Christa Nardi's Blog, page 19

Book Review: MOSTACCIOLI MURDER A delicious cozy mystery (A Jade Sommer Mystery) by Nicolette Pierce

Synopsis 
Murder with a side of mostaccioli. 
Jade returns home to Chicago after being wrongfully fired from her dream job. When she had left a decade ago, she had made two promises to herself. One, never ever work for the family restaurant again. And, two, never ever see Logan, her cheating ex-boyfriend, again. 
Unfortunately, when the restaurant delivery driver is found murdered, Jade assumes his position. The detective assigned to the case is none other than Logan. 
As Jade comes to term with her new life at the restaurant, clues surrounding the murder develop. Jade receives odd delivery orders and threatening messages. Suspects appear in a thrilling mystery that Jade must solve or find herself as dead as the driver. 
To save herself and the family business, she must play nice with the detective. But how can she play nice when she vowed to never speak to the jerk again? To solve the case, the pair must put their past aside. Will Jade solve the murder before it’s too late? Can she move past her feelings for Logan? 
Review
This was a fast-moving mystery with Jade trying to deal with her feelings for Logan, her anger at losing her job, and solving a murder to save the family restaurant. Gangs, family discord, jealousy, a bit of Chinese culture, and a murder. 
The plot flowed and the story well written. The main characters were likable. Not the best "homecoming" for Jade, though she weathers through it all. This is the first of Nicolette Pierce's books and is the first in the Jade Sommer Mysteries. I look forward to reading more of them. 
[On a personal note, the title made me buy the book! Growing up, the pasta of choice when my dad cooked was mostaccioli - nothing else would do.]
Jade Sommer MysteriesMostaccioli MurderPenne PryoFettuccini FiascoRigatoni Ruin

Book Review: MURDER IN WHITE LACE (Bridal Shop Mysteries) by Karen Sue Walker

Synopsis  
What’s worse than a bridezilla for a client? A dead one! 
Max Walters is a talented bridal consultant with big dreams. Her plan is to move to New York to become a fashion designer, even if it means leaving her serene California seaside home. When a shocking murder rips the tranquil veneer of Crystal Shores to shreds, and Max’s childhood friend is accused of murder, she sets out to clear his name. Despite the concern of the handsome Detective Cruz, Max weaves together a list of suspects that puts her on the path to the real killer. 
Will she be able to tie up the loose threads and catch the murderer? Or will she be the next victim? 
Audible Sample 
Review 
Max is in charge for the bridal shop, while her boss is on vacation. Not a problem as she's the one who helped design and create the dresses that need to be picked up or fitted. Only one bride has made multiple changes and not been receptive to Max's advice. The same bride has done the same thing with the florist, the baker, and anyone else involved in the wedding. When Bridezilla is due for a late appointment, Stacy from the bakery shows up with the cupcakes for the bride, who missed her appointment. Next thing Max knows, Bridezilla is dead in her wedding gown.
As Max tries to prove her childhood friend/crush, Andy, is innocent despite the detective's belief otherwise, Keiko shows up and asks for a job so she can learn the trade. Keiko is a little too perfect. as a walk-on, but a great help to Max as she takes time off to search out the real killer. As expected with a victim who made everyone angry and a friend trying to find other suspects, the suspect list is long.
This was an enjoyable read, with likable characters. Max's efforts to find someone, anyone who might have a motive besides Andy complicates things a bit. Still, the pace is steady and while not surprising, the killer is not obvious - not until about to kill Max anyway. This is the first in the series and I look forward to reading more of the Bridal Shop Mysteries and the possible romance between Max and Detective Cruz. This one was FREE when I purchased it; also available on Audible
The Bridal Shop Mysteries 
Murder in White Lace (Amazon link)Murder in Crimson  Murder in Blue Gingham Murder in Lavender Silk 
About the Author 
Karen Sue Walker is the author of the Bridal Shop Cozy Mystery Series and the Haunted Tearoom Cozy Mystery Series. For 2022, she's planning to share many more stories. Sign up for her mailing list or follow her here on Amazon. When not writing or thinking about writing, she enjoys baking, reading, and hanging out with friends and family.

Blog Tour and Book Review: FROZEN IN MOTION (Callie Cassidy Mysteries Book 3) by Lori Roberts Herbst

Synopsis 
A murder at the local hockey rink leaves photographer Callie Cassidy nursing a few injuries of her own, but that won’t stop her from trying to catch the killer—before someone else gets iced… 
When hockey coach Renata Sanchez asks for Callie’s help getting her annoying ex-husband to leave Rock Creek Village, Callie hesitates. After all, Renata’s brother, Detective Raul Sanchez, has been known to bristle at Callie’s interference. But with her own second-chance romance on rocky turf and her best friend’s engagement to a man Callie doesn’t entirely trust, she could use the distraction of an investigation. 
Before she can even begin her research, a confrontation between Renata and her ex erupts right outside Sundance Studio. Later in the day, the man literally drops dead, falling from the hockey arena catwalk and landing with a thud on top of Callie. Renata immediately takes top spot on the suspect list, with her boyfriend Ethan MacGregor not far behind. With time running out to save her friends, Callie must enlist the help of her inquisitive cat and her loyal golden retriever to develop a picture of the true culprit. 
Review 
The suspects abound for Callie and much to her dismay, Renata is at the top of the list. Her brother, Raul, is sufficiently concerned - and shut out of the investigation - that he joins forces with her. Then there's Ethan, and Theo, not to mention Raul himself. Add in two dogs, a cat, the man who maintains the hockey rink, and a few others who've had altercations with Renata's ex. While trying to prove Renata is innocent, Callie also has to deal with her own romance with Sam and a rough patch, her photography studio and gallery, and her missing camera. To top it off, she sticks her nose into her best friend's business causing more problems. 
The pace is steady and there are some more humorous moments along with tension on multiple levels. Small town setting, with the coffee shop and interesting owner with surveillance to capture all that's going on. The main characters are interesting and likable. This is my first in this series. It was easily read as a stand alone mystery, though I always recommend starting a series at the beginning. If you like cozy mysteries, you'll enjoy this one.
FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way. 
Books in the Callie Cassidy Mysteries
Suitable for Framing (Book 1)Double Exposure (Book 2)Frozen in Motion (Book 3)
Leave a comment and a random commenter will receive a free book of their choice!
About Lori Roberts Herbst 
Lori Roberts Herbst lives in Dallas, Texas, but spends a lot of time when she should be writing staring out the window and wishing she owned a home in Colorado mountains, too. She is a wife, mother, grandmother (gasp!), former journalism teacher, former counselor, and cozy mystery author. Lori serves as secretary of the Sisters in Crime North Dallas chapter and is a proud member of the SinC Guppies and the Mystery Writers of America. 
You can follow Lori on: Facebook, Goodreads, and BookBub. Subscribe to her newsletter at www.lorirobertsherbst.com for updates and freebies.

BOOK AND SERIES LAUNCH: REAWAKENING THE ITCH (Prequel to the Izzie Di Sante Mysteries) & AN ITCH FOR JUSTICE (An Izzie Di Sante Mystery Book #1)

REAWAKENING THE ITCH

A suspicious death in a small town reawakens Izzie’s long-dormant itch for digging up the truth. 

When Izzie Di Sante’s dream career as an investigative reporter hit a roadblock, she traded her press pass for an apron and returned home to manage the family restaurant. However, some things are impossible for Izzie to ignore. Like when the details surrounding the death of a long-time acquaintance don’t add up. She tells herself it’s her overactive imagination. Except the police report and circumstances reawaken the itch to uncover the truth – or in this case, the killer. Can she solve the case and follow her dream while managing her family restaurant? 

This is a prequel to the Izzie Di Sante Mysteries.

Releases 1/23/2022 - AMAZON     

AN ITCH FOR JUSTICE

Can a stalled murder investigation in Halcyon Springs pull Izzie Di Sante back into investigative reporting? 
The mere thought of getting involved in the investigation shifts Izzie's mind into overdrive. A former reporter turned restaurant owner, she's determined to find out everything she can. Only the more she discovers about Drew Scanlon’s murder and his new wife’s placement in a psychiatric facility, the more questions she has. 
With the detective instructed to tread carefully given the social status of the family, the investigation of Drew’s murder stalls. His parents spin a story that casts his wife, Bethany, as the prime suspect. Sedated and at the mercy of her caregivers at a private facility, Bethany is helpless to defend herself against their accusations. Nothing adds up in Izzie’s mind, spurring her to delve deeper while doing her best to balance her search for justice with her responsibilities at the family restaurant.
Available for Pre-Order - Releases 1/26/2022
AMAZON


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Blog Tour and Spotlight: DAUNTING DARKNESS & FREAKY FAMILIARS (Paige Papillon Mysteries) by Lily Luchesi

Synopsis - Daunting Darkness  
Following your dreams can become a nightmare. 
Paige Papillon has always loved mysteries. So much so, she enlists in the Police Academy to one day become a detective. 
But when she washes out of training, her Sergeant inspires her to go another route: become a private investigator. 

After a few boring cases, she receives an envelope full of cash and mysterious clues that lead to the discovery of a cover up of paranormal proportions. 
Worse, the Sergeant's wife is at the center of it. Can Paige solve the mystery and stay alive, or will she become a midnight snack for a monster? 
Synopsis - Freaky Familiars 
No time for a catnap for this paranormal detective! 
Now aware that things that go bump in the night exist, private investigator Paige Papillon has expanded her business to include clients of all species. 
Assisted by a former detective and his mystery writer wife with a checkered past, she begins to settle into her new job as Chicago’s premier paranormal PI. 
But when her best friend’s cat goes missing, Paige realizes how much she still doesn’t know about the supernatural world. It’s a race against the clock to save a shapeshifter and prevent a witch’s familiar from being sold to the highest bidder. 
About Lily Luchesi
Lily Luchesi is the USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of the Paranormal Detectives Series. Her young adult Coven Series has successfully topped Amazon’s Hot New Releases list consecutively. She is also the co-owner of Partners in Crime Book Services, where she offers a myriad of services alongside her business partner Annie Smith, including editing. 
She was born in Chicago, Illinois, where many of her stories are set. Ever since she was a toddler, her mother noticed her tendency for being interested in all things “dark”. At two she became infatuated with vampires and ghosts, and that infatuation turned into a lifestyle. She is also an out member of the LGBT+ community. When she’s not writing, she’s going to rock concerts, getting tattooed, watching the CW, or reading comics. And drinking copious amounts of coffee. She also writes contemporary books for adults as Samantha Calcott. 
You can keep up with Lily via her newsletter … and receive a free e-book as well! 
Author Links Website  Newsletter  Instagram  Twitter  Facebook  Amazon Author Page BookBub  
Purchase Links Daunting Darkness – Amazon Freaky Familiars – Amazon
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Book Review: DEATH BY DAUBER (Thelma and June's Mystery Adventures Book 1) by Donna Walo Clancy

Synopsis 
Bingo players are a feisty lot, and Thelma Frost is the queen of feisty. 
When Agatha Tram, a wealthy, local newspaper owner is found unconscious in a bathroom stall with dauber circles covering her face, everyone attending bingo that night is suspect. After her death, the staff at her newspaper start to vanish, one by one. 
Thelma Frost, the front desk receptionist at the local animal hospital must do her best to find the killer as her niece Kami works at the paper and she doesn’t want her to be the next one to disappear. 
A twenty-five-year-old kidnapping case is re-opened, local’s longtime secrets are revealed, and small-town lies are uncovered. Bingo is not just your grandmother's game anymore. 
Review 
The story flows as Thelma (dragging along June) tries to determine why someone killed Agatha to be sure her niece isn't next. After all, Kami and Betsy inherited the newspaper. Agatha's attorney takes interest in Kami and romance may be in the air. Then there's the other reporter looking for the story of the 25-year old unsolved kidnapping, also interested. Add in all the compulsive bingo players and the gossip column Agatha wrote, and there are more motives than suspects. 
This was my first book by Donna Walo Clancy, and I enjoyed it. Thelma and her cat, Kami, and June are all likable characters. There are hints left as to the killer and other criminal types. Bingo makes for an interesting setting for a murder. I'll be looking forward to more of Thelma and June's adventures. 
Purchase Link
AMAZON
About Donna Walo Clancy 
Donna Walo Clancy (Donna Clancy) lives on Cape Cod, Massachusetts in the U.S.A. She is a single mom of three grown children and happily divorced. Her first passion is writing. She also loves to read and all kinds of crafting. Flea markets and yard sales can hold her attention for hours. In her down time, she loves to walk the beach with her dog, Zumiez, and her metal detector searching for lost treasures.
Not holding herself to a single genre, she writes whatever story she feels needs to be worked on at the time. Her favorite genre is cozy mysteries and she has several series on Amazon at the present time; The Jelly Shop Mysteries, The Shipwreck Café Mysteries, and now Thelma and June's Mystery Adventures. Several standalone books will also be released in the coming year. 
You can visit her social pages on Facebook or Amazon. She can be reached at dwaloclancy@yahoo.com.

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CHRISTMAS CARAMEL MURDER : A Hannah Swensen Holiday Mystery by Joanne Fluke

Synopsis
Christmas normally descends on Lake Eden, Minnesota, as gently as reindeer alighting on a rooftop—but this yuletide season, the only thing coming down Hannah Swensen’s chimney is a case of murder. 
Hannah and her pal Lisa have agreed to provide the goodies for the town’s annual production of A Christmas Carol. But before anyone can say “Bah, humbug!” a Santa-sized sackful of trouble ensues. Like the fact that Lisa’s husband will be playing Mr. Claus to his ex-girlfriend Phyllis Bates’ Mrs. Claus. Or that before the curtains even go up Phyllis is found dead in the snow—wearing a costume that the real Mrs. Claus would put on the naughty list.
Soon, the suspects pile up faster than snowdrifts while a merry murderer remains on the loose. With clues hard to find, it might take a visit from ghosts of Christmas past to wrap up this mystery in time for the holidays… 
Includes a dozen holiday recipes from The Cookie Jar! 
 Review
As usual, Joanne Fluke doesn't disappoint. Many people Hannah knows have motive and it's not clear if her partner and friend, Lisa, has an alibi. Or her husband - what is he doing those late nights? I liked the characters (except Phyllis) and their interactions rang true.  I'm waiting for the relationship between Hannah and Mike to move forward (possibly in later books). There's a light paranormal component and many recipes. I think I gained weight just reading about the goodies Hannah, Lisa, and Michelle came up with. Overall an enjoyable Christmas read. 
Christmas Caramel Murder is the 20th in the series. I have not read the rest (so now on my TBR list or next year). It was easily read as a stand-alone mystery. Still, starting at the beginning is always best.

Happy New Year 2022

Goodbye 2021 and Hello 2022! A year ago we started with some optimism regarding COVID-19 and despite the current surge of cases, we are decidedly better off than a year ago. Just not where we hoped to be.  Still as I look back over the year, I can identify some goals reached and events of note.  On the family side, the most notable event wass the birth of my first great niece! (I only had nephews and great nephews before).  

Looking back, my goals haven't changed very much:

Be kind. Do something nice for someone, pay it forward, make someone else smile.Think positive. Find the silver lining no matter how hard it is to find one.Stay in touch with people I care about even if it is easier not to make the effort. It is too easy to become isolated.Finish the "hanger-on tasks" from work and truly retire!Be productive with my writing, starting with the new series to debut later this month! You can get a free copy of the prequel to the Izzie Di Sante mysteries, Reawakening the Itch, HERE. It will release on January 23rd. The first full book, An Itch for Justice, is scheduled to release on January 26th. Do better at completing reviews and posting on my blog, keeping in communication with my readers and other authors.Audiobooks was a new (unplanned) endeavor this past year. Hopefully, all of my backlist will be available in audiobook format by the end of 2022.Continue to work on weight, fitness, better eating habits, and all that I can do to stay healthyWork on the "Travel Bucket List." A lot of travel was postponed, though we did take a short trip to Lexington, KY. Why Lexington, KY of all places? My husband wanted to check out the bourbon trail and I wanted to visit the general location where a favorite series of mine (Bluegrass series by Kathleen Brooks) is set. It sure sounded beautiful and it was. We'll be taking some time this month for travel, or at least that is the plan...

For all of you, my husband and I wish you all the best for the coming year.  As you plan your reading for the next year, here are some ideas for you (keep scrolling for the rafflecopter!):

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Happy Hanukkah, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, Happy Kwanzaa 2021

From my home to yours, may your holiday season be healthy and happy, regardless of what you celebrate or observe. As a reader, I continue to "escape" the pandemic and the confines through books. What about you? Here are some of the newest Christmas cozy mysteries I found this year - several are on my TBR list. Definitely not all that are out there. Feel free to leave your favorites in the comments! (I'll add them to my list for next year!) Note: Descriptions are shortened versions from Amazon.

Cottage on Gooseberry Bay: Santa Who? (A Gooseberry Bay Mystery) by Kathi Daley. Ainsley Holloway had come to Gooseberry Bay to find answers about her past. She'd come to find an explanation for the dreams that haunted her after the death of the cop who'd both rescued and raised her. And she’d come to identify the family she couldn’t remember but knew in her heart she’d once belonged to.

Christmas Dessert Murder (A Hannah Swenson Mystery) by Joanne Fluke. It's Christmas in Lake Eden, Minnesota, and there's no better way to enjoy the holidays than by cozying up to two Hannah Swenson yuletide mysteries with a plateful of goodies from the Cookie Jar Bakery. Yes, two Christmas stories. Features Over a Dozen Cookie and Dessert Recipes from The Cookie Jar!
Tangled Up in Tinsel (A Kenni Lowry Mystery) by Tonya Kappes. Don't get your tinsel in a tangle... It's Christmastime in Cottonwood, Kentucky, and Sheriff Kenni Lowry is determined to keep the peace. Plus, the snowstorm of the century is headed right toward Cottonwood, leaving the residents in a frantic frenzy and potentially derailing Kenni’s Christmas plans with Finn. There's been a murder and there's a tinsel wrapped victim at the center of it. 

Slashing Through the Snow (A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery) by Jacqueline Frost. Reindeer Games Christmas Tree Farm is going into the B&B business and Holly White is looking forward to her new role as innkeeper. But a cold wind ruffles the cheery holiday decorations when a new guest checks in - Karen.The short December days turn even darker when Evan and Libby find Karen's dead body in the gift-wrapped toy donation box.

Mistletoe Cake Murder (All Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery Book 6) by Lena Gregory. 'Tis the season for celebrating when Gia Morelli's holidays include both a wedding and yuletide festivities. Until someone naughty delivers a most unwanted Christmas gift - murder. Gia’s caterer friends are the prime suspects in what appears to be murder by poisoning. Includes recipes from the All-Day Breakfast Café!

The Twelve Jays of Christmas (A Meg Langslow Mystery) by Donna Andrews. Meg and Michael's annual holiday celebration is well underway, with a throng of out-of-town relatives staying at their house. Hosting these festivities is a little harder than usual - they have to relocate all the events normally held in their library, currently occupied by Roderick Castlemayne, the irascible wildlife artist...

Murder at the Christmas Cookie Bake-Off (A Beacon Bakeshop Mystery) by Darci Hannah. Tucked away inside an old lighthouse in Beacon Harbor, Michigan, bakeshop cafe owner Lindsey Bakewell is ready to make her first Christmas in town shine bright. But her merry plans crumble fast when murder appears under the mistletoe...

Twisted Tea Christmas (A Tea Shop Mystery) by Laura Childs. Tea maven Theodosia Browning and her tea sommelier, Drayton Conneley, are catering a Victorian Christmas party at a swanky mansion in downtown Charleston. Drucilla Heyward, the hostess is one of the wealthiest women in town. Theodosia finds her crumpled unconscious in the hallway... a syringe sticking out of her neck.

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Murder (A Catering Hall Mystery) by Maria DiRico. Astoria, Queens, is decorated within an inch of its life for the Christmas season, and Mia Carina is juggling her job at the Belle View with a case of murder. Amid the holiday celebrations, she intends to find out who's the guilty party... Italian recipes included.
Fleece Navi Dead (A Kiki Lowenstein Mystery) by Joanna Campbell Slan. Every holiday season, Kiki Lowenstein plans 12 days of classes, her Holiday Craft Extravaganza. And every year, it nearly kills her. As the holiday season approaches, Kiki over-schedules herself and winds up running herself ragged. To make life more stressful, she must fend off a stalker.

A Lost Claus (A Christmas Cozy Mystery) by Mona Maple. As Christmas approaches in Candy Cane Hollow, it's time for the annual Claus family ice fishing trip. Holly Wood (yes, that's her real name) is a ball of nerves about meeting all of Nick Claus' relatives, until the trip ends in disaster. This is the third book in the series.
Nothing strike your fancy? Here's another selection of Cozy Christmas cozies (old and new) to consider.

Book Review: THE BULLET CATCH - High School Reunions Can Be Murder - The Eli Marks Mysteries Book 2 by John Gaspard

Synopsis
Newly-single magician Eli Marks reluctantly attends his high school reunion against his better judgment, only to become entangled in two deadly encounters with his former classmates. The first is the fatal mugging of an old crush’s husband, followed by the suspicious deaths of the victim’s business associates.  
At the same time, Eli also comes to the aid of a classmate-turned-movie-star who fears that attempting The Bullet Catch in an upcoming movie may be his last performance. As the bodies begin to pile up, Eli comes to the realization that juggling these murderous situations -- while saving his own neck -- may be the greatest trick he’s ever performed. 
Review
High school reunions are always a mix of excitement and dread, with that person or persons who acts like you were best friends and you can't remember them. Eli's friend from high school, Jake, is now a movie star and cast to play a famous magician who died while performing the bullet catch (appear to catch the bullet between your teeth) trick. Only Jake doesn't grasp how to do the trick without ending up dead. Eli's task, as a magician, is to help Jake master the trick. 
Before that can happen, there's the reunion itself, the girl (now, woman) he crushed on is high school, at least one person he doesn't remember at all, and a murder. Followed by another one. With murder, comes Eli's ex-wife and her new husband, once again coming at Eli as a suspect and a source of information. 
Be prepared for anything as this is magic and the tricks abound. Add in Eli's fear of heights and the reactions of other magicians about the bullet catch trick, and the bodies piling up... Gaspard engages the reader with a quick pace, believable reactions, and well-developed characters. There are twists and turns, with two related plots to unwind. Well done and keeps you entertained.
This was an enjoyable read though my knowledge of magic is limited. I'd read the first in the series and enjoyed it - this one did not disappoint. You don't have to read the first to understand the awkwardness between Eli and his ex-wife or his passion for anything magic, but I always recommend starting at the beginning of the series. I'll be reading more of this series.
Available in digital, hardcover and audiobook formats
Books in the Eli Marks Mystery Series: THE AMBITIOUS CARD (#1) THE BULLET CATCH (#2) THE MISER'S DREAM (#3) THE LINKING RINGS (#4) THE FLOATING LIGHT BULB (#5) THE ZOMBIE BALL (#6) THE MAGIC SQUARE (#7) THE INVISIBLE ASSISTANT (Short Story) THE LAST CUSTOMER (Short Story)