Christina Mitchell's 2014 Level 3-Super Sleuth

[Christina]

January 1, 2014-December 31,2014

[Yvonne]

Thanks for joining us for 2014!

[Christina]

JANUARY

1. by Kate Carlisle

5/5 STARS
This series just keeps getting better! It's amazing how all of the characters interact together. The close-knit apartment community that Brooklyn has is great. I'm extremely happy about Brooklyn's love life. Also like the community that Brooklyn's family lives in. It is always whimsical to hear what her mother is doing!

[C. (Comment, never msg).]

I *love* Kate Carlisle. But shhh.... I need to begin book three; if my 30-40 reading challenges fit it in anytime soon, LOL! Not to mention hosting. If you see my 2013 shelves, she gets 5 stars from me too. A new favourite!

[Christina]

2. by Laura Childs

5/5 STARS
I picked this book up hoping to like it, was not disappointed at all! There were many twist in the plot, which I really like that in a book, that kept me guessing till the end! The reason for the crime was to me crazy but hey these things actually happen. I like how not only the murder that took place was uncovered but also that other twists in the book were uncovered as well. That helped tie up the less ends to the story.

[Yvonne]

Christina wrote: "2. by Laura Childs"

I loved this book!

[Christina]

3. by Waverly Curtis

4/5 STARS
This book was so funny! The plot was great and there were twist! I loved the connection between the main character and her dog! If you are looking for a funny and fast read this is the book to pick!

[Christina]

4. by Susan M. Boyer

5/5 STARS

Enjoyed the twist and turns in the plot! Looking forward to reading the next one. Liz has a lot to think about and I am interested to see what happens.

[Christina]

5. by Connie Feddersen 01/25/13

5/5 STARS
This book was EXCELLENT! The plot was very well written. An accountant doing sleuthing, wow couldn't believe it would work. The romance aspect of this book seems to be a little hotter to me than most cozies. Amanda, the main character, was very likeable to me. In fact some of her lines in this book I could actually hear myself saying them!

[Yvonne]

Did you like the Susan M. Boyer book?

[C. (Comment, never msg).]

I said to someone yesterday, as someone not into erotica, isn't it a shame adult mysteries scarcely go past kissing? If it isn't 'YA', it shouldn't sound like it. Good to know about Connie!

[Christina]

Yvonne-I am still reading it. I am liking it, to me there are a lot twist in the plot!

[Christina]

FEBRUARY 2014

6. by Laura Childs

3/5 STARS

The plot to the murder and mystery was good. But I was annoyed with somethings in this book. . .the reference to being young one minute then old the next, the cult aspect seemed thrown together to just add another suspect, the sheriff seemed really immature. I also didn't feel I got good descriptions of the characters. I hope the next book is better.

[Christina]

7. by Lillian Hart

5/5 STARS

ENJOYED THIS BOOK! There was plenty of humor! It reminded me of a Stephanie Plum, had me laughing out loud a lot! The plot was awesome too! I can't wait to read more!

[Christina]

8. by Victoria Hamilton

3/5 STARS

I didn't really start enjoying this book until half way through. I guess that is when the plot started to pick up. The descriptions were too long and I thought the Queen Tea celebration took up too many chapters. I will read the next in the series I hope the plot and story pick up faster than this one.

[Christina]

9. by Virginia Lowell

5/5 STARS

I enjoyed the plot of this book. There were a lot of suspects, which made it hard to choose who I thought did it. I wasn't expecting who actually commited the crime, but the book was very good leading up to that. I also love when the mystery part of a book is good from the beginning to the end. There was not anytime that I felt I would not make it through this book. I can't wait to read more of this series. I have liked all of the characters that Virginia Lowell has intertwined in her series.

[Christina]

10. by Jenn McKinlay

5/5 STARS

All the characters are so easy to like in this series! The puppy just seem so adorable! I can actually say the victim of this plot really did get under my skin from the get go! The murderer was just not as smart and refined as they thought of themselves! I can't wait for my next adventure with Lindsay and the Crafternoon Gang!

[Christina]

11. by Julie Hyzy

5/5 STARS

It has been awhile since I read the first one in this series. All I can really say about this one is WOW!! I was hooked from the beginning, as in the first sentence! Ollie is a wonderful character! To her everything happens for a reason. She does not seem to dwell on anything just gets right to work on solving the problem. I can't wait to read the next one! See what kind of trouble will follow Ollie in the next book!

[Christina]

12. by Lee Hollis

5/5 STARS

Loved the way this book was written, from the plot of the mystery, to the food news columns through out the book! I had a HARD time putting this book down! The characters are awesome and work so well together. Busy single mom. . .juggling work, children, a possible start to a love life, nosey people, and crime solving! Got some really good laughs along the way!

[Christina]

13. by Diane Mott Davidson

5/5 STARS

This series just keeps on delivering great plots. I really feel like part of the family. Arch can get a little annoying but I guess that is just him being a teenager! This plot really had Goldy stuck in the middle! I was a little upset that Julian and Marla weren't in this story as much as the books before this one. It is also nice to see that the characters of Arch and Julian are maturing and not staying the same age through the series, sometimes that can be nerve racking.

[Christina]

MARCH 2014

14. by Charlaine Harris

5/5 STARS

I don't usually read too many books with vampires, but this is definetly a series I will keep reading! I liked the ending of the book, getting to learn more about Bill and his life before becoming a vampire is interesting to me. The actual love story part is more evident in this book, really liking that. Even though the love is between vampire and human, I feel that there are many points in it that happen in everyday real life. It will be interesting to see how this realatinship will work out.

[C. (Comment, never msg).]

I'm not into vampires but collected Charlaine's other two series. I feel blessed to look forward to so MANY peers with whom to discuss an abundance of novels, when I reach for those ones. Before WordPress and Goodreads, I went decades without anyone pouring over the same books. Or was it my old gothic reading habit? My fiancé said just yesterday at supper, that I keep announcing "one of my authors" has died. He says they really must go way back!

Wow, the snow is really swirling out the window. It isn't a cold day (-10C) but what a wind.

[Christina]

I usually don't read too many with vampires either but every now and then I need to break from the normal. If there is such a thing as normal! LOL! :)

The weather here in Kansas has been extremely cold this winter. Today the sun is out but the High for today is only 35*F! But with the good old Kansas wind it seems colder. Tonight and tomorrow morning we have a chance of freezing rain. I CAN'T wait for Spring! I guess the past few years we have been spoiled with mild winters.

HAPPY READING!!

[C. (Comment, never msg).]

You're a prairie girl too. Is it all plains, or do you have forests like we do? I'm in a forested region an hour from our capital city; thus we are warmer than their weather reports. We're colder than S*it but tornadoes are a once in ten year occurrence. I'll be happy to welcome spring, walk in sandals; even flies sunning on walls are our very first sign. HAPPY READING TO YOU TOO! http://cmriedel.wordpress.com/riedel-...

[Christina]

There is nothing I would call a forest close to us! We are mostly farming and rural in the area I live at. we are at least 4 hours west of Kansas City. If I go shopping for groceries I have to drive anywhere from 30 minutes to 1 hour to get to the stores.

[C. (Comment, never msg).]

Did you manage to get highspeed internet? I'm sure you've seen me say over and over that I don't. Our miniscule village, from which I am 10 miles, has a great grocery store that willing carries a couple of vegetarian things for us! But yes, most buying occurs in a small city about half an hour away, or in Winnipeg an hour away. You must be a gardener like me. I dedeuce this without looking at your gorgeous flower portrait! :)

[Christina]

Actually, I don't do gardening! I was able to get in a few flowers in last year! I would really like to expand it this year! But I love summer and fall around here when our neighbors and friends around town need help getting rid of vegetables! Most people plant WAY too much!

[C. (Comment, never msg).]

If you're so far from your town, don't you have an acreage? To think of not planting a garden, with space and any temperature warmer than ours ~ which isn't hard to surpass!

[Christina]

We live in a small town, I would say maybe 500 people. We have a gas station (where I work), a bank, a bar and grill, and a post office. To tell you the truth, I keep trying to talk my husband into doing a garden. I keep telling him that we could save some money by canning our own veggies. Maybe one of these days he will realize that I'm not so crazy! :)

[Christina]

15. Lucy Lawrence

4/5 STARS

I thought this is a great start to a series. The main characters has story from the past that doesn't include a divorce or kids which was a change from the normal. It will be interesting to see how the love interest aspect of this character goes. The twin sisters in this book were a hoot to me!

[Christina]

16. by Jenn McKinlay

5/5 STARS

Humorous! The characters are so easy to like in this series. Glad to see that the relationship between Mel and Joe is starting to move. Wonder what Angie is going to do. . .I guess I better read the next book to see. I do like the friendship among Mel, Angie and Tate. I refer to them in my mind as the "The Three Amigos".

[C. (Comment, never msg).]

I'm not a Mom at this time either, to human dependents and I definitely don't relate to divorcées, nor do I care for people or books loaded with sarcasm. You say what you mean in Manitoba. One thing I appreciate is when mainstream literature finds a way for a gorgeous, strong heroine to be 40 and single if possible. A loving or established couple is fine. I don't like books feeling the need to squeeze in romance. The tallest order is a decent grown-up such as that, who is NOT a divorcée nor a nun!!!! Therefore I appreciated your observations above.

[Christina]

17. byB. B. Haywood

5/5 STARS

This series is awesome! I like how all the plots and books are a continuous stream. The characters are great and the history in the story is great too.

[Christina]

18. by Livia J. Washburn

4 1/2 STARS

The style of writing in this book seemed different to me. The age group of the character might have had something to do with that though. That being said, I did really enjoy the mystery/plot/murder of this book. Made me realize that sometimes in life you see more than others do. I ended up liking all the "boarders" in this book! The ending almost made me cry.

[Christina]

19. by Bailey Cates

5/5 STARS

WOW and Interesting! The coven of characters are so likeable. I was a little iffy on starting this series, but am so glad I gave it a try! I can't wait to read the next one. I actually thought a love triangle was going to happen, nice to see that it is not going to be. It will be interesting to see what happens next.

[Christina]

20. by Nancy Mehl

4/5 STARS

Finding a map that is supposed to lead to buried treasure would be interesting to find! But be careful it may not take you to the treasure you are seeking! Ivy seems to not listen to her boyfriend in this book as well as last time. She comes upon someones old treasure that leaves her at first with more questions than answers and someone wants to keep thing buried. The plot was interesting because it had to do with the past. The ending was wonderful and made me cry.

[Christina]

21. by Nancy Mehl

4/5 STARS

Ivy and Amos are getting married!! To bad the lady that wants to be the wedding planner gets murdered in Ivy's drive way! Oh and Amos is busy trying to find a bank robber! Not to mention that people in Winter Break, Kansas are trying to pin the murder on Ivy because some think that she wants to be president of the new Library Board! There are a whole bunch of loose ends through out the whole back that keep you reading to find out the killer.

[Christina]

22. by Stephanie Bond

5/5 STARS

This book had me for the beginning! There never was a dull moment in this one! The balance between serious and humor was great. Carlotta and her brother Wesley have a lot of "baggage" in the life. All the characters are great and I can't wait to read more with all of them! It will be interesting to see what kind of love life aspect will come for Carlotta. It was amazing too that the "rich" girl that was murdered was always giving Carlotta a hard time. I mean really by the end of the book she was worse off than Carlotta. I hope that Wesley gets his life straightened out, that will be one less thing for Carlotta to worry about. Seems to me that she is going to have her hands full to get everything in her own life together. The call she received at the end of the book should be interesting to see where that also goes.

[C. (Comment, never msg).]

I'm glad you're rating Bailey Cates (clearly a pseudonym) so highly. I'm feeling a drought of mystical or magical material (for adults!) but haven't enjoyed the food series I've read so far (Laura Childs, Claudia Bishop). Putting aside that there was no etherealness in them, there was too much running their business in place of a good mystery.

[Christina]

by J. A. Konrath

5/5 STARS

I want to start out by saying I didn't realize that this wasn't a cozy. The book to me seem to belong in the Crime/Thiller. That said, I did enjoy this book it has way more gore and blood than the books I have been reading but I was able to get past that. The main characters name is Jack Daniels! Her character is in her 40's, a cop (in a Violent Crimes Unit), and doesn't seem to be able to have any kind of love relationship what so ever. Her job has alway come first and she has been divorced for years. This book kind of reminded me of some of the James Patterson books I have read. I will read more in this series.

[Christina]

23. by Sharon Short

5/5 STARS

This series has been awesome all the way up to this one! Josie is such a likable character. It is just too bad her parents are the way they are! After reading this one, I am glad that the Josie got adopted by her aunt and uncle, at least they showed her real love. I am glad to see that her character did not change her view on life and the way it should be. Also I love when these mysteries go farther back in the history of the town and the characters, because it makes me want to keep reading to see what was so bad about the characters to make the others seem to hate them.

[C. (Comment, never msg).]

I found lots of novels categorized as 'cozy' that ought not. I would love a discussion about what constitutes a 'cozy'. I started an enthralling conversation once, cut by a panicky moderator. I'm going to begin this discussion in my thread!

[Christina]

24. by Lucy Lawrence

5/5 STARS

I felt that this book was more 4 1/2 stars but gave it five. The ending was a let down to me, seemed a little rushed. The plot of the mystery and murder was good though, I could not believe who the suspect actually was. The characters are starting to grow on me. You have the nosey twins, the best friend who Brenna works with, and two men that seem to be interested in her. I am even having a hard time trying to decide which man she should date! I hope eventually we will get to meet Brenna's parents. They are mentioned sometimes but I'm not sure if there is anything overbearing about them. I am already excited about the next in the series!

[Christina]

25. by Connie Feddersen

5/5 STARS

Falling in love with the characters! The romance is really heating up! Amanda seems to find trouble no matter where she is at. Her love interest, Thorn, seems to be very good looking in my mind! I hope the next victim is his ex! Can't wait to read the next one!

[Christina]

26. by Linda Berry

4/5 STARS

The plot was interesting enough to keep me interested. I am starting to like the characters better this go around. I hope they grow up a little. Hen, the police chief, and Dwight need to give Trudy some credit on her detecting skills. Just because she is the only female on the actual force doesn't mean she's stupid. I hope the relationship between Trudy and Hen's wife Teri gets worked out. Also I know Phil is suppose to be Trudy's partner in solving the mystery but I just don't feel that aspect there yet. Most of the Cozies I have read, have the best friend or sister or aunt that seems to play that part, but I have yet to feel that in this series. I did get a couple of chuckles out of this book! The Tanner character was funny!

[Christina]

27. by Jenn McKinlay

[Christina]

28. by Lorna Barrett

3.5/5 STARS

The story was good, just not as good as some in the past. I don't like how Angelica thinks the world revolves around her. Sometimes she makes Tricia out to be a idiot. I can't believe how many people seem to be so rude to Tricia in this book. Bob Kelly seems to be turning into a more self-absored JERK! Wow! Cliffhanger at the end. Perfect example of the saying "The past will come back to bite you in the butt!"

[Christina]

29. by Jenn McKinlay

5/5 STARS

WOW! Who killed Vic Mazzotta. . .Dutch, the man who thinks he is every women's dream man, who also felt cheated out of stardom by Vic..or..Bertie Grasello, another cooking genius, who hated Vic..or.. Grace, Vic's wife, who knows her husband is cheating on her and who also stopped her own career to manage his.

Mel has lost a very important person in her life with Vic's death. He helped her through her father's death and drove her to finish school. The plot is great! Twist and turns! Poor Tate and his heart. Hope he and Angie get together. I guess I will have to keep reading the series to find out!

[Christina]

30. by Diane Mott Davidson

5/5 STARS

Something needs to be done to the JERK! Every thing he does annoys me! Arch is acting like a typical teenager and seems to have his father's annoyiing streak! Poor kid! There seems to be a lot of insecurities for Goldy in this book. I guess if I had to deal with the JERK, a murder and questions about my husband's work life I would feel the same way.

[Christina]

31. by Charlaine Harris

5/5 STARS

I don't know what it is about this series, but I have not hated any book yet in it! Sookie, once again has a lot to think about at the end of this one. She seems to be having too much attention from all the guys in her life. I am having a hard time myself deciding which one would be best for her. I can't wait to read more!