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Showing posts from August, 2023

Book Review: Irish Soda Bread Murder by Carlene O'Connor, Peggy Ehrhart, and Liz Ireland

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Irish Soda Bread Murder   by Carlene O'Connor, Peggy Ehrhart, and Liz Ireland is a collection of three short stories that include Irish Soda Bread Murder  by Carlene O'Connor , An Irish Recipe for Murder by Peggy Ehrhart, and Mrs. Claus and the Sinister Soda Bread Man by Liz Ireland. The expected publication date of this book is December 24, 2024, and my overall review of this book is four out of five stars. I'd like to thank NetGalley for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) that I received for free in exchange for my honest review. Irish Soda Bread Murder  by Carlene O'Connor opens with Tara Meehan helping her Uncle Johnny and Aunt Rose with a local bake sale and psychic convention with the proceeds going to charity. When Rose's biggest rival shows up and ends up dying from her soda bread, Tara knows she must step in to help clear her aunt and uncle from the suspect list. I enjoyed this story a lot better than the last one I read in the series. The only complaint ...
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Book Review: Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant (Beacon Bakeshop, #4) by Darci Hannah

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Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant (Beacon Bakeshop, #4) by Darci Hannah is set in Beacon Harbor, Michigan and opens with Lindsey Bakewell finding a dummy hung from a tree outside her haunted home and workplace, a lighthouse that has been converted into a home and bakery.  Determined to keep this from happening again, Lindsey has the seniors from the local high school over for a pumpkin carving contest.  On top of that, one of her employees told a reality show that they could film the lighthouse for their show.  During the taping, the ghost makes his presence known, and everyone flees the building only to find that one of the high school teachers hanging from a tree.  Lindsey and her friends are determined to find the answer. I'd like to thank NetGalley and Kensington Books for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant (Beacon Bakeshop, #4) written by Darci Hannah.  I wasn't familiar with this author or her books, but after reading the synops...
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Book Review: Death Of A Clam Digger (Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery, #16) by Lee Hollis

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Death Of A Clam Digger (Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery, #16) by Lee Hollis opens with Haley Powell's best friend Mona Barnes and her rival Vera Leighton slugging it out on the beach over who has claim over the clams on a certain section of beach.  When Vera Leighton's father, Lonnie Leighton, turns up dead from apparent suffocation on that same spot of beach, tempers flair even more. A huge thank goes out to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Death Of A Clam Digger (Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery, #16) by Lee Hollis.  Several years ago, I read the first book in this series, Death of a Kitchen Diva (Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery, #1) and enjoyed it.  When I saw that the author had a new book in the series, I knew I wanted to revisit the series.  I was super happy that I was approved to receive this book for free in exchange for my honest review.  And, I can't wait to read all the books in betwee...
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Book Review: The International House of Dereliction by Jacqueline Davies

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The International House of Dereliction by Jacqueline Davies opens with Alice Cannoli-Potchnik finding out that she's moving for the eleventh time due to her mother's job at the local university.  Upon arriving at her new house, she notices the condemned house next door and decides to restore it to it's previous splendor.  Little does she know that it's haunted. I'd like to thank NetGalley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The International House of Dereliction by Jacqueline Davies.  Upon seeing the cover and reading the synopsis of this kid's book, my interest was piqued.  When I was approved to receive a copy for free in exchange for my honest review, I was delighted. At first, I found this book to be a bit slow, and it reminded me ever so slightly of Leeva At Last by Sara Pennypacker because both of the main characters were kept home from school by their parents and were approximately the same age.  Both of the ma...
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Book Review: A Cryptic Clue (Hunter and Clewe, #1) by Victoria Gilbert

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A Cryptic Clue (Hunter and Clewe, #1) by Victoria Gilbert was published on July 11, 2023.  It opens with sixty-year old Jane Hunter starting a new job for Cameron "Cam" Clewe after being forced to retire from her librarian career.  When Jane finds a dead body on her first day of the job, Cam requests his employee to help exonerate his name. A huge thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the Advanced Readers Copy of A Cryptic Clue (Hunter and Clewe, #1) by Victoria Gilbert.  I loved the cover and synopsis of the book and was thrilled when I learned that I was receiving a free copy of it in exchange for my honest review. At first, I had trouble getting into the story, so I put the book aside and came back to it.  Being in a different mindset definitely made the difference.  I ended up enjoying the storyline.  I really liked the main character, Jane Hunter.  I wasn't as crazy about Cameron Clewe, but he ended up growing on me. There were lots ...
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Book Review: The Secret Sisters by Avi

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The Secret Sisters by Newberry Medal-Winning Author Avi opens with Ida Bidson on her way to live her biggest dream thus far in her life . . . to go to high school so she can eventually become a teacher.  The Roaring Twenties is in it's hey day, and Ida is learning a lot of new things from using a telephone for the first time to seeing her first moving picture to learning how to speak "flapper".  But, when she corrects the principal in front of her class, she worries that she may not last long at the high school. A huge thank you to Net Galley and HarperCollins Children's Books for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The Secret Sisters by Avi.  Having heard of the author, but having never reading any of his books, I was intrigued by the synopsis of his latest middle grade book and requested to read it.  When I was approved, I was absolutely delighted. Although I'm not the target audience, I found The Secret Sisters to be fun and engaging . . . and even educationa...
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Book Review: Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt

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Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt is an unlikely story of how an octopus named Marcellus and a human named Tova Sullivan become the best of friends.  The book club I belong to chose it for our September discussion.   To be honest, I really didn't have any interest in reading this book despite hearing rave reviews about it on Facebook.  There was so much hype about it, and I'm usually disappointed in books that are over-hyped.  Additionally, I just couldn't get past knowing that part of it was told from the perspective of an octopus . . . I don't know why it bothered me since Charlotte's Web by E.B. White was told from a pig's perspective, and I loved that book as a child.  However, I had my own preconceived ideas about the book, and I am so glad that I put those ideas aside and gave it a chance.   Told from three different perspectives, the author did a phenomenal job of telling a story of an inconceivable friendship.  Don't worry, ...
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Book Review: Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger

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Christmas Presents by Lisa Unger is a novella expected to be published on October 24, 2023 by Penzler Publishers.  Madeline Martin is the owner of a thriving business, a bookstore.  When author and podcaster Harley Granger stops by her store, Madeline is starstruck.  However, bad memories are dredged up for Madeline by the author when he mentions that he is reopening a cold case that she survived. Thank you, NetGalley and Penzler Publishers, for the Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Lisa Unger's novella, Christmas Presents .  As a recent fan of the author, I knew I wanted to read her latest without even reading the synopsis, so I requested to read this novella and was ecstatic when I was approved to receive a copy for free in exchange for my honest review. This novella falls into the mystery, thriller, and suspense genre but has a little romance and intrigue to it.  Despite the genre, it even put me in the Christmas mood since it takes place during the holiday....
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Book Review: Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena

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Everyone Here Is Lying by Shari Lapena was published on July 25, 2023.  The story opens with William Wooler having an affair.  When his mistress ends things, William goes home early wanting some peace and quiet only to find his daughter Avery home from school early.  He loses his temper with his daughter and leaves.  Hours later, Avery is missing and presumed dead, leaving William as the suspect.  However, he isn't the only person in town hiding a secret. Shari Lapena is one of my favorite authors, so whenever she has a new book out, I know that I'm going to read it automatically.  I was hoping that I'd be lucky enough to receive an advanced readers copy from NetGalley.  Unfortunately, it wasn't in the cards for me.  However, I was one of the first people to be able to check out Everyone Here Is Lying from my local public library. Told from multiple perspectives, the story held my attention, and I drew some conclusions on who I thought was invol...
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