You can have your cake and murder too!

Mary Jane Clark (former daughter-in-law of Mary Higgins Clark) takes spatula in hand and dips into the cozy mystery world with the first in her newest series - To Have and to Kill: A Wedding Cake Mystery.

We meet the heroine of the series, Piper Donovan at her lowest point.  She's an unemployed actress struggling in NYC and finds that her only solution - temporarily that is - was to give up her apartment in the city and move back with her parents in the New Jersey 'burbs.  Not exactly a dream come true for a 27 year old woman, but her quirky father and bakery owning mother make for some interesting and fun back story.

Not one to let grass grow under her feet, Piper helps out her mother at the bakery and agrees to bake a wedding cake for Glenna, her best friend and former soap opera co-star.  Piper also agrees to attend a charity auction in hopes of networking with industry insiders where a another former co-star is murdered right before her very eyes. The motive, dodgy incidents and suspect list grows throughout the tale. 

In this fun cozy based in the NYC metro area, bodies pile up, jewels are stolen and its practically impossible to discern friend from foe.  With the help of her former neighbor and friend Jack, an FBI agent and the solid foundation that was laid by her former police officer father, Piper untangles the murderer's motive and manages to whip up the perfect wedding cake.

While I found the myriad points of view interesting, I'd of much rather spent time inside the main characters minds a little more.  Granted, I had no problem following the multiple points of view, which is a sure sign of a well crafted writing, but I did feel like I didn't completely get to know Piper the way I wanted to.  I felt a tiny bit cheated at the hints of romance that went no where, but since this is a series, I expect that Piper and Jack to maybe hook up in a book down the road (I hope!).

Also, I was a tad disappointed near end when the murderer was revealed because of the points of view that author chose. Clark glazed over the climatic part of the mystery and seemingly jumped ahead to the wedding day and the unveiling of the cake.  It almost felt rushed and that she needed to get to the end and decided to leave out how things wrapped up and how Piper felt about the whole ordeal.

All in all, it was a fun, fast read and I'm seriously looking forward to seeing more of Piper and crew.

 

Happily Ever After

After taking a bit of break from romance, I was happy to fall in love again with Nora Robert's final novel in her best-selling Bridal Quartet series.  The series focuses on four childhood best friends who turn their afternoons of playing "Wedding Day" into reality as they pool their talents to create a premiere wedding venue and service called Vows.

Each novel focused on each of the friend's falling in love along with showcasing their talents in the business.  Mac, from the first novel, Vision in White, is a spunky photographer.  Emma, the hopeless romantic of the group, is the florist, in Bed of Roses.  While Laurel the smart mouthed baker extraordinaire displays her talents and love story in Savor the Moment.

Happy Ever After revolves around the uber-organized business woman Parker Brown, who's the creator of Vows. She finds her inner organized self at war with her feelings towards one of her brother's friends and her mechanic, Malcolm Kavanaugh.  Sparks fly, but while she's used to creating the best day of every bride's life she seems almost clueless of where her own love life is heading.

While I loved all the other books in the series, and eagerly anticipated each one (this one included), it was a tiny bit of a let down.  I knew what to expect since it was hinted in the last novel who her love interest was going to be and fully expected a happy ending.  After all that is why women read romances - to see a happy ending. 

My main quip with the novel was the pacing, which felt a little slower than the others and the excess of Parker handling various brides.  Perhaps I was spoiled by learning about different crafts in the other novels, whereas I didn't feel that way with the wedding planner position. I just felt hassled while Parker dealt with silly bride problems. 

Otherwise, the romance part of the novel was fabulous.  Watching a straight laced woman hop on a Harley and basically come undo by her feelings for a man she normally wouldn't give the time of of day to (not because she's a snob, but just because she's so consumed by work & afraid to let someone in).

All in all I most especially recommend this if you've read the others in the series and if you haven't start at the beginning and wrap yourself in the wonderful decadent world of brides, lace, cakes and flowers.  You won't be sorry.  This installment, as all the others is excellent brain candy!

New series by Kathy Reichs

Kathy Reichs of Bones fame is stepping into the world of young adult (YA) fiction!  Adoring Temperance Brennan and her exploits both on TV and in the bestselling novels, I'm thrilled that Virals is being released on November 2nd.  According to the very brief description, the series will center around Tory Brennan, Temperance's niece, who lives on an island off South Carolina.

I'm seriously tempted to pre-order it for my Kindle.  So many books, so little time...{sigh}

How to Crash a Killer Bash

 Penny Warner's second outing with her new series of party- planning mysteries was a party not to be forgotten anytime soon.  We catch up with Presley Parker at a famous art museum during their murder-mystery charity gala that she's organized.  Things were running fairly smoothly until the gala's host, Mary Lee Miller, is found dead during the event.  Presley's best friend Delicia is soon arrested because of an earlier argument she had with the victim and is the prime suspect.

Now, Presley must depend on her sharp organizing skills and abnormal psychology background to help her railroaded friend from being put on trail for a murder she did not commit. 

The pacing and intricately woven plot were spot on and kept me entertained throughout.  The museum back drop was not only interesting but clearly well researched.  While I did solve the murder quite early on (I blame it on my viewing a recent episode of Bones in assisting me with picking out the murderer), I wasn't 100% sure of my suspect choice almost until the end.

I also enjoyed the secondary plots (Presley's mom & her Alzheimer's), the romantic tension (Brad the crime scene cleaner & his mysteriousness) and humor, all add to this cozy.  I can't wait till the next installment!

A Deadly Deli Mystery

This new cozy mystery series by Delia Rosen unfortunately doesn't completely cut the mustard.  While the premise was fantastic, a mystery set in a Kosher deli in the heart of Nashville, the writing felt disjointed at times.  The tale opens suddenly and proceeds to introduce practically every character seemingly in the first few pages of chapter one, so my head was spinning to keep everyone straight.

Gwen, the cozy's amateur sleuth, has recently inherited her Uncle Murray's troubled deli. Having uprooted herself from NYC after a bad divorce, she finds herself with an unruly staff, while trying to run a deli she knows virtually nothing about. Throw a murdered patron on Kosher Karaoke Night into mix and you've got a real recipe for disaster.

While I enjoyed the interesting characters peppered throughout and the mystery plot, I did sometimes feel there was a great deal of let's get to the point already moments, which slowed down the pacing of the novel.  I eventually warmed up to Gwen and the author's writing style, but not before having to put the book down once.

Since this is Rosen's first outing, I'm willing to give the series another go when One Foot in the Gravy, the next deli mystery, comes out next fall.  I recommend the book for those with an open mind and don't mind a sleuth with chutzpah.

Paperback Parade

Title: Dirty Rotten Tendrils
Author: Kate Collins
Published: October 2010
Format: Paperback/Kindle

Collins continues to entertain me with her tenth tale of Abby Knight, flower shop owner and amateur sleuth.  While Abby, also the narrator of the series, waxes poetic about how lovely it is to live in a small town things begin to change courtesy of singer, Cody Verse, who won a reality show contest and calls New Chapel, Indiana his hometown along with Abby.  The town rolls out the red carpet for Cody who is being accused of stealing another local resident's song and turning it into a chart topper.

As always, a body turns up and Abby needs to help her friend and former, employer, lawyer Dave Hammond clear his name and weed through the growing list of suspects to find the real murderer.

While the murder investigation takes centerstage, plenty of secondary stories abound -- including an enagement ring mix-up, a social commentary on stardom and reality shows with family concerns thrown in to keep everyone on their toes.  The mystery was deftly written and I was kept in suspense to almost the end trying to solve the puzzle along with Abby.  New Chapel's charming residents and Abby's boyfriend, Marco keep this series entertaining and fun.  I highly recommend it.

Like spending time with an old friend...



UK Cover



I’ve know Becky Bloomwood since her first overdraft and always look forward to “spending” time with her whether she’s tramping up 5^th Avenue, climbing the side of a mountain, searching for her half-sister or in the latest installment, being a mum to a tantrum throwing toddler.  So begins Sophie Kinsella’s latest in the saga of her popular shopaholic series.

 

The book opens on Christmas Eve at a shopping mall where little Minnie, now two years old, begins to throw a fit when she sees a toy pony that initially Becky doesn’t want to purchase.  In standard Becky fashion, she finds a reason to cave (much the same rationale permeates the entire series - it’s on sale, it’s a one-off, it’s a classic, etc.) and averts disaster, only temporarily.  A hilarious, albeit mortifying, incident ensues at Santa’s Grotto where the whole family is banned for life.

This scene introduces one of the major plotlines of the novel, Minnie’s out of control nature.  Many hilarious toddler problems ensue and Nanny Sue (a TV nanny comes to the rescue, but not before a comical mannequin incident).  With typical Becky flair, she finds her way into a myriad of problems such as planning a surprise party for Luke while trying to utilize the bartering system because of the economic downturn. 

On some level, Becky is still Becky.  Shopping, scheming, lying and keeping secrets, but somehow she manages to endear herself to you because you know she’s harmless and truly means well.  Like all the novels, everything ties up neatly at the end in this installment also and we are left wondering/knowing/hoping that another tale of Becky shopping till she drops is soon to follow.  Minishopaholic is a fun, fast chick-lit read.  If you’ve enjoyed the others in the series you’ll love this one.

Paperback Parade

Title - Hounding the Pavement (Ellie Engleman, Dog Walker Mysteries, No. 1)
Genre - Cozy Mystery

Available – Paperback/Kindle

This first in a new series of romantic mysteries with a paranormal twist was a real treat.  Divorced, Ellie has shed her old life completely and instead of being the perfect Stepford wife, she’s now a dog walker to NYC’s elite.  What makes this plot even more original than the dog walking concept is the paranormal twist.  No fear, no werewolves or vampires, Ellie has a special gift, she can hear the voices of her four-legged friends.

Unique, quirky are just a few words to describe the gift.  Initially, I was concerned the Dr. Dolittle routine would either be too odd to enjoy or get old fast, but neither happened.  I was surprised at how well the author, Judi McCoy was able balance the different voices of various pooches. 

The murder that Ellie stumbles onto by virtue of her profession was unique in method and the road to solve it by literally pounding the streets of NYC was enjoyable.  The smoldering romance that simmers courtesy of a hot NYPD detective is a great diversion to all the murder and dog-nappings.  The writing is light and even a little fluffy at times, but the book makes for a fun light read for commuting or travel.

 

  

Sizzling Sixteen – More fizzle than sizzle

Sizzling Sixteen by Janet Evanovich

Genre - Mystery

Available – Hardcover/Kindle

Having read the vast majority of the Stephanie Plum series by Janet Evanovich, I was more than a little excited about the latest installment in the series. I pre-ordered it for my Kindle and began reading it on the subway ride the morning it was released. That alone should tell you how eager about the release of this book. Unfortunately, not only did it fall short of my expectations (I also found a downside to Kindle, you can’t chuck it across the room when you’re ticked-off like a regular book), but left me incredibly frustrated.


While I’m used to the madcap adventures of Stephanie, Lula, and Grandma Mazur I was more than a little put off with the pure insanity of this book. First off there was this lucky bottle, which is made out of glass that Stephanie carries around in her handbag throughout most of the story. I’m still trying to figure out how it never broke, especially considering she was chased by an alligator at one point (don’t ask!) and ran off a collapsing fire escape.


Also not to mention the fact that Ranger willing gave her two cars (one of which of course ends up destroyed). I’m certain he likes her a whole lot, but I don’t think anyone could like someone so much so that they would let them destroy a vehicle and not make her pay for it. Odd. What was also odd was how she was saved when she was in a terrible pickle, Hobbits anyone?


My other biggest issue was the sheer amount of Lula I had to endure. Don’t get me wrong Lula is a fun character, but in moderation. I felt like she was in every scene, spewing bad grammar at every turn. At some point it grated on my nerves and I almost wished the alligator would’ve eaten her! Mean I know, but there’s only so much tight pink spandex and Cluck-in-a-Bucket a girl can take.


The most glaring problem is the continuous flip-flopping Stephanie does when it comes to her love life. Nothing developed on this front at all. No choice has been made. She moons for Ranger when she sees him and then longs for Joe when she’s in his presence. I don’t know how either man tolerates her inability to commit to one of them for more than a week. It’s getting a bit played out.


Janet, it’s time Stephanie grew up. She grumbles constantly about how much she hates bounty hunting, well get another job and/or settle down! She can’t bring herself to decide who she wants as a permanent fixture in her life. She needs to stop stringing two guys along like a sixteen year old who can’t decide if she wants to take the motorcycle dude or the start quarterback to the prom. I understand that if she does one or both of these things the series is over, but maybe it’s for the best. It’s been a fun, wacky ride and I’ve enjoyed every minute until this installment. The next book should be called Sayonara Seventeen.