In Murder We Trust by Eleanor Hyde

In Murder We Trust by Eleanor Hyde

My rating: 4 of 5 stars
At first, I was a little confused by the cast of characters. But, eventually, I figured out the people and how they were connected. I thought the ending was well thought out and smart. I couldn't believe the dog's name is Columbo- my parents have a basset hound with the same name! Too funny! Overall, it was a little dry at times, but smart enough to keep me interested.

Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell

Secondhand Spirits by Juliet Blackwell

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Well, it was different than what I was expecting. There were excellent and realistic depictions of witchcraft mixed with the more fantastical Hollywood depictions of it. I felt conflicted by this throughout the entire book. I guess I don't understand why the author chose to mix realism with fantasy as much as she did. Weird. I enjoyed the store and the cast of characters quite a bit. I liked the setting, the action, and most aspects of the story. I just didn't like the real versus Hollywood versions of magic. It was just so inconsistent for me that it took away some of my enjoyment. I would be willing to give the next book in the series a try though. There were definitely enough positives for me to go into the next one with an open mind.

The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax

The Unexpected Mrs. Pollifax by Dorothy Gilman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars
I'll be honest. I had a hard time getting through the beginning of this book. It was written with a bit more formality than I expected. It just didn't grab me right from the start, so it felt like a chore to read. However, that view quickly changed once I got into the meat of the story. The action of the second half is fast paced and exciting. By the end of the book, I really liked Mrs. Pollifax and would gladly read more of her adventures. She showed that she is smart and resourceful, and I didn't feel that I needed to suspend as much disbelief as I thought I would when I read the description. Overall, I enjoyed the book and I'm glad I stuck it out until the end.

Remains of the Dead by Wendy Roberts

The Remains of the Dead by Wendy Roberts


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
I did not want to put this one down! This is not a light, cozy read but it was very engrossing. If you can't sit through an episode of CSI, however, you will probably want to skip this book. It is more descriptive of crime scenes than pretty much any book I've ever read and the crime scenes are far from pleasant. But, I loved the main characters and the storyline. I thought some of the clues were very obvious along the way, but missed a big one that was revealed in the final chapter. Kudos to the author for that last chapter because it was fantastic. I was already quite pleased with how things happened, but then I was pleasantly surprised to find just one more twist. If this is the author's first book, I am more than impressed and I expect great things to come from her. I look forward to reading more in this series. Excellent first book in a series and highly recommended for anyone that likes mysteries with a little bit of the paranormal and that doesn't mind a little gore. :)

Merciless by Richard Montanari

Merciless: A Novel of Suspense by Richard Montanari


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Normally, I don't read this type of mystery novel, but it was recommended to me by someone at a garage sale and I thought I'd give it a try. I can say it was good, but not a favorite. It's harder than the cozy mysteries I tend to read, which is to be expected, but I think it contributed to why I wasn't in love with it. I really enjoyed the fairy tale angle and would like to see that theme more often. I recently ordered a Grimm's Fairy Tale book because they are amazing to read as an adult, especially in a more pure form than say Disney would allow. The descriptions of the area were really good and I thought the plot was strong. I think if I venture into harder mysteries in the future, I will look this author up and see what else he has to offer. :)

A Tisket, a Tasket, a Fancy Stolen Casket by Fran Rizer

A Tisket, A Tasket, A Fancy Stolen Casket by Fran Rizer


rating: 5 of 5 stars
I really loved this book! I liked that the main character works in the funeral business because it's a bit quirkier than usual. I love that her best friend is blind, wonderfully flawed, and holds an unusual job as well. I enjoyed the mystery and most of the resolution. There were a lot of references to other books, or shout-outs if you will, and I liked that. There was very little that I didn't like about the book. It was a little bit quirky, a lot of fun, and even a little informative at times. The main characters were fleshed out nicely and I can't wait to read more of this series. I feel like I'm totally gushing, but I really did enjoy it and it's nice to be so excited about a series again. :)

Ghouls Just Haunt to Have Fun by Victoria Laurie

Ghouls Just Haunt to Have Fun by Victoria Laurie


rating: 5 of 5 stars
I loved it! I've enjoyed this series from the beginning and this installment was fantastic. I liked the change in scenery, I liked the plot, the action, just about everything. I was a little disappointed by one aspect of the reveal, but the rest of it was so good, that I can totally overlook it. (I wanted to know more about someone that played a big part in the mystery. Don't worry, I won't spoil it for you!) There was a new character introduced that I liked very much. It sounds like the author has also found an interesting way to keep things moving with upcoming books. I can't wait for more in this series! :)

Recipe for Murder by Lisa Harris

Recipe for Murder by Lisa Harris


rating: 1 of 5 stars
If I had noticed that this was a Christian mystery novel, I never would have requested it from paperbackswap.com. But, as it stands, I didn't notice it and it's a shame. I don't mind a little bit of religion in novels, but I need for it to be VERY subtle. However, in this case, the author even mentions in her blurb that she sees writing as an extension of her ministry. For me, that is NOT a good thing. It was far too preachy for me and I just did not like the book. If you enjoy mysteries with a Christian theme, then you will likely love this book. If you don't enjoy that, then just steer clear and save yourself the trouble. I wish I hadn't read it. I hate leaving such a negative review for a book, but it can't be helped in this case. Sorry!

Night of the Loving Dead by Casey Daniels

Night of the Loving Dead by Casey Daniels


rating: 4 of 5 stars
Wow! I think this is my new favorite book in the series. I will admit that it was just a touch slow in the beginning and that I was worried that it wasn't going to live up to my expectations. Thankfully, I was very wrong! It quickly picked up and I soon found it difficult to put the book down. We finally get to learn a lot about Dan, which I really appreciated. I've been waiting for more of his story for way too long. :) Now I'm really looking forward to more in this series.

Passion, Betrayal, and Killer Highlights

Number 68: Passion, Betrayal, and Killer Highlights by Kyra Davis

I must confess that I have a weakness for Red Dress Ink books. RDI is chick lit headquarters in my world. I've read a LOT of RDI books. I'd be embarrassed if I weren't their target demographic. But, of course, they know me and what I like. :)

Anyway, I read the first novel in this series, Sex, Murder & a Double Latte, when it first came out and thought it was great. I knew this was going to be a series I'd enjoy. I'm happy to say that I found this second installment in the Sophie Katz series to be a very enjoyable story. I kept waffling over who the bad guy was and exactly how all the characters were involved with one another. I really had a hard time deciding who was behind what and how much each person was involved with the mystery. Good stuff. I like that Sophie has a bit of a mouth on her, but I am sometimes surprised at her inability to keep it in check when the situation calls for it. However, I know people like that in real life though, so I guess I can't judge that too harshly, eh? Some might even imply that I'm similar to the main character in that regard. But, I honestly believe I would have bit my tongue a few times when Sophie didn't. Oh well. It's not a big deal and it didn't really take away from my enjoyment of the story. I love this mystery/chick lit series so far and I can't wait to read the next one, Obsession, Deceit, and Really Dark Chocolate.