Cats, Books, and...More Cats!: ROCCO's guest: author Barbara Early

Cats, Books, and...More Cats!: ROCCO's guest: author Barbara Early: Meow! My guest today is author Barbara Early! Barbara Early earned an engineering degree, but after four years of doing nothing ...

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