maker is the third book in the Ainsley McGregor series by Candace Havens. 

It is Thanksgiving time and Black Friday is going to be a big day at Bless Your Art. The start of the Sweet River Holiday Festival is upon the town. Businesses, local and from afar, are setting up booths and getting the Santa House ready for the kids. Ainsley and Shannon take a break from setting up their booth to visit the Santa House and see it all set up and decorated. They get to see much more than they bargained for, though, when George Clooney, the Great Dane, discovers a body in Santa's throne. Now, a local citizen, who is also a crafter in Bless Your Art, become a suspect. Ainsley knows he is not a murderer and Ainsley makes it her mission to prove it.

The mystery was set up and executed well. I enjoyed trying to figure out who did it an why. I had no idea who the murderer was in A Case for the Toy Maker, or why. The author included so many twists and turns, I had a really hard time trying narrow down my suspect list. Every time I was sure I knew who it was, the author tossed in something to change my mind. The uncertainty amplified the suspense and nail-biting action of certain scenes, decisions, and the ultimate showdown.

Ainsley is a wonderful character with business know-how and impeccable customer service skills. Her brother, Greg, is the local sheriff, and he tries to keep her from interfering with the case but with sights set on Ainsley's friend, she knows she can't sit on the sidelines. Shannon is her best friend and partner-in-crime. Jake is a firefighter, friend of Greg's, and Ainsley's closest neighbor. Together, the four of them along with Ainsley's friends and former students, make up a great cast of characters.

This book was so much fun, enjoyable, and a fast read that keep me engaged. I loved the setting: an artisan market during the holidays with wonderful characters, written realistically, and are completely relatable. The world building allowed me to visualize the scenes and I felt like I was there with the characters as they lead their normal, everyday lives. I love the little hints of romance threaded through the book, not too strong but noticeable and sweet. I really like the direction the author is taking Ainsley, as a business owner, small-town citizen, and in her love life. I couldn't put the book down.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

Go to the Book Blitz Page on Sapphyria's Books to read more about the book, meet the author, and enter the giveaway!

Thursday, October 22, 2020

Release Day #Review ~ Gear, Grills, & Guns by Tonya Kappes ~ #TonyaKappes A Camper and Criminals Cozy Mystery, Book 13

 


Welcome to Normal, Kentucky~ where nothing is normal.

Mae West is bound to prove she deserves the seat she was appointed to on the National Park Committee when she brings a big car show to Normal during the slower fall month. But, when Wendell Holliday's body is found dead in one of Happy Trails Campground bungalows and one of the rentable campers is burning to the ground, Mae along with the help of the Laundry Club Ladies once again put on their sleuthing caps to figure out who is trying to sabotage Mae and her new position on the committee.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ocZkYh

Print Length : 183 pages
Publication Date : October 22, 2020
ASIN : B08CRXP2YL

Gear, Grills, & Guns is the 13th book in Tonya Kappes' Camper and Criminals cozy mystery series. It is Fall in Normal, KY and the Happy Trails Campground is bustling with activity. New campers will be flooding the campground to take part in the Fall in the Forest community event. The event features music, local vendors, and a car show. When Wendell Holliday is found shot to death in his bungalow and one of the campers goes up in flames, Mae knows she has to begin her sleuthing to figure out just what is going on in her campground.

The Camper and Criminal series is so much fun. The mystery was exciting, intriguing, and kept me guessing. The author did a wonderful job introducing several potential suspects and providing the read with means, motive, and opportunities for each. There were twists and turns that had me going in one direction only to have the mystery shift. The author did a great job building up the suspense until the reveal of the murderer and motive. As Mae and the Laundry Club unravel the murder, shocking events are revealed, suspects are added, as well as removed, from the list, and danger abounds. We also get a glimpse into Mae’s past. Her childhood was upsetting and events that occur in her campground in this book bring those horrific memories to the surface. 

Fortunately, Mae has a wonderful network of caring people around her from her mom Mary Elizabeth and Hank her boyfriend, to every single woman in the Laundry Club. I love how the author developed the characters and created such a fun and entertaining world. If felt like I was in Normal, Kentucky with the characters, helping Mae and the Laundry Club figure out who killed the victim and why.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

Sunday, October 18, 2020

#Review ~ The Black Cat Steps on a Crack (A Bad Luck Cat Mystery #4) by Kay Finch @KFinchMysteries

Sabrina Tate and her cat, Hitchcock, must sort through the clues when a librarian is killed and justice is overdue . . .


With construction on the town’s new library nearing completion, mystery writer Sabrina Tate is thrilled that local book lovers, and her own forthcoming novel, will soon have a fresh new home. But tensions are rising at the site as the headstrong new librarian insists on telling the construction crew how to do their jobs, bringing work to a standstill. When Sabrina’s cat unearths the dead body of the librarian not long after—and a good friend’s husband is named as the main suspect—she finds herself being pulled into a murder investigation yet again.

While virtually all the workers at the site had a motive to commit the dark deed, Sabrina turns her attention to the victim’s background looking for clues, but hits a dead end when she can’t locate any of the woman’s family. As a string of planted evidence and a murky collection of malicious characters starts to surface, Sabrina knows she and Hitchcock will have to tread carefully, before the library killer decides to check them out for good . . .

Includes delicious dessert recipes!

Amazon

Publication Date : June 11, 2019
Print Length : 248 pages
Publisher : Beyond the Page
ASIN : B07RWDM9RG

My Review:

First and foremost – Thank you Beyond the Page Publishing for picking up Kay Finch’s Bad Luck Cat Mystery series. I am beyond ecstatic to see Sabrina and Hitchcock continue their adventures. Congratulations, Kay!

A new library is being built and everyone is excited for the construction to finish and the library to open. During the construction, the new librarian dishes out orders to the construction crew left and right, leading to a temporary halt in the work. Then, the discovery of a body on the premises of the construction site, shuts the work down for good until the crime is solved. Sabrina finds herself investigating another murder where many people have the means, motive, opportunity to commit the act.

The Black Cat Steps on a Crack is a wonderful fourth cozy mystery in Kay Finch's Bad Luck Cat Mystery series. The plot is full of twists and turns that will keep you guessing until the very end. The entire book will engage the reader from beginning to end. The descriptive content makes visualizing the scenes an easy task. The novel is fast paced and enjoyable. The motive for the murder, as well as who did it, was cleverly disguised.

All of the characters are written with realism. The character development continues with the main characters and the addition of new characters. We aren't bogged down with unnecessary details or boring character biographies. We receive the right amount of detail and description for each character. The conversations flow smoothly and are realistic. They flow so well that you think you're standing nearby involved in the topic of discussion. I’m excited to be back in Texas with Sabrina and Hitchcock and I hope to be able to visit again!

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:

Saturday, October 17, 2020

Review ~ A Waffle Lot of Murder (All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery, Book#4) by Lena Gregory @LenaGregory03

A Waffle Lot of Murder (All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery) by Lena Gregory
 

A Waffle Lot of Murder 

All-Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery, Book 4

Cozy Mystery 

Publisher: Lyrical Press 

Publish Date: October 6, 2020

Paperback: 208 pages 

ISBN-10 : 151611048X 

ISBN-13: 978-1516110483 

Digital ASIN : B082WR2ZHJ

Purchase Link: Amazon


For diner owner Gia Morelli, her seasonal fall menu calls for two main ingredients—maple syrup and murder . . .

While the first hints of autumn grace Boggy Creek, Florida, Gia misses the colorful harvest traditions she left behind in New York. On a scramble to make new fall memories—and promote her irresistible pumpkin spice waffles—things take a dark turn when she gets roped into the Haunted Town Festival, a spooky celebration held on deserted farmlands. The desolate area conjures plenty of eerie vibes at night, but Gia and her best friend, Savannah, are nearly frightened to death upon the discovery of the event organizer’s body buried in the nearby woods. More alarming, the local rumor mill says the woman’s shady dealings may have egged someone into sending her to an early grave. 

Now, there’s no shortage of creepy clues to feast on as Gia and her pals try to stop a killer with a very scary appetite . . .

Includes recipes from the All-Day Breakfast Café!

My Review:

Fall is coming to Boggy Creek, Florida but you wouldn't know it by the weather or foliage. Gia is still getting used to fall in the Florida where trees don't change colors and the weather stays warm. One thing that does ring in the changing of the seasons is the Haunted Town Festival and Gia has been invited to participate this year. To view their "house" and the general layout of the festival, she and bestie, Savannah make plans to meet the festival organizer on-site in the deserted plot of farmland complete with a spooky woods. Gia and Savannah weren't planning to locate an abandoned cell phone or find the body of the organizer. Now, Gia and Savannah and the rest of her crew go on a hunt to find out if the rumors about the deceased are true and if so, if her endeavors were worth killing over.

A Waffle Lot of Murder is another great book in the All-Day Breakfast Café Mystery series. The book is perfectly paced - not too fast and not too slow. I was pulled in from the very beginning and engaged in the plot. The character development continues as we learn more about the characters, old and new, without being bogged down with useless filler. The story was fun, exciting, suspenseful, and full of twists and turns. I had a wonderful time trying to figure out just what happened and who was responsible. The continued world building is great, and I was able to visualize the story.

Gia came from New York one person and has since evolved into another as she gets used to the differences in Florida. Gia is a very strong character and I enjoy the books about her world. I love that the author does not, at any time, write her as weak or unstable. She's just had a very rough past that she thought she would escape by moving away from her former life and completely starting over. Samantha and Hunt are stability characters for Gia. Savannah is a wonderful best friend and Hunt proves to be another person who has Gia's back. I'd like to see their romance expand a bit since they don't seem to spend a lot of time together.

As in previous books, Gia does some questionable things in A Waffle Lot of Murder that made me shake my head. Her shenanigans don’t detract from the story, though. The characters are all likeable, the setting in Florida is nice, and the assortment of suspects kept me on my toes. The chemistry between Gia and Hunt is sweet and believable. I prefer a little bit of soft romance in my cozy mysteries. I really enjoy the author's writing style and devour every book she publishes. 

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:

Friday, October 16, 2020

#Review ~ A Death Long Overdue: A Lighthouse Library Mystery by Eva Gates @evagatesauthor #CozyMystery ~ Lighthouse Library Mystery, Book #7


When her former director is found dead in the water, librarian Lucy Richardson will have to get to the bottom of the mystery before the killer ends her tale.

It's summertime in the Outer Banks of North Carolina and Bertie James's college class is having their 40th anniversary reunion. The opening night reception is held at the Lighthouse Library and Lucy and her colleagues have assembled an exhibit of library artifacts showing how libraries have changed over the years. After the reception, some of the women take a walk down the boardwalk to the pier, using flashlights to illuminate the dark path, but what's scarier than the dark is finding the former director of the Lighthouse Library floating lifeless in the water.

Helena Sanchez, the former director, wasn't much loved and spent the party being rude to almost everyone there. As a result, Lucy finds herself in deep water as she rocks the boat, questioning several suspects. But she'll have to batten down the hatches and fast before she's left high and dry...and right in the killer's crosshairs.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/344tLrS

Publication Date : October 6, 2020
Print Length : 297 pages
Publisher : Crooked Lane Books
ASIN : B083RYX5WH

My Review:

Bertie James, the director of the Lighthouse Library is hosting her 40th class reunion in Outer Banks. Helena Sanchez, the former director of the library, is also in attendance and spending the majority of her time being rude to everyone in attendance. When the group takes a stroll down the pier after dark, Helena is found floating in the water and chaos ensues. Narrowing down where everyone was during the walk is proving to be difficult as Lucy again takes the reigns to find the killer among them.

I absolutely love the Lighthouse Library series and every book is fantastic. Each book is filled with terrific writing, wonderful character interactions, a plausible murder mystery, along with a fantastic and breathtaking setting. I love the anticipation the author creates with the death of Helena and the whos and whys. There are so many potential suspects it becomes hard to narrow the list down to any one person. Means, motive, opportunity, lack of alibi all plague those who made it to the list.

As per my reviews of the other books in the series, I love the setting, the characters, and the mysteries in each. Lucy is a wonderful character. She may come from money, but she doesn't act like it or flaunt her family's riches. Her character is down-to-earth and likeable. I enjoy her growing relationship with Connor. They are sweet together and you can definite feel their chemistry. The secondary characters are unique in their own way and believable. Oh, and how could I forget about Charles?! The library cat is a delightful addition to the cast.

The story is well paced, enjoyable, and full of suspense, anticipation, joy, and redemption. The author did a wonderful job describing the characters and scenery within the book. I was able to visualize the story as it played out. A Death Long Overdue is a fantastic cozy mystery and addition to the Lighthouse Library series.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:

Friday, October 2, 2020

Review ~ Haunted Homicide (A Haunted Mansion Mystery, Book #1) by Lucy Ness @BerkleyMystery

 

Avery Morgan has been hired to breathe new life into the Portage Path Women's Club, but first she'll have to deal with a dead body and a meddling ghost.

Avery Morgan has had a harrowing first week on the job as manager of the Portage Path Woman's Club. Not only is she in charge of a grand old home with a mountain of maintenance problems and scheduling nightmares--thanks to a recent fire in the Marigold meeting room--but she's also got Muriel Sadler to deal with. Muriel is the current president of the club, the one "nay" vote when the rest of the board voted "aye" to hiring Avery.

After a morning of dealing with another one of Muriel's snits and a meeting with the delicious and delightfully unsettling Ben Harkness, who will be handling renovations in the fire-damaged portions of the house, the last thing Avery needs is for one of the fuses to blow. Again.

She grabs her handy flashlight and heads into the basement, where she stumbles across Muriel's body. She also stumbles across an unexpected helper, Clemmie Bow, the ghost of a young woman who was accidentally killed in the building almost a hundred years ago.

Together Clemmie and Avery are determined to solve Muriel's murder before the killer sends Avery to join Clemmie on the other side.

Publication Date : September 29, 2020
Publisher : Berkley 
Print Length : 299 pages
ASIN : B07Y7MHZQR
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/3na3X4X

My Review:

Avery Morgan moves to Ohio as the new business manager of the Portage Path Women's Club. The membership numbers keep going down to the point the club is now endangered. Her new boss, Muriel, is the President of the club and quite difficult. The only person on the board not to approve Avery's hiring is doing everything she can to make Avery's life miserable. The author did a spectacular job writing a pretty mean character in Muriel.

Muriel managed to make everyone's lives nightmarish. Her words and actions caused blood to boil, mean thoughts to enter minds, and, for someone, the delight of her demise. As a reader, Muriel is one of those characters that you'll love to hate. She may even remind a reader of someone they've encountered in real life. Muriel was horrible and the author wrote her in such a way that you couldn't help but feel bad for those she abused, as well as angry on their behalf. Muriel isn't the only character written this well.

Avery, Oz, Jack, Clemmie, the rest of the club, and all the side character were equally written well. You could feel Avery's frustration at Muriel, her sadness at the treatment of the kitchen staff, and she disbelief in her ability to see ghosts. Oz didn't make many appearances but he was written as a well-respected and capable police officer with what could be a romantic side. Jack is a restorationist with secrets, yet he's willing to aid Avery in her quest for justice against Muriel. Clemmie was written with period characteristics, clothes, and speech. I was able to visualize her and "hear" her talk in a way we don't hear anymore.

The world building was great. I envisioned myself right smack dab in the middle of the mansion with Avery, Clemmie, and the rest of the club members. I enjoyed the descriptive text, providing me with enough description to create the scenes myself, Not having enough doesn't allow me to connect to the characters, the setting, or the book and having too much description makes me feel like they were included as filler. This books had the perfect amount of description.

The mystery itself was intricate, full of twists, turns, and red herrings. I enjoyed trying to figure out who may have been the culprit. I had a feeling I knew who the murderer was but I was never convinced I had the clues in order. The author did a great job masquerading the guilty person and not making things obvious or too easy to guess. This is a fun who-dun-it and I look forward to the next book.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

Read an Excerpt from the Book on Amazon:

https://amzn.to/3na3X4X

My Rating:

Thursday, October 1, 2020

Review ~ One for the Books (Library Lover's Mystery, Book #11) by Jenn McKinlay @JennMcKinlay

 

Wedding bells are ringing in the latest page-turning Library Lover's Mystery from the New York Times bestselling author of Word to the Wise.

Love is in the air in Briar Creek as library director Lindsey Norris and boat captain Mike (Sully) Sullivan are finally tying the knot. The entire town is excited for the happy day, and Lindsey and Sully's plan for a small wedding evaporates as more and more people insist upon attending the event of the year.

When Lindsey and her crafternoon pals head out to Bell Island to see if it can accommodate the ever-expanding guest list, they are horrified to discover a body washed up on the rocky shore. Even worse, Lindsey recognizes the man as the justice of the peace who was supposed to officiate her wedding ceremony. When it becomes clear he was murdered, Lindsey can't help but wonder if it had to do with the wedding. Now she has to book it to solve the mystery before it ends her happily ever after before it's even begun....

Publication Date : September 1, 2020
Print Length : 300 pages
Publisher : Berkley 
ASIN : B082H2D2LP
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/33kmjIt

My Review:

It's almost time for Lindsey and Sully's wedding. The whole town of Briar Creek is as excited as the happy couple. This is going to be the wedding of the century except the size continues to grow. When Lindsey realizes she gave the incorrect guest list to the stationer, she and Sully must go out to the location of the nuptials and make sure it can accommodate the increase in guests. What they weren't expecting to find is the body of the man slated to perform the wedding ceremony. 

One for the Books is another great book in the series. I enjoyed the book so much I devoured it as fast as I could. Every character is great. I found myself able to connect with Lindsey and Beth, not because they are similar to me or we've been down the same roads, but because they are fun, interesting, and nice. I love the author's writing style, the pacing was good, and the story compelling. The continual character development allows for me to get to know Lindsey, Beth, Sully, and everyone else. The author created a wonderful town, with wonderful characters, and I was able to visualize the entire story.

This might be book 11 but the author does a spectacular job keeping the mystery, characters, and story fresh. 

I was provided a copy of this book to review.

My Rating: