Cozy Mystery Corner discussion

It’s time to sign up to choose our group reads for 2021. We're still going to try to get selectors for a quarter, but if there's a specific month you want, we'll reserve it for you. You can volunteer to choose, or be a back-up if you'd prefer.

Let us know if you have any questions or need any clarification.

Hilary reminded I needed to set this up, so if she wants to, we'll have her choose our January books.

Any volunteers for February and March?

Put me on the back-up list, please, thanks :) Will there be a new list of themes, or will we keep working with the old one?

jaxnsmom wrote: "Hilary reminded I needed to set this up, so if she wants to, we'll have her choose our January books.

Any volunteers for February and March?"

Yep I will happily do January!

Oh do we have a list for the next year?

Okay thinking about A Dark and Stormy Murder by Julia Buckley and Buried in a Bog by Sheila Connolly for January - let me know if these are okay (my pick would be the Sheila Connolly for outside the US with the Julia Buckley being my personal pick).

I will gladly pick some books in 2021. I just picked in December so it fine to push me out to month further in year.

Barb wrote: "Put me on the back-up list, please, thanks :) Will there be a new list of themes, or will we keep working with the old one?"

Ok, want to choose for February?

We'll go with the same list of themes. Does anyone want to add any new ones?

Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review) wrote: "Okay thinking about A Dark and Stormy Murder by Julia Buckley and Buried in a Bog by Sheila Con..."</i>

Hilary, would you mind picking another book instead of [book:A Dark and Stormy Murder? We read that one less than two years ago, so it's a little too soon to read it again.

Hi - I can pick for one of those months if you don’t have any takers.

Lea wrote: "Hi - I can pick for one of those months if you don’t have any takers."

If Barb picks for February, do you want to choose for March?

jaxnsmom wrote: "Barb wrote: "Put me on the back-up list, please, thanks :) Will there be a new list of themes, or will we keep working with the old one?"

Ok, want to choose for February?"

Sure, I can do that. You'll remind me if I forget to post in the group, right? 😉

I had the feeling that was the case! How about Murder on a Silver Platter by Shawn Reilly Simmons ?

March is fine with me 😊

Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review) wrote: "I had the feeling that was the case! How about Murder on a Silver Platter by Shawn Reilly Simmons ?"

good one!

Hi, all: What's the criteria for the book picks? I might give it a go...

Meg wrote: "Hi, all: What's the criteria for the book picks? I might give it a go..."

Take one theme from the list (posted in another thread) that hasn't been picked yet (for instance I picked outside the US as my main pick) and then another that is your choice - try to make sure that both aren't either book only or kindle only!

Does that help?

Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review) wrote: "Meg wrote: "Hi, all: What's the criteria for the book picks? I might give it a go..."

Take one theme from the list (posted in another thread) that hasn't been picked yet (for instance I picked out..."

Yes, definitely, thanks! I'll look for the other thread when I can so I can find a fun theme. o

Jaxnsmom, I'm volunteering for my birth month of April if it's still open. If not another month will be fine!

If picked to choose I'd like to go with the theme of wine/vineyards.

Meg wrote: "Jaxnsmom, I'm volunteering for my birth month of April if it's still open. If not another month will be fine!"

Ok, I've put you down for April and reserved your theme choice.

jaxnsmom wrote: "Meg wrote: "Jaxnsmom, I'm volunteering for my birth month of April if it's still open. If not another month will be fine!"

Ok, I've put you down for April and reserved your theme choice."

Fun!

Have a merry Christmas/Happy Holidays! 🎄🎄🎄

I'm having a dilemma and thought I'd throw it out there for opinions.

I chose vineyards/wineries because when I saw that on the themes list a particular series immediately came to mind. Well, I started researching it last night, based on Hilary's recommendation that the books should be available both in print and ebook form, and found out that my series is only in ebook. 🙄
Darn...

So I've been looking up other series in other themes (I'm out of ideas for vineyards for the moment) and have managed to find only two so far that are in both forms.

So the question is: Can I change my theme?

Meg wrote: "I'm having a dilemma and thought I'd throw it out there for opinions.

I chose vineyards/wineries because when I saw that on the themes list a particular series immediately came to mind. Well, I s..."

Are both your picks (ie theme choice and your choice) only available in ebook? If so you would need to change, if one of them only is ebook then I think you should be fine (the thing to think is that not everyone has access to ebooks so giving them one of your two choices that is a physical copy is good!)

Hilary (A Wytch's Book Review) wrote: "Are both your picks (ie theme choice and your choice) only available in ebook? If so you would need to change, if one of them only is ebook then I think you should be fine (the thing to think is that not everyone has access to ebooks so giving them one of your two choices that is a physical copy is good!)"

Thanks, this helps a lot. I'm definitely aware that not everyone has access to ebooks, that's why I was getting kind of worried.

I may stick to my first choice of vineyards, with the ebook only format. My second book will have both ebook and print.

Does anyone else want to add anything? Thanks!

Here are my ideas for April 2021:

Winery/vineyard:

Gemma Halliday -Wine & Dine mysteries -- ebook only as far as I can tell

Second series choice:

Lucy Burdette - Key West Food Critic

Meg - your choices are fine.

In a perfect world the books would be available free or cheap in all formats. But that's rare. Like Hilary suggested, we request that if one book is an ebook then the other should definitely be available in print format. Luckily, access to ebooks is getting easier through library programs like overdrive and hoopla.

jaxnsmom wrote: "Meg - your choices are fine.

In a perfect world the books would be available free or cheap in all formats. But that's rare. Like Hilary suggested, we request that if one book is an ebook then the ..."

Thanks, jaxnsmom. I know what you mean about the uneven accessibility of books. I spent quite a bit of my research time on our library website, looking for a series that had both print and ebooks available. My second choice finally 'won the race'.

I celebrate my Kindle everyday...I'll never run out of books to read and I can adjust the font, plus it's easier to hold. I've always loved print books but I've narrowed it down to kids books these days.

I never thought I'd switch to ebooks, but the font size in print books seemed to be getting smaller and smaller. Being able to change the font is so incredible - I read so much more instead of having to take so many breaks.

jaxnsmom wrote: "I never thought I'd switch to ebooks, but the font size in print books seemed to be getting smaller and smaller. Being able to change the font is so incredible - I read so much more instead of havi..."

That's it exactly! I picked up an older tbr print book that I never got to read, and was blown away by how small the print was. I used to read a print book a day, but couldn't get past a couple pages with this one.

Meg wrote: "jaxnsmom wrote: "I never thought I'd switch to ebooks, but the font size in print books seemed to be getting smaller and smaller. Being able to change the font is so incredible - I read so much mor..."

I totally agree with the advantage of eBooks. At our library I try to get as many large print as possible. I have noticed the new trade books - larger paperbacks you get from many author as ARCs or at conferences - are getting larger fonts now which is great for us more "mature" (aged) readers. 🤣 I have been using audio when I have to read a book that is smaller font to preserve what sight I have now as it starts weakening seems everyday (cataract.)

Hi jaxnsmom, with April coming up I thought I'd check and see if I need to do anything further with my April picks besides posting them above?

Meg has chosen our books for April,

Theme - Wines/Vineyards - A Sip Before Dying by Gemma Halliday
$2.99 on amazon and is available for lending.

An Appetite for Murder by Lucy Burdette
$7.99 on amazon for kindle, and possibly available through your library (including overdrive and hoopla).

I can do June or July if you need volunteers for them. I am hoping to on vacation in May!!! I get my second vaccine on April 2

Alice wrote: "I can do June or July if you need volunteers for them. I am hoping to on vacation in May!!! I get my second vaccine on April 2"

Either one's fine, take your pick.
I get my second shot April 17th. Can't wait.

I will take June then

Congrats Ladies, and looking ahead to your choices! :)

Do we have authors for May? Stacking up my books for next month

Oops! We sure don't. Anyone ready to choose now and want to volunteer for May?

If you want I can pick authors in May rather than June. Maybe some will want to pick authors and thems.

Alice - you wanted June, so you should keep it. I'll choose for May.

Great thank you, June does work better for me.

Alice

Let me post my June books before I leave for vacation so it gives our group time to find them

Theme Historical - 1900 to 1970
A Quiet Life in the Country by T E Kinsey

this book has come recommend by several of my historical cozy buddies. There are 7 books in the series. She also has a new series this year.

For my second book

Cherry Pies & Deadly Lies by Darci Hannah

two books in series and she has a new series out this year. Book is set in Wisconsin. I don't think I have ever read a book set in Wisconsin

Thanks Alice, love the Lady Hardcastle series! :)

What are we reading in August I will take it on vacation with me?

Yikes! I knew there was something I was forgetting.

Anyone want to volunteer to choose for August?

I just went a couple of months ago but if no one else has suggestions I have a book case full of cozies. I will be home tonigh from vacation.

I could also take another month if needed (my TBR pile/list is getting out of control lol)!

Alice - why don't you go ahead and choose the books for August?

Thanks for helping out!

Okay I will post my choices this afternoon

Last minute again, but does anyone want to volunteer to pick August's books?

I don't know about ya'll, but time is going by too quickly for me to keep up. ⏲