Wednesday, April 24, 2024

#Review ~ Crochet and Cauldrons (Vampire Knitting Club, #3) by Nancy Warren ~ #ParanormalCozyMystery #CozyMystery #Paranormal @NancyWarren1

Every family has annoying relatives; mine just happen to be undead.

 

Book Details:

ASIN: B07HHDPQBT
Publisher: ‎Ambleside Publishing
Publication date: October 25, 2018
Print length:‎ 238 pages
Page numbers source ISBN: 1928145515

About the Book:

My Grandmother, Agnes Bartlett, used to own Cardinal Woolsey’s knitting shop in Oxford then died and left her shop to me, without informing me that she wasn’t actually dead. She’s a vampire and part of the world’s strangest craft circle – the Vampire Knitting Club.

As you might imagine, this means she’s free to interfere in how I run the business that used to be hers. She’s trying to teach me to knit and it’s not going well. She’s also trying to teach me how to be a witch, since it turns out I’m from a long line of witches. Another tiny detail about my family that no one ever told me, along with the long-lost witch cousins I recently discovered.

But I’m learning. I’ve got my family spell book, my black cat familiar, some powers that sometimes scare me, and an interesting new group of friends.

My archaeologist parents are coming to visit and bringing me a gift I could do without.

So, to recap, I run a knitting shop and I can’t knit. I’m a beginning witch who can’t always control her cat, never mind her magic, and my love life is as tangled as the last sock I tried to knit. Oh, and for some reason, I keep getting involved in murder investigations. Good thing I have my vampire knitters to help sniff out clues.

At least I’ve finally hired the perfect assistant, a real demon with the crochet hook. Or is she too perfect?

My Review:

Crochet and Cauldrons is the third book in the Vampire Knitting Club Series. This book features less knitting and more Egyptian mythology. 

Lucy Swift's parents have surprised her by coming to England for a visit. The gift her mother brings from an archeological dig site doesn't excite Lucy. In fact, the artifact is a gift that kept right on giving, putting Lucy's life in jeopardy. At least while she's trying to solve the mystery of the ancient artifact, Lucy's new assistant is holding down the fort. Lucy has never been so comfortable with an assistant as she is with Eileen, who is great with customers, sales, and minding of the shop.

The Vampire Knitting Club series is an unusual vampire series. The premise is certainly unique and the plot is different. The characters are quirky and easy to like. The story is told solely from Lucy’s point of view but contains many secondary characters. I really enjoyed Lucy’s lowkey attitude and ability to be flexible in her life choices.

The only thing that really bothered me in this book was the big bad. The villain wasn't hidden very well in this installment. Lucy should have caught on earlier in the book than she did. Yes, she was distracted by her parents. Yes, she was distracted by the ancient artifact. Yes, she was distracted by a certain vampire. The signs were all there though, and very hard to miss.

Despite the obvious, I enjoyed the book. While Crochet and Cauldrons is the third book in the Vampire Knitting Club series, there wasn't as much vampiring or knitting in this book, and that's okay. Lucy has other facets of her life that are equally as important. She's still trying to pull her witchy side out and get it trained. She's running a knitting shop, and trying to find a competent assistant that will share the day-to-day responsibilities. I enjoyed Crochet and Cauldrons and can't wait to get my hands on book four.

My review copy came from my local library. I also bought the box set from Amazon.

My Rating:


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Friday, April 19, 2024

A Twinkle of Trouble (A Fairy Garden Mystery) by Daryl Wood Gerber ~ #cozymystery #Review ~ ThereIsAGive@way

 

A Twinkle of Trouble (A Fairy Garden Mystery) by Daryl Wood Gerber

About A Twinkle of Trouble:

 

A Twinkle of Trouble (A Fairy Garden Mystery)

Cozy Mystery

5th in Series

Setting - California

Publisher: ‎ Kensington Cozies (April 23, 2024)

Paperback: ‎ 304 pages

ISBN-10: ‎ 1496744934

ISBN-13: ‎ 978-1496744937

Kindle ASIN: ‎ B0CFGF36NM

Carmel-by-the-Sea garden shop owner Courtney Kelly sees things others can’t—like fairies, and hidden motives for murder . . .

Courtney is delighted when her tiny friend Fiona returns from the fairy realm, appearing at the base of a Cypress tree. When her Ragdoll cat, Pixie, emerges from her own portal—aka the cat door—the three set off for a busy day. Busier than usual, since Courtney has rented a small plot of land at the Flower Farm, where she hopes to grow her own supplies for her fairy-garden business. Plus, the annual Summer Blooms Festival is coming up, and Courtney has booked a booth . . .

But the murder of Courtney’s friend, Genevieve, casts a pall over the festival. Ever since Genevieve sold her floral business, she’d been building a career as an influencer. She was perennially opinionated—but in her new role she’d become surprisingly vicious, dissing local entrepreneurs with nasty posts and unwarranted bad reviews. That’s landed a couple of Courtney’s other friends on the suspect list—including Flower Farm owner Daphne Flores. And when a second victim is discovered, seeds of doubt about Daphne’s innocence sprout in Courtney’s mind. With only a germ of a clue, Courtney will have to overturn every rock to get the dirt on the real killer . . .

My Review:

A Twinkle of Trouble is the fifth book in the Fairy Garden Mystery series. Featuring fairies, cats, and a wonderful cast of characters, A Twinkle of Trouble is another slam dunk cozy mystery.

Courtney Kelly's fairy garden shop is booming. Between walk-in private lessons, group lessons, and individual sales, Open Your Imagination has become a popular destination for both believers and non-believers. Courtney even hosts fairy garden parties.

Courtney's fairy friend has returned from the fairy realm. Fiona had been gone a month, much to Courtney and her feline companion Pixie's dismay. Life can now get back to normal, and Courtney can focus on the Summer Blooms Festival and her quarter-acre of land at the Flower Farm. Except, the death of Courtney's friend Genevieve dims the happiness and excitement of the festival and farm.

This is a very unique story with unique elements. I enjoyed the fairy garden shop setting, complete with a live fairy. The characters are fun and exciting. I enjoyed Courtney's character. Her business is successful and thriving. She cares about her friends and citizens in Carmel-by-the-Sea and makes it her mission to help solve the crime, even when a couple of her friends appear as suspects. The author delivers several suspects with means and motive, and figuring out who committed the crime was difficult. There are twists and turns and red herrings, and while I may have suspected who committed the crime, I never was really sure until the end.

I was provided a copy of this book to read.

My Rating:


About Daryl Wood Gerber:

 

Agatha Award-winning author Daryl Wood Gerber is best known for her nationally bestselling mysteries, including the Fairy Garden Mysteries and Cookbook Nook Mysteries. As Avery Aames, she penned the popular Cheese Shop Mysteries. In addition, Daryl writes suspense including the well received The Son’s Secret, Girl on the Run, and the popular Aspen Adams series. Recently Daryl, who loves a challenge, published a Christmas romance, Hope for the Holidays. Fun Tidbit: as an actress, Daryl appeared in “Murder, She Wrote.” She loves to cook, garden, read, and walk her frisky Goldendoodle. Also she has been known to jump out of a perfectly good airplane. You can learn more on her website: https://darylwoodgerber.com

Author Links:

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Wednesday, April 17, 2024

#Review ~ Stitches and Witches (Vampire Knitting Club, #2) by Nancy Warren ~ #ParanormalCozyMystery #CozyMystery #Paranormal @NancyWarren1

Dropping stitches and catching killers


Book Details:

ASIN: B07HHHBVZF
Publisher: Ambleside Publishing
Publication date:‎ October 11, 2018
Print length:‎ 252 pages


About the Book:

When an older gentleman keels over in his scones and tea at the Elderflower Tea Shop in Oxford—a victim of poison—Lucy Swift and her band of undead amateur detectives are on the case.

Elderflower Tea Shop is next door to Cardinal Woolsey’s, the yarn shop Lucy runs and home to the late-night Vampire Knitting Club. The tea shop owners are a pair of octogenarian spinsters and old family friends, so Lucy wants to help clear up the mystery that’s keeping their shop closed. But murder isn’t the only issue troubling the Miss Watts. A man has come between them. Miss Florence Watt is being romanced by an old flame, one Mary Watt distrusts.

In between figuring out who, among his many enemies, might have poisoned the unpleasant Colonel Montague, Lucy’s trying to brush up on her magic spells before the Wiccan potluck dinner her witchy cousin insists she attend.

However, she’s still settling into being a witch and since she botched a spell and blew up her kitchen, she’s taking the magic slowly.

Her knitting endeavors aren’t much better. Between purling when she should knit and dropping so many stitches her hand-knit scarf looks like it was attacked by giant moths, there are days Lucy thinks she’ll pack it all in and move back to Boston. She might, except she’d miss her beloved undead grandmother, her new friends, one very sexy vampire and a local detective who is very much alive.

My Review:

Stitches and Witches is the second book in the Vampire Knitting Club Series. 

Next to Cardinal Woolsey's is the Elder Flower Tea Shop, owned by two sisters. A blast from the past comes calling on Florence, much to her sister Mary's dismay. While the wedge grows between Florence and Mary, a patron dies in the tea shop, increasing the tension. Lucy and her undead friends are on the case of the death of Colonel Montague, and trying to figure out who Florence's old flame is and why Mary doesn't like him.

The Vampire Knitting Club series is an unusual vampire series. The premise is certainly unique and the plot is different. The characters are quirky and easy to like. The story is told solely from Lucy’s point of view but contains many secondary characters. I really enjoyed Lucy’s lowkey attitude and ability to be flexible in her life choices.

I enjoyed this book very much. Lucy is a wonderful character and tries hard to run Cardinal Woolsey's, despite the inability to knit.  I enjoyed Stitches and Witches, and can't wait to continue to the series.

My review copy came from my local library. I also bought the box set from Amazon.

My Rating:


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Wednesday, April 10, 2024

#CozyMystery #BookReview ~ April Fool's Alibi (Holiday Cozy Mystery, Book 9) by Tonya Kappes #TonyaKappesBooks #Review

 

Book Details:

ASIN: ‎ B0CGXSD5BJ
Publisher: ‎ Tonya Kappes Books
Publication date: ‎ March 28, 2024
Print length: ‎ 173 pages

About the Book:

CELEBRATE GOOD CRIMES!

Mystery is Afoot in Holiday Junction!

Dive into the heart of Holiday Junction, where April Fool's festivities are no laughing matter. Violet Rhinehammer, the sharp-witted editor of the Junction Journal, is on the scene, capturing the frolics and fun of the Fool's Festival for the eager readers of the village. But this year, the jokes take a backseat when a chilling prophecy from a festival palm reader turns Violet's world upside down.

Celebrations turn to suspicions at the surprise party for Violet's boyfriend, Darren, who's just aced the bar exam. But the night is marred by a scuffle with a notorious bar regular, leading to a series of events that even Holiday Junction's merry traditions can't overshadow.

As Violet juggles her reporter's notebook with her knack for sleuthing, the festive air is shattered by a grim discovery—the body of last night's troublemaker. With Darren's legal eagle eyes and Violet's determination, they delve into a mystery where everyone's a suspect and motives are as plentiful as easter eggs hidden in the park.

"April Fool's Alibi" is a twisty, brain-teasing cozy that will keep you guessing until the very last page. If you crave a mystery that feels like a walk through a small town filled with big secrets, hit that one-click button and join Violet in unraveling Holiday Junction's most perplexing case yet. No gore, no foul language, just pure, captivating intrigue wrapped in the charm of the South.

Ready for a killer party? "April Fool's Alibi" is your invitation to the sleuthing soiree of the season!

My Review:

April Fool’s Alibi is the ninth book in the Holiday Cozy Mystery series, a spin-off of the Camper and Criminals series. The spin-off is headlined by Normal's ace reporter Violet Rhinehammer. She exits Normal to move onto greener pastures and finds herself in a different small town.

As the title indicates, is April Fool’s time in Holiday Junction. The Fool’s Festival is in full swing, and the town of Holiday Junction is in celebration mode. When the local palm reader focuses one of her predictions on Violet, and then a body is found, Violet finds herself in the middle of a murder case that gets weirder by the minute.

April Fool’s Alibi is a quick read, and a bit darker than previous books in the series. Other than the antics of Dave the Rooster, there wasn’t as much lightheartedness in the pages of this book. It was a refreshing change up and an enjoyable addition to the series.

I continue to enjoy Violet and Darren and love how their relationship continues to grow as the series progresses. I enjoy getting to know everyone in Holiday Junction. We get to meet interesting people and learn how important holidays are in this town. The mystery was well thought out, full of suspense, and contained red herrings. I am looking forward to the next book.

I was provided a copy of this book.

My Rating:


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