Book Review: Claire, Darling by Callie Kazumi

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Claire, Darling by Callie Kazumi  was published on March 11, 2025 by Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine / Bantam. It opens with Claire finding out that her fiancé, Noah, isn't working where he said he was and is now ghosting her. Claire must find out why. Book Review: Claire, Darling by Callie Kazumi Thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine / Bantam for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of Claire Darling by Callie Kazumi for free in exchange for my honest review. I was absolutely thrilled when my request for a copy was approved because the synopsis was so good. From the beginning, I absolutely loved the main character of Claire and her work friend named Sukhi. Throughout the novel, we learn about Claire's past and how terrible her mother was towards her. I kept hoping that somehow we would learn who Claire's father was and would eventually connect with him. It's really no wonder Claire had no self confidence as an ad...

Book Review: A Corpse Among the Carolers (Food Blogger, #7) by Debra Sennefelder

NetGalley ARC Book Review of A Corpse Among the Carolers (Food Blogger, #7) by Debra Sennefelder
A Corpse Among the Carolers (Food Blogger, #7) by Debra Sennefelder opens with Hope Early preparing for the annual Jingle Bell Stroll. When the person playing Santa Claus is murdered, Hope knows she must find out how and why it happened. I received an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) from NetGalley for free in exchange for my honest review.

This book was just the one I needed to read to help me get in the mood for Christmas. I know that it sounds weird since it's a cozy mystery where people are murdered, but it was full of holiday activities including caroling, a holiday market, making wreaths, picking out a Christmas tree, and more. The caroling event especially made me think of my childhood when the neighborhood kids along with a few adults would go door to door around the neighborhood to sing Christmas carols. We would have luminaries lit on both sides of the street as well.

All of the characters, minus one or two of them, were very likable, and despite me not having read any of the other books in the series, it wasn't hard to keep them straight. Additionally, the friendliness of the characters drew me into the story, and I felt a sense of community if that makes sense. I guess it reminded me of all my neighbors where I grew up. Even though the main character, Hope, does a lot of things with her church, it doesn't come across as too religious, as in the story doesn't push any religion down your throat, which is a plus. 

As for figuring out who the culprit of the murders was, I had a couple of characters in mind, but I ended up being so completely and utterly wrong. Debra Sennefelder did a fantastic job of misdirection and throwing suspicion on other other people. Overall, I loved the sense of community in this book and will likely read other cozy mysteries by this author. Four out of five stars.


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