What Cozy Are You Reading? > Likes and Comments

My review of Captain's Dinner Cruise Murder by Dawn Brookes is here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Jurassic Jemma and the Mysteries of Time

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Total blast and a perfect mix of adventure, mystery, and more than a healthy dose of dinosaurs
Cozy story.

My review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Mark wrote: "When I was reading my Gilt Trip, I was reminded of your Gilt Trip. Funny how that worked out, isn't it?"

Serendipity!!

~and~
Mark wrote: "I'm starting out the week with The Sinister Sitcom Caper by Sally Carpenter...."

I see a TBR in my near future (okay... in my rearview mirror!). :o)

As for what I'm reading (have been reading)...
This year I decided to shake up my reading habits a bit—only a bit, mind you—and joined a couple of new challenges. Good news is both can feed my usual cozy reading challenge. One is a New Year Challenge that lasts until the end of February. The other is a Finish/Catch up-the-Series Challenge, which lasts the entire year. Both accept books from any genre (YAY!), so I’ve been reading pretty much what I want with a bent toward catching up series if I can.

Since the first of the year the mysteries I’ve read…
Wedding Cake and Widows from the Christy Murphy series Mom and Christy's Mysteries | *** My Review ***

Spellbinding Blend from the Kennedy Layne series Paramour Bay

Pour-Over Predicament – AND – Ice Coffee Corruption from the Tonya Kappes series Killer Coffee

A Merry Little Murder Plot from the Jenn McKinlay series Library Lover's

A Ghoul's Gotta Do from the Victoria Laurie series Ghost Hunter | *** My Review ***

And Then There Were Crumbs | from the Eve Calder series Cookie House | *** My Review ***
*x*x*x*x*x*x*x*

I’m currently in the middle of Sweet Crepes of Wrath from the Addison Moore series Murder in the Mix/Lottie Lemon
~and~
I’ve got the next-in-Paramour Bay, Cryptic Blend by Kennedy Layne, started as well. I would have added the series to the catch-up challenge, but there are 26 (to date) and I’m only on book 7—one of the drawbacks of TBRing new-to-me series, you pick up one to find out you're already behind by X (and I like reading series in order). I probably could catch up by the end of the year, but there are a lot of things to read. We’ll see…

I also just lined up a bunch of romance reads on another reader so my reading time is being split between readers (and genres)—that is, whichever is near me at the time is what gets read. I’m pretty sure, however, that I’ll finish the Lottie Lemon mystery within a couple of days.

I'm starting off the week with Murder at Mallowan Hall by Colleen Cambridge https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'm currently reading Bed and Breakfast and Murder by Fiona Fleming as well as Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith. I recently rewatched the film that was based of the book and realised I hadn't read the book yet.

Stuff Your Kindle Day January 23 2025
Cozy Mystery eBook Blast
https://cozymysterybookclub.com/bookb...

There are also links to retailers other than Amazon.

In case you don't frequent the freebie discussion...

Today's Tonya Kappes newsletter has a link to another fill-your-readers type giveaway. It says ONE DAY ONLY, today, January 23, 2025, but there have been times some of the books remain free for a few days.

Welcome to the winter edition of the Cozy Mystery eBook Blast. For one day only, you can download 170+ FREE ebooks from your preferred retailer. Browse our cozy mystery genre pages and find your next favorite book. Happy reading! (Please note that we can’t guarantee that all ebooks will be free in your region!)

I have not looked at the offerings as of yet, but they have offerings for most readers--Nook, Kindle, Apple... in three different categoriesK Historical, Paranormal, and Contemporary.

Enjoy. Happy Hunting...
https://cozymysterybookclub.com/bookb...

I just finished listening to Murder on the Brighton Express. It took awhile to get going but it was a very good mystery by the time all was revealed. There's more romance than Cleo thinks she wants but I think she's beginning to see reason. I think she can't do anything until Flossie is married and until she has money of her own to feel independent.

On another discussion board, Heather L wrote: "Karen — Sounds like a couple of fun challenges to help you catch up on series. Unfortunately, GR on longer allows you to hyperlink to external sites, you can only post the website..."

I didn't realize the links to my challenges weren't working. The challenges are on GoodReads. The hyperlinks are to the main GR pages that link to the challenges so I don't know why they're blocking. :o(

My Cozy Mystery Challenge page, Cruisin Through the Cozies group:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

New Year's challenge page, Cozy Mystery Corner group, Challenges:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Series Challenge page Happily Ever After group, Challenges:
https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...

Here's hoping these work

My review of Corporate Cruise Murder by Dawn Brookes is here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

My review of We'll Always Have Parrots by Donna Andrews is here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Uh-oh I made the mistake of starting Survival of the Fritters thinking it would take time to set up the world and introduce the characters but I was wrong. The action starts pretty quickly and so far, a few chapters in, it's good.

I really like this series!

I'm starting the new month with Framed for Murder by Marla A. White https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Almost done with Survival of the Fritters . I'm enjoying it very much although I did figure out early on whodunit. The plot needed a few more characters.

I'm closing out the week with Murder at Beechwood by Alyssa Maxwell https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Mark wrote: "I'm closing out the week with Murder at Beechwood by Alyssa Maxwell https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

One of my favorites. I miss Beechwood so much! It was always fun visiting the Gilded Age and getting all the gossip on the Astors and friends. I never went to dinner with Mrs. Astor but they offered it occasionally. I finished this one walking on the Cliff Walk and at lunch in Newport. I HAD to see the spot where the murder happens. I saw it from a distance. Your post reminds me to load my pictures of Gilded Age Newport and add them to my reviews.

I'm finishing up A Hopeless Heist.

I finished a fun historical cozy A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen. Set in 1784 London. Very intersting characters, good mystery and discussion of the options women had at that time.

I'm currently reading Melissa Bourbon's Murder in Dev*l's Cove, set in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. It's the first I've read with a bibliomancer and it's fascinating to learn about. I'd probably tag it as Magical Realism.

Alice wrote: "I finished a fun historical cozy A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen. Set in 1784 London. Very intersting characters, good mystery and discussi..."

I really enjoyed this book. The second not as much, but this was one of my favorites the year it came out.

Enjoyed checking in with the characters from the Death on Demand series from Carolyn Hart with https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Just finished today: The Saturday Big Tent Wedding Party. This continues to be one of my favorite series!

I just finished the Addison Moore book Vanilla Glazed Valentine Vendetta from her Murder in the Mix/Lottie Lemon series--the 52!! entry.

An addition is due in November. It helps me with my 2025 finish-the-series (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...) and Cruisin' Through the Cozies (https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/...) challenges.

I'm finishing up the week with the Valentine's themed Chocolate Can Be Deadly by Kim Davis https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I finished an little bit older cozy Ghost at Work by Carolyn Hart. I found it very enjoyable. I liked our main character Bailey Ruth. Book is set in Oklahoma, you don't find many books set in Oklahoma.

Alice wrote: "I finished an little bit older cozy Ghost at Work by Carolyn Hart. I found it very enjoyable. I liked our main character Bailey Ruth. Book is set in..."

It's been eons since I read this one. I do remember liking it a lot. By coincidence I had just run across a listing for it, and went ahead and added the next two to my Kindle WL.

I'm kicking off the week with Kilned at the Ceramic Shop by Donna Clancy https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I just finished a paramormal cozy, Ghouls Just Haunt to Have Fun. It was a good one.

Next up is a re-read of Tailing a Tabby, with the adorable Eddie, the bookmobile cat, for a group read on another GR group.

I read/listened to several cozies while on vacation earlier this month. All were good starts for their respective series, although the Board Games series may be a one-and-done?

Peg and Rose Solve a Murder (Senior Sleuths #1), by Laurien Berenson, finished 1/31/25 ★★★.5
Review


A Murder in Helvetica Bold (Thistlewood Star #1), by Jessa Archer, finished 2/7/25 ★★★.5
Review


This Way to Murder (Board Game Café #1), by Shelley Shearer, finished 2/8/25 ★★★.5
Review


The Case at Barton Manor (Mrs. Lillywhite Investigates #1), by Emily Queen, finished 2/10/25 ★★★.5
Review

Over the weekend I read an ARC of
A Pernicious Fabrication: A Regency Cozy

and a reread of
Murder at Vinland

Both are very good fun.

QNPoohBear wrote: "Over the weekend I read an ARC of
A Pernicious Fabrication: A Regency Cozy"

I thought of you when I saw this on Netgalley yesterday :)

I finished Murder is a Piece of Cake by Valerie Burns. Book two in the series. Fun cozy with lots of baking and an English Mastiff. Looking forward to book 3.

Barb wrote: "QNPoohBear wrote: "Over the weekend I read an ARC of
A Pernicious Fabrication: A Regency Cozy"

I thought of you when I saw this on Netgalley yesterday :)"

I was right on it when the release was announced! I didn't love it as much as some of the others. It's a very convoluted mystery but I was glad to have a resolution to the forgery plot begun in A Lark's Release: A Regency Cozy.

Alice wrote: "I finished Murder is a Piece of Cake Fun cozy with lots of baking and an English Mastiff. Lo..."

I love Baby!

I completely enjoyed The Marlow Murder Club by Robert Thorogood https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I am currently reading the Magical Bakery Mystery series by Bailey Cates, Starry Hollow Witches series by Annabel Chase & Lovely Lethal Gardens series by Dale Mayer, so far I am loving these series. I just finished the Witchcraft Mystery series by Juliet Blackwell which I thoroughly enjoyed.

I read 2/3 of The Incident of the Book in the Nighttime last night before going to sleep and my brain kept trying to solve the mystery in my sleep! I woke up uncomfortable and couldn't get back to sleep this morning so I finished the book. The mystery was too complicated. The murderer wasn't who I expected based on the clues. I figured it out after Gemma but before the reveal. I like the relationship development between Gemma and Ryan and Gemma and her family. She's more open to communicating with them and respecting Ryan's feelings. Pippa has softened a bit now she's with Grant.

As always Donald provides the comic relief.

I did note some errors though - one was a simple name mistake but the other... who doesn't know what number platform wizards use to get to the Hogwarts Express? Donald, that's who, and apparently Gemma, even though she knows what it is. Neither of them can read the sign for Platform 9 3/4 either.

Fun moment: Simon from the Tea by the Sea series has a brief cameo!

This series is good, light escapism.

I finished Frozen Detective by Amanda Flower. It was an okay Cozy. Set in the Finger Lakes of New York. Not my favorite series by her.

Murder in the Tuscan Hills

3.5 stars for me.
I read this as a NetGalley review copy. Murder mystery.
Feb 2025 release.

My review here - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

BookishDramas wrote: "Murder in the Tuscan Hills

3.5 stars for me.
I read this as a NetGalley review copy. Murder mystery.
Feb 2025 release.

My review h..."

One of my favorite series!

Death of a Wandering Wolf

AH I did the same thing! I read half the book, went to sleep, dreamed about the characters, woke up early this morning uncomfortable and unable to sleep so I finished the book. The murderer wasn't who I expected and I'm glad about that. The romance really heats up fast and Hana explores more of her second sight/inner eye whatever. I like the Hungarian culture and Erik's sisters were interesting but this series is a little darker than I like to read.

Alice wrote: "I finished Frozen Detective by Amanda Flower. It was an okay Cozy. Set in the Finger Lakes of New York. Not my favorite series by her."

It seems you're not the only one with that opinion. There are only two books in the series - if you can call two books a series?

Travel days on vacation = lots of time to read!

Never Murder a Birder (Leigh Koslow #11), by Edie Claire, finished 2/16/25 ★★★★
Review


The Linking Rings (Eli Marks #4), by John Gaspard, finished 2/17/25 ★★★★
review


Lost Legacy (Zoe Chambers #2), by Annette Dashofy, finished 2/18/25 ★★★★ | not quite sure this is a cozy, but I really like the series so far
Review


Beating the Wrap (Bonnie & Clyde #3), by Julie Anne Lindsey, finished 2/19/25 ★★★.5
Review

sinking my teeth into this new series....

Barb wrote: "Travel days on vacation = lots of time to read!

Never Murder a Birder (Leigh Koslow #11), by Edie Claire, finished 2/16/25 ★★★★
Review


[..."

I love Annette's books, but I don't consider her cozy. The first couple were boarder line, but as the series has gone on, I feel like any of that has been left behind.

I had one of her books on my list of favorites in 2024, and I expect to again in 2025. So they are definitely worth reading, in my opinion.

Love Annette's Zoe Chambers mysteries. I will be reading #8 next month, fingers crossed. Otherwise April.

QNPoohBear wrote: "Death of a Wandering Wolf

AH I did the same thing! I read half the book, went to sleep, dreamed about the characters, woke up early th..."

I still bemoan the fact that there are only three books in this series.

Lots of good reading, Barb! I flew through my February tbr, so will be able to add a couple more this month.

Am finishing uo a Rhy Bowen WWII book (In Farleigh Field). I'm not much into war but she's such a good writer that I added it to the list.

Next cozy is Two Wicked Desserts.