Fiction, Cozy Mystery, Paranormal

4****

Blurb: It’s date night! And medium Pyper Rayne is finally getting some alone time with her oh-so-sexy new boyfriend, Julius. But when a representative from the Witches’ Council shows up during appetizers, the romance portion of the evening comes to a screeching halt. Julius is needed to deal with paranormal activity—on a cruise ship to the Caribbean. An all-expense paid cruise to the Caribbean sounds like the perfect second date… until Pyper witnesses the death of a famous rock star. Suddenly Pyper and Julius are caught in the middle of a decade-old homicide. Now the race is on to solve the mystery or history is destined to repeat itself.

THOUGHTS: Wow! I loved this book. Okay, I had a little trouble getting into it because it’s the second in the series and I believe the first book probably set everything up. But that doesn’t mean I didn’t like it.

In this one, the main character, Pyper, her boyfriend, Julius, and their friends are assigned to a cruise to get rid of nasty ghosts/spirits. And there is a lot of nastiness going on. The characters are the best part of this story. Pyper is a medium who can see and talk to ghosts. Julius was a ghost but now is real and a witch who works for the council of witches. And then there’s Ida May – an irreverent ghost who follows Pyper around, adding a bit of comedic effect to the story that gets rather intense at times.

Even though this is a mystery, there is also romance going on between Julius and Pyper – but it’s all very clean. After all, Julius is from the 1800s and is a very proper gentleman (hah!). But there is a satisfying ending (in more ways than one).

Recommended.

PUT ANOTHER CRIME IN THE JUKEBOX by Misty Simon

Fiction, Cozy Mystery, #2 in Series

5*****

Blurb: Welcome to the Sunny Side Up Diner, where the jukeboxes jive and the secrets thrive…With her dream of opening a diner in her small hometown realized, Jax Tapman finally feels like her life is on the right track. She and her best friend and business partner, Dani, have lots of customers. Things are promising with her new boyfriend, Eliot. And she’s looking forward to a relaxing evening at the local movie theater with Dani and her bestie’s mom. Unfortunately, there’s one thing that can always ruin a gal’s good mood—murder. When the curtain goes down on the film, Jax finds a woman’s dead body in the front of the theater. Worse yet, the victim was last seen alive in a knock down drag out fight with Dani’s mom. Suddenly Dani’s desperate, her mom’s a suspect, and Jax finds herself caught up in another murder investigation that has her in way over her head. She quickly finds that diving into the history of the two older women is not as easy as whipping up the fluffy pancakes everyone loves on a Sunday morning. Between the secrets, lies, and a pair of mysterious keys Jax finds hidden in her vintage jukebox, she’s not sure who to trust. With her friendship on the line and danger closing in, it’s up to Jax to uncover the truth…or die trying.

THOUGHTS: I fell in love with this series with the first book and this one was a good addition. In this one, Jax is trying to help her best friend Dani prove that Dani’s mother didn’t kill off her old enemy. They come up with a lot of suspects, but almost all paths lead to Nancy (Dani’s mom). As bad as Dani’s relationship is with her mom—and it is nasty—Nancy is still her mother. So Jax, her new beau Eliot, Dani, and Dani’s new boyfriend Ian go into sleuth mode and look for the real killer. But there are a lot of snags along the way. Like threatening notes left on Jax’s windshield.

I love the “Spy Spindle” that they use at the diner – when someone hears some bit of gossip that might have something to do with the murder, it goes on an order sheet on the spindle. I love how Jax’s cat Stella Luna is obsessed with Eliot. I love the quirky characters and the setting and the way everyone interacts with everyone else. This story is in true Misty Simon style with laughs among the sleuthing. Expect fun, great characters, and a thread with a key attached that continues from the first book into this one and goes on. I can’t wait to read the next one.

Definitely recommended.

TEA AND TRICKERY by Wendy Ledger

Fiction, Paranormal Cozy Mystery

3***

Blurb: A haunted house. A talking cat familiar. A ghostly ally.Ella Kelly thought she’d found true love. But when she discovered his cheating ways, Ella was more than ready to leave her old life behind . . . if only she knew what to do next! Her wish came true with a surprising a charming tea shop in an intriguing California town. But managing a tea shop can brew up all sorts of troubles. There’s a murder to solve, a haunted house calling her name, and a cat familiar who’s not sure he’s up to the task. And maybe her mother could have told her she was a witch? Will Ella and her shy sidekick be able to crack this case and bring peace to her town? Tea and Trickery is the first book in the paranormal cozy series, The Witches of Whittaker Mysteries. If you love magical cats, tantalizing teas, and supernatural shops, you’ll adore this enchanting tale.

THOUGHTS: This is a paranormal cozy mystery. The main character, Ella, dumps her cheating boyfriend and heads for a small town where her aunt left her a tea shop and apartment—oh, and a shy cat. She also left a legacy as Ella finds out she’s a witch and her cat, Rumor, is her familiar. And there are other witches in the town, and a family—the Whittakers—who do not like Ella’s family. She discovered all this when the ghost of her aunt shows up to talk to her. 

Yes, there is a lot going on in this story. I loved Rumor, the cat. He’s so shy and unsure of himself but ends up being a hero in the end. Unfortunately, I kept getting Rumor the cat mixed up with Rowan, her uncle. (There’s a reason not to name major characters with similar names.) There were things in the story that didn’t quite make sense to me, and it had a strange, but satisfying ending. 

Overall, it’s a cute story, but without a lot of meat and we’re left with a dangling thread at the end that leads to other stories I hope. 

Recommended with cautions.

GHOST APPEAL by Louisa West

Fiction, Paranormal Cozy Mystery

4****

Blurb: I didn’t choose the boo life. The boo life chose me.
I’m Ivy Hearst and I’ve always had a spook-tacular talent for seeing ghosts. It’s just part of who I am. When I was small it used to give me the heebie-jeebies, but as I got older I learned to embrace my gift. Now, as a spiritual medium, I get to help others handle their own spirit experiences and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Normally. Seeing the ghost of a dearly departed client whose house I just performed a spiritual cleansing in? That’s a new one. And it’s landed me in hot water. Now I’ve gotta put my gift to work and ghost-bust a murderer. With a bossy apparition all up in my business and the Savannah PD side-eying me as a suspect, this won’t be easy. A web of mystery and danger is being woven around me. Evil spirits and the killer are closing in, and I’ll have to walk the shadowy line between the dead and the living to uncover the truth. The clock is ticking, and the supernatural forces around me are only growing stronger. Can I bring a murderer to justice before I get thrown in the slammer–or into the afterlife myself? Ghost Appeal is the prequel novella to Louisa West’s new series of Sleepy Hollow Mysteries. In it, Louisa does a great job introducing the reader to her main character, spiritual medium Ivy Hearst. Set in the haunted city of Savannah, Ivy has been able to see ghosts all her life and has chosen to help others deal with their supernatural visitors. However when a particularly dangerous entity sets its sights on Ivy she is forced to make a change that will take her all the way to Sleepy Hollow, NY. This is a great beginning to what promises to be a fun new series. Ms. West has done a great job setting the stage for book one and I can’t wait to read it.

THOUGHTS: What an interesting start to a new series. Ivy lives in Savannah, Georgia and deals with ghosts. But demons? That’s a whole ‘nuther world—and not a good one. She takes on Polly, a witch, as a client to help cleanse her home of a dark spirit but things don’t go exactly to plan as the next day Polly shows up on her doorstep—dead. In order to prove that she didn’t do the deed, she needs to find the real killer, but it means dipping into some dark places that could mean her own death. Getting away from the evil that is pursuing her, she needs to leave Savannah. With the help of a friend, she gets a job in Sleepy Hollow, NY. Yes, that Sleepy Hollow! And the series is off and running.

Interesting characters, good setting (hot and humid!), twists and turns that keep you interested. And a good prequel to the upcoming stories.

Recommended.

FOR MY NEXT TRICK… by Andrew Grey

Fiction, M/M Contemporary Romance, Cruise, novella (88 pages)

4****

Blurb: Nathaniel picked his pocket, stole his watch, put him in his own handcuffs… and that was just the foreplay. Nathaniel Weatherby works as a cruise ship magician and comedian. He’s also a thief, or at least he was. He left his family and their family business behind some years ago and uses his skills to entertain rather than cheat and steal. But when jewelry goes missing on board, his past comes back to haunt him. Maryland police officer Randy Messier is on the cruise ship hoping for a little vacation, but also to keep his eyes open. There have been rumors, and the cruise line is determined to keep its passengers safe. Randy isn’t sure what to do when he gets pulled on stage, but he doesn’t expect Nathaniel to comically rob him blind and leave him in his own handcuffs. After getting Randy’s attention on stage, the two men circle each like moths to each other’s flame, drawing them ever closer. But when jewelry is stolen, Randy’s first suspicion falls on Nathaniel. Even when Nathaniel has an alibi, Randy still isn’t convinced. It becomes clear that the only way for them to possibly move forward is to catch the real thief. Even then, their growing attraction might not be enough.

THOUGHTS: This isn’t the “Love Boat” but there is definitely romance on the high seas as Nathaniel meets Randy while both are working on a high-end cruise ship. Nathaniel is a professional magician working as entertainment for the cruise while Randy is a Baltimore detective working undercover with security to find a thief. When jewels go missing, Randy’s first thought is Nathaniel, but cameras prove it wasn’t him. Unfortunately, Nathaniel knows who the thief is and goes about trying to help Randy catch them. Meanwhile, romance blossoms for both men and they have to figure out a way to make things work.

The characters are realistic and I loved the interaction between Randy and Nathaniel when the magician pulls him up on stage and uses him as a patsy, lifting his wallet, ID, and even his handcuffs – which Nathaniel easily gets out of and clicks on Randy while they’re dancing in front of the audience. Best scene of the book for me. And the ending was perfect. Nicely done.

Recommended.

MURDER SHE WROTE: SNOWY WITH A CHANCE OF MURDER by Jessica Fletcher

Cozy Mystery, Series, co-writer: Barbara Early

5*****

Blurb: In a nod to Rear Window, this newest entry in the USA Today bestselling Murder, She Wrote series finds Jessica Fletcher coping with an injury that leaves her homebound—and a murder just outside her window! Jessica Fletcher has taken a nasty spill on the ice, leaving her in a wheelchair for several weeks. She tries to work on her latest manuscript but finds herself distracted by a new neighbor moving in across the street. There’s good reason for her to be distracted, because soon after unpacking his sparse belongings, Mr. Rymer is out in the front yard, building somewhat risqué ( naked) snow sculptures. While Cabot Cove debates whether the sculptures are a protected form of art or a public display of lewdness, someone starts destroying them at night. Rymer doesn’t seem upset. He just makes new ones. No need to get the police involved over a little snow, he says. Especially when there’s plenty more of it and a blizzard in the forecast. The morning after the storm, Jessica looks out the window to see a new sculpture across the street—and the body of Mr. Rymer half-buried in the snow. Can Jessica catch a cold-blooded killer from her chair by the window?

THOUGHTS: I love this series, just as I did the old TV shows, and this one is no different. In fact, while reading it, I can “hear” Jessica’s voice and Seth’s and all the other Cabot Cove old-timers. And this far into a series, I know how the characters are supposed to act and that things will turn out just right in the end – which they do.

In this one, Jessica is supposed to go on a cruise, but in leaving her house, she slips on ice and takes a nasty fall which leaves her wheelchair bound for several weeks. Seth helps her hire a live-in caretaker who will help her out until she’s okay again. Alice is a sweet girl who does a lot for Jessica. In addition there’s a regular flow of neighbors and friends through the house (mostly the kitchen) to help keep Jessica company – and to gossip about the “sculptor” who moved into the rental across the street. His snow art has the genteel folks of Cabot Cove chatting for days about his graphic, and sometimes lewd, snow sculptures. Enough to make someone made enough to destroy them. In addition, there’s a thief running around stealing clothes and food, and there are two deaths – a food truck owner, and the artist. Even though Jessica can’t get around very well, what she digs up helps the sheriff solve the mysteries.

Problems: It was obvious to me right away that something was going on with Jessica and who was doing it, but I didn’t quite know why until the end so that was well done. I also didn’t much care for the extraneous bits with Alice’s writing – it did kind of make sense in the end, but it was more like filler than anything. But I will have to say I laughed at Jessica’s issues with driving the wheelchair. Nice bit of comedic relief there. Overall, a decent addition to the series.

Recommended.

Disclosure of Material: Thanks to Netgalley and Berkley I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising” 

LUCK BE A LADY by Gemma Halliday and T.Sue VerSteeg

Fiction, Cozy Mystery

4****

Blurb: Tessie King has just inherited the biggest casino in South Lake Tahoe, Nevada: the Royal Lakeside. What she didn’t bargain for are the problems she’d inherit with it. Having left Tahoe years ago, the underbelly of the casino trade is a far cry from the art world Tessie is used to. High-stakes cons, inside jobs, wise guys… Tessie quickly realizes she’s in way over her head. And things go from bad to worse when questions start to arise about the nature of her father’s death. Enter FBI agent Devin Ryder, member of the Nevada Organized Crime Task Force. He’s had his eye on the Royal Palace for months, and with the suspicious death of its leader, Ryder now has Tessie squarely in his sights. If Tessie doesn’t want to be running her casino from behind bars, she needs to find out how her father really died, who’s behind it, why, and how to get them into Agent Ryder’s hot little hands before he gets his hands on her. All the while catching a con-man, beating the competition, and running a multi-million dollar business.
Tough job? Fo’get about it. All in a day’s work for this lady luck.

THOUGHTS: This was an interesting cozy mystery in that you had the usual trope of a young, single woman returning to where she spent part of her childhood and meeting up with old friends, but that’s where the comparison to other cozies stops. Tess has returned to the casino her father owned only to find out that upon his death, she became the new owner. She hasn’t been there in several years and even while growing up only spent some holidays and summer vacations there. He divorced her mother when she was two and her mother moved from Lake Tahoe to San Francisco. So they weren’t close. But Tess discovers how much her father actually cared for her – and then she finds out that he was murdered. And she is the head of the casino for only ten days until the board of directors meet. And someone is stealing big money and jewels from the patrons. And the head of security doesn’t want her there. But she has her best friend from when they were kids – he now works the front desk. And her teen heart throb who is a famous snowboarder who helps promote the casino. And a hot FBI agent who’s looking into possible mafia connections.

Tess has a lot on the line if she’s going to get ahead of what’s happening. Plus, she needs to decide if this is what she wants—give up being the curator for her art gallery in order to take on all the issues with the casino. But her father didn’t raise her to be a quitter.

Recommended.