Cozy Mysteries discussion
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When You’re Not Reading a Cozy
Here is my 4.66 rounded to 5 stars review of Please Tell Me by Mike Omer:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Thriller / Police Procedural
Intense moments, Child therapy sessions, Family drama, some Action
Started out the week with a non-mystery book for a change
Once Upon a Wardrobe by Patti Callahan https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Here is my 4.22 rounded to 4 stars review of Tooth and Claw by Craig Johnson:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Wilderness Adventure / Suspense / Historical Fiction
Fast-Paced with Dangerous and Intense Scenes
Set on the North Slope of Alaska
Prequel to the Walt Longmire series
Here is my 4.09 rounded to 4 stars review of Robert B. Parker's Hot Property by Mike Lupica:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mystery full of investigation and some occasional action
Enjoyable mystery with familiar characters
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Here is my 2.45 rounded to 2 stars review of Her Soul to Take by Harley Laroux:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Paranormal Romance / Horror / Supernatural Suspense
Here is my 4.67 rounded to 5 stars review of Summit’s Edge by Sara Driscoll:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
FBI K-9 Crime Thriller / Search and Rescue
I always learn something new when I read a book in this series.
Dynamic characters and fantastic world-building
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* That One Regret
* That One Touch
* That One Heartbreak
My reading eyes were turned by a pretty description and I worked my way through Carrie Elks' Heartbreak Brothers Next Generation series (to date). There isn't a GoodReads series list page as of yet, but here's a link to search results showing the three available stories and one coming July 2025. I would think there'd be several more so each of the "next gen" gets his/her own story. There are at least four more cousins I can think of off the top of my head. There are links to bonus epilogues at the end of each (so far anyway),
This is a sequel series to her Heartbreak Brothers series. Both are set in the same small town. There are four Hartson brothers and their younger sister. Each gets a story. I haven't read this series as of yet, but have really enjoyed the three next gen stories and plan on reading about the original "Heartbreakers" as some point.
The first two stories take place within and around the same timeframes as one another. The third about 5-6 years later. I rated all 3.5 to 4 stars.
That One Regret features Michael & Grace. They have a really good meet cute that leads to more. Then Grace finds out something that has her completely ghosting Michael. Imagine his surprise when a year later he runs into her in the small town he grew up in and finds out why she ran. Their passion for one another can't be denied...While there are some negatives, the overall story is so good and how Michael wins her in the end is totally sweet and romantic. And, I love how their meet-cute and HEA come full circle. So good. (Yes, I've already wasted valuable reading time rereading it!)
That One Touch features single father Presley & Cassie. Presley is a widower raising his young daughter Delilah. Cassie is a former dancer who moved to town to work at her friend's dance studio after a career-ending injury. They meet when he arrives late to pick up Delilah after dance class. Presley has been surviving, but not really "living" since his wife died. His family (which includes his identical twin, Marley) is worried and finally talks him into getting his and Marley's old band back together. Cassie auditions to be their new keyboardist and vocalist. The chemistry between Cassie and Presley is smoldering both on stage and off. Delilah loves her, but Presley is wary about bringing anyone into Delilah's life so they're trying to keep their relationship on the downlow, not very easy in a small (gossipy) town... Then, there's a major obstacle to overcome. Such a good ending!
Finally (for now), That One Heartbreak features Presley's twin Marley & Kate. It takes place six or seven years after Presely & Cassie's story (about 4 years after their bonus ep). Marley is one of my favorite characters throughout these three books, but his overall story wasn't as good as the other two (to me). Marley has been in love with Kate for a long time, but she's was widowed a couple of years ago and is determined to make it on her own. Marley, who has taken it upon himself--and feels compelled--to make sure she and her three children are okay, finally gets a chance to make Kate his. After overcoming their obstacles, they, too, get their HEA. So far my biggest negative with the series is that there are no real updates on the other couples/families, Michael & Grace and Presley & Cassie, nor aunts, uncles, and cousins. We obviously get interactions with Presley in Marley's story since he's Marley's twin and they work together, but nothing about their cousins Michael and Grace other than a mention of Grace. We have no idea if they have children, etc. Presley's story takes place in the same timeframe as Michael & Grace's story, but other than a couple of scenes in both books told from different POVs, nothing about Michael and Grace in Presley's story.
I wish there were more familial interactions and relationships between the books. This is a fun, sweet series and the stories can stand alone, but with FAMILY as the underlying theme of these love stories, you'd think there'd be at least some talk about others. It's surprising because they all live in the same small town. You'd think they'd run into one another more than these stories makes it seem. That is, these couples are all family--brothers, sisters, children, cousins, in-laws, etc. of the Hartsons (from the original series). The families seemed so close in the first book. You'd think when the extended families gather for cook-outs, parties, "Chairs" (the town's weekly gossip gathering--"BYOC-bring your own chair"...), holidays, etc., there'd be some mention of what everyone's up to. There was a lot of chatter surrounding Grace in her story, so why not now mention Michael and Grace were holding their snoozing kids--if they even have any? Or what Presley's kids were doing? Or chatter about cousin Sabrina's latest escapades? Etc. It doesn't have to be a lot, just some filler that 1) reminds us how close the entire family is; 2) reminds us of the different couples and families around and 3) maybe gets people interested in reading the other stories in the series. Anyway. (sigh)..
Next up is Hendrix's story, That One Night. He's the younger brother of Presley and Marley. Yes, their father Gray Hartson, featured in Take Me Home book 1 in the original Heartbreak Brothers series, was a rocker.
I decided earlier this year that I was going to read the books I've been collecting from various library book sales, garage sales, etc..I've got a basket full of them. Most of them are several years old, which has been enjoyable to read. Some were cozies, some basic fiction, some mysteries...I have almost emptied my basket (which means I get to start filling it up again). Anyway, to answer the question, I'm reading Cold Water Burning by John Straley and Framed by John Grisham and Jim McCloskey.
Here is my 4.19 rounded to 4 stars review of Bellevue by Robin Cook:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Medical Thriller
Suspenseful, Vivid, Thought-Provoking, & Tragic
Here is my 4.40 rounded to 4 stars review of Bones Don't Lie by Melinda Leigh:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Crime Thriller, Mystery, Private Investigations, Romantic Suspense
A very nice Christmas romance, it's a short but really enjoyable story.The Heiress Who Dared Me: A Christmas novella
by Charlie LaneHere is my 5 stars review :
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Here is my 4.49 rounded to 4 stars review of What I've Done by Melinda Leigh:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Crime Thriller, Mystery, Private Investigations, Romantic Suspense
Here is my 3.95 rounded to 4 stars review of Stuart Woods' Golden Hour by Brett Battles:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Espionage / Mystery
Flirting With Danger by Suzanne Enoch 5-StarsA cat bugler, a billionaire and a caper. My catnip.
My Review
Now or Never by Janet Evanovich 🎧 5-StarsStephanie, you Slut!
My Review
Fatal Chaos 🎧 4-StarsA drive-by shooting escalates
My Review
I'm finishing out November with
Ashes Never Lie by Lee Goldberg https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Here is my 4.48 rounded to 4 stars review of Locked In by Jussi Adler-Olsen and translated by Caroline Waight:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Police procedural / crime thriller
Gripping, thought-provoking, and dynamic
10th and last book in the Department Q series
Here is my 4.45 rounded to 4 stars review of The Silent Watcher by Victor Methos:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Legal and Crime Thriller
Unique
1st book in a new series: Vegas Shadows
Gritty, Suspenseful, Tragic, Intense
Here is my 4.27 rounded to 4 stars review of The Covert Guardian by Liane Zane:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Espionage Thriller with a hint of the paranormal that is to come.
Riveting and intense
First book in the prequel trilogy: The Unsanctioned Guardians
Takes place 6 years before the Elioud Thrilogy Urban Fantasy series
My review for
A Christmas Surprise in Pelican Crossing by Maggie Christensenhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Here is my 4.25 rounded to 4 stars review of Perfect Storm by Paige Shelton:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mystery combined with suspense, danger, and adventure
Sixth book in the Alaska Wild Series
Set in and around fictional Benedict, Alaska
Taking a break from mysteries with
Wrath and the Triple Goddess, the newest Percy Jackson title from Rick Riordan. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Her is my 4.23 rounded to 4 stars review of The Harlequin Protocol by Liane Zane:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Espionage / Action Thriller with a hint of the paranormal that is to come.
Riveting and intense
Second book in the prequel trilogy: The Unsanctioned Guardians
Takes place 2 years before the Elioud Thrilogy Urban Fantasy series and 4 years after the first book in the prequel trilogy
Here is my 3.98 rounded to 4 stars review of The Resurrectionist by A. Rae Dunlap:https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Historical Fiction
1828 Edinburgh, Scotland
Ghotic vibe, great world-building and characterization
More formal writing style than I prefer
I finished The Alehouse Murders
. It is set in 1200 England. It was pretty good. She blended Templar history and Englands history. The characters were a bit boring. 1200 is not the most exciting time period. Overall it was okay, don't think I need to read book 2 though.
My review for
The Night on the Darling River by Darry Fraserhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Adventure fiction set in 1944 England :Christmas on the Home Front
by Roland MooreHere is my review :
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
My weekend readathon reviews:
A Tullagulla Christmas by Heather Reyburnhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
The Last Quarter by Nicki Edwardshttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Outback Dust: The Drifter by Annie Seatonhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
A Fatal Obsession by Faith Martinhttps://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Mod
* The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams (book two in series). This was a reread, and it seemed to drag this time through. Granted, it’s been a long time since I last read it, but still. There was only one scene I actually remembered.
* Stranded with Santa by Janet Tronstad. This has been in amount TBR forever. Sweet Christmas romance — I breezed through it.
* Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson. Cute children’s book.
* The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg. Another reread. Love this Christmas story, though I confess — I love the movie more than the book.
In progress:
* A Very Russian Christmas: The Greatest Russian Holiday Stories of All Time by various writers, including Tolstoy, Chekhov, Dostoevsky and a couple I’ve never heard of. Currently 72 percent on this one, with four stories left.
* When I See Your Face by Laurie Paige. Another Christmas romance from Mount TBR, just starting this one.
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Cozy Mysteries
Books mentioned in this topic
Every Bend in the River (other topics)Watching the Detectives (other topics)
Blind Date with a Werewolf (other topics)
The Secret of Secrets (other topics)
Willow Rose (other topics)
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Authors mentioned in this topic
Emerson Ford (other topics)Patricia Briggs (other topics)
M. Kevin Hayden (other topics)
Deanna Raybourn (other topics)
Rob Sinclair (other topics)
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