Book #Review ~ Strangled by Simile (Chalkboard Outlines, Book 3) by Kelley Kaye @kelkay1202 ~ #CozyMystery

Strangled by Simile (Chalkboard Outlines) by Kelley Kaye

About Strangled by Simile:

 

Strangled by Simile (Chalkboard Outlines) 

Cozy Mystery 

3rd in Series 

Publisher: Red Adept Publishing 

Publish Date: May 23, 2021

Number of Pages 258

Southern transplant Emma Lovett and best friend/colleague Leslie Parker can hardly believe it: it’s Emma’s third year at Thomas Jefferson High School, and in addition to an amazing year with boyfriend Hunter Wells and Leslie’s brand-new love interest, they’ve gotten all the way through Homecoming with no one dying.

Oops.

At the end of October, Emma finds the strangled body of Charlie Foreman, one of Leslie’s favorite nemeses. And the first clue implicates Leslie in the crime! To make things worse, Emma’s feeling a little oogy: tired, dizzy, and something’s up with her eyes. What’s going on?

All Emma and Leslie are trying to do is find new methods for teaching the youth of America, hopefully using lessons from The Great Bard—their hero—William Shakespeare.

But someone has a different idea: more schooling in murder.

My Review:

Emma has been teaching at Thomas Jefferson High School for three years - Three Years!! It seems like only yesterday Emma finds herself in Colorado after leaving her husband. Now, she's settled in, is having a blast teaching, enjoys her friendship with Leslie, and loves spending time with her boyfriend, Hunter Wells. What Emma doesn't love are the sudden health issues she's encountering and continuing to find murder victims.

One morning, after being awoken before her alarm, Emma decides to go into work early. It is then she discovers the body of coach Charlie Foreman. As if find Charlie wasn't unpleasant enough, the local police give Emma a hard time at the scene. Later, the police implicate Leslie when a clue at the scene leads back to her. Emma, Leslie, and Hunter don their amateur sleuthing caps to exonerate Leslie and find the real killer.

Emma, Leslie, and Hunter are great characters. Emma and Leslie have a wonderfully developed friendship. Emma and Hunter have a cute romantic relationship. I enjoy all of their interactions. Strangled by Simile introduces a serious topic and the build-up is executed well by the author. They work well together at the school and while investigating the murder of Charlie. 

Even with the serious undertones though, the author tastefully adds humor and wit to the mix. Leslie is a funny character and I enjoy her wittiness and penchant for Shakespeare quotes. Emma is a little more serious but she’s wonderful. The world building is done well. I was able to visualize the entire story and felt like I was there helping Emma, Leslie, and Hunter. The story was fast-paced - never a dull moment. I enjoyed Strangled by Simile. 

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:

About Kelley Kaye:

“Kelley Kaye” taught High School English and Drama since 1992 in California, then Colorado and now Cali again, but her love for storytelling dates back to creating captions in her high school yearbook. Maybe back to the tales she created for her Barbie and Ken—whatever the case, the love’s been around a long time. She’s married to an amazing man who cooks for her, and they have two funny and wonderful sons.

Author Links:

Website https://kelleykaybowles.com/ 

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kelkay1202/

Twitter https://twitter.com/kelkay1202

Medium https://kelkay1202.medium.com/

Purchase Links:

Amazon - Kobo - B&N

Cozy Mystery #Review ~ Outdoors, Oars, & Oath (Camper & Criminals #18) by Tonya Kappes @tonyakappes11 #TonyaKappes

I haven’t seen Stanley Shelton since the flamingo keychain with the campervan key dangled from his fingertips as he ripped the Maserati keys out of my grip after my ex-now-dead husband left me broke and penniless, until now.

Stanley claims the Diamond Swamp Mob is after him and he needs my help. Something about my past, but I didn’t take him too seriously until someone was murdered in Stanley’s rented room at the Milkery. The person just so happened to have a tattoo I’ve seen before.

One problem, the tattoo is a brand from a mob in New York City.

Sheriff Hank Sharp has hauled Stanley down to the Normal sheriff’s department for the murder, leaving it up to me and the Laundry Club Ladies to clear Stanley’s name. Looks like I’m driving my campervan back to New York City and make it a girls trip.

I sure hope I can get to the mob boss before he sends anyone else to Happy Trails Campground to finish the job and get revenge on who actually killed the mobster.

Welcome to Normal, Kentucky, where nothing is normal!

Purchase from Amazon https://amzn.to/3d7jijx
Add to Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/56755024-outdoors-oars-oath

Book Details:

ASIN: ‎ B08TB2KNM2
Publication Date: ‎ June 24, 2021
Print Length: ‎ 143 page

My Review:

Outdoors, Oars, & Oaths is book 18 in the Camper & Criminals series by Tonya Kappes. When Stanley Shelton unexpectedly shows up in Normal, he brings with him news the Diamond Swamp Mob is after him. Mae has a hard time believing Stanley until a young woman with a very telling tattoo winds up dead in his room at The Milkery. To keep the Mob out of Normal, Mae takes a trip back to New York with the Laundry Club Ladies. Seeking an audience with the mob boss is Mae's main priority before anyone else winds up dead. 

Outdoors, Oars, & Oaths is another great book in the Campers & Criminals series. The mystery is exciting, intriguing, and kept me guessing. The author did a wonderful job introducing potential suspects and providing the reader 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.

As with the rest of the books in the series, the mystery isn't the only thing going on in Normal, or in this case, New York. We get a fleeting glimpse of Mae's former lifestyle. Dottie in New York is a hoot. Dottie anywhere, actually, is a hoot. There is also still the issue with Mae and Hank. After an eye opening discussion the story ends and I'm just not sure where the author is going to take them. I really think they could be good together but Mae has to stop disregarding his feelings. I'm anxiously awaiting the next book in the series.

I was provided a copy of the book to read.

My Rating:

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#CozyMystery Review ~ On Borrowed Time (Library Lover's Mystery, Book #5) by Jenn McKinlay @MckinlayJenn @BerkleyMystery

 

Loving a good cup of coffee runs in the family for Briar Creek library director Lindsey Norris. But when her brother, Jack, a consultant for a coffee company, goes missing, her favorite beverage becomes a key clue in a dangerous mystery.

Between preparing the library for the holidays and juggling the affections of ex-boyfriend, Captain Mike Sullivan, and her new crush, actor Robbie Vine, Lindsey has her hands full. But the mysterious disappearance of her world-traveling playboy brother takes precedence over all.

Afraid that involving the police could brew trouble for Jack, Lindsey takes matters into her own hands. But as her quest for her brother embroils her in a strange case involving South American business dealings and an enigmatic and exotic woman, it’ll take the help of both her library book club—the crafternooners—and her eager-to-please suitors to keep Jack from ending up in hot water…

Add to Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20500886-on-borrowed-time

Purchase from Amazon https://amzn.to/2SY1KyW

Book Details:

ASIN : 0425260739
Publisher : Berkley
Publish Date: November 4, 2014
Mass Market Paperback : 304 pages
ISBN-10 : 9780425260739
ISBN-13 : 978-0425260739

My Rating:

It's Christmastime in Briar Creek and Lindsey Norris has a lot on her plate. Besides getting ready for the holidays, Lindsey's love life has taken a turn with not just one but two men vying for her affection. Sully and Robbie are great characters. I love the banter between the two - they are so funny! To add to her busy life, Lindsey's brother Jack pops into the library followed shortly by a dead body. Then Jack disappears. Lindsey becomes frantic in her quest to locate her brother and unravel the mystery that also involves international dealings and a mysterious stranger.

I enjoyed On Borrowed Time. The characters are kind and lovable, except Ms. Cole but she's a character in her own right and I couldn't imagine her any other way. 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 character development allowed for me to get to know Lindsey, Beth, Sully, Robbie, and everyone else. The author created a wonderful town, with wonderful characters, and I was able to visualize the entire story.

I love the continued inclusion of romantic elements, flirting, and subtlety the author softly wove throughout the book. The author did a great job writing this book realistically. I'm invested in these characters and can't wait to dive into book 6.

My review copy is courtesy of my local library.

My Rating: