#St.Martin'sPaperbacks

[darlenefblog]

Shock and Paw - Cat Cafe Mystery #8

by Cate Conte

Publisher: ‎ St. Martin's Paperbacks 

Publication date: August 20, 2024

Print length: 320 pages

2 out of 5 star rating.

Thank you to NetGalley, Cate Conte, and St. Martin's Paperbacks for providing this advance readers copy of the book. Below is my honest review.

When you don't have a dead body until the 50% mark then it's not much of a mystery. Taking that long to set up the big event was tedious and not enjoyable. I had to stop myself from skipping around at first but later I did just that. I had lost interest and didn't care who-done-it. There wasn't much of the cafe or cats; JJ was an afterthought. In the first few chapters there were instances of repeating information a couple of times, it was like listening to an elderly relative tell the same story every family reunion. Maddie spent a lot of time going from one place to another and then to another, with nothing getting finished, it's exhausting. The Christmas events were a mess and I found it hard to believe that that many people could have done so little work. I didn't see the twist coming, all the people involved hadn't had much interaction. I will say that death by Christmas lights was an interesting way to kill off Donna.

[dollycas]

My Reading Itinerary Monday! – Week #28 – 2023

Welcome to My Reading Itinerary Monday!  Where are your books taking you this week? I will be traveling to Washington State and New Hampshire! Here’s what I read and what I have planned for this week. Escapes Completed

Macarons Can Be Murder (A Paris Kentucky Bakery Mystery) by Rose Betancourt Release Date - July 11, 2023 Setting - Kentucky I will feature this book this week on Cozy Wednesday!

Death Steals the Spotlight (Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries) by T. C. LoTempio Release Date - June 27, 2023 Setting - Connecticut The Great Escapes Book Tour stops here this Thursday!

Digging Up the Remains (A Garden Squad Mystery) by Julia Henry Release Date - August 25, 2020 Setting - Massachusetts My #Flashback Friday Read!

Scheduled Escapes

The Block Party: A Novel by Jamie Day Release Date - July 18, 2023 Setting - Massachusetts For Review

Between a Wok and a Dead Place by Leslie Budewitz Release Date - July 18, 2023 Setting - Washington State Leslie Budewitz will be my guest next week for Cozy Wednesday!

A Sour Note (A Music Box Mystery) by Jill Piscitello Release Date - June 26, 2023 Setting - New Hampshire The Great Escapes Tour stops here next Thursday!

Future Escapes July 9 - 15, 2023

Click Here to check out my Current Giveaways! Please Share Your Reading Itinerary in the Comments below! Happy Reading!!

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[darlenefblog]

How to Fall for a Scoundrel

 Kate Bateman

Thank you to NetGalley, Kate Bateman, and St. Martin's Paperbacks for this advance reader copy of the book. Below is my honest review.

Publication date: ‎ August 20, 2024 Print length: ‎ 296 pages Her Majesty’s Rebels Book 2

What fun. An enjoyable romp from the first page till the HEA. Part Charlies Angels and part Remington Steele, 1970's and 1980's terrific TV shows. Three ladies of the ton work as administrators (really investigators) with a fictious male, Charles King, as the investigation company owner. I imagine Harry looking like Pierce Brosnan, he was Remington Steele, he wound up playing James Bond.

Ellie Law is the daughter of a Chief Justice, her name fits, and knows a lot about law from a lifetime in the house of a judge. The other ladies have their special skills too, don't turn your back on Daisy. While at a Christmas-time ball she enjoys a mistletoe kiss with a handsome stranger. Turns out to be Harry, no idea who he really is but he's a good kisser. Long story short he needs the ladies help and they get a physical Charles King that clients can see, hear, and talk to. Ellie is smart and good at her job, she can trade quips and jabs with Harry leaving him impressed, intrigued and a bit lustful. A totally likeable lady that had me invested in her story from the beginning.

Harry is a hoot. He's a con man for sure. He has a regular past and then a grifter past and the grifter has to help Harry become a regular member of society again. Sounds complicated and it is. Following him, his strange life, and his train of thought is a pleasure, he keeps things lively. What can you say…handsome, interesting, intriguing, and rich, he's the perfect anti-hero/hero. He comes with an Uncle Hugo that you'll love. The 8 Rules of a Gentleman Scoundrel are actually good for anyone to know and follow.

I can't wait for the next story, Daisy. A hermit told her fortune and she'll meet her match on a dark highway. Sounds delicious.

[darlenefblog]

Strong, Silent Cowboy

I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading an Advance Reader Copy (ARC) of this story.

Strong, Silent Cowboy, by Lora Leigh & Veronica Chadwick, is available at booksellers on 3-9-2021.  This book is #2 in the Moving Violations Series.  I hate to say it but I did not like this story.  I found the female lead to be annoying and the male lead to be silly.  I had a hard time suspending my sense of belief to enjoy this far fetched plot.  It just didn't hold my attention.  The female had too much inner dialog for my taste.  It also repeated itself.  The male didn't have enough inner dialog, what was he thinking?  Besides sex.  Their sex scenes are put out there as dominate/submissive about to happen at any time.  It didn't really.  It seemed a little 1o shades of grey, not really one or the other.  

#LoraLeigh  #Strong,SilentCowboy  #MovingViolationsSeries  #Netgalley  #cowboyromance  #St.Martin'sPaperbacks

[darlenefblog]

A Duke In Time - Janna MacGregor - 2021

I am voluntarily posting an honest review after reading and advance reader copy of this story.

Janna MacGregor had me so very involved in this story.  The characters are interesting but it's the plot that had me.  I've never read a historical romance about a trigamist.  Never thought about it in this time period but how easy would it be for some rotten rogue to pull it off.  No phones, no pony express, no telegraph.  Meriweather got away with it, until he died, karma got him.  An amazing thing happened in regards to the three women, you'll love it.  Anyway, the Duke is Meri's older half brother and he's done cleaning up the mess.  Until he sees Katherine.  The sun comes out, the birds sing, & he's in a lot of lust.  Good thing it turns into love.  Convincing her to get involved with him, much less marriage, is tough.  We have secrets and untruths on the part of everybody..  Just so happens the duke has 2 single friends of good standing.  Imagine that.  The other two "widows" are getting their turn at an HEA thank goodness.  Bring on the next widow, I'm waiting.

#JannaMacGregor  #ADukeInTime  #TheWidowRules  #Netgalley  #St.Martin'sPaperbacks  #historicalromance  #romance

[dollycas]

My Reading Itinerary Monday! – Week #25 – 2023

Welcome to My Reading Itinerary Monday! I don't know about you but there are so many good books out and being released that my calendar is bursting at the seams trying to squeeze in every book I can.  Where are your books taking you this week? I will be traveling to Ohio, Maine, and New York! Here’s what I read and what I have planned for this week. Escapes Completed

Bomb Blast by Solange Ritchie Release Date - February 24, 2023 Setting - Across the U.S. The Great Escapes Tour stops here this Tuesday.

Blueberry Blunder (An Amish Candy Shop Mystery) by Amanda Flower Release Date - March 23, 2023 Setting - Ohio I will feature this book this week for Cozy Wednesday!

Collecting Can Be Murder: A Cozy Murder Mystery with a Female Amateur Sleuth (Carmen De Luca Art Sleuth Mysteries) by Jennifer S. Alderson Release Date - May 31, 2023 Setting - France The Great Escapes Tour stops here this Thursday!

Scheduled Escapes

Misfortune Cookie: A Noodle Shop Mystery by Vivien Chien Release Date - June 27, 2023 Setting - Ohio For Review

Hidden Beneath (A Maine Clambake Mystery) by Barbara Ross Release Date - June 27, 2023 Setting - Maine I will feature this book next week for Cozy Wednesday!

Kidnapped in the Woods by Deena Alexander Release Date - June 27, 2023 Setting - New York The Great Escapes Tour stops here next Thursday!

Murder To My Ears (Octavia Fields Mysteries) by Rebecca McKinnon Release Date - June 30, 2023 Setting - ?? The Great Escapes Tour stops here next Friday!

Future Escapes June 18 - 24, 2023

Click Here to check out my Current Giveaways! Please Share Your Reading Itinerary in the Comments below! Happy Reading!!

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[dollycas]

My Reading Itinerary Monday! – Week #51 – 2023

Welcome to My Reading Itinerary Monday!  Where are your books taking you this week? I will be traveling to New Jersey and Wyoming! Here’s what I read and what I have planned for this week. Escapes Completed

Coconut Drop Dead (Spice Isle Bakery Mysteries) by Olivia Matthews Release Date - December 26, 2023 Setting - New York I will post my review tomorrow!

Public Anchovy #1 (Deep Dish Mysteries) by Mindy Quigley Release Date - December 26, 2023 Setting - Wisconsin I will feature this book this week for Cozy Wednesday!

Embellished to Death (A Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery) by Christina Freeburn Release Date September 23, 2014 Setting - West Virginia For my Literary Escapes Challenge. I will post my review on Thursday with a giveaway!

Murder on Cape Cod (A Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery) by Maddie Day Release Date - December 31, 2019 Setting - Massachusetts My #FlashbackFriday Read!

Scheduled Escapes This week is the 1 week a year I get to read just for fun without the pressure of writing reviews because the week of the 25th will be filled with Christmas, my year-end wrap-up posts, and the start of my Blogoversary Celebration! I do have to read something set in New Jersey, that will be, Twisted Twenty-Six by Janet Evanovich, and something set in Wyoming to complete by Literary Escapes Challenge. Talk about coming down to the wire. Future Escapes December 17 - 23, 2023

Click Here to check out my Current Giveaways! Please Share Your Reading Itinerary in the Comments below! Happy Reading!!

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[dollycas]

My Reading Itinerary Monday! – Week #50 – 2023

Welcome to My Reading Itinerary Monday!  Where are your books taking you this week? I will be traveling to New York, Wisconsin, and West Virginia! Here’s what I read and what I have planned for this week. Escapes Completed

Murder with Chocolate Tea (A Daisy's Tea Garden Mystery) by Karen Rose Smith Release Date - November 28, 2023 Setting - Pennsylvania I will feature this book on Cozy Wednesday this week!

Dead of Winter Break (A Cassandra Sato Mystery) by Kelly Brakenhoff Release Date - November 17, 2020 Setting - Nebraska I'm trying to finish up my Literary Escapes challenge. I will post my review on Thursday!

Whisky Hernandez by J. S. Mason Release Date - October 26, 2022 Setting – Martinique The Great Escapes Tour stops here this Friday plus my #FlashbackFriday Read!

Murder Under the Mistletoe (A Jane Wunderly Mystery) by Erica Ruth Neubauer Release Date - September 26, 2023 Setting - England Read for Finish the Series Challenge I will post my review next Saturday.

Scheduled Escapes

Coconut Drop Dead (Spice Isle Bakery Mysteries) by Olivia Matthews Release Date - December 26, 2023 Setting - New York For Review

Public Anchovy #1 (Deep Dish Mysteries) by Mindy Quigley Release Date - December 26, 2023 Setting - Wisconsin I will feature this book next week for Cozy Wednesday!

Embellished to Death (A Faith Hunter Scrap This Mystery) by Christina Freeburn Release Date September 23, 2014 Setting - West Virginia For my Literary Escapes Challenge.

Future Escapes December 10 - 16, 2023

Click Here to check out my Current Giveaways! Please Share Your Reading Itinerary in the Comments below! Happy Reading!!

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[dollycas]

Snow Place for Murder (Mountain Lodge Mysteries) by Diane Kelly #Review @DianeKellyBooks @StMartinsPress

Snow Place for Murder (Mountain Lodge Mysteries) Cozy Mystery 3rd in Series Setting - North Carolina St. Martin's Paperbacks (October 24, 2023) Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250816017 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250816016 Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0BQGHWH79

International resort developer Nigel Goodwin has traveled all the way from London, England to Misty Murphy’s little corner of North Carolina and bought out the Mountaintop Lodge for the week prior to Christmas. Their intention? To pitch an exclusive new resort concept to wealthy American investors. But locals are at odds over the idea, and when a group comes to the lodge to express their worries to Mr. Goodwin and the potential investors, a blizzard hits Beech Mountain. Like the weather outside, things quickly get frosty, and Misty has to call local police to intervene. Handyman Rocky Crowder plows the lodge’s drive and, in an attempt to regain a jovial holiday atmosphere, smooths the snow pile into a makeshift sledding hill for the guests to enjoy. Misty’s boys have finished their exams and are “home” from college for the winter break, planning to spend most of their time snowboarding at the ski resort. While taking a few runs down Rocky’s sledding hill, they discover a funny-looking, nose-shaped rock. Only it’s not a rock. It’s the frozen nose of Nigel Goodwin, who’s found dead and buried under the mound of snow. Who put the developer on ice and why? Dollycas's Thoughts The Mountaintop Lodge in North Carolina is fully booked the week before Christmas. Nigel Gorden wants to develop a resort nearby and has invited a group of wealthy American investors to give them his pitch and a skiing vacation. The new resort proposed is getting mixed feedback from the local community. A group against the proposal had come to Misty Murphy's lodge to voice their opinions but it didn't go well and she had to call in the police to clear them out. Later, a blizzard blows in dumping fresh powder on the mountain.  When handyman Rocky Crowder clears the snow from the lodge's drive and parking lot he makes a sledding hill for everyone to enjoy, including Misty's sons who are helping at the lodge during their holiday break. They are excited to try it out and they make an interesting discovery, a weird rock that isn't really a rock. When Misty realizes what it is, she and Rocky rush to the hill and start digging. They find international resort developer Nigel Goodwin's dead frozen body. Who would resort to murder to stop the developer and why? Misty may have a killer on the premises so she needs to help the police ice them out before they strike again or getaway with murder. I love that this story takes place at Christmas time because it brings Misty's and Rocky's children and Misty's ex too, to the lodge. Jack and Misty have a very amicable divorce. They are truly friends and always put their college-age sons, J.J. and Mitch, first. Rocky's daughter Pebble arrives early and takes a job at the diner across the parking lot. His other two daughters, his son-in-law, and granddaughter arrive on Christmas day.  Brynn, Misty's friend and right-hand woman was away for the holidays but diner owner Patty was as busy as ever. She and her truck driver husband did share New Year's Eve with Misty and Rocky.  Ms. Kelly makes it so easy to get invested in her characters. The comfortable relationships between everyone are so heartwarming. I like the way the author is letting Misty and Rocky's relationship slowly evolve. There were plenty of suspects to work through regarding Nigel's death. Was it one of his guests? or someone local trying to stop the resort? The author throws in many twists and turns and the actual motive was surprising. I really enjoy that Misty works with the police. She keeps her ears and eyes open, asks a few questions here and there, and reports back to Deputy Highcloud everything she learns. She does get involved at the end and she and Rocky are present for the exciting arrest. Ms. Kelly sets each scene so well. This being the third book in the series I have a clear picture of the lodge, the diner, and the nearby surroundings. It is easy to feel you are right there in the moment wherever the characters go. The blizzard had me shivering.  I  don't usually think about that type of weather in North Carolina, but I now know it happens. After enduring Wisconsin winters my whole life I felt for everyone that had to go out in it for any reason. I love that Misty's cat, Yeti gets to have her own moments. Short little chapters from her point of view about what the "ridiculous creatures" i.e. crazy humans are doing or not doing. Snow Place for Murder is a wonderful addition to this series. A little fictional vacay to Beech Mountain and the Mountaintop Lodge for the holidays was pretty delightful sans the murder of course. I have enjoyed every book in this series. The mystery is contained in each book so they all can be read on their own but I recommend reading them all in order for maximum enjoyment.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

Diane Kelly writes stories that feature feisty female lead characters and their furry, four-footed friends. Diane is the author of over 30 novels and novellas, including the Death & Taxes, Paw Enforcement, and House Flipper mystery series. In 2021, she’ll launch two new series, the Southern Homebrew moonshine series and the Mountain Lodge Mysteries. Author Links:  Website   Facebook   Twitter  Newsletter signup

Also by Diane Kelly

Coming April 23, 2024

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[dollycas]

My Reading Itinerary Monday! – Week #44 – 2023

Welcome to My Reading Itinerary Monday!  Where are your books taking you this week? I will be traveling to Massachusetts and Maine! Here’s what I read and what I have planned for this week. Escapes Completed

Snow Place for Murder (Mountain Lodge Mysteries) by Diane Kelly Release Date - October 24, 2023 Setting - North Carolina My Review will be up tomorrow! 

Bulletproof Barista (A Coffeehouse Mystery) by Cleo Coyle Release Date - November 14, 2023 Setting - New York The Great Escapes Tour stops here this week for Cozy Wednesday!

Viviana Valentine and the Ticking Clock (A Girl Friday Mystery) by Emily J. Edwards Release Date - November 7, 2023 Setting - New York My Review will be up on Thursday!

Real-life and sporting events have been cutting into my reading time for #FlashbackFriday Reads. They will be back soon. Scheduled Escapes

A Seaside Bookshop Christmas: A Single Dad, Friends to Lovers Small Town Romance (The Turner Family of Bluestar Island) by Jennifer Faye Release Date - November 3, 2023 Setting - Island Off Massachusetts The Great Escapes Tour stops here next Tuesday!

Stalking Around the Christmas Tree (A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery) by Jacqueline Frost Release Date - October 17, 2023 Setting - Maine I will feature this book on Cozy Wednesday next week!

A CATastrophic Neighborhood (A Pet Momma Cozy Mystery) by Maryann Shanesy Release Date - March 27, 2023 Setting - The small town of Starport Cove and a suburb of the town called Bluffington Hills. The Great Escapes Tour stops here next Thursday!

Future Escapes November 5 - 11, 2023

Click Here to check out my Current Giveaways! Don’t Miss These Giveaways! Special Giveaway! Special Giveaway! Sponsored by Kensington Cozies Special Giveaway! Sponsored by Kensington Cozies All 3  End at Midnight on November 7! Please Share Your Reading Itinerary in the Comments below! Happy Reading!!

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[dollycas]

My Reading Itinerary Monday! – Week #44 – 2023

Welcome to My Reading Itinerary Monday!  Where are your books taking you this week? I will be traveling to North Carolina and New York this week! Here’s what I read and what I have planned for this week. Escapes Completed

Murder Outside the Lines (Pen & Ink) by Krista Davis Release Date - September 29, 2021 Setting - Washington D.C. My Review will be up tomorrow!

Spoon to be Dead: A Dessert Cozy Mystery (Shake Shop Mystery) by Dana Mentink Release Date - October 31, 2023 Setting - Oregon I will feature this book this week on Cozy Wednesday!

Paws to Remember (Magical Cats) by Sofie Kelly Release Date - October 17, 2023 Setting - Minnesota My Review will be up on Thursday!

Scheduled Escapes

Snow Place for Murder (Mountain Lodge Mysteries) by Diane Kelly Release Date - October 24, 2023 Setting - North Carolina For Review

Bulletproof Barista (A Coffeehouse Mystery) by Cleo Coyle Release Date - November 14, 2023 Setting - New York The Great Escapes Tour stops here next week for Cozy Wednesday!

Viviana Valentine and the Ticking Clock (A Girl Friday Mystery) by Emily J. Edwards Setting - New York For Review

Future Escapes October 29 - November 4, 2023

Click Here to check out my Current Giveaways! Please Share Your Reading Itinerary in the Comments below! Happy Reading!!

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent Read the full article

[dollycas]

My Reading Itinerary Monday! – Week #38 – 2023

Welcome to My Reading Itinerary Monday!  Where are your books taking you this week? I will be traveling to California and Italy! Here’s what I read and what I have planned for this week. Escapes Completed

Deadly Performance: A British Cozy Murder Mystery with a Female Amateur Sleuth (A Dotty Sayers Antique Mystery) by Victoria Tait Release Date - July 14, 2023 Setting - Scotland I will post my Review tomorrow!

Murder at the Elms (A Gilded Newport Mystery) by Alyssa Maxwell Release Date - August 22, 2023 Setting - Rhode Island The Great Escapes Tour stops here this week for Cozy Wednesday!

Miami Mice: A Detective Whiskers Cat Cozy Mystery by Chris Abernathy Release Date - July 18, 2023 Setting - Florida The Great Escapes Book Tour stops here again this Thursday so I can share my thoughts about another book in this fun series.

Viviana Valentine Goes Up the River (A Girl Friday Mystery) by Emily J. Edwards Release Date - May 2, 2023 Setting - New York My #FlashbackFriday Read!

Scheduled Escapes

Hanging by a Thread (A Sewing Studio Mystery) by Dorothy Howell Release Date - September 26, 2023 Setting - California The Great Escapes Book Tour stops here next Tuesday!

Murder in an Italian Village (A Bria Bartolucci Mystery) by Michael Falco Release Date - September 26, 2023 Setting - Italy I will feature the book next week for Cozy Wednesday!

Case of the Bleus: A Cheese Shop Mystery by Korina Moss Release Date - September 26, 2023 Setting - California For Review

The Perfect Breasts by Cara Bertoia Release Date - September 29, 2023 For Review

Future Escapes September 17 - 23, 2023

Click Here to check out my Current Giveaways! Please Share Your Reading Itinerary in the Comments below! Happy Reading!!

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[dollycas]

My Reading Itinerary Monday! – Week #34 – 2023

Welcome to My Reading Itinerary Monday!  Where are your books taking you this week? I will be traveling to Oregon, Florida and one place to be determined! Here’s what I read and what I have planned for this week. Escapes Completed

Catch Me If You Candy: A Bakeshop Mystery by Ellie Alexander Release Date - August 22, 2023 Setting - Oregon My Review will be up tomorrow!

Board to Death (A Board Game Shop Mystery) by CJ Connor Release Date - August 22, 2023 Setting - Utah I will feature this book this week for Cozy Wednesday!

Dying in a Winter Wonderland (A Year-Round Christmas Mystery) by Vicki Delany Release Date - September 29, 2020 Setting - New York My Review will be up Thursday!

Alice's Tulips by Sandra Dallas Release Date - September 18, 2001 Setting - Iowa My #FlashbackFriday Read and for my Literary Escapes Challenge.

Scheduled Escapes

All He Has Left by Chad Zunker Release Date - April 1, 2023 Setting - ?? For Review

A Clue in the Crumbs (A Key West Food Critic Mystery) by Lucy Burdette Release Date - August 8, 2023 Setting - Florida I will feature this book next week on Cozy Wednesday!

A Sprinkle in Time (Shake Shop Mystery) by Dana Mentink Release Date - May 24, 2022 Setting - Oregon For Review

Future Escapes August 20 - 26, 2023

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[dollycas]

My Reading Itinerary Monday! – Week #33 – 2023

Welcome to My Reading Itinerary Monday!  Where are your books taking you this week? I will be traveling to Oregon, Utah, and New York! Here’s what I read and what I have planned for this week. Escapes Completed

Weeding Out Lies: A Texas Flower Farmer Cozy Mystery by Jackie Layton Release Date - July 11, 2023 Setting - Texas The Great Escapes Tour stops here tomorrow!

Murder A La Mode (Coffee & Cream Cafe Mysteries) by Lena Gregory Release Date - August 8, 2023 Setting - New York The Great Escapes Tour stops here this week for Cozy Wednesday!

The Body in the Back Garden (Crescent Cove Mystery, A) by Mark Waddell Release Date - August 22, 2023 Setting - Vancouver Island The Great Escapes Tour stops here Thursday!

Seams Like Murder (A Sewing Studio Mystery) by Dorothy Howell Release Date - September 22, 2022 Setting - California My #FlashbackFriday Read!

Scheduled Escapes

Catch Me If You Candy: A Bakeshop Mystery by Ellie Alexander Release Date - August 22, 2023 Setting - Oregon For Review

Board to Death (A Board Game Shop Mystery) by CJ Connor Release Date - August 22, 2023 Setting - Utah I will feature this book next week for Cozy Wednesday!

Dying in a Winter Wonderland (A Year-Round Christmas Mystery) by Vicki Delany Release Date - September 29, 2020 Setting - New York I would have sworn on a stack of Bibles I read this book when it was released but my blog and GoodReads tell me I haven't so I am reading it now before the next book in the series Have Yourself a Deadly Little Christmas comes out next month.

Future Escapes August 13 - 19, 2023

Click Here to check out my Current Giveaways! Please Share Your Reading Itinerary in the Comments below! Happy Reading!!

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[dollycas]

Vinyl Resting Place: The Record Shop Mysteries by Olivia Blacke #Review @OliviaBlackeAuthor @OliviaBlacke @stmartinspress

Vinyl Resting Place: The Record Shop Mysteries Cozy Mystery 1st in Series Setting - Texas St. Martin's Paperbacks (December 27, 2022) Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 304 pages ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1250860083 ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1250860088 Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B09XL7B368

When Juni Jessup and her sisters Tansy and Maggie put all their beans in one basket to open Sip & Spin Records, a record-slash-coffee shop in Cedar River, Texas, they knew there could be some scratches on the track, but no one was expecting to find a body deader than disco in the supply closet. Family is everything to the Jessups, so when their uncle is arrested by Juni’s heartbreaking ex on suspicion of murder, the sisters don’t skip a beat putting Sip & Spin up for bail collateral. But their tune changes abruptly when Uncle Calvin disappears, leaving them in a grind. With their uncle’s freedom and the future of their small business on the line, it’s up to Juni and her sisters to get in the groove and figure out whodunit before the killer’s trail—and the coffee—goes cold. Music and mocha seem like a blend that should be “Knockin' On Heaven's Door,” but caught up in a murder investigation with her family and their life savings on the line, Juni wonders if she might be on the "Highway to Hell" instead. Dollycas's Thoughts Family is everything to Juni Jessup and her sisters Maggie and Tansy and they are so excited to reopen the family record store now that vinyl records are in demand again. They have now added coffee to the mix and Sip & Spin Records' grand opening is set to be a huge event. With a food truck out front and records spinning inside it feels like the whole town turned out. The sisters are ready to call the opening a great success until they find a dead body in the supply closet. When their Uncle Calvin is arrested by non-other than Juni's ex, Beau Russell the girls almost spin out but decide to put their new business up as collateral to get him out on bail with plans to prove his innocence as quickly as possible. But then Calvin disappears without a trace. His truck is still in the driveway. He clearly wasn't at home. And Juni's detective ex keeps showing up like a bad penny in hopes she will lead him to her uncle. Before the coffee stops brewing and the records stop spinning Juni knows she needs to find the real killer and her uncle all while not becoming the killer's next victim. I like the Jessup Family and I think it is so cool that they get to reopen a record shop in the exact same place where their grandparents had it in vinyl's original heyday. Each member of the family has their own strengths and they came together to get their new venture off to a great success. Juni, Maggie, and Tansy are the ones who are running the shop day to day with their Mom and Uncle Calvin being not-so-silent partners. Tansy knows so much about music and is great at helping customers find what they want. She also had the idea to add the coffee corner. Maggie is "fastidious" and strives to keep everything in the store clean and in its proper place. Juni, a former IT tech, focused on organizing the shop and advertising the grand opening. And of course, now sleuthing out a killer. We also meet Juni's ex, Detective Beau Russell, and her BFF Teddy Garza, a postal worker. There is the start of a romantic triangle here and usually, I don't mind those, but Beau was a real jerk and Teddy is such a nice guy. At the moment for me, it is no contest. All the characters are realistic with a lot of room for growth. I want to get to know them all better. The mystery was really interesting especially when everyone assumed Juni knew who the victim was when she was found when in fact she didn't and the person turned out to be someone she knew in her past but didn't recognize all grown up. That gave her added motivation to get justice for the deceased. The author gave us plenty of suspects and threw in some really nice twists and turns, the last one was pretty epic because my focus was on another character. I really enjoyed the showdown as the clues literally fell into place for Juni in real time with a feline assist. Ms. Blacke's cozy theme of a record store/coffee shop feels new and fresh and she has set the series near Austin, Texas. "The live music capital of the world." and "Known as the state’s weird city, Austin is a haven for artists and hippies. It’s famous for its tacos, lakes, and cool festivals." Sounds like a perfect place for a cozy mystery series to take place. Vinyl Resting Place, the first Record Shop Mystery, was a very entertaining read. I loved all the music references and the unique brews featured. The characters were engaging and the mystery was compelling. The author's use of humor hit all the right notes but I am not sold on the romantic triangle yet. The next book in the series is already out. I have A Fatal Groove on my Kindle's To-Be-Read shelf and plan to be reading and reviewing it soon.

Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent

https://oliviablacke.com/media/ About the Author OLIVIA BLACKE (she/her), author of the Record Shop Mysteries, beginning with Vinyl Resting Place, and the Brooklyn Murder Mysteries, finally found a way to put her Criminology degree to good use by writing quirky, unconventional, character-driven cozy mysteries. Olivia is a little nerdy, a lot awkward, and just the right amount of weird. She is a recovering ex-Texan who resides with her husband Potassium and Baileycakes, their roly-poly rescue puggle. When not writing, reading, or spending way too much time on social media, Olivia enjoys Amigurumi crochet, SCUBA diving, collecting tattoos, watching hockey, and baking dog cookies. She wants to be a unicorn when she grows up. - Find her on Facebook (AuthorOliviaBlacke), Twitter (@OliviaBlacke), and Instagram (@OliviaBlackeAuthor) - Check out her website: OliviaBlacke.com - Sign up for her Newsletter

Also by this Author

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Read the full article

[dollycas]

My Reading Itinerary Monday! – Week #31 – 2023

Welcome to My Reading Itinerary Monday!  Where are your books taking you this week? I will be sticking around Wisconsin with a little trip to South Carolina! Here’s what I read and what I have planned for this week. Escapes Completed

Fatal Fudge Swirl: An Ice Cream Shop Mystery by Meri Allen Release Date - June 27, 2023 Setting - Connecticut My Review will be up tomorrow!

Take the Honey and Run (A Bee Keeping Mystery) by Jennie Marts Release Date - July 18, 2023 Setting - Colorado The Great Escapes Tour stops here this week for Cozy Wednesday!

Vinyl Resting Place: The Record Shop Mysteries by Olivia Blacke Release Date - December 27, 2022 Setting - Texas My Review will be up Thursday!

It's Your Party, Die If You Want To (A Liv and Di in Dixie Mystery) by Vickie Fee Release Date - September 27, 2016 Setting - Tennessee My #FlashbackFriday Read!

Scheduled Escapes

Read to Death at the Lakeside Library (A Lakeside Library Mystery) by Holly Danvers Release Date - August 8, 2023 Setting - Wisconsin For Review

Honey Drop Dead (A Tea Shop Mystery) by Laura Childs Release Date - August 8, 2023 Setting - South Carolina The Great Escapes Tour stops here next week for Cozy Wednesday!

The Solace of Stars: A Hanneke Bauer Mystery by Kathleen Ernst Release Date - July 4, 2023 Setting - Wisconsin For Review

Future Escapes July 30 - August 5, 2023

Click Here to check out my Current Giveaways! Please Share Your Reading Itinerary in the Comments below! Happy Reading!!

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