What are You Reading Besides a Cozy? Showing 2,051-2,075 of 2,075

[Karen]

I've read a few mysteries since I last posted, but began July reading a romance series (when I should have been working... oopsie...) =o)

Anyway, I just finished a five-day affair with Sara Fields’ Boston Kings--all eight (to date).
** ** ** ** ** **
** ** ** **

* Take Me, Daddy
* Make Me, Daddy
* Break Me, Daddy
* Watch Me, Daddy
* Share Me, Daddy
* Tame Me, Daddy
* Use Me, Daddy
* Punish Me, Daddy

I saw the description of one of the later books and wanted to read it. Though I had the series TBRed, I hadn’t started it and I really really like to (HAVE TO) read series in order. So, I started with book one and read the entire series--yes, the entire series to date.

The books feature the love stories of the members two mafia/gang families (so far). Featured in the first five books are the Murphys, an Irish family (five brothers and their sister) who moved with their cousins from Ireland ten years prior to the evens of the first book after their parents were killed in a gang war there. They set up business, etc. in Boston. The Morozovs are a Russian Bratva family (five brothers) also operating their businesses and territories in Boston after a move from Russia. They’re featured in the last three books (to date). The two families allied when a Morozov princess was rescued from a bad situation by the Murphy family (by then, the Murphy/Kavanaugh family). There are bonus scenes available for most of the books.

While I enjoyed some more than others, I’ve rated the stories 3.5/4 stars, rolling up or down based to my overall enjoyment of the characters featured as individuals and as a couple and the overall story. I love that (most of the) female leads are strong women in their own rights. While the alpha dominants rule in the bedroom, they never strip their women of their power.

My negative isn’t the stories themselves’ it’s series continuity. For example, a main character in the first book has a new name in the second (to be fair, it’s the same from there on out); a character shows up and the age provided doesn’t work with the history provided in the previous books; a couple is referred to as married when their characters aren’t married at that point (though, they were a couple, so…). The “errors” don’t really affect enjoyment of the specific stories, but does affect enjoyment of the overall series—at least for me.

These are listed as standalones and they can be read as such—though you miss some of the background to other characters, events, etc. The stories take place in the same “universe” and within the same timeframes, albeit later than one another. You would think the author would have a series bible to keep things straight from book to book or that the editor would catch or question the seeming errors. I also don’t like hanging threads in stories, or things I see as unanswered—e.g., a character related to the family shows up in a story, but we never learn why she hasn’t been with the family all along because it doesn’t seem likely that she’d be left behind without a good reason. If there is a reason, we never learn it, nor is her past discussed within the family, etc. Just stupid little things like that…

I don’t know how many books are planned for the series. There are two Morozov brothers still single, so I believe there are at least two more stories. Also, mentioned alongside the main Murphy family was a set of five cousins who work with/for the family. Also, the Murphys have a right-hand consiglieri, Liam. A bonus short featured him and his woman (??), but he (they) could still get a full story. There’s also a sort of next-gen romance that could come to fruition years down the road.

I don’t know how many books are planned for the series. There are two Morozov brothers still single, so I believe there are at least two more stories. Also, mentioned alongside the main Murphy family was a set of five cousins who work with/for the family. Also, the Murphys have a right-hand consiglieri, Liam. A bonus short featured him and his woman (??), but he (they) could still get a full story. There’s also a sort of next-gen romance that could come to fruition years down the road. I'll keep reading.

I don’t know how many books are planned for the series. There are two Morozov brothers still single, so I believe there are at least two more stories on their way. Also, mentioned alongside the main Murphy family was a set of five cousins who work with/for the family. Also, the Murphys have a right-hand consiglieri, Liam. A bonus short featured him and his woman (??), but he (they) could still get a full story. There’s also a sort of next-gen romance that could come to fruition at some point.

Note: These stories feature rough, intense sexual scenes, including spanking. If such material offends you, please avoid this series.

[Karen]

My last read of June was a book by Liz Talley, Deconstructed from her Cricket Crosby Capers series.

I read this thinking it was the start of a cozy mystery series. While there's a sort of mystery/crime to be solved, it's really a Chic-Lit book. I read that it was supposed to be a standalone, but fans of the characters wanted more. There are two subsequent books in the series (to date). The later "capers" appear to be on the cozy mystery side. I’ll find out when I read them.

This series features main characters Cricket and Ruby. Cricket owns an antique/vintage business. Ruby works for her. In this, Cricket find her husband of 15 years has been having an affair with their teenaged daughter's tennis coach. She sets out to get the goods on him, then file for divorce before he knows what hit him. Her anger is making her a bit scattered and Ruby, who has a secret past sort of decides/gets roped in to helping her. Ruby's family lives on the fringes between criminal (mainly petty stuff) and legal. Ruby has two cousins who also wind up joining the "crew" as Cricket sets out to outwit her husband--who, she finds, has moved the monies in their joint accounts to the Cayman Islands and is getting ready to skip the country with his mistress.

The other main story revolves around Ruby and her want to distance herself from the "fringy" people in her family, including her uncle who caused her to spend two years in prison. She's enrolled in college studying business and design. Her grandmother and great-Aunt taught her how to sew, crochet and tat, and knit. Ruby is a designer and part of what she does is taking/buying pieces from the discard pile of Clair's store (soiled, beyond simple repair, or otherwise unsellable), "deconstructing" them then mixing and matching the salvageable parts and designing/constructing new items.

The theme of "deconstruction" runs throughout the story. Cricket has always been seen as the good wife and mother. She put everyone else's needs above her own to the point that she didn't even notice her marriage was failing. Her husband doesn't think she’s stupid, but underestimates her intelligence, strength, abilities, and her resolve. He doesn’t think she has a clue to what he’s doing and even if she did, he actually believes she’d never risk the life she has by doing anything about it. He thinks he'll get away clean. Their daughter, Julia Kate, sees her only as a mother to do things for her, but not as a person. As Cricket begins her action plan, she's deconstructing the life she's been living, taking the best pieces of it and herself, coming up with something better.

Ruby is doing the same, taking the best pieces—including reconciling with family—and creating something beautiful.

From Cricket: “It’s an analogy, Ruby. You’ve taken the good parts and made them into something better. It’s like a theme for both of our lives... without the deconstructing, you have no history. It’s the deconstruction that matters. Without understanding who you are and accepting all the good and bad parts of your past, you don’t know the things worth keeping, and you can’t get rid of the things that need to be tossed. You can’t remake yourself... "

As mentioned, this was meant to be a standalone, but fans clamored for more Cricket and Ruby. Subsequent books appear to expand on the "caper" portion of the story with Cricket getting her PI license and wanting to work part time as a PI (one of Ruby’s cousins is a PI and assisted Cricket in book01.) Book 02, If the Dress Fits, has Ruby, who has started a dress design business, accused of theft. Cricket and crew—which I’m assuming includes at least the two cousins who assisted Cricket in book02, Juke and Griff) set out to prove her innocence. I believe Griff will be Cricket’s love interest. I’ll see as I continue the series.

It was a quick, fun, and funny read with a hint of romance between Cricket and Griffin and between Ruby and old flame, Dak. I can see this as a standalone with Cricket getting back at her husband and she and Ruby partnering in Ruby's new design business, all hinting at future HEAs, I can also see why fans wanted more. I hope the subsequent books are just as fun.

[Helen]

HushabyeMy review of by Celina Grace is here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[marita]

non cozy right now is

and of course, doing a little netgalley catching up with

and I have to gush over Lynn Cahoons new book that I got from Netgalley. Such a cute and fun cozy -

[Alice]

I Finished The Frozen People by Elly Griffiths. This book is book 1 in her new series. It is a time travel novel between present day and 1850 England. I loved her Ruth Galloway series. This one is just okay. I did like the attention she paid to clothing, speech of the 1850s. Definitely set up for a series.

The title comes from very Frozen cold cases of murder.

[Helen]

My review of The Gift of Years: Growing Older Gracefully by Joan D. Chittister is here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...
Recommended for anyone growing older.

[Alice]

I finished Not They Who Soar by Amanda Flower. Set at the Word's fair in St. Louise 1904. Our main character is Katherine Wright the sister of Orville and Wilbur Wright. Information about the fair was very interesting as well as the early days of flying. Oh yes a murder mystery too. Book 2 of series. I highly recommend.

[Barb, Co-Moderator Challenge Expert]

I had lots of time to read on our recent three-week vacation :) My reviews for some of the non-cozies I read include :

The Crowded Grave

Of Time & Turtles

What You are Looking For Is at the Library

[Mark]

Next up for me this month was Dark Sacred Night by Michael Connelly https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Mark]

I've got one more book review this week - The Cardinal's Curse by LynDee Walker and Bruce Robert Coffin https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[marita]

reading arc We are all Guilty here by

[Mark]

Next up for me was The Dark Wind by Tony Hillerman. https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Mark]

I'm ending my week with The Last Line by Scott Lyerly.
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

For me, this book was right on the line between cozy and traditional. Others might consider it a cozy. Either way, I'm glad I read it.

[Zermeena]

I read The Inheritance Games . It was a 5 star read for me. It started out slow, but once it got going I was hooked.

[Helen]

My review of The Seven by Chris Hammer is here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[BookishDramas]

The Bourne Escape

4 stars
Read as an ARC from NetGalley
Jason Bourne is back and close to canon.

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

[Nancy]

I'just started The God of the Woods. Suspense novel. Scary.

Nancy G. West
Author of Risky Pursuit

[BookishDramas]

Sunrise on the Reaping

3 Stars #YA
My feeling - Haymitch deserved better.
Hollow sigh of unfulfilled potential

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

[Zermeena]

I listened to Bad Boy. It was a 5 star read for me.

[BookishDramas]

The Heretic Cypher

4 STARS ARC NETGALLEY
exciting start to Murray Bailey’s Egyptian Stones, centering on Alex MacLure

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

[Zermeena]

I listened to Watching the Dark. Another 5 star read.

[Helen]

Andrew MortonMy review of The Queen: 1926–2022 by Andrew Morton is here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Mark]

I'm ending the week with Don't Sweat the Small Stuff by Don Bruns https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

[Karen]

Spent most of August reading romance. Just spent nine days reading two series by Piper Stone.
** ** ** **
First up was her Mountain Men of Danger Falls series. Three brothers, all ex-military (marine, army, and navy), special/black ops operatives, are emotionally blackmailed by their parents into returning “home” to run their parents' resort in order to inherit or profit from the sale of the resort. The brothers, who haven't gotten along since they were kids (their father's fault) all have to agree to remain there at least a year. Though the loners don’t care for their ex-army father and the way he raised and treated them before they enlisted, they agree to make their mother happy. Thus starts their stories. Though each can be read as a standalone, it’s better to read them in order. There is an overriding mystery to the series and each brother has his own demon to slay.

*01 Shephard
*02 Jagger
*03 Hunter

** ** ** ** ** **
Next up was the Montana Bad Boys series. This series comprises the stories of five buddies from Missoula, MT labeled the Bad Boys because they committed pranks and petty crimes. All enlisted in the marines together along with a sixth friend. Though separated after boot camp, they wound up a team of contracted soldiers. There was a problem with their last mission and the five wind up heading home for varying reasons (e.g., one's brother was killed; another's uncle passed and left his estate; etc.) and carrying some guilt from that last mission. As with the previous series, these can be read as standalones. It’s a bit easier with this series because there isn’t a overlying mystery, but reading out of order “spoils” some previous events, so it’s best to read in order.

*01 Hawk
*02 Scorpion
*03 Mustang
*04 Nash
*05 Austin

I enjoyed both series (3.0-4.0 stars). However, I did have issues with stuff that happens in the books that seemed out of character for trained military people, especially special/black ops (e.g., going into a fight in a remote area with no cell service without satellite phones or walkie-talkies, etc.). And, there are some loose threads left hanging here and there--at least stuff I'd want cleared up/answered. My biggest complaint, though, is that there are no epilogues. I want to know the couples I rooted for are living their HEAs, not just HFN. We do get updates on couples in subsequent books, but since the stories in both series take place within the same timeframe—albeit one after the other we don’t know how they all are a year or two or 10 down the road. C’mon Piper, would it kill you to have a series epilogue in the last book? -- To be fair, I haven't checked to see if there are (were) series updates offered in her newsletters. Still...

Note: The books in these series include rough and/or intense sexual scenes, including spankings. If such material offends you, please don’t read these books.

[BookishDramas]

The Children of the Roses

3.5 stars. Read as a #NetGalley #ARC
Sequel to the fabulous
sobering and strangely tender.
My review - https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...