Tag: Book Reviews

Cozy Releases| August 2019

CourtagonistLeave a comment

Watch the Video!

A Bias for Murder

A Bias for Murder
Book 3
Sally Goldenbaum
August 6th
https://amzn.to/2F2hWVZ

Oliver Harrington II was one of the most beloved members of Crestwood’s community. Despite being the picture of health at age 52, he died from a sudden heart attack, leaving behind the family mansion on a sprawling piece of property. His twin sister Adele returned to the town she despises to claim her brother’s home, intent on turning it into a B&B. And she’s hired Po Paltrow and the Crestwood Quilters to craft quilts for the guest rooms. 

 But Adele is not the only one interested in the future of the Harrington estate. A developer wants to put multiple houses on the land. The townsfolk just want their neighborhood to retain its small-town charm and not become a tourist trap. But when an autopsy reveals that Oliver was actually poisoned, suspicion falls on his sister. Po doesn’t believe Adele is guilty, leaving her determined to discover who else harbored deadly designs on the Harrington home . . .

The Time for Murder is MeowThe Time for Murder is Meow
Book 1
T.C. Lotempio
https://amzn.to/2WAqsXj

Crishell “Shell” McMillan sees the cancellation of her TV series as a blessing in disguise. The former actress can now take over her late aunt’s pet shop, the Purr N’ Bark, and do something she loves.

While getting the shop ready for re-opening, Shell is asked to loan her aunt’s Cary Grant posters to the local museum for an exhibit. She finds the prospect exciting—until a museum board member, who had a long-standing feud with Shell’s aunt, votes against it. When she discovers the board member dead in the museum, Shell becomes suspect number one. Can she, her Siamese cat Kahlua, and her new sidekick—her aunt’s Persian Purrday—find the real culprit, or will her latest career go up in kitty litter?

Jealousy Filled DonitsJealousy Filled Donuts
Book 3
Ginger Bolton
https://amzn.to/2IvLMTP

It is a truth universally acknowledged—cops and donuts go together. Exhibit A: Deputy Donut Café, owned and operated by detective’s widow Emily Westhill and her father-in-law, the retired police chief of Fallingbrook, Wisconsin. Named after Emily’s adored and adorable tabby, the donut shop is a favorite among cops, firemen, and EMTs, as well as tourists and townspeople. So when Fallingbrook needs donuts for their Fourth of July picnic, Emily’s shop gets deputized.

 But a twisted killer has found another use for Emily’s treats. At the picnic, a firecracker is hidden in a stack of raspberry-filled donuts and aimed at the unwitting queen of the festivities. When it explodes, she is killed. Having her jelly donuts involved puts Emily in a sticky situation, and when a shady shutterbug tries to frame her with incriminating photos, she finds herself in quite a jam. To preserve her freedom and her shop’s reputation, Emily needs to solve this case—before the fuse-lighting felon goes off again …

Wonton TerrorWonton Terror
Book 4
Vivien Chien
https://amzn.to/2K4KToo

Lana Lee is all smiles when the first evening of Cleveland’s Asian Night Market kicks off the summer. The weekly festival is always good for business, packed with locals and tourists, and this year, some stiff new food-truck competition. Wonton on Wheels, run by old friends of Lana’s parents, promises to have customers lining up for their delicately wrapped delights—until the truck blew up at evening’s end.

Lana’s boyfriend, Detective Adam Trudeau, had been planning a birthday getaway for the two of them but, lo and behold, Lana must assume the role of amateur sleuth yet again. With one proprietor of Wonton on Wheels dead, it’s beginning to look more like murder and less like an unfortunate accident. And as they begin to unwrap layers of disturbing secrets, Lana’s own family erupts into new drama. Will Lana be able to solve this crime—or has she jumped from the wok right into the fire?

Silent Night, Deadly NightSilent Night, Deadly Night
Book 4
Vicki Delany
https://amzn.to/2I5ZEoM 

It’s the week before Thanksgiving, and Merry Wilkinson, owner of Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, is preparing for a weekend reunion of her mother’s college friends. But when the group of women comes into Merry’s shop, Merry is met with frosty attitudes and cold hearts. 

The women argue amongst themselves constantly, and the bickering only intensifies after one of the friends is poisoned. With her father’s role as Santa in danger due to his proximity to the crime, Merry will need to use all of her investigative gifts to wrap this mystery up and save Santa and her favorite holiday.

Until next time, Happy Reading!

XOXO,
Courtny

Summer Cozy Mystery Recs!

Courtagonist2 Comments

Watch the Video!

Oh Say Can You Fudge

Oh Say Can You Fudge
(A Candy-coated Mystery Book 3)
Nancy Coco
https://amzn.to/31kBgYa

Red, White, And Boom

It’s not Fourth of July on Mackinac Island without fireworks and fudge. The Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop is supplying the treats–and Allie has hired Rodney Rivers, the biggest name in aerial displays, to create an unforgettable spectacle. Unfortunately, Allie finds him dead, covered with screaming chicken fireworks, just before the entire warehouse of pyrotechnics goes up in smoke. Is it arson or is it murder? Allie and her bichonpoo, Mal, must sift through the suspects until the killer is caught and the island can enjoy a star-spangled celebration.

Murder Most FrothyMurder Most Frothy
A Coffeehouse Mystery
Book 4
https://amzn.to/2MB4XRt 

Clare Cosi’s new friend, millionaire David Mintzer, has an offer no New York barista could turn down: an all-expenses-paid summer away from the sticky city. At his Hamptons mansion, she’ll relax, soak up the sun, and, oh yes, train the staff of his new restaurant. So Clare packs up her daughter, her former mother-in-law, and her special recipe for iced coffee–for what she hopes will be one de-latte-ful summer…

Soon, Clare tends the coffee bar at her first Hamptons gala. But the festivities come to a bitter end when an employee turns up dead in David’s bathroom–a botched attempt on the millionaire’s life. Thanks to the Fourth of July fireworks no one heard any gunshots, and the police are stuck in holiday traffic. Concerned for everyone’s safety, Clare begins to investigate. What she finds will keep her up at night–and it’s not the java jitters…

Bikinis In Paradise

Bikinis In Paradise
Book 3
Kathi Daley
https://amzn.to/2WojiAk 

When the Tropical Tan Corporation descends on Maggie’s Hideaway, the lakeside resort where Tj Jensen lives, she must juggle a bikini contest, a BBQ cook-off, a missing model, and a dead chaperone while her father is out of town. 

Lead Deputy Dylan Caine is on vacation while his sister is visiting, leaving Assistant Deputy Roy Fisher in charge. When Roy asks Tj for her help, they find there may be more going on than anyone realized. 

With Kyle and Jenna’s help, they dig into the lives of those involved, only to find a mystery more complex than anything they could ever have imagined.

Lemon Meringue Pie MurderLemon Meringue Pie Murder
Book 4
Joanne Fluke
https://amzn.to/2K7IqJV 

Hannah Swensen thought she’d finally discovered the recipe for a perfect life. But her sometime beau Norman Rhodes tosses a surprise ingredient into the mix when he phones to tell her he’s just bought a house from local drugstore clerk Rhonda Scharf—which he plans to tear down in order to build the dream home he and Hannah designed. It seems the plan has been cooking for quite some time, and Hannah’s shocked. Especially since her ring finger is still very much bare. . .

The good news is that the soon-to-be-torn-down house is full of antiques—and Norman has given Hannah and her mother first dibs. They uncover some gorgeous old furniture, a patchwork quilt . . . and Rhonda Scharf’s dead body. A little more sleuthing turns up the half-eaten remains of a very special dinner for two—and one of The Cookie Jar’s famous lemon meringue pies. Now it’s up to Hannah to turn up the heat—and get busy tracking down clues. Starting in her very own kitchen. 

Independence Slay

Independence Slay
Book 3
Shelley Freydont
https://amzn.to/2WXJk1H 

With Independence Day fast approaching, Liv Montgomery is swamped coordinating one of the town’s biggest festivals. In addition to the traditional July fourth events, the town stages a spooky Revolutionary War reenactment that can’t be missed. Every year, the ghost of local war hero Henry Gallantine—played by his eccentric descendant of the same name—appears at the top of the family mansion, kicking off the night’s revelries.

But Henry’s annual cameo goes awry after the ghost signals SOS instead of his traditional cue. When Liv rushes to the rescue, she finds Henry missing and a real dead body instead of a fake haunt. Now she will have to hunt down both a murderer and a missing person quickly before unwanted political fireworks ignite and someone else winds up as local history… 

Until next time, Happy Reading!

XOXO
Courtny

Traveling TBR!| Japan

Courtagonist2 Comments

Aaron and I are leaving July 12th for Japan! We have decided that we are going to do our big honeymoon before our wedding on October 12th. It allows us to spend an entire two weeks in Japan before I have to go back to work on August 1st.

Now, while I have planned a WHOLE July TBR on my channel with the Cozyopoly, CozWeek, and more I have decided to share some books with you that will most likely be read or dived into with all of the traveling that we will be doing. The plan ride is 12 hours long, then there are the train rides, and then more plane rides inside the country! Ha! It would be pretty difficult to bring ALL of the physical books with me that are on this month’s tbr!

So without further ado, here are the books on my Kindle Paperwhite that I will have access to read.

MistbornOne of Aaron’s most favorite series is Brandon Sanderson’s Mistborn Trilogy. About a year ago or so, when I was on this huge High Fantasy kick Aaron bought me the Digital version of the trilogy.

I tried at that time to get into the series and I really really enjoyed it quite a bit but then a cozy or two got in the way and I put the trilogy down.

I am hoping that I might have the time to give this series a little more time and really dive into the world that Sanderson built.

 

 

Ember in the Ashes

Another purchase of mine was An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. This was only $1.99 during the Christmas season last year!

I know how much everyone loved this series. And I’m pretty sure that it is a trilogy as well. I love the idea of this series but I also don’t know too much about the series.

But I kind of like it that way. I like the idea that I am going into a world unknown. It’s sort of a thrill of the page.

 

 

 

Empire of StormsThis is the 5th book in the Throne of Glass series by Sarah J. Maas. My best friend Bre and I were in love with this series and the Court of Thorns and Roses last summer.

We even drove to Houston to see Sarah J. Maas talk, get the last book of the series signed, and we got matching tattoos of the Night Court.

After reading the first four books in the series I had to take a little bit of a break. One because I didn’t want to get too far ahead of Bre but also because I didn’t want to burn myself out on the series which I was about to do.

Maybe this is just the time to read it!

Iron Gold

This is book four in the Red Rising series! At the beginning of 2019 I read the crap out of the first three in the series. It was so much fun to read a Science Fiction novel that was so in-depth with the world creating and the character building.

It helped that I was able to read the books and talk to a co-worker about them as well! I loved being able to do that. I’m pretty sure J is ahead of me on the series, but it would be nice to be able to go back to work and talk to him about the 4th book.

The 5th book came out this year and I think it would be cool to read it at the same time if he hasn’t already beaten me to it!

 

Agatha OddlyThis is supposed to be an adorable middle grade version of a Cozy Mystery and I am totally living for it. The young girl, I’m assuming, Agatha is flipping adorable with her quirky glasses, dark hair, and determined look on her face! I am loving everything there is about this cover.

I haven’t read too far into the synopsis but I know that this is a series. If I love the first one in the series then there is a good chance that I will purchase the rest of the series as well.

Haha! This is how I am with most series that I fall in love with.

 

 

The next five books on my Japan TBR are all from Net Galley! They all are RomComs or Romantic Comedies that I am super excited about reading. I have heard amazing things about Jen DeLuca and I have recently read Christina Lauren’s The Unhoneymooners!

Hearts, Strings, and Other Breakable Things is just one of the most cutest covers I have ever seen. Dating By the Book looks like it is going to be fun and Well Met is something that I would totally have read in high school, but I’m not going to lie…I totally downloaded the book because of the cover. I really love her outfit! Ha!

I already started on Redesigning Happiness, but I am not sure that I am actually going to finish it. So far I don’t like the whole religious aspect of the book and the idea that someone’s opinion has any weight over how a woman thinks as a person or what they should do for the career. I feel like the main character is being a push over and needs to drop those negative been like a hot potato. Maybe I’ll finish it, but I’m not sure!

Welp, that is my Japan TBR on top of my already long TBR from earlier this month. I know for a fact that I am not going to be finishing all of these books, but at least I know that I have options! Am I right?! It is better to have too many options then no options at all!

Until next time, Happy Reading!

~Courtny

Cozy Releases| May 2019

CourtagonistLeave a comment

Read on Arrival

Read on Arrival
A Bookmobile Mystery
Nora Page
Book 2

Releases May 7th
https://amzn.to/2vvQz1q

Septuagenarian librarian Cleo Watkins believes in gracious manners, sweet tea, and justice—library justice. For over forty years, Cleo has tried every trick in the book to get delinquent patron Dixie Huddleston to return the most overdue volume in Catalpa Springs, Georgia. When Dixie says she’ll finally relinquish the book, Cleo is shocked. She’s even more startled by the reason: superstitious Dixie says she’s seen the signs: she’s about to die and is setting her affairs in order.

Cleo dismisses Dixie’s ominous omens…until she and her gentleman friend, Henry Lafayette, arrive at Dixie’s home to find her dead. Cleo suspects murder. The police agree but promptly list Cleo among the likely culprits. To clear her good name and deliver justice, Cleo uses her librarian skills to investigate, with Henry and her trusty bookmobile cat, Rhett Butler, at her side.

However, the killer has opened a new chapter of terror. Death threats appear around town, and residents start seeing bad luck everywhere, including in Cleo and her beloved bookmobile Words on Wheels. With her bookmobile and legacy on the line, Cleo accelerates her sleuthing. Suspects and clues stack up, but so does the danger. Another death is coming due, and Cleo fears the killer may be about to turn the final page on someone she loves most.

The Satapur Moonstone

The Satapur Moonstone
A Perveen Mystery Novel
Sujata Massey
Book 2
Releases May 14th
https://amzn.to/2PAxXGI

India, 1922: It is rainy season in the lush, remote Sahyadri mountains, where the princely state of Satapur is tucked away. A curse seems to have fallen upon Satapur’s royal family, whose maharaja died of a sudden illness shortly before his teenage son was struck down in a tragic hunting accident. The state is now ruled by an agent of the British Raj on behalf of Satapur’s two maharanis, the dowager queen and her daughter-in-law.

The royal ladies are in a dispute over the education of the young crown prince, and a lawyer’s counsel is required. However, the maharanis live in purdah and do not speak to men. Just one person can help them: Perveen Mistry, Bombay’s only female lawyer. Perveen is determined to bring peace to the royal house and make a sound recommendation for the young prince’s future, but she arrives to find that the Satapur palace is full of cold-blooded power plays and ancient vendettas. Too late, she realizes she has walked into a trap. But whose? And how can she protect the royal children from the palace’s deadly curse?

 

A Twist in the Tail

A Twist in the Tail
An Absolutely Perfect Cozy Myster
Leighann Dobbs
Releases May 16th
Book 1
https://amzn.to/2VEqkod
$2.99!

Josie Waters has to admit she may have acted a bit hastily when she agreed to purchase the Oyster Cove Guesthouse – a charmingly gabled Victorian mansion on the breathtaking Maine coast – from elderly family friend Millie Sullivan. But Josie was desperate to flee Ohio and in particular her ex-husband, a chef who loved his job so much he left her for it. And anyway, how hard can running a guesthouse be?

The truth is, Oyster Cove Guesthouse is a mouldering money pit with falling-in roof and a cohort of regular guests who are as mischievous as a litter of kittens. And Millie keeps dropping by to dispense unasked-for advice. And Josie might have made a mistake in promising to adopt Oyster Cove’s two resident cats Nero and Marlowe, and treat them in the manner to which they’ve become accustomed. Josie has never had a cat before… let alone two feisty felines who think they own the place.

Ok, it’s not going well. At least it can’t get any worse, Josie thinks. Until her first guest ends up dead.

Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches

Murder with Cucumber Sandwiches
A Daisy’s Tea Garden Mystery
Karen Rose Smith
Book 3
https://amzn.to/2V3Ehwy

Daisy’s Tea Garden in Pennsylvania’s Amish country is known for its elegant  finger foods—but now owner Daisy Swanson has to finger a killer . . .

Restaurant critic Derek Schumaker, notorious for his bitter reviews, is about to visit Daisy’s Tea Garden, and Daisy and Aunt Iris are simmering with anxiety. A bad word from the culinary curmudgeon could really hurt their business, but Daisy tries to stay confident. After all, how can he resist her cucumber sandwiches with pimento spread—not to mention the cheesy cauliflower soup and strawberry walnut salad?

Schumaker takes a to-go order when the afternoon tea service is done, which Daisy hopes is a good sign. But when he perishes from a seizure, it looks like his food was dosed with something deadly. Considering a threat that recently appeared on his blog—and whispers of scandal in his past—Daisy has quite an assortment of suspects to sift through . . .

Murder, She Uncovered

Murder, She Uncovered
Murder, She Reported Series
Peg Cochran
Book 2
Releases May 28th
https://amzn.to/2WfOt1x
$4.99

An intrepid 1930s Manhattan socialite uncovers deadly secrets during an assignment to the Hamptons in this riveting historical cozy mystery for readers of Victoria Thompson, Anne Perry, and Rhys Bowen.

Westhampton, 1938. To the dismay of her well-to-do family, Elizabeth “Biz” Adams is quickly establishing herself as a seasoned photographer over at the Daily Trumpet. Growing more confident in her decision to pursue a career, Elizabeth is thrilled when she and her reporter sidekick, Ralph Kaminsky, are sent to Long Island to cover the story of a young maid found dead in one of the glamourous summer homes in the devastating aftermath of the Great New England Hurricane—also known as the Long Island Express.  

At first it’s assumed that the young woman was caught in the terrible storm, but when a suspicious wound is found on the side of her head, the police suspect murder. The maid’s death becomes even more tragic when it’s discovered she was pregnant, and with Elizabeth and Kaminsky at the scene of the crime, the Daily Trumpet scoops all the other papers in town.

The young woman’s boyfriend emerges as the likeliest suspect. But as Elizabeth follows the story, she begins to wonder whether someone in the household of the maid’s employers might be responsible—someone who’ll stop at nothing to keep the truth about the baby’s paternity hidden. . . .

Cozy Releases: August 2018

CourtagonistLeave a comment

Tea Talk Episode

Hello everyone! I hope you are having an amazing Summer! My Summer Vacation has been wonderful! Full of reading, filming, and reviewing! I have absolutely loved it! All of these wonderful books will release on August 28th and they are all the 2nd in their series!

AugustCozy Mystery Releases.png

61M3+2Lyf7L._SY346_

Goodbye Cruller World
A Deputy Donut Mystery
Author: Ginger Bolton
https://amzn.to/2LOMlIX

Normally, Emily’s eyes tend to glaze over when prospective brides go on about their wedding plans. But when the owner of the clothing shop, Dressed to Kill, asks Emily to design a donut wall for her reception, she’s immediately sweet on the idea. With the help of her father-in-law and business partner—the former police chief of Fallingbrook—she hangs the treats from dowels on the wall so guests can help themselves.

But that night, when the groom ends up on the floor with signs of poisoning, Emily suspects someone has tampered with her treats. When the groom dies, there’s no way to sugarcoat it: she’s got a murder on her hands. Despite a list of suspects as long as the guest list, Emily vows to find out who created the killer confection to save her shop’s reputation and keep the bride out of handcuffs. She’ll have to move fast . . . before the poisoner takes a powder.

51yn6vJ8n8L._SY346_Dim Sum of All Fears
A Noodle Shop Mystery
Author: Vivien Chien
https://amzn.to/2JZezPg

Lana Lee is a dutiful daughter, waiting tables at her family’s Chinese restaurant even though she’d rather be doing just about anything else. Then, just when she has a chance for a “real” job, her parents take off to Taiwan, leaving Lana in charge. Surprising everyone—including herself—she turns out to be quite capable of running the place. Unfortunately, the newlyweds who just opened the souvenir store next door to Ho-Lee have turned up dead. . .and soon Lana finds herself in the midst of an Asia Village mystery.

Between running the Ho-Lee and trying to figure out whether the rock-solid Detective Adam Trudeau is actually her boyfriend, Lana knows she shouldn’t pry into the case. But the more she learns about the dead husband, his ex-wives, and all the murky details of the couple’s past, the more Lana thinks that this so-called murder/suicide is a straight-up order of murder. . .

51A0V2D5bOL._SX300_BO1,204,203,200_Died in the Wool
A Knit & Nibble Mystery
Author: Peggy Ehrhart
https://amzn.to/2LCApNl

Pamela is ready to kick back and relax after a busy day selling stuffed aardvarks to benefit Arborville High School’s sports program at the annual town festival. But just as she’s packing up, she makes a terrible discovery—someone’s stashed a body under the Knit and Nibble’s table. The victim is Randall Jefferson, a decidedly unpopular history teacher after his recent op-ed criticizing the school’s sports program. But the primary suspect has an alibi, and the only clue is a stuffed aardvark found on the victim’s chest . . . Now the Knit and Nibblers must unravel the case quickly—before a crafty killer repeats a deadly pattern.

51M551g8XzL._SY346_Stabbed in the Baklava
A Kebab Kitchen Mystery
Author: Tina Kashian
https://amzn.to/2LLIPPj

Lucy Berberian has taken over her family’s Mediterranean restaurant on the Jersey Shore after an unsatisfying stint at a Philadelphia law firm. It’s great to be back in her old beach town, even if she’s turning into a seasoned sleuth . . .

Catering a high-society wedding should bring in some big income for Kebab Kitchen—and raise its profile too. But it’s not exactly good publicity when the best man winds up skewered like a shish kebab. Worse yet, Lucy’s ex, Azad—who’s the restaurant’s new head chef—is the prime suspect. But she doesn’t give a fig what the cops think. He may have killer looks, but he’s no murderer. She just needs to prove his innocence, before he has to go on the lamb . . .

51YsGGvDSeLSupport Your Local Pug
A Pet Palace Mystery
Author: Lane Stone
https://amzn.to/2uPQtls

When a break-in at the Pet Palace robs Sue Patrick of more than her beauty sleep, she intends to tidy her ransacked doggy daycare and spa before making any rash decisions. But after Sue abandons her better instincts to rescue a petrified pug stranded at a lighthouse in the Delaware Bay later that morning, she’s lured off mainland Lewes long enough for a freshly murdered body to get dumped in her driveway . . .

 Aided by Lady Anthea Fitzwalter, her practically royal business partner from across the pond, Sue sniffs out clues about the yappy pug with a complicated history and the old car spotted at both crime scenes in hopes of IDing the culprit. As the investigation leads them back to the bay, the ladies soon find themselves immersed in a case trickier than a canine agility course—and chasing after a well-groomed killer who will do anything to maintain a perfect reputation . . .

 

PLEASE NOTE THAT SOME OF THE LINKS ABOVE ARE AFFILIATE LINKS, AND AT NO ADDITIONAL COST TO YOU, I WILL EARN A COMMISSION IF YOU DECIDE TO MAKE A PURCHASE AFTER CLICKING THROUGH THE LINK. PLEASE UNDERSTAND THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED ALL OF THESE COMPANIES, AND I RECOMMEND THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE HELPFUL AND USEFUL, NOT BECAUSE OF THE SMALL COMMISSIONS I MAKE. IF YOU DECIDE TO BUY SOMETHING THROUGH MY LINKS, PLEASE DO NOT SPEND ANY MONEY ON THESE PRODUCTS UNLESS YOU FEEL YOU NEED THEM OR THAT THEY WILL HELP YOU ACHIEVE YOUR GOALS.