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Book Review: Finlay Donovan Rolls The Dice (Finlay Donovan, #4) by Elle Cosimano

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Finlay Donovan Rolls The Dice (Finlay Donovan, #4)  by Elle Cosimano opens with Finlay Donovan and her nanny, Vero, planning a trip to Atlantic City to pay off some debts, find Javi, and retrieve a stolen car.  But first, they come up with a cover story that backfires miserably.  Finlay and Vero have to be clever and sneaky to accomplish what they set out to do, but will they have to come clean? Thank you, NetGalley, for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Finlay Donovan Rolls The Dice (Finlay Donovan, #4) by Elle Cosimano.  This is one of the books I was most excited about being able to read before it was in stores.  I received the eBook for free in exchange for my honest review. The fourth installment picks up where the last book ended and ties up the loose ends from Finlay Donovan Knocks Them Dead (Finlay Donovan, #3)  . . . so much so that I thought that this was going to be the last book in the series.  However, Finlay Donovan Rolls The Dice ends up having a couple of cliffhangers,
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Book Review: Veronica Ruiz Breaks The Bank (Finlay Donovan, #3.5) by Elle Cosimano

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Veronica Ruiz Breaks The Bank (Finlay Donovan, #3.5) by Elle Cosimano is a short story that gives the reader some background on Veronica "Vero" Ruiz.  Vero is on the run after being accused of stealing money from her sorority and lands at her cousin Ramon's apartment to start her life over.  Utilizing a fake name, Vero lands a job as a custodian at a local bank where money has gone missing.  Can she help solve this mystery without revealing her true identity? I had no idea that Elle Cosimano came out with a short story about one of the secondary characters in the Finlay Donovan series.  When Amazon.com suggested this book to me, I was over the moon with excitement.  Without hesitation, I purchased and downloaded the book. Learning about Vero's backstory was very interesting to me, and I love that readers were able to see that this character was always spunky and took no prisoners.  Even though Finlay Donovan doesn't make an appearance until the end of the story,
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Book Review: Public Anchovy #1 (Deep Dish Mysteries, #3) by Mindy Quigley

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Public Anchovy #1 (Deep Dish Mysteries, #3) by Mindy Quigley was published on December 26, 2023 and opens with Delilah O'Leary on her way to a library fundraiser where she's providing the catering.  Of course, everything that can go wrong does go wrong . . . a last minute guest has a special dietary request . . . no gluten, no dairy, and no nightshade foods.  Upon arriving at the Prohibition themed dinner, one of the guests falls down the stairs and dies.  Then, a storm takes out the power, causing most of the guests and staff to be trapped in the remote mansion.  Can Delilah use her skills to deduce what happened? I received an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Public Anchovy #1 from NetGalley for free in exchange for my honest review.  Thrilled, excited, and delighted were just a few of the words I can use to describe how I felt when I found out I was approved to receive this advanced copy. Although the story started off a bit slow, it picked up quickly when the first person d
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Book Review: The Professor (Detective Marlitt Kaplan, #2) by Lauren Nossett

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The Professor (Detective Marlitt Kaplan, #2) by Lauren Nossett continues where The Resemblance (Detective Marlitt Kaplan, #1) left off.  Marlitt Kaplan is recovering and is recruited by her mother to look into the death of a student and exonerate a professor.  Going undercover, nothing is as it seems.  Will Marlitt be able to prove that Dr. Verena Sobek is innocent in time? I received an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of this book for free in exchange for my honest review from NetGalley.  Having read Nossett's debut novel, I couldn't wait to read the sequel.  At the same time, I was unsure if it would live up to its predecessor, so I put off reading the story for a while. It's been quite a while since I finished reading The Professor , but I find myself still thinking about the story and characters and wanting to lose myself in the story all over again.  I am hoping for another installment and that this will end up being a long running series.  For whatever reason, this book
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Book Review: There Are No Dragons In This Book by Donna Lambo-Weidner

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There Are No Dragons In This Book by Donna Lambo-Weidner is a children's book where kids look to make sure there are no dragons in the book.  The expected publication date is March 5, 2024.  I'd like to thank NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of this book. I have to say that I was a bit disappointed in this picture book.  I didn't care for the story, and it's not something I would likely read to a child.  I also didn't like that the story actually did have dragons in it only because I feel like a child might be upset that they were mislead.  However, I'm not the target audience, so kids may love it. On a positive note, I did enjoy the colorful illustrations.  It definitely gives the reader a lot to look at.  Three out of five stars is what I gave There Are No Dragons In This Book by Donna Lambo-Weidner. Follow Us On Social Media
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Book Review: Murder Uncorked (Cece Barton Mystery, #1) by Maddie Day

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Murder Uncorked (Cece Barton Mystery, #1) by Maddie Day is the first book in a new cozy mystery series.  Cece Barton is a widowed mom with a daughter in college.  After moving to wine country to live nearby her sister, Cece becomes the prime suspect in the murder of a man.  Wanting to clear her name, Cece starts investigating the murder.  Will she clear her name? Thank you, NetGalley, for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Murder Uncorked (Cece Barton Mystery, #1) by Maddie Day.  I received a digital copy of this book for free in exchange for my honest review. I knew a little about this cozy mystery because the author wrote a prequel that was published in a collection of novellas, and I wasn't disappointed.  This story was a fun, easy read and perfect to read while on vacation.  I liked that it took place near vineyards and that the reader gets a little insight of how they might promote their products. Most of the characters were likable, and I felt like I could be friends with s
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Book Review: Murder By The Seashore (California Bookshop Mystery, #1) by Samara Yew

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Murder by the Seashore (California Bookshop Mystery, #1) by Samara Yew takes place in Oceanside, California.  It opens with Scarlett Gardner having a hard day at work because everything has gone wrong.  She partly blames Connor, her ex-boyfriend, because he dumped her and took off to greener pastures for a start up company when they were supposed to be running the bookstore she opened together.  Taking a walk on the nearby beach, Scarlett stumbles over a dead body, which turns out to be that of Lorelei Knight . . . the last customer who frequented her store the night before.  Now, Scarlett is the prime suspect and needs to clear her name. First and foremost, I'd like to thank NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Murder by the Seashore (California Bookshop Mystery, #1) by Samara Yew.  When I read the synopsis of this book, it sounded like it was right up my alley.  I received a copy of this cozy mystery for free in exchange for my honest review. The beginning of the st
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