Fiction, Cozy Mystery

3***

Blurb: Murder disrupts the peaceful, predictable daily routine of life for four quirky librarians who must protect their life-altering secrets in the first contemporary mystery from USA Today bestselling author Sherry Thomas.

Sometimes a workplace isn’t just a workplace but a place of safety, understanding, and acceptance. And sometimes murder threatens the sanctity of that beloved refuge…. In the leafy suburbs of Austin, Texas, a small branch library welcomes the public every day of the week. But the patrons who love the helpful, unobtrusive staff and leave rave reviews on Yelp don’t always realize that their librarians are human, too. Hazel flees halfway across the world for what she hopes will be a new beginning. Jonathan, a six-foot-four former college football player, has never fit in anywhere else. Astrid tries to forget her heartbreak by immersing herself in work, but the man who ghosted her six months ago is back, promising trouble. And Sophie, who has the most to lose, maintains a careful and respectful distance from her coworkers, but soon that won’t be enough anymore. When two patrons turn up dead after the library’s inaugural murder mystery–themed game night, the librarians’ quiet routines come crashing down. Something sinister has stirred, something that threatens every single one of them. And the only way the librarians can save the library—and themselves—is to let go of their secrets, trust one another, and band together…. All in a day’s work.

THOUGHTS: The librarian in me was really looking forward to this book. Unfortunately, I had trouble getting into the story. The only saving grace for me was the ending. This story takes place in a small branch library in Austin, TX. There are four librarians: Sophie (branch manager), Hazel (brand new to the library), Jonathan (big guy librarian, ex-football player), and Astrid (librarian). Each one has secrets of their own that they are reluctant to share, but when a murder happens that ties the library to it, they have to come clean.

Honestly, with all the different POVs, this reminded me a little of the movie “Clue”. We learn all about each one, and about their secrets, and why they kept such secrets. They band together to help each other and to help solve the mystery.

It’s an “okay” book, but not one I’d read again. It’s not bad, it’s just not great.

Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher 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”

Fiction, Cozy Mystery, British

4****

Blurb: The annual Charleton House Food Festival is about to begin. But the first item on the menu is murder… Nestled in the idyllic setting of Derbyshire’s rolling hills, the ancestral home of the Fitzwilliam-Scott family seems an unlikely location for murder. But when a young man is bludgeoned to death with the portafilter of a coffee machine, recent thefts from local stately homes are put in the shade, and caffeine-loving café manager Sophie Lockwood finds her interest piqued by a pair of unusual cases. Who would want to brutally murder a gentle giant of a man? And why would a thief, with an endless treasure trove to choose from, make off with a bowl from Charleton House that only has sentimental value? Enlisting the help of her charismatic and eccentric colleagues, including quick-witted tour guide Mark, Sophie sets off to extract inside information from Detective Constable Joe Greene in return for a generous supply of chocolate croissants. But just as Sophie finds her suspicions falling on a likely suspect, a trail of coffee beans leads to a shocking revelation that turns her caffeine-fuelled investigation on its head. Fans of T E Kinsey and M C Beaton will love Death By Dark Roast. Join Sophie and the Charleton House team for a festival of coffee, cake and crime.

THOUGHTS: this was a very British cozy mystery set in a Duke’s “castle”. During a food festival held on the grounds of the estate, there is a theft, and a murder. Sophie is the manager of the three cafes on the grounds and is a coffee addict. There are two competing coffee companies in attendance. Sophie’s preference is the one run by two sisters. But when one of the men in the other mobile unit is found murdered, they become suspects—as well as several other people. And Sophie is determined to figure out who did it.

This is a good start to the series. There are plenty of twists and turns and a satisfying ending.

Recommended.

Series: The Wonder of Wildflowers

Author: Ann M. Trader

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Steamy, Strong Language

Blurb: Blurb: Prim Vreeland is an emergency department nurse, and after a string of disappointing relationships, her own heart needs life support. On a leap of faith, she moves home and is surprised when her brother’s best friend—and her secret childhood crush—has the same idea. As attraction sparks, she finds her usual steady footsteps treading on quicksand. Sportfishing media influencer Chase Bova realizes it’s time to swap life on the road for hometown roots. When he crosses paths with Prim, she tangles his line, tying it in knots. Her charm reminds him why he’d steered clear of her years ago…and should probably do the same now. As their irresistible connection turns into romance, questions of honesty and commitment linger. Will Prim and Chase dig deep for the courage to face their past and together, discover what really lies between today and someday?

Buy link: Books2Read Universal Link

Author Bio: I enjoy spending time with my family and exploring recipes on the lighter side of southern comfort foods. I’m a member of Heart of Carolina Romance Writers, and I love relaxing on my back porch to read and write. These days I take walks around my neighborhood, but when I was sixteen, I hiked the Grand Canyon with a group of friends. I love watching television dramas (in no special order) Palm Royale, The Buccaneers, The Bear, 1923, Emily in Paris, Outlander, Shrinking, Shogun, Bridgertons, Outer Banks, Stranger Things, The Crown, and Peaky Blinders and reading a great romance book.

Social Links:

https://www.amazon.com/author/annmtrader

https://bsky.app/profile/anntrader5.bsky.social

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ann-m-trader

https://www.facebook.com/annmtraderbooks

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21925238.Ann_M_Trader

https://annmtrader.com

https://x.com/anntrader5

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.