Tragically Dull Adventures of an Almost Librarian: Things I've Said To My Children

Tragically Dull Adventures of an Almost Librarian: Things I've Said To My Children: While I'm not a parent, I can still relate to many of the whimsical, hilarious, and absurd things that illustrator, Nathan Ripperger, ...

5 of 5 stars for Romeow & Juliet by Kathi Daley

Romeow and Juliet by Kathi Daley is the 1st book in the Whales and Tails Mystery series. Ms. Daley has done a lovely job setting the scene and describing the wonderful Island of Madrona. The inhabitants are an eclectic group of characters- all with a secret or two!

I adored Romeow and his wooing of Juliet... all the while leading his new friend Caitlin in the right direction of discovery. Caitlin & her best friend Tara want to start a new venture but murder gets in the way. Caitlin has the Cat Sanctuary to help run, her Aunt isn't getting better and her neighbors are top on her list of concerns. Old friends re-surface and new ones cause confusion... whatever is a girl to do?

I'm looking forward to reading the next installments of the Whales & Tails Mysteries and watching events unfold on Madrona. I like how Ms. Daley leaves the mystery almost completely solved with only a little string left hanging to tie up... it's so exciting!


Amazon link

5 stars for The Ghost and Mrs. McClure by Cleo Coyle (writing as Alice Kimberly)

The Ghost and Mrs. McClure is one of the Haunted Bookshop Mysteries by Cleo Coyle. Ms. Coyle (writing as Alice Kimberly) has done a bang-up job of weaving a tale so intriguing you can't put it down!

Penelope McClure is now co-owner of Buy the Book with her crazy Aunt Sadie. Setting up the newly refurbished bookstore for an Author event has someone in the lurch & not liking it one bit! Enter PI Jack Shield- resident ghost of the building for the last 1/2 century. What is it about this new dame that has him scratching his head?

The events unfold with a raucous ton of hilarity and quick one-liners. Throw in some history with self-doubt and you've got the MO of the story! The feel & atmosphere of this book in parts are right out of 40's & 50's... the language and attitude of Jack is so refreshing!! 

***Spoiler's (sort of)***

Favorite Lines:

"I'm a postal worker, buster!" Seymour cried, a vein bulging on his forehead. "Do you really want a piece of me?!"

"How am I feeling?" I repeated. "Like a full floor display got dropped on my head from the top of the Empire State Building. I swear I'll never touch hard liquor again."

"Baby, sounds to me like you're a picture being fitted for a frame, and the name of that frame is murder."

"Yeah. Right. Not like you, ya bloated, barstool raconteur!"

I absolutely loved this book and am looking forward to the other ones in this series!

Amazon link

4 stars for How to Moon a Cat by Rebecca Hale

How to Moon a Cat by Rebecca Hale is part of the series Cats & Curious Mysteries. It definitely didn't disappoint! The whole book was a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants ride!

Rebecca has taken over the Antiques shop of her deceased Uncle and is running it with the help of her 2 cats Rupert & Isabella. Thanks to Rupert, she has discovered a clue left by her Uncle. The find leads her on a scavenger hunt to collect clue after clue for a hidden...treasure?

The characters are quirky & superbly written. The whole book has the most detailed descriptions & is FULL to the brim with all kinds of historical anecdotes from the Gold Rush era of California.

This is the 3rd book in the series & I wish I had read the first 2 books prior to reading this one... I would have enjoyed a more thorough background on some of these crazy characters!!


Amazon link

4 of 5 stars for As Gouda as Dead by Avery Aames (Daryl Wood Gerber)

As Gouda as Dead is a savory little addition the Cheese Shop Mysteries written by Avery Aames (Daryl Wood Gerber). She has done a tremendous job spreading the intrigue and mystery thick on this morsel!

This is a smooth, quick read that will satiate your reading addiction. Charlotte is the owner of Fromagerie Bessette and soon-to-be bride of Jordan, the owner of Pace Hill Farm & WITSEC alum. Murder seems to follow her around Providence~ can she see her way through this one?

I received this book as a prize from a contest.

Amazon link to book

5 stars for Victoria Hamilton's 'White Colander Crime'... A Vintage Kitchen Mystery

What a great cozy! Victoria Hamilton's 5th installment of her Vintage Kitchen Mysteries is drop-dead AWESOME (pun intended :) ).

Jaymie Leighton is excited to promote Queensville Manor during the Dickens Days festival... The Manor restored, treats baked, flyers ordered and a routine all ready to display the vintage findings in the kitchen is pulled to a screeching halt by the discovery of a murder! Poor Jaymie is up to her Bakelite knobs in mystery & intrigue. Clues are popping up everywhere & she is just the person to sort them all out.

I adore the bright & descriptive visuals Ms. Hamilton uses. Just the right amount of spice and delectable tid-bits throughout the story had me second guessing what the main course was! The characters were scrumptious and the setting was delish. I am really looking forward to the other books in this series- my appetite has not been whetted yet! A total bonus for all are the recipes included in the book!

I received this book for free from the author in return for my honest, unbiased review.

http://www.amazon.com/White-Colander-Vintage-Kitchen-Mystery/dp/0425271404/ref=cm_cr_pr_bdcrb_top?ie=UTF8

5 out of 5 stars for Crushed Velvet (A Material Witness Mystery) by Diane Vallere

Just when you think you have it all sewn up... POW! ~another needle is broken & you have to look at the pattern again! Diane Vallere is a Seamstress Extraordinaire in the 'Keep them Guessing' department. She uses vivid detail and vibrant bits of nostalgia to weave the backdrop of this cozy mystery. I really couldn't put it down- I can't wait to read her other Material Witness Mystery books!

Crushed Velvet has Polyester Monroe (Poly) opening up her fabric store Material Girl in San Ladron. The usual delays are slowing her down when a body is found... under HER signature fabric! What's a girl to do? Poly starts looking into the murder and we meet all of the towns eclectic inhabitants. It seems like everyone has a story to tell (& a secret or two to boot!). Poly undertakes it all with vigor and an artistic eye that misses almost nothing.

Suede to Rest is the 1st in the series & Crushed Velvet is the 2nd. I am looking forward to more escapades from Polyester and her friends!

I received this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review

Find her book here:http://www.amazon.com/Crushed-Velvet-Material-Witness-Mystery-ebook/dp/B00QH832E0/ref=asap_bc?ie=UTF8

Tragically Dull Adventures of an Almost Librarian: Patterns of Evidence: Exodus

Tragically Dull Adventures of an Almost Librarian: Patterns of Evidence: Exodus: Fans of archaeology and biblical history will enjoy this intriguing and eye opening DVD, Patterns of Evidence: Exodus . Narrated by Kevi...

Grace Cries Uncle by Julie Hyzy

This is my first foray into the world of 'A Manor House Mystery' and I am NOT disappointed! Even though this is the 6th book, I didn't have a difficult time keeping up with what was going on... I only wish I had read the others to see what all the shenanigans were!

Ms. Hyzy starts right off with a bang. No need waiting to sniff the mystery out~ you get it in the first chapter! Imagine if you will- 39 chapters of twists, turns, second guesses and intrigue all waiting to tantalize you into becoming a sleuth... or better yet, a curator of Antiquities! 

Grace has a lot of wonderful people in her life. She also has some that are less than desirable and they are the ones that she can't wait to get rid of, eventually. Being stuck with one might cost her more than she is willing to lose! 

Grace Cries Uncle is really well written and kept me interested, wanting to know more of the story from start to finish. I really didn't feel it was slow or grinding and the characters are quite, well, human. Nothing unbelievable or superhero... just perfect.

This is a great cozy mystery and I highly recommend it!

I received this book for free from the author in return for my honest, unbiased review.


https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1280655871

Review of Faery Swap by Susan Kaye Quinn

Kelly Braun's review 

Jan 20, 15  ·  edit

5 of 5 stars

Faery Swap was such a good story! Susan Kaye Quinn takes you by the collar and pulls you in IMMEDIATELY to share in the adventures of Finn~ a teenage boy transplanted to England, struggling to keep his sister out of protective services while his father is nowhere to be found. Enter a somewhat surly Faery prince (Zaneyr) and shenanigans abound! Finn is stuck trying to figure a way to fix things while Zaneyr wants to keep that from happening.
Mark Mullaney did a bang-up job of voicing the characters. With Ms. Quinn's descriptions & Mark's voices, it is so easy to picture it all happening~ my family even got in to it! They were enthralled with it and couldn't wait to listen to Faery Swap with me! It's a real breath of fresh air to do that with the family... we held our breath together, laughed, cried & even whooped with the characters! I highly reccomend this book to any and all- especially to those wanting to share a long car trip with the family, lol!

Link to Goodreads

Sower of Dreams (Gods' Dream Trilogy #1) by Debra Holland

My review on Goodreads

This is my first Audiobook review, so here goes...

Ms. Holland weaves a tantalizing web of current and etheral sories together so seamlessly, you feel like you are right there...and here... all at the same time! Vivid landscapes encompass you as you stroll through the book in awe at it's depth- all the sounds and smells linger in your senses. A Warrior princess, a farmer Prince, evil families and Gods/Goddesses fill Sower of Dreams to the brim with mystery, intrigue, romance, betrayal and action! This is a must read that I couldn't put down~ I can't wait to listen to Reaper of Dreams next! 

I give this book 4.5 stars out of 5!