Cozy Mysteries discussion

I have started The Frangipani Tree Mystery yesterday. Love it. Set in 1936 Singapore. Ms. Yu does a great job describing the time period and the people of Singapore and how colonial rule effects the country. Only 40 pages in but really enjoy it. Will be reading more today.

PamG wrote: "I finished an urban fantasy/supernatural suspense novel yesterday"
Brimstone Bound by Helen Harper.

My 4 star review: https://..."

I enjoyed that book too

Currently reading a YA Distopian Escape to Eden by Rachel McClellan.

I finished listening to Unicorn Point. This series is about the overlapping worlds of Phase and Proton. This book is the ultimate battle of good vs. evil for control of the worlds.

My review for Abandoned in Death by J.D. Robb

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Started rereading Labyrinth by Kate Mosse

For my FTF BC I'm reading All Adults Here by Emma Straub which I assumed I wouldn't like (probably because it was a Jenna Bush BC selection) but I'm really enjoying.

My review for In Dark Company by Linda Castillo

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

ARGH!!!!!!! 🤯

I’m immensely annoyed. I started reading an older romance plucked from Mount TBR last night. I chose this one as the cover fit a monthly mini challenge and the book in general fit a Popsugar Challenge criteria. Continuing it tonight and know I’m close to finishing chapter four — only to suddenly jump from page 64 to 97. WTH??? Not only is it missing the last couple pages of chapter four, but all of chapters five and six as well. Thirty-three pages! That’s a huge chunk of a 200-page book!

This annoys me in so many ways. The fact I was sold a flawed book. The fact it’s an older book so odds are against getting my money back or a replacement book. The fact I invested time in a book I want to finish but can’t. Okay, technically I could finish it, but missing two chapters, wondering what I might have missed, would bother me. I’m also annoyed on behalf of the author whose publisher dissed her this way.

Growl... Now I have to figure out a replacement for both challenges. 😡

How annoying Heather! Could you check if it's available (and reasonably priced) on kindle? That way you could read the missing pages/chapters.

Brenda — It is available in ebook, but I’m averse to paying twice for a book, and it costs more now than when I originally purchased it. I do have a couple other options for the “BIPOC romance” category — once I get over my snit. 😐

I don't blame you for your snit! What about library?

Brenda wrote: "I don't blame you for your snit! What about library?"

It’s a 20-year-old category romance, so no go. They rarely carry the current ones unless by a well-known/popular author. I’m not too concerned about it now. I’ve tossed the book in the recycle bin and will move on to another book on my February list.

(And yes, I am up late. I went back to the short story collection I also recently started while watching Olympic skiing.)

Okay yes, I didn't think of that :) Good luck with your replacement. And you must be awake all night! It's almost bed time here!

I finished a contemporary romance: Last Chance Book Club by Hope Ramsay. It was light and entertaining, but too predictable.

My 3 star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Brenda wrote: "Okay yes, I didn't think of that :) Good luck with your replacement. And you must be awake all night! It's almost bed time here!"

LOL — it was 1am, and I did go to bed soon after.

Ugh, Heather, what a bummer! That brought back some not-so-good memories; I ran into that with a couple of print books in the past and it actually made me howl. And, yes, I felt bad for the authors.

Heather L wrote: "Brenda wrote: "Okay yes, I didn't think of that :) Good luck with your replacement. And you must be awake all night! It's almost bed time here!"

LOL — it was 1am, and I did go to bed soon after."

Haha! Good job!

My review for L.A. Burning by D.C. Taylor

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Lol!! Enjoy your reading whatever time you finish :)

Ack! I accidentally deleted the comment to which Brenda replied! 😐 To reiterate:

Meg — It did make me want to scream, but I managed to restrain myself. Wouldn’t want to alarm the neighbors, lol. 😃

Brenda — I’ll try to get to bed before midnight tonight. Maybe. 😁😉

Now to reply to Brenda, as intended before accidentally deleting myself... I tried, but it was actually a bit after midnight when I crawled into bed. Then I woke at 4am and was so congested I couldn’t fall back to sleep for more than an hour. Ugh.

Oh, geez, I hate, hate, hate being congested. Hope it clears up sooner than later.

I'm finishing up The Pursuit by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg. It's #5 in the Fox and O'Hare series. Love these!

My review for Treasured Tears by Kendall Talbot

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thanks, Meg! I hope so too.

Finished another book this evening, Letters to Juliet: Celebrating Shakespeare's Greatest Heroine, the Magical City of Verona, and the Power of Love by Lise and Ceil Friedman. This is a nonfiction book on the legend of Juliet and the basis for one of my favorite rom-coms, Letters to Juliet. Interspersed amongst the historical facts surrounding the famed story of Romeo and Juliet are snippets of actual notes and letters written to Juliet. A thoroughly enjoyable and quick read.

I finished a romance today: Starry-Eyed Love by Helena Hunting.

My 4 star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Heather L wrote: "Now to reply to Brenda, as intended before accidentally deleting myself... I tried, but it was actually a bit after midnight when I crawled into bed. Then I woke at 4am and was so congested I could..."

Oh dear - I hope you have better luck soon Heather! Lack of sleeping builds up eventually!

Started this week with Written in Dead Wax by Andrew Cartmel https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Thanks, Brenda — I hope so too.

I finished another story collection last night, Heart of Darkness and Selected Short Fiction, which contains the title novella and three short stories. The title novella is especially compelling once you get into the heart (ha!) of it. The pace really picks up in the middle section and sweeps you along with the current. I also liked the first story, “Youth,” which depicts an ill-fated journey in the Indian Ocean. “Amy Foster” was okay and I did not much care for “The Secret Sharer.” All in all, would recommend this collection for those who enjoy the classics.

I finished: 100 Plants to Feed the Birds: Turn Your Home Garden into a Healthy Bird Habitat by Laura Erickson.

My 5 star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished Red Widow by Alma Katsu.

My 4 star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'm reading Yours Cheerfully by A.J. Pearce which is the sequel to Dear Mrs. Bird.

My review for City of the Dead by Jonathan Kellerman

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My review for The White Rose Network by Ellie Midwood

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished A Rip Through Time by Kelley Armstrong.
This is a historical mystery with a time travel element.

My 4 star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My review for The Child I Never Had by Kate Hewitt

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I am reading State of Terror by Hillary Rodham Clinton. She is writing with Louise Penny. Very good so far. I am enjoying the writing style.

I just started reading The Children's Blizzard by Melanie Benjamin. Her books are so well researched and her fictional story is always so good.

My review for Eliza by Annie Seaton

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My review for Queen of the Desert by Marie Laval

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished The Fervor by Alma Katsu. My 4 star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The novel is is dark, intense, and disturbing, but contains important themes that are just as applicable today as they were in 1944. While this is fiction, internment camps during World War II and many instances of violence against those of Asian (and other) ancestry in America are a harsh reality. That is one of the reasons this is such a difficult review to write and do justice to the book. The story can be categorized in many ways. It is historical fiction, a medical suspense, and a historical horror with a bit of folklore and supernatural suspense.

I finished up the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series by Douglas Adams this weekend. I don't understand what all the hoopla is about. Definitely not my "cup of tea."

Teresa — I take it you’re not a fan of science fiction/fantasy? I’ve never been a huge SFF reader, but actually loved that series when I was in high school/college. I can see where it might not appeal to everyone, though.

My review for A Place to Call Home by Lizzie Page

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Heather L wrote: "Teresa — I take it you’re not a fan of science fiction/fantasy? I’ve never been a huge SFF reader, but actually loved that series when I was in high school/college. I can see where it might not app..."

I love science fiction/fantasy. Ray Bradbury, Robert Heinlein, HG Wells, Anne McCaffrey, Piers Anthony and Terry Brooks are some of my favorite non-mystery authors. I don't understand why I didn't like the Hitchhiker books. They should have been something I enjoyed.

Oh well - Terry Brooks is next on the list. I need to catch up with his Shannara series. I'm about 10 or so books behind.

With some of the other authors you like it is surprising you didn’t like Douglas Adams. His style is quite a bit lighter and more irreverent than his predecessors, though. Bradbury especially tends towards a more dry/wry sense of humor. I hope you enjoy your catchup with Brooks. I’ve not read any of his fantasy novels, but loved his nonfiction book, Sometimes the Magic Works: Lessons from a Writing Life.

I finished a book in a series that I normally enjoy, but this one was slow going. Chaos by Patricia Cornwell.

My 3 star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I read Rising Danger by Jerusha Agen. This was a very good debut Christian romantic suspense novel set in and around Minneapolis, Minnesota.

My 4 star review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just started reading an ARC of The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley. Just like The Guest List multiple POVs which I am sorting out after reading a few chapters. Pulled me in from the first chapter.