Cozy Mysteries discussion

Zermeena wrote: "Way to go, Brenda! You are an amazing reader. Not only do you read a lot of books, but you also write excellent reviews of them."

Thanks Zermeena, I appreciate that :)

Mark wrote: "Way to go! So what are you going to do the rest of the year?"

Thanks Mark - I think I might continue reading ;)

I'm shocked. Shocked I tell you. ;)

Lol!!

My review for A Royal Visit to Victory Street by Pam Howes

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

My review for Her Final Hour by Rachel Amphlett

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

Here is my 3.44 rounded to 3 stars review of Raven Unveiled by Grace Draven:

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

Overall, this fantasy is gripping, heart-breaking, and thought-provoking. The high stakes and smooth writing made it a page turner. However, the pace slowed at times, and I wanted a more extensive world-building.

Here is my 3.18 rounded to 3 stars review of The Wilderwomen by Ruth Emmie Lang:

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

Magical realism, great dialogue, a mother’s disappearance, an unforgettable journey, and sisters reconnecting, combined to make this novel unique and enjoyable. However, it is written in a meandering fashion that tends to subdue the suspense and mystery. Additionally, there are chapters that go back in time that tend to disrupt the flow.

My review for Tess by Annie Seaton

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

Finished The Book of Life by Deborah Harkness, book three in the original All Souls trilogy. Took me about half the time anticipated to complete this book. It was a bit faster-paced than book two and I enjoyed the journey. This is book 49/50 in the PopSugar challenge, only one to go (planned for December)!

Just finished The Night Shift by Alex Finlay - really enjoyed it! I thought it was a great crime thriller - super fast-paced and multiple perspectives to always keep you guessing. If it reads like a Netflix crime series, I'm usually into it. This didn't disappoint!

My review for Broad River Station by Fleur McDonald

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

My review for Operation Lightning Bolt by Hilary Green

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

Read: Letters from Rifka by Karen Hesse — a short, quick read told in epistolary form. Gave it four stars.

My review for A Brief Affair by Alex Miller

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

My review for Absolution by Caro Ramsay

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

My review for Desert Star by Michael Connelly

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

My review for Paris at First Light by Amanda Lees

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

Finally finished The Blithedale Romance by Nathaniel Hawthorne, one of the classic group reads for this month. It was not a fast or easy read, though the pace did seem to pick up a bit in the last quarter — or I was that eager to be done with it.

Couple shorter and more contemporary books planned next.

Not a lot of pages Heather, and a very low average rating - so good for you in getting through it!!

Thanks, Brenda! And yes, not very long, only about 245 pages (not including the notes section at the end). Both Blithedale and Thérèse Raquin (read last month) are from the Victorian Era, though published 17 yrs and an ocean apart, and the writing styles couldn’t be more different. Though Hawthorne’s writing may be more eloquent, Zola had a much more readable style.

Finished a novella and a book I started some months ago today:

* O Christmas Tree by Alicia Street, an okay novella that needed better editing.

* Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. Beautiful illustrations in this! It’s not something you can (or should) read in one sitting. You need to take your time as I did to appreciate the artwork.

Am now reading a Christmas romance plucked from Mount TBR, Seducing Santa by Beth Henderson. Only about one-quarter into it so far.

My review for The Tea Ladies of St Jude’s Hospital by Joanna Nell

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

Starting the week with Cry Wolf by Annette Dashofy https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just finished by Tessa Layne and now started by Joyce Harmon.

The first was a smutty romance that had some hard hitting themes like PTSD and Veteran suicide rates.

The second is proving to be quite the adventure! Magic and set in Jane Austen's Bennet family? Yes, please!

I am reading a wonderful book. The Magnificent Lives of Marjorie Post . She lived a fascinating life. Great part of history food industry added in.

Finished this week:

* Seducing Santa by Beth Henderson

* Oh, Christmas Night by Jane Porter

I am reading The Bangalore Detectives Club by Harini Nagendra. Set in 1920 Bangalore, India. Enjoying books so far. Always interesting to learning about India under colonial rule.

Finishing off the week with The Counterfeit Wife by Mally Becker https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I am listening to Blood Work by Michael Connelly. So far a very good one.

I really enjoyed that one.

I finished Red Delicious by Kathleen Tierney. Unfortunately, this urban fantasy was not for me.

My 1.31 rounded to 1 star review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My review for The Library at Wagtail Ridge by Janet Gover

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

Stayed up until 1am to finish The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller. What a phenomenal debut novel!

Thanks good to know Heather - thanks :)

I finished All The Blood We Share by Camilla Bruce.

My 2.9 rounded to 3 stars review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

This is a historical fiction novel based on a real family of serial killers known at the Bloody Benders. Overall, this story is startling, violent, horrifying, thought provoking, and emotional, with great world-building and characterization. It was a hair-raising and chilling read. So why only 3 stars? The alternating points of view occasionally disrupted the flow. Additionally, the writing was fluent at times and felt stilted and stylistic at other times.

I finished Still Waters by Sara Driscoll.

My 4.6 rounded to 5 stars review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Overall, this tense, engaging, action-packed, and exciting crime thriller gripped me from the beginning. It has a deeply involved and multi-layered plot and an incredible setting.

When I'm not reading a snuggle, I'm usually reflecting on the next snuggle I'll read. But now that I thought about it, I realized that I had been thinking too much. It's time to snuggle again!!!

I finished White Cloud: A Strange & Surreal Philosophical Novella by Joy Slaughter.

My 2.91 rounded to 3 stars review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Overall, this magical realism novella is short, somewhat peculiar, and gripping. It is satirical at times, sad at other times, and occasionally uplifting. However, the writing style felt choppy to me, and I did not like the ending. Despite this, I’m glad I read it. It’s unusual and thought-provoking.

My review for The Forthright Woman by Darry Fraser

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

Read this weeend:

* Santa Mouse by Michael Brown (children’s book)

* Mouse's Christmas Gift by Mindy Baker (children’s book)

These were both mentioned in another book read this past week.


* Mistletoe by Hailey Abbott, Melissa de la Cruz, Aimee Friedman and Nina Malkin. Young adult romance stories set during Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

I finished Blast Wave by Leo J. Maloney.

My 4.31 rounded to 4 stars review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Overall, this novella was fast-paced, tense, and exciting from the beginning. The high stakes made it a page-turner. Maloney is great at building tension and suspense as he delivers exciting outcomes.

I've finished The Forever Witness: How Genetic Genealogy Solved a Cold Case Double Murder by Edward Humes.

My 4.56 rounded to 5 stars review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

It is a suspenseful, riveting true crime book that combines great storytelling, cold case investigations, technological advances, and genetic genealogy in a captivating crime read. Additionally, the author does a great job of explaining the science and the controversies in terms that can be easily understood.

My review for 22 Seconds by James Patterson

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

I finished reading Witcha Gonna Do by Avery Flynn.

My 3.07 rounded to 3 stars review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

This light and humorous paranormal rom-com was entertaining. The main characters are better defined than I initially expected, and the physical world-building was well done. It also tackled some profound themes that added to its energy and depth.

My review for Retribution by Sarah Barrie

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

I finished Murder at the Serpentine Bridge by Andrea Penrose. 1814 England. One of my favorite series. Lots of historical facts. A new character added in the will be good for the Weasels. Very good read

I finished One Last Chance by Kat Martin.

My 4.52 rounded to 5 stars review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

The story captivated me from the first page to the last. The deeply involved and multi-layered plot has some unpredictable moments that add suspense and danger. The world-building is excellent. Overall, this action-packed romantic suspense has great characterization, a little spice, and plenty of action.

My review for Mim and the Baffling Bully by Katrina Nannestad

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

My review for So Long, Chester Wheeler by Catherine Ryan Hyde

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

I listened to Thrice the Brinded Cat Hath Mew'd . It was as entertaining as the other books in this series. However, I don't consider these cozy mysteries because of the dark overtones throughout the books.