The Sassy Bookworm
⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Gorgeous cover on this one!
This book is just so beautifully illustrated. I love the bold, bright colors used. The graphics are whimsical and eye catching. It's broken down into the following chapters...‘Forests', ‘Seas and Oceans', ‘Mountains', ‘Hills and Valleys', ‘Rivers and Lakes', and ‘Wetlands'. Each chapter has a folk story from different parts of the world, followed by other little snippets of information about the chapter title. The one thing I had a minor issue with was the font used for the text. I found it a bit too small and hard to read. That said, I am half blind, so it could be just a “me” issue.
⭐⭐ – Cute cover on this one!
I quite enjoyed the first book in this series and was excited to dive into this one. Unfortunately, there was very little I liked about this one. For a book being set at Halloween, there was very little mention of the holiday. The pace was slow. The plot was all over the place. Where as the spanish didn't bother me in book one, in this one there was just too much without any translation or explanation. The plethora of pregnancy old wives tales.
⭐⭐ – Love this cover!
The cover of this one is what first caught my eye, add it in the “Christmas” angle and I was excited to dive in. Unfortunately, the cover was the best part of this book. It was slow. It was boring. Imogen just basically sat in her room talking to herself, grieving her husband, and not eating. She basically did zero detective work and the “mystery” was solved in a very lackluster fashion. Oh well, they all can't be hits, right?
ARC Via NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐ – I ADORE the cover on this one!
The Socialite's Guide to Murder is the first book in a new series set in the Pinnacle Hotel in New York City in 1958. The main character Evelyn Elizabeth Grace Murphy is an agoraphobic with a knack for finding lost things. When a painting goes missing and a murder takes place, she decides to investigate...
I enjoyed this one a lot. I agree with other reviewers that is read more like a young adult novel, but that didn't bother me. It is written well. Easy to read. Well paced. Had a solid plot and a mystery that kept me guessing. Quirky and likable characters, and an adorable dog. I look forward to seeing what these characters get up to in book two.
ARC Vua NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐ – Such a pretty cover on this one!
Let me start by saying this version of this book has been adapted for a younger audience. Which is fine, I knew that going in. However, for ME, it was lacking some depth and grit that I assume the “adult” version has. It felt like this version just skimmed the surface of the story. If that makes sense? That said, it was still a great read and if it opens up such a poignant story to younger readers to appreciate, well that is a win all around!
ARC Via NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐ – I am so in love with the cover on this one!
This is the second book in the Gemma Lamb Cozy Mystery series, and I am such a fan of this series. The writing is excellent. It's well paced. The setting is fun. The plot is engaging. The characters are quirky and very likable. I am bummed that I apparently missed book three when it was up for offer on NetGalley, but I look forward to diving into Wicked Whispers at St Bride's sometime in the future!
ARC Via NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Great cover on this one!
I thoroughly enjoyed this one. It was well written and well paced. The setting was atmospheric. The plot was engaging with hints of colonialism, mythology, and traditional culture. The characters were well developed and intriguing. I pretty much read this one all in one go!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ – I am in LOVE with the cover of this one!
This was my first time reading this author and my first foray into the Mrs. Hudson Series, and I can't praise it enough! Fantastic writing. Well paced. Suitably festive. Held up well as a standalone. An intelligent and well crafted plot that kept me guessing. And a plethora of likable characters. What more can I reader ask for!? I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in this series.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Great cover on this one!
I have been slowly dipping my toes into graphic novels. They've never been my thing, but I am trying to step outside my box and try new genres. This one was particularly appealing because I love the story of the headless horseman and Sleepy Hollow. I enjoyed it a lot. Great graphics, and a solid story with diversity, humor, and wonderful characters.
ARC Via NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Great cover on this one!
This was a decent start to the Killer Chocolate series. The writing was good. It was well paced. I really love the setting. Especially a mystery bookstore that sells handmade chocolates named after poisons. I thought that was quite original! The plot was engaging and kept me guessing with plenty of suspects and red herrings. Alex is a good main sleuth, and the secondary characters are likable. And of course, it wouldn't be a cozy without a few recipes to end us off! I look forward to diving into the next book in this series.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Great cover on this one!
This is honestly such a delightful little series! This was another great addition. Same fantastic writing. A great setting. Well paved. A mystery that kept me guessing. Wonderful characters. What's not to love? Well, one small thing. I am (and will always be) #teamHack I just think she has way more on page chemistry with him than Rhys, and I was not a fan the way Jem treated Hack and the way the author left things at the finish of this one. However, what can you do? That's not the direction the author choose to go in.
⭐⭐ – Pretty cover on this one!
I like this author and enjoyed the previous book in this series, however this one just wasn't this author's best work. First, the mystery isn't much of a mystery. It's pretty obvious who it is going to be from early on. Second, I did not like Mac in this one at all. First, who starts a home renovation over the holiday season and days before their wedding? This annoyed me.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Great cover on this one!
I love cozy mysteries that take place in the 1920s! This was a solid first book in a new series by Fliss Chester. The writing was excellent. It was well paced. The setting was grand. The plot engaging and kept me guessing. There was an adorable dog, and Cressida was a likable (mostly) lead. I am a little on the fence about Cressida. She could be a bit annoying at times. We'll see how she is in the next book!
⭐⭐⭐⭐ – Cute cover on this one!
I look forward every year to these Christmas themed cozy novellas!
CHRISTMAS SCARF MURDER by CARLENE O'CONNOR ⭐⭐⭐⭐
I really enjoy the Irish Village Mystery Series and this short story had all the ingredients I love in a holiday themed cozy mystery. It was suitibly festive. A beautiful setting. Had an engaging mystery. Likable characters, and a bonus recipe (or two