Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge discussion

My 2024 Sleuth Extraordinaire (40+ reads) challenge journey via cover:

** 01. **02. ** 03. ** 04. ** 05. ** 06.

** 07. ** 08. ** 09. ** 10. ** 11. ** 12.

** 13. ** 14. ** 15. ** 16. ** 17. **18.

** 19. ** 20. ** 21. ** 22. ** 23. ** 24.

** 25. ** 26. ** 27. ** 28. ** 29. ** 30.

** 31. ** 32. ** 33. ** 33b. ** 34. ** 35.

** 36. ** 36b. ** 37. ** 38. ** 39. ** 40.

** 41. ** 42. ❌ to date (241231)

As usual, I'm doing version "A." I'll read what I read and see where they fall for "B." I will, however, list (and track) sub-genres when I post updates to see if I can hit the "B" goal.

** My 2023 downfalls -- because chances are I'm not going to hit the "B" goal -- at this point are Out-of-US and Animal-related. My streak ends at 1. :o( Or, l guess I can say my "real" streak (of not hitting it) was interrupted by 1. :o) -- I'll update this post at the end of 2023. *

UPDATE!!! 12/29/2023: I just read my last cozy of 2023, an Out-of-US. Year two of hitting both the A and B goals!! Don't know if I'll three-peat, but...

✅UPDATE!!! 12/31/2034 (actually, early 01/01/2025): I just finished updating for my last read of 2024, a cozy mystery. I hit the three-peat. Turns out I had the main categories filled at book 30 (the last "historical" I needed). The rest filled out the "freebies."

Level Four (Sleuth Extraordinaire)
A) Read 40 cozy mysteries of your choice ✔️
B) Read two books from each sub-genre in level one plus an additional 20 cozy books of your choice (total of 40 books)

B categories (two each of 9 specific sub-genres; plus 22 "freebies"):
* ✅ Culinary (restaurants, baked goods, etc.)
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 06. Cappuccino Criminal
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 07. Macchiato Murder 

* ✅ Animal-related (cats, dogs, birds, etc.)
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 10. Apple Cider Donut Danger
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 11. Fright Night Chocolate Delight

* ✅ Craft-related (knitting, crocheting, scrapbooking, etc.)
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 18. Postcards from the Dead
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 29. Striped & Strangled

* ✅ Paranormal (witches, vampires, etc.)
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 08. See No Evil
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 15. Pumpkin Cake Penance

* ✅ Series based outside the US
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 20. Last Will and Testament
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 34. Slip-Stitched & Slayed

* ✅ Career-based cozy mystery (housekeeping, wedding planner, etc.)
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 13. The Plot and the Pendulum
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 17. A View to a Kilt

* ✅ Holiday-based (set during any holiday)
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 02. Chocolate Bunny Betrayal
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 03. Fourth of July Forgery

* ✅ Travel mystery (character could be on a cruise, touring another area, etc.)
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 09. Coaching Fire
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 14. Fatal First Edition

* ✅ Historical mystery (any mystery not set in the present)
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 01. An Accidental Murder 
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ 30. Of Hoaxes and Homicide

* ✅ Freebies (22 total)
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ Everything else!!

📚 🔍 There's no shortage of items to read. I'm behind in my favorite series -- more than I thought. I'll be starting there...

Glad to see you join us for 2024!

Here to list my first cozy of the year. The cozy wasn't my first read, however. I reread two books I read last year. The first because I'd just read a next-in-series and I wanted to go back and read the book featuring the brother of one of the characters. After reading that, I went back and reread the latest-in-series, which is a prequel of sorts to a book that comes out in a week or so. Can't wait!!

One of my favorite ways to start the new year is reading. I've finished three books so far today. May get another, but I've been up all night and will be headed to bed after posting this.

On to the book...

01. J. New - An Accidental Murder (2.0) [B=Out-of-US (England); Travel (from island cottage to the city; Historical (1930s); Paranormal (Psychic/Ghosts); Animal (ghost cat)] 240101
Someone posted this on one of the boards as one of her last reads of the year. Her short review made the "quirky historical" series sound fun. I wish I liked it more than I did.

The series is set in 1930s England, but had I not known that it was an "historical," the book would not have made that clear. The series heroine is the recently widowed Isobella (Ella) Bridges. Ella, mid-twenties, has purchased a cottage on an island she and her family visited when she was a child. (She fell in love with the yellow cottage and found it for sale when she returned to the island after losing her husband.) The cottage has its secrets -- some of which are yet to appear -- including a ghost cat Ella has named Phantom.

In this book, the first in the Yellow Cottage Vintage Mysteries, Ella visits her brother and sister-in-law, Jerry & Ginny, and is introduced to Peter Clairmont. Jerry, a bestselling author of spy novels, met Peter at a fundraising event for the orphanage Peter works for. Phantom appears at their meeting and keeps giving Peter the "stink eye" and "barring his teeth" at him -- though no one can see him but Ella and, unbeknownst to Ella at the time, Ginny. Ella can't understand what Phantom's problem is, but all is later made clear when Ella comes across the ghost of a little girl on her train home. Who is she? How did she die? More importantly, how did she wind up with Peter's wallet?

This is sort of a we-know-who-did-it kind of story as Ella and Ginny, who's inherited some psychic ability from her "Roman" ancestors -- she can see Phantom, but not the little girl -- set out to find out what happened. They're assisted by Ella's brother and Ginny's Police Commissioner uncle, Sir Albert Montesford. Both men come to believe in Ella's abilities to see ghosts when the ghosts give demonstrations.

I don't know... There really wasn't any mystery. Even before the ghost-girl was introduced, I figured Peter to be a crook, but thought he was just a con man. We find out some other things, but the "mystery" wasn't really mysterious.

As I said, I wished I liked this more than I did. I did feel a little lost when it came to how Ella acquired the cottage and the ghost(s) who lived there?? until she purchased it. There is a short prequel story available from the author in exchange for newsletter sign-up. It supposedly explains how Ella came to own the cottage and its previous residents. I signed up, but have yet to receive a link for the prequel. Reviews said one really didn't need the prequel, but I think a little background on the series characters, including the cat, would have been helpful. As it was, there wasn't a lot of explanation for anything.

The book was okay, not horrible, not great. I didn't find it -- as the review stated -- quirky, nor fun. It wasn't even amusing. There are only six books in the series, the last (to date) coming in 2020. I would like to read the prequel story and hope the link comes. I may give it another shot with book 2 in case this is a fluke. (Besides, it hits several B categories, two of which I usually have problems with, historical and out-of-US.) I'm wondering if Ella will help ghosts solve their murders or if ghosts will help Ella solve new murders.

Oh well, on to my next read.

Back for a January update...

First... I have yet to receive ANY e-mail from J New and, thus, still have not been able to read the freebie prequel to the Yellow Cottage Vintage Mysteries. I even signed up for the newsletter twice just in case. Nothing... So annoying.

Now to the update. I've been catching up series I neglected last year as I spent time on romance and rereading old favorites. I’ll break this up into a couple of shorter posts.

First up, Tonya Kappes. I caught up two of her (plethora of!) series.

From her Holiday series:
02. Tonya Kappes - Chocolate Bunny Betrayal (3.5) [B=Career; Holiday (Easter); Culinary (Baking Contest)] 240104
03. Tonya Kappes - Fourth of July Forgery (3.0) [B=Career; Holiday (4th of July)] 240108
04. Tonya Kappes - Thanksgiving Treachery (3.5) [B=Career; Holiday (Thanksgiving)] 240108
05. Tonya Kappes - Santa Claus Surprise (3.5) [B=Career; Holiday-ish (Christmas)] 240109 -- Though it was Christmastime, the holiday didn't really have much to do with the mystery, so I won't count it as "holiday" for my "B" tally.

This is a cute series. I really like the characters, even the annoying mother. The cozy part is fun and funny and the mysteries are okay (but see below).

Then two from her Killer Coffee series:
06. Tonya Kappes - Cappuccino Criminal (3.0) [B=Career; Culinary] 240109
07. Tonya Kappes - Macchiato Murder (2.5) [B=Career; Culinary; Holiday (Halloween)] 240110

While I like this series enough to keep reading it, I’ve never really liked the protagonist, Roxie, that much. The other characters are okay, as are the mysteries (see below).

However, I find with these mysteries, that there are few, if any, clues dropped for readers. That is, part of the fun of reading mysteries -- from cozy to hard-boiled -- is being able to solve the mystery with the protagonist and his/her posse. I could be really bad at ferreting out Ms. Kappes’ clues, but it’s only at the end, the big reveal, that we find out the whos, whats, whys, etc. of the murder. Even with a couple of red herrings in the mix, I’m pretty much able to guess who the killer is (just because), but have no idea why or what leads the protagonist to the same decision until s/he is confronted by the killer. I’d have to go back to see if that was the case with her Magical Cures series, which I loved!

Still, I like the cozy parts enough to stick with the series -- and even try a few of her other others, some of which are interconnected. Other than that issue with the mysteries and editing problems (continuity, typos, etc.), I like the author’s style, (most of her) characters, and stories.

This catches me up on both these series -- to date anyway. I believe both have new additions coming soon.

Then onto favorite Victoria Laurie's Psychic Eye/Abby Cooper and Life Coach/Cat Cooper series:

08. Victoria Laurie - See No Evil (3.5) [B=Career; Paranormal (psychic)] 240115

This was the first series I read by Ms. Laurie. I loved it from the beginning. It has changed over the course of the series and is less cozy than it used to be. Still, I love the characters and want to keep up with the “cozy” story lines. It’s still one of my favorites.

09. Victoria Laurie - Coaching Fire (4.0) [B=Career; Travel (Hamptons to Dallas)] 240116

This series is a spinoff of both the Psychic Eye/Abby Cooper and Ghost Hunter series. Cat Cooper is sister to Abby (the Psychic Eye); her assistant is Gilly Gillespie, best friend and former business partner to MJ Holliday (the Ghost Hunter).

Cat is in her second career, having built and sold a successful marketing company. What has me worried is that this entry in the series could be a finale. EEK!! I love Cat and Gilly. If this is a series finale, it’s a good one. There are no loose threads for the main characters. However… I don’t want to see the series end. I have enjoyed every book to date. I love the characters and the mysteries are well crafted (and with clues!!). :o(

I’m hoping to get more from Abby and Cat—and their posses.

These catch me up on these two series to date. Again...Hoping for more!!!

I then caught up Addison Moore's series Murder in the Mix/Lottie Lemon by reading the latest two:

10. Addison Moore - Apple Cider Donut Danger (2.5) [B=Career; Culinary; Paranormal (ghosts); Animal (Himalayan cat)] 240117
11. Addison Moore - Fright Night Chocolate Delight (2.5) [B=Career; Culinary; Paranormal (ghosts); Animal (raven); Holiday (Halloween)] 240121

This series is up and down for me and these two were down. While I love Lottie and her judge husband, Everett, along with the detective father of her child, her ex Noah, I find some of the secondary characters annoying. I don’t like the way Lottie is sometimes bullied. by them I can’t stand her bio-mom, who does most of bullying, by the way. However, the mysteries are good and I love most of the cozy story(ies) so I keep reading. I’ve enjoyed most of the books overall, but every now and then the craziness of the secondary stories is just too much.

The last book ended on a cliffhanger to the cozy story.

January ends with two from another favorite... Jenn McKinlay -- one from her Cupcake Bakery series and one from her Library Lovers series

12. Jenn McKinlay - Sugar Plum Poisoned (3.5) [B=Culinary; Career; Holiday (Christmas)] 240128
13. Jenn McKinlay - The Plot and the Pendulum (4.0) [B=Career; Holiday-ish (Halloween)] 240131

I so enjoyed both these books. Again, it’s the cozy part that keeps readers coming back, but Ms. McKinlay can sure write good mysteries (with clues)! While the Library Lovers book takes place around Halloween, the holiday really had nothing to do with the story and I won't count it as a "holiday" book. And, I liked the twist that the mystery involved a cold case rather than a fresh murder.

New additions to both series are coming, but for now, I'm caught up.

Well… That’s it mystery-wise for January. If I can keep this pace, I’ll hit the “A” goal early this year. We’ll see what I bring for the “B” goal.

I’m sort of embarrassed to post my update. I had such high hopes coming out of January. However, since January, wherein I read 13 cozies, I’ve only read four, yes FOUR, additional cozies in five months. I don’t really have an excuse other than getting involved with romance series and reading book after book of series I had on hand.

So, the update, such that it is…
14. Jenn McKinlay - Fatal First Edition (Library Lovers) (4.0) [B=Career; Travel (in Chicago for a conference, then back to Briar Creek by train)] (240426)
A good "locked room" mystery -- first on a train the characters are on and then trapped in town by a shelter-in-place order during a harsh winter storm. Though the mystery was solved within two days, it had me guessing almost to the end! It also includes a very short, but fun crossover with Kate Carlisle's Brooklyn Wainwright and hubby Derek who Lindsey and Sully meet while attending a book convention. I wish there had been more between the two couples, especially with the the rare “fatal” first edition. I loved how the series regulars were involved -- even with the shelter-in-place shutdown, they all helped. I caught up the series, but a new one comes in October.

Then, I caught up another series AGAIN (just did it in January), though another is due in July.
15. Addison Moore - Pumpkin Cake Penance & bonus epilogue (Murder in the Mix/Lottie Lemon) (3.5-3.0) [B=Culinary; Paranormal (ghosts); Animal (Dog: Autralian Shepherd); Holiday-ish (Thanksgiving)] (240507)
While the story happens at Thanksgiving, the holiday technically doesn’t have anything to do with the mystery, so I won’t count it toward that sub-genre. I’m up and down with this series, but this turned out to be better than I thought it would be. The secondary stories weren't crazy, but Bio-mom Carlotta’s real mother shows up. I was ready to hate the new character addition because Carlotta is a piece of work, but so far so good. We’ll see how the character fares as the series progresses.

Then I started a new-to-me series and author with Sue Minix’s Bookstore series.
16. Sue Minix - Murder at the Bookstore (Bookstore) (3.0) [B=Career] (240516)
I actually picked this up because I thought it was set in Canada and I was seeking an out-of-US series. I know I picked up the first few books from a series set in a bookstore in Canada. I cannot find it! Aaaaaaaaaaaargh!!

Anyway… This turned out to be okay for a first-in-series. I’m hoping the main character, Jen Dawson, will grow on me as the series continues. Jen is a mystery writer who’s suffering writers’ block with her second-in-series. She’s writing her book at the local bookstore owned by her friend Althea. When Althea is murdered and Jen is implicated, she sets out to find out who killed her friend. I guessed the killer very early on and could not figure out how a mystery writer could miss the clues she misses. And, for an adult, she makes some pretty poor choices that nearly lead to her death -- more than once.

Jen inherits the bookstore from Althea, so subsequent books will have that as a main setting. I’ll read more. It wasn’t so bad that I wouldn’t pick up more, but I wish it had been better than it was.

Then, another catch-up…
17. Kaitlyn Dunnett – A View to a Kilt (Liss MacCrimmon Scottish) (3.0) [B=Career; Travel (from Moosetookalook, ME to Florida and back)] (240613)
If you’ve followed my challenges over the years, you know this series is up and down with me. I started the series with a book I won in a GoodReads giveaway. It was the fourth-in-series. I didn’t particularly care for it, but thought it might have been because I’d started at book 4 instead of 1. I went back and read the first three. I still didn’t like it. The mysteries were okay and I liked some of the characters, but I didn’t like the protagonist, Liss MacCrimman. Now I was 4 books in, so I kept picking up books in the series hoping it would get better, putting more and more time into it. Finally, book 8!!! had me actually enjoying the everything, including Liss. Subsequent books have been okay to good. This was okay, but took me a long time to read. I kept putting it down. There was just something about it… maybe Liss. Maybe her mother. Anyway, the mystery itself was pretty good and will keep me reading more in the series.

Sadly… That’s it. :o(

17 down!
I am in the middle of one of Laura Childs’ Scrapbooking books. don’t think I’ll get it done by Sunday, but it will be the first of the 23 I need to hit the minimum goal -- WHICH I WILL DO!!!

I have a contract that will keep me busy the next month or so and the holidays hit in November. This leave 3 to 3.5 months to get the 23. Eek! Curse those easy romance reads (and my inability to put them down)! :o)

I was wondering how you were doing! I am up to 19, though my goal is only 30. I am on a KU trial at the moment and have Lottie Lemon on my series to try list. There are TONS of paranormal cozies on there!

Tell me about those paranormals!! It's not that I don't like them -- I read a lot of paranormal series -- but I get tired of the witches, vampires, and ghosts. Somehow they all seem to get into some demon is watching, universal good vs evil fight for the world story. Give me a good old fashioned mystery with non-magicals.

As for Murder in the Mix, I love Lottie! It's sometimes the secondary characters and stories that drive me crazy. I think there are 49 (!!!) currently out, not counting the cross-overs with at least six other series at this point. There are probably only 5 or 6 that really annoyed me to the point of dropping the series if the insanity continued to those points. So far it hasn't. Let me know what you think if you get to them.

I mostly have my eye on some witch ones.

I downloaded the first Magical Cures Mystery A Charming Crime as it was free to keep. I see above that you liked those.

Magical Mystery Book Club (#1 Shifting and Shenanigans: Magical Mystery Book Club #1) sounds fun, they can go into the books and solve a mystery in there.

Sugar Shack Witch (#1 Sprinkles and Sea Serpents) - bakery

Nine Lives Magic (#1 Witchy Whiskers) - snarky talking cat

Michelle Bishop (#1 Ghosts, Alibis, and Apple Pies) I am always a bit wary of men writing female MCs especially after being disappointed with "Jessica Beck" but the sample was entertaining

Those are a few, I have more, but not sure how good they are as I haven't read them yet. I have been reviewing everything I read though. I am also getting sucked into fantasy/scifi romance and that seems to be KU's biggest genre haha.

Magical Cures: I did enjoy this series. The author is doing a serial on Amazon featuring the next generation. I'm hoping she puts it out in book form at some point,

I read several of Tonya Kappes' series. Some I like more than others. She writes so many books that I wonder how she can sustain all the series she has. I get frustrated with her writing and (lack of) attention to detail at times, but if I like the characters (or most of them as the case may be!), I'll stick with the series and most likely give others a try.

Magical Mystery Book Club: You'll have to let me know what you think.

I'm "reading" a similar-sounding series about a non-magical who sort of inherits a how to be a witch in 13 lessons book, Amorette Anderson's Hillcrest Witch series. Each book centers on Penny, a fledgling PI, and her knitting group doing the lessons and solving a murder that happens. It's humorous and cute, but I haven't read one for a couple of years now (book 05). I see there is a spin-off series, Marley the Witch, starring Penny's BFF. TBRed, but haven't read any.

Michelle Bishop: reminds me of Lottie Lemon and I have TBRed the series!

Other paranormal series I rejoy(ed):
** Heather Blake - Magic Potions I really enjoyed this series, but there are only three and nothing new since 2015.

Blake also writes another paranormal series, Wishcraft , about sisters who learn they're witches who can grant wishes with a spell. There are 8 so far here, but nothing new since 2018.

** Juliet Blackwell writes two paranormal series. I love love love her Witchcraft series, all of which I've read. As much as I love it, it is one that has an ongoing good-vs-evil-fight-for-the-world story. However, I love main character Lily and her posse of regulars. So good!

Her other paranormal series features a woman who can see ghosts, Haunted Home Renovations . I read a couple when they first came out, but haven't gotten back to them in years. I remember liking Mel, the protagonist, and the other characters -- a lot. Mel is a contractor, so I liked the woman-in-a-man's-world aspect of it as well as the mysteries. I will read them at some point.

** Madelyn Alt - Bewitching I think this was my first foray into paranormal mysteries -- at least I think it was. I've always read cozies, but I remember most being non-magical. This was one of my favorite series, but there hasn't been anything new since 2011 and book 8's release date has been pushed out constantly since 2012 or 2013. It now says 2025! I can't say I gave up on it, but...

There are so many paranormal cozies out there now -- too many to count. A lot of my TBR is littered with them, especially because I tend to TBR all the books/series of an author if I read or like one.

Blake's Wishcraft mysteries have ended, she felt the story of her protagonists was complete. the surgery now writes as Heather Webber.

Thanks, Sara.

I do have Webber's books in my TBR files. I was making my way through the "Blakes" before heading there. I was so disappointed when the potions series ended. I suppose I will just as sad when I get to the end of the Wishcraft series. :o(

Have you read the Witch Way Librarian books? The first one is Bait and Witch. These are a cute take on witches without a paranormal universe to deal with. I'm reading the fourth on now Witch Upon a Star.

i'm enjoying those, too. although much of that could be because i live in oregon.

Zermeena wrote: "Have you read the Witch Way Librarian books? The first one is Bait and Witch. These are a cute take on witches without a paranormal universe to deal with. I'm reading the fourth on ..."

Zermeena wrote: "Have you read the Witch Way Librarian books? The first one is Bait and Witch. These are a cute take on witches without a paranormal universe to deal with."

I have not read these. I checked and found all of Angela M Sanders' series in my files, with this series folder created in 2020. Gotta love Mt. TBR!! :o) Her other two series look good.

Maybe I'll pick one up after I get through what I'm reading now, Thanks!

Back with another update -- just over two months from last one, not bad.

Still behind where I need/want to be, but only need 14 to hit the minimum.

On to the update PART 1

Still catching up on Laura Childs’ Scrapbooking series. I have six to go – at least to date. There hasn’t been a new addition since 2019.
18. Laura Childs - Postcards from the Dead (3.00) [B=Career (shop owner); Crafting (Scrapbooking/Papercrafting)] (240714)
Yet another story without a real wrap-up, but there was at least more than the last few books. At least we get to know why the killer killed—not full details, mind you, but enough. The mystery was pretty good, but for some reason, it took me a long time to get through the book. I have started the next-in-series, Gilt Trip, but have been distracted by other reads.

Then another favorite series, Cupcake Bakery! All caught up—for now. I can’t wait for the next one. The mysteries are well-crafted, and solvable if one pays attention to the dropped clues. The characters are great. There’s humor and romance and mystery and recipes… What more does one need? :o)

19. Jenn McKinlay - Fondant Fumble (Cupcake Bakery) (3.50) [B=Culinary; Career] (240726)
This has two Arizona NFLers opening a cupcake franchise near the stadium. I really like the new characters and I love how McKinlay’s romance writing weaves its way through the stories. I’m waiting on a future addition starring a new friend and his BFF’s sister as a secondary story.

20. E X Ferrars - Last Will and Testament (Virginia & Felix) (2.50) [B=Out of US (England)] (240817)
I’d like to say this is an “historical,” because it read like something from the 50’s or 60’s, but it was written in the 70’s and while there were anachronistic things about it, as with most cozies, it was “timeless.”

This is an author I started reading when I was in middle/high school. My Mom used to take us to the used book store when we were kids. I found this author and noticed she had series of books with the same character and I hunted for them. She might have been my first introduction to cozy series along with Agatha Christie's Miss Marple and Tommy & Tuppence series (not counting Nancy Drew, of course). Anyway… I remember liking her books and “collecting” them, but for some reason, this was a tough read for me, a drudgery. What should have taken a few hours took me days to plod through and I really don't know why. Virginia & Felix are an estranged couple driven apart by his “job” as a conman, petty thief, etc. He still loves her; she’s not sure what she feels for Felix, but neither has initiated a divorce. He shows up on her doorstep the day an older, rich friend of hers has passed away. Though he says he only there to offer support and comfort, his past (and present) has her thinking he’s looking to see what she might inherit or what he may be able to walk away with before the funeral. Then there’s a murder and Virginia and Felix investigate. The two remind me of a dysfunctional version of Nora & Nick, if Nicky had kept up the more "colorful" side of his life, lying, thieving, and cheating people. I liked Virginia; Felix was okay -- at least in this -- so I'm hoping he'll grow on me as I read others in the series. Maybe I'll figure out why the reading was so hard. It was a good mystery with an almost surprise conclusion.

Then catching up another series.
21. Addison Moore - Plum Pudding Peril (Lottie Lemon | Murder in the Mix) (3.00) [B=Culinary; Paranormal (ghosts); Holiday (Christmas)] (240820)
As you know, this series is up and down for me, mostly because I cannot stand Lottie’s bio-mom Carlotta. CARLOTTA HAS TO GO!! I may have rated this higher, but simply cannot stand Carlotta. She's a train-wreck of a character that I do not find funny or endearing. I hate her bully ways. I hate her snarky put-downs of everyone around her, including her children. I hate her philandering. I hate her freeloading. When does she move out of Lottie and Everett's back room to the house Lottie gave her so she's not underfoot all the time??. I'm sick and tired of her being around. ICK!

As for the rest of the story, I hate that although the mystery is solved, it ends on a cliffhanger. But, I'll see where it goes. The mystery was good, though as soon as the murderer was interviewed, I knew who'd done it and why. Minus Carlotta, the rest was good. I really enjoy (most) of the series and will continue reading it

PART 2

22. Victoria Hamilton - Sieve and Let Die (Vintage Kitchen) (3.50) [B=Career (Motherhood; Blogger; Recipe column writer)] (240821)
While I like this series, I still have issues with main character, Jaymie. For whatever reason, she just doesn't appeal to me. Still, I like how Hamilton writes her mystery, allowing the reader to solve the case alongside Jaymie. Clues and red herrings abound, but the mystery is solvable. I figured out who the culprit was early on, but it wasn't until a clue dropped toward the end that I knew for sure. I like the series overall and it's not like I hate Jaymie. She's fine. There's just something about her being so good (and I don't mean at solving murders!) or whatever that keeps her apart from other characters, though she has a BFF, a husband and step-daughter, a sister, etc. Oh well, awaiting the next.

My next read is also by Victoria Hamilton, but under her Amanda Cooper pseudonym. It’s the first in what looks to be a three-and-done series (nothing new since 2015)
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23. Amanda Cooper - Tempest in a Teapot (Teapot Collector) (3.50) [B=Career (Chef; tea-room worker); Culinary] (240823)
Cooper (Hamilton) constructs a good, old fashioned cozy really well. We get red herrings and multiple suspects -- including teh victim's son, her sister-in-law, her future daughter-in-law's brother and grandmother, and various "country club" people – with varying reasons for wanting the victim dead. Clues are dropped so readers can solve the mystery along with the protagonist and her "gang," which includes her Nana Rose, Rose's BFF Laverne, the cranky nemesis next door, Thelma (who's had a decades long feud with Rose), and Dana, a sort of pal from her past.

Sophie Taylor, a chef's whose restaurant went bankrupt, has decided to put her life back in order. Though she grew up wealthy in NY, her favorite times were summers spent in Gracious Grove, home of her maternal grandmother, Rose, and Rose's tearoom. Sophie always longed to be able to stay and live in "GiGi," but couldn't. However, looking at her life now, she wants to go to the only real home she's had, Gracious Grove. In GiGi, Sophie renews her friendship with Cissy who's about to be married to Francis. Cissy wants her wedding shower to be at Auntie Rose's Tea Shop and begs Sophie to do it. Cissy's grandmother, the grumpy, dislikeable Thelma, owns a competing shop—opened only to ruin her ex-friend Rose for stealing a man she had eyes for when they were teens; Thelma winds up hosting a pre-shower tea at her shop only to have the mother of the groom die from being poisoned. Was it the out-of-date food Thelma insists on using or something more nefarious? Suspects about; Sophie, who saw the woman die can't leave it along and starts asking questions.

The mystery part of this was so good. There were a lot of characters introduced—maybe because it was the start of a new series—and a lot of characters were also suspects (pretty much anyone who attended the fatal tea party). I like Sophie and Rose a lot; Laverne and Dana weren't bad, and will grow on me. (Dana is like Bess to Sophie’s Nancy.).

The mystery is solved, but there were strings left—and I hate that—for example… 1) It wasn’t specifically mentioned, but sort of talked around, but I’m assuming Rose is going to turn over the teahouse to Sophie at some point??? 2) Thelma saw two men discussing hurting Sophie because she was asking too many question—who were they and what happened to them? Thelma never tells anyone what she saw. 3) We get an inkling of people arrested, but who and what about the bribery and land development deal, etc. -- maybe more will come in the next book. I just dislike unanswered questions.

Then on to three books written L L Bartlett under two of her pseudonyms. First…
24. Lorraine Bartlett (& Gayle Leeson) - A Lethal Lake Effect (Victoria Square) (3.50) [B=Career (Retail outlet owner; Tea shop owner); Crafting (sort of with the crafters/makers who rent spaces)] (240901)
This is another favorite series (aren’t they all!). The last couple have been downers in the cozy story, and while this is a bit “angsty” (Katie bemoaning the state of her life, pining after a man she can’t have, the state of her businesses, etc.), the protagonist shows real strength in dealing with an ex, the current murder, friendships, her businesses, etc. It seems like Katie has turned a corner, bringing it back to the light and breathing life back into the series. Editing could be tighter (some scenes/dialog repeated) and though the mystery was good, the solution sort of jumped out of almost nowhere. However, I love my time in Victoria Square and I’m looking forward to more!

Second… two books from the Booktown series she writes under Lorna Barrett. This catches me up with this series to date.
25. Lorna Barrett - A Questionable Character (Booktown) (3.00) [B=Career (Book store owner] (240902)
26. author:Lorna Barrett|1142669] - A Controversial Cover (Booktown) (3.00) [B=Career (Book store owner] (240906)

It took me a while to warm up to Tricia Miles, the heroine of these stories. I don’t know if Bartlett went/is going through something, but both these series have leads who question their life choices and the lack of love in their lives. However, this series, too, is getting better (after the last two “cozy” story downers). Tricia has a new (younger!) lover. People in town are wink-winking and nod-nodding at her. Her sister, Angelica, is jealous of the time she spends with her new man and doesn’t think he’s the right man for her sister, but is willing to give the benefit of the doubt. The people in town have figured out a secret, but don’t talk about it and Angelica seems oblivious to it. Still, the mysteries are good and the characters are fun.

I did laugh at the fact that in one of the books, Tricia is worried about her use of plastics and is looking for alternatives—a good thing for the environment. But then she rinses off items before placing them in the dishwasher, even plates that only had sandwich crumbs on them, thus wasting water—which is also bad for the planet.

Then, I was kind of annoyed when Tricia uses the “Tik-Tok” in-distress hand signal as the killer is leading her out to her own death, but we don’t know for sure that’s what basically saved her. It would have been nice for Bartlett to add some tidbits to the wrap-up regarding how the sign was used, whether it was indeed recognized for what she meant it to be, or was it a coincidence that set into motion her rescue. To me, it was a lost opportunity to pass along knowledge to her readers and left a couple hanging threads.

I’m awaiting the next-in-series.

Well, that’s it for now. As mentioned, fourteen to hit the minimum goal (A). As for the “B” version, I think I’m going to fall short in a couple of categories. We’ll see.

‘Til next time!

October update... I went on a mystery binge of sorts (still read more romance, though). I have to break this up into two posts, even with only 7 books!

Overall, I finished a couple of series (at least to date) and started one new-to-me, which I'm not counting because it's a prequel short.

First up. two books by Tonya Kappes. I read several of her series, others are TBRed (because, of course). ;o)
27. Tonya Kappes - A Charming Hexocist (Magical Cures) (3.50) [B=Paranormal (Spiritualists, that is people with magical powers of all types—witches, wizards, healers, fortune tellers, mindreaders, etc.); Career (Homeopathic cures store owner/brewer)] (240919)
28. Tonya Kappes - Southern Magical Bakery (Southern Magical Bakery) (3.50) [B=Paranormal (Spiritualists, that is people with magical powers of all types—witches, wizards, healers, fortune tellers, mindreaders, etc.); Career (bakery owner/baker); Culinary] (240920)

The Magical Cures series is a(nother) favorite series. It originally ended in 2020 with book 13, A Charming-Deception, as June and Oscar (childhood BFF and boyfriend then husband) became parents. I wanted the series to continue, but was okay happy with how it ended.

A year later, Ms.Kappes started a “next generation” serial series on Kindle Vella—Southern Magical Bakery (https://www.amazon.com/kindle-vella/p... )—with June and Oscar’s daughter, Lo Heal Park, all grown up. The description of the serial states: “Think of this series as a television show, the kind we used to watch when a new part of the show was released each week. This isn't a new concept. In fact, it goes back as far as Charles Dickinson when his stories were released weekly in newspapers.” It lists the serial as six parts, but as of the last posting, August 16, 2021, it was up to 33 parts. The first 10 are free at this point; the remaining cost “tokens” you have to purchase. (BTW, Kindle Vella is shutting down in February 2025)

While I so wanted to read Lo’s story, I wasn’t going to read (pay for) a serial that 1) I needed to remember to keep up with; 2) I needed to reread/skim each time a new entry appeared to remind me of where the story left off; and 3) pay for tokens I may never use just to get what I needed to read this serial. I longed for a book to be released—which, thankfully, happened in November 2021 (though I actually didn’t realize there was a book until right before I read it). Thus the Southern Magical Bakery series begins…

Lo Park (Lo is for “little one,” the name June and Oscar called her before her birth—well, after too as it turned out) has shown no magical powers of any kind and by law cannot live in their town, Whispering Falls, KY. She longs to open her own bakery and decides to move to the nearby, non-magical town of Celestial Falls. Her childhood frenemy, Orin (a wizard)—longing to escape his overprotective mother—shows up. Turns out both Lo and Celestial Falls are not as non-magical as thought. Though her mother wants her to move back to Whispering Falls for safety reasons—especially after Lo is suspected of murder—Lo (and Orin) are allowed to stay in Celestial Falls as long as they follow the rules—the main one being no magic. — IT IS NOT A SERIAL, but a full story.

The overall premise set about in book 1 is interesting. I look forward to the next-in-series (not coming until July 2025!!) and for more to come.

29. Tracey Drew - Striped & Strangled (Knitty Kitty) (4.00) [B=Crafting (Knit & Crochet); Career (Yarn Store Owner); Out-of-US (New Zealand); Animal-related (Cats)] (240920)
This is a cute series set in New Zealand with interesting characters, a bit of humor, a bit of romance, and a lot of mystery. This is book four of what appears to be a series of five-and-done. There hasn’t been a new entry since 2021—at least that I know of. :o( It was one series I could use for B categories of Out-of-US, Crafting, and Animal (protagonist has two cats that involve themselves in her investigations). It's a fun series so I hope new additions come.

30. Anastasia Hastings (Constance Laux) - Of Hoaxes and Homicide (Dear Miss Hermione) (3.00) [B=Historical; Out of US (London/England); Travel (by train to Alburn Abbey in Burton upon Trent); Career (Agony Aunt)] (241006)
I’ve read most, if not all, the mystery series written by this author under her various pseudonyms. This series started last year. Though I’m not big on “historical” mysteries, I love the author’s work. This started out slow for me, but picked up and got better as it went along. I like how she weaves the Agony Aunt (basically a 19th century Dear Abby) letters into the mystery.

I do hope the series continues. However, there were two other series under two other pseudonyms—both of which I enjoyed—released a year or so before this one. Both only have two books to date. Though this is my least favorite of the three, I hope all three get new additions (but it’s been at least over two years since the older series’ books two).

On to part 2...

October 2024 part 2...

I read two in one of my all-time favorite series, Jaine Austin. I’m listing the second out of order so I can talk about them together.

Sadly, the second book, number 20, is supposedly the last full-length book we’ll see in the series. Ms. Levine retired in July 2024 posting on her Facebook page: "To my wonderful readers— I’ve been dreading writing this note, but here goes. Jaine’s latest adventure, MURDER BUYS A ONE-WAY TICKET, will be the last full-length book in the series. I’m about to turn 81 (with the wrinkles to prove it!) and after almost sixty years of writing under deadline, I’ve decided to give myself a giant vacay and perfect the fine art of goofing off. I can’t tell you how much your sweet, caring, funny posts have meant to me. You guys are the best. Truly. I’ll continue to stay in touch with book recommendations, recipes, and wacky cat pictures. Needless to say, Prozac is furious, so it’s possible that I may write a Jaine novella in the future. If I do, I’ll be sure to post about it. In the meanwhile, I’m sending you all a great big cyberhug, my heart filled with love and gratitude.”

Jaine has appeared in several holiday anthologies. I hope we get some novellas that keep us updated on Jaine and her new life!

I often bemoan the fact that the “ageless” Jaine never seems to get ahead. While I love Jaine just the way she is—elastic-waist pants and all—I always wished she had some wins in her life... her dates are always lousy, her clothes are food-stained or soon will be, etc. I'd love to see her get a great paycheck or some kind of windfall that refills the wallet she spends because of her cat, her BBF Khandi and neighbor Lance, the stuff she's forced to pay for while investigating, etc. I’d love to see her date a great guy for a couple books, and get a steady writing job along with her freelancing. Sometimes her life seems like such a downer I can't stand it.

That being said… The mysteries are always involving. The stories are from Jaine's point of view as she recounts the events leading up to the murder, her investigations, and her unmasking of the culprit. We get to hear her inner thoughts about her dates, her work, her "confessions" of food eating—she loves fast food, ice-cream, Oreos...—etc., which are sometimes laugh-out-loud funny.

31. Laura Levine - Death by Smoothie (Jaine Austin) (3.50) [B=Career (freelance writer; semi-professional, unlicensed PI)] (241008)
33. Laura Levine - Murder Buys a One-Way Ticket (Jaine Austin) (4.00) [B=Career (freelance writer; semi-professional, unlicensed PI; Travel (LA to Santa Barbara and back in a private train car)] (241016)

As for a series end, Murder Buys a One-Way Ticket had a good mystery and a great cozy story for Jaine, the one I've always wanted her to have!! The mystery is a sort of a closed-room mystery with the victim killed in a private train car while travelling back from Santa Barbara to LA. There are lots of suspects, including Jaine, who sets out to clear her name. Throughout, she, of course, has a couple of bad dates (but somehow never gets fed!), wears stained and stains some clothing, gets in trouble because of her cat Prozac, and fields the usual e-mails from her mother and crazy father. However… She meets a handsome man who takes more than an interest in her just as she is, stains and all.

If this is truly the end of this series, it is a good one to go out on. Though I wish there was more good stuff between Jaine & (new beau!) Sean (also a freelance writer), I'm happy she gets her HEA. If this isn't the end, I hope we find Jaine and Sean travelling and writing articles together while Jaine still writes for her major clients. It'd be funny if they'd teamed up to write best-selling books based on Jaine's adventures—which Jaine sort of does as she references earlier "adventures" that you can read about in XXX or YYY. I’d even go for the short holiday novellas just to keep Jaine around. So good!

32. Denise Swanson - Chili Chili Bang Bang (Chef to Go) (3.50) [B=Career (Chef); Culinary] (241015)
In between Jaine Austins, I caught up this series to date. Though Devereaux's Dime Store is my favorite of her series, this is a good one, too. I have only read one in her Scumble River and Welcome Back to Scumble River series (TBRed, of course). This series is a sort of spin-off to that (a couple of SR characters are in it).

Lastly, a book that I'm not counting toward my total…
33b. Reagan Davis - Neighbourhood-Swatch - (Knitorious) (3.00) [B=Out-of-US (Canada); Career (yarn store clerk); Crafting (yarn arts)???] (241017)
This is an "Encyclopedia Brown"-like short story introducing the main characters of the series, I’m not counting it toward goals for challenge because it's a short story. This is a new-to-me series. While the description of the series looked okay, I mainly chose it because it’s set outside of the US, one of the “B” categories I struggle with—and with the Knitty Kitty series stalled at book 5… It’s hard to tell what the series is like from this, but it seems like a good one.

That’s it for October. I’m now 7 away from the minimum “A” goal. As for the “B” goal, I need to read either one more Out-of-US or one more Historical—why are historicals always out-of-USs??—to hit that goal. So, really, I guess I could read one Out-of-US and hit it. Then I just need to finish with 6 freebies. The holidays are upon us and my reading time will be cut, but I’m pretty sure I can at least do that.

Fingers crossed!

Until next time…

BTW... I still have not received the prequel freebie to the Yellow Cottage series. Bummer!

Great job of reviewing the books you read! I'm just hoping to hit my goal of 50-52 books this year overall! It has been a weird year, for sure--all the best!

Donna (weegraydog)

Donna (weegraydog) wrote: "Great job of reviewing the books you read! I'm just hoping to hit my goal of 50-52 books this year overall! It has been a weird year, for sure--all the best!"

Thanks, Donna. I try to give information for those who might want to add to their TBRs. I also use as a reference later on.

I've hit my annual GR goal, but I procrastinate entering my reads into the system. Not only haven't I entered the ones listed in the challenge, I haven't entered what I need to "hit the goal" for the GoodReads annual challenge. I complain about it every year when I sit for hours entering a year's worth of reading and yet each year... I list all the mysteries and any non-romance I read, but only a selection of the romance--mostly what I've been reading.

I'll be trying get everything entered over the next week or so--and asking myself why I just don't do it as I read or at least monthly. Eek! :o)

Back with what I'm assuming will be the last update post of this year. YAY, I reached the "A" goal. I also lucked out and hit the "B" categories for the three-peat!! -- I'll verify that, but I'm pretty sure I did it.

Phew... for a while there I wasn't sure I'd hit either goal. I have one to spare, maybe a couple depending on my reading over the next couple of days--though I'm not holding out a lot of hope. :o)

First up, the Out-of-US I had to get to hit that category...
34. Tracey Drew – Slip-Stitched & Slayed (Knitty Kitty) (4.0) [B=Crafting (Knit & Crochet); Career (Yarn Store Owner); Out-of-US (New Zealand); Animal-related (Cats; parrot)] (241128)
This appears to be the last-in-series since no new book has come since 2021. It's a fun series and I'm sad to see it go. Though... There was just a freebie offered for the series, so maybe they're drumming up interest for new additions. (I hope!)

Next up, two in the new-to-me author Laura Bradford series Friend for Hire. I like the series okay so far, though I'm going back and forth on the protagonist, Emma Westlake and her wishy-washy should-I/we-really-be-investigating whining.

The series opens with Emma, a work-from-home travel agent, and her dog Scout enjoying weekly afternoon tea with her octogenarian friend. Dottie. Emma is paid by the estate of Dottie's late husband to carry on the weekly teas he and Dottie shared before his death. She laments to Dottie that her travel agency business continues to lose clients because of the internet. She doesn't want to move back to New York and be forced to work for the family business. She loves her life and the small town she moved to when she inherited a house from her great aunt.

Dottie suggests Emma expand on what she's doing now--basically being a paid "friend"--and start a business. Emma doesn't think it will work, that no one needs to hire friends, but does accept a couple of jobs Dottie sends her way, Samantha, an overworked VA nurse-practitioner looking to change her life and wants a workout buddy, and Big Max, a sweet, but slow, older gentleman who wants to make a certain woman notice him and thinks having Emma on his arm for events will do that.

Emma creates a name for the business, designs business cards, and posts a flyer to the town's online bulletin board. She gets her first client, reporter Brian Hill who wants her to attend an open mike poetry reading so there's a friendly face in the audience. Things go awry when the "poet" dies just as he starts reading the poem that was going to name names of people hiding their crimes behind their facades. To save her business--and her reputation--she winds up investigating. Dottie, who is hooked on cozy mysteries, and Samantha, who is hooked on true crime join in. Even Max provides clues--though unknowingly.

Rounding out the regular cast is future love interest, Deputy Jack Riordan.

The books are fun and the mysteries involving as we solve them with Emma and her posse. Bradford intersperses the books with Easter Eggs from her other series (e.g., another client wants to visit a bakery she heard of that operates out of an old ambulance, a la Bradford's Emergency Dessert Squad series) and Dottie likening their team and/or what they're doing or need to do to other authors' characters, books, and series, It fun to see or figure out favorite series mentions as well as being introduced to other new-to-mes (some of which become TBRs).

Sadly, there hasn't been a new entry since 2022. Even with my issue with Emma (and Dottie can be overbearing!), I am hooked on the characters. I love how Emma weaves actual friendship into her "business" relationships by actually becoming friends with her clients--even to the point of visiting and hanging out when she's not being paid to do so. I love her dog, Scout, too. I hope more come.
35. Laura Bradford – A Plus One for Murder (Friend for Hire) (3.5-3) [B=Career (Friend for hire); animal--sort of (dog)] (241207)
36. Laura Bradford – A Perilous Pal (Friend for Hire) (3.0) [B=Career (Friend for hire); animal--sort of (dog)] (241207)

Bradford has several other series (TBRed) and also writes a cozy series under the pseudonym Elizabeth Lynn Casey. I also have it TBRed (because, of course I do).

Finally... Third time's the charm. I signed up for J New's newsletter--AGAIN--and received the link for the prequel. I now understand why they say you don't need to read it to enjoy the series. The story is not really a mystery and I'm not counting it toward the total. The book describes the cottage (more than readers get in the first book) and how Ella came to own it, but gives no background on the ghosts living within. That is, what wasn't in the first book--how did she come to know the cottage was haunted, how she named the ghost cat, etc.--is not answered here. I don't think it even mentioned she was a widow. Maybe future stories will have more background???
36b. J. New – The Yellow Cottage Mystery (Yellow Cottage) (2.0) [B=Out-of-US (England); Historical (1930s); Paranormal (Psychic/Ghosts)] (241208)

I finished out the year (to date!) with Kennedy Layne's Paramour Bay paranormal series. I'd read the first book and was going to start with book 2 until I saw that it has been over four years since I'd read book 1. So, I started back at the beginning.

Raven Lattice Marigold was born and raised in New York by single mother Regina Lattice Marigold, who was estranged from her mother, Rosemary. Raven, who never knew her grandmother/Nan, inherits her estate, including her business (a tea shop, Tea Leaves & Eves, and a "backroom" holistic cures business) and her house and its furnishings. Not only that, but she also inherits Leo, a cat, and Ted, a, well, no one knows quite what Ted is (at first),

Turns out Rosemary Marigold was a witch, from a long long line of witches. She imbued her teas to aide the townspeople with ailments (sleeplessness, arthritis, etc.), cures (colds, etc.), etc. Regina, too, is witch, but turned her back on the craft when she left Paramour Bay. She never told Raven about that part of her life nor Raven's inheritance of the gift. A condition of Raven's inheriting is that she move to Paramour Bay, Connecticut, and run the business for at least a year. Raven, who's sort of accident prone, has horrible luck with men, and has problems keeping a job moves because there's nothing holding her in New York but her BFF, who can visit and her mother, with whom she has a tumultuous relationship, (and who can also visit) finds her true self and her true home. Through the books (so far) we get to know more about Regina and why she left Paramour Bay and her mother for New York, etc.

The first time Raven opens the tea shop, she finds a dead body in the back room. It's also when she first "hears" Leo, finds out she's a witch, etc. She works to solve the murder so that it doesn't affect her new fledgling business. Leo, who thinks she should stay out of things, begrudgingly assists her.

As mentioned, she inherited Leo, her Nan's familiar, to guide her through her learning the craft. Problem is, Nan had to dabble with black magic to bring Leo back from the dead. The necromancy spell Nan had used had left Leo’s orange and black fur with a dreadlock kind of vibe, crooked whiskers, a tail bent like a coat hanger, and a left eye that bulged out just a bit. It also left him with short-term memory problems that hinder her tutelage as well as her investigating. Leo communicates with Raven via ESP--she hears him in her head. Leo, too, can hear Raven's thoughts, though she tends to speak out loud to him. Ted, a large man--think "Lurch" from The Addams Family lives on the estate and gathers the herbs, plants, etc. Raven needs for her spells.

Rounding out the regular main cast is Heidi, Raven's BFF, who lives in New York--for now--and Liam, the local sheriff--and future love interest. Then, there are the shop's regulars and townspeople...

This series is fun and funny. I love the quirky characters already, even Raven's mother, Regina, and the townspeople. There are 26!! to date in the series. I hope to catch up at some point.

Another thing I like is that not every mystery has been a murder! Raven has "worked" a cold case involving her grandmother. She's been hired by a ghost to find a missing--presumed kidnapped--familiar and the last I read (to date) she was hunting down an arsonist.

37. Kennedy Layne – Magical Blend (Paramour Bay) (3.5-3) [B=Paranormal (Witch; magical beings); Career (Tea Shop Owner); Animal-related (her familiar, a back-from-the-dead cat)] (241215)
38. Kennedy Layne – Bewitching Blend (Paramour Bay) (3.5-3) [B=Paranormal (Witch; magical beings); Career (Tea Shop Owner); Animal-related (her familiar, a back-from-the-dead cat)] (241218)
39. Kennedy Layne – Enchanting Blend (Paramour Bay) (3.5-4) [B=Paranormal (Witch; magical beings); Career (Tea Shop Owner); Animal-related (her familiar, a back-from-the-dead cat); Holiday (New Year's Eve)] (241222)
40. Kennedy Layne – Haunting Blend (Paramour Bay) (3.0) [B=Paranormal (Witch; magical beings; ghosts; fairy); Career (Tea Shop Owner); Animal-related (her familiar, a back-from-the-dead cat)] (241227)
41. Kennedy Layne – Charming Blend (Paramour Bay) (3.5-4) [B=Paranormal (Witch; magical beings); Career (Tea Shop Owner); Animal-related (her familiar, a back-from-the-dead cat); Holiday (Valentine's Day)] (241229)

That's it--for now, at least. We'll see if I get anything read over the next few days. There are 21 more Paramour Bays and I started Laura Childs'Gilt Trip from her Scrapbooking series months ago and have yet to finish it. I don't know why I got so distracted. Maybe I'll get that done or make it my first 2025 read. (I like to finish a book on Jan 1.)

On to the 2025 challenge!

Congrats on completing your goal!

Thanks, Marysia.

But, I spoke (wrote) too soon...

After I posted my (now second to) last update, I picked up the Laura Childs book I started a few months ago, Gilt Trip. I didn't really think I'd finish it before the new year, but I woke up around 1a this (well, since it's after 12a it would be "yesterday," 12/31) morning and just could not get back to sleep. I wound up finishing that book and will be starting another after I update.

So my last book of the year...
42. Laura Childs - Gilt Trip (Scrapbooking) (3.5-3) [B=Career (shop owner); Crafting (Scrapbooking/Papercrafting)] (241231)

I would have rated this higher, but I have a major issue with this series. It doesn't have anything to do with the characters, whom I love. The cozy story is fine. I love the paper-crafting tips and recipes throughout the story and expanded on after the story. The mysteries are good and involving, with multiple suspects and red herrings.

My issue continues to be that the lack of a wrap-up that explains the whos, whats, whys, wheres, whens, and hows. For example, at the end of this mystery--spoiler alert... Carmela once again solves it! :o)--the culprit is nabbed. The end. What?? No why? I mean, we sort of know why, but really, why?? No how--I mean we know how because of the autopsy, but how it came about. There are more loose threads just left dangling in the swoosh blowing "THE END" onto the page. Had the victim really found something? What? Was the map in the notebook actually the map of something? Did the culprit know? Is that what brought about the murder? How did the culprit find out? Did the culprit have a hand in what happened to the victim in the recent past (the issue before the murder)? What happened to all the cakes at the Cakewalk Ball? And a few more... I really hate that!

I don't think I'm a bad reader. I guessed whodunnit, but did I follow clues or just know because I read a lot of mysteries. Really, would it have been so hard to have Carmela and her detective beau sitting on her couch with a glass of wine while he tells her what they'd found out from the culprit? And Carmela filling him in on what happened at the gala after the arrest? Or Carmela and Ava chatting on the couch with a glass of wine awaiting the detective beau to finish wrapping up thing at the police station with Carmela filling in Ava on the happenings at the precinct she just got home from and Ava filling in Carmela about all things ball related? OR Carmela filling in the "paper-crafting" ladies the next day or the following week? C'mon!

Why so so so annoying, it's not enough to keep me from reading the others in the series--and hoping for more to come because I do like the series--but it is enough for me to rate them lower than I would had there been a wrap-up--thus a 3.50 rolls down to 3 rather than up to 4.

Now onto my first read of 2025!--well, after I update my GoodReads reads for the end of the year. :o)