When you're not reading a cozy.... Showing 2,851-2,900 of 5,946

[Leslie]

Barb wrote: "I just finished The Parrot Talks In Chocolate, which I chose because I needed a book set in Hawaii for a reading challenge :) I thought it was a cozy mystery, but it wasn't a mystery at all LOL I e..."

Most challenges let you use some non- mysteries ...

[Barb]

Most of the challenges I'm involved in (through other GR groups) don't limit the genre at all, so I'm not concerned about that. I just expected the story to be a mystery and it wasn't LOL

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

I had that happen with a book I read last summer. I was expecting it to be rom-suspense, not contemporary romance. NOT that that was a bad thing, other than not fitting a mystery-specific challenge for which I had chosen it--and I was able to use it for another challenge. Sometimes when an author writes for multiple genres, it cna be difficult to tell by the cover blurb into which genre it actually fits.

[Barb]

I think my mystery-centered mind just automatically assumes that if a book is part of a series, it's probably a mystery, or perhaps fantasy, since that's a big genre right now. It never occurred to me that a "humorous fiction" book could be part of a series LOL Lesson learned ... at least for now :)

[Shirley]

Challenge book

Buried Prey

I always need a good recipe

The Big Book of Casseroles: 250 Recipes for Serious Comfort Food

AND finished


The Big Book of Soups and Stews: 262 Recipes for Serious Comfort Food

I want to make almost every one of these soups...so glad it was part of the $3.99 or less this month.

[Kaye]

I just finished by Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory. The first of "The Obsidian Trilogy."

[Maria]

Barb wrote: "I think my mystery-centered mind just automatically assumes that if a book is part of a series, it's probably a mystery, or perhaps fantasy, since that's a big genre right now. It never occurred to..."

I have the same problem and then I feel disappointed if the element of mystery is missing.

[Maria]

Maria wrote: "Barb wrote: "I think my mystery-centered mind just automatically assumes that if a book is part of a series, it's probably a mystery, or perhaps fantasy, since that's a big genre right now. It neve..."

I agree. I need a mystery in almost every genre I read.

[Barb]

I never thought about it before, Maria, but I think I'm the same way. There has to be at least a bit of a .. puzzle? I guess, or I'm disappointed with the story!

[Karen M]

Barb wrote: "I just finished The Parrot Talks In Chocolate, which I chose because I needed a book set in Hawaii for a reading challenge :) I thought it was a cozy mystery, but it wasn't a mystery at all LOL I e..."

Good to know you enjoyed it. I have it on my Kindle, in fact, I may have more than one in that series. They were free downloads.


I'm doing a re-read of Little Women again. I'm at the sad part.

[Leslie]

Karen M wrote: "I'm doing a re-read of Little Women again. I'm at the sad part..."

I used to weep buckets at that part... unfortunately, I found the last time I reread it that it didn't stand up to my adult sensibilities.

[Heidi]

Leslie wrote: "Karen M wrote: "I'm doing a re-read of Little Women again. I'm at the sad part..."

I used to weep buckets at that part... unfortunately, I found the last time I reread it that it didn't stand up t..."

Yeah I have heard that from others (they loved it when younger and took issue with it when they reread it later).

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

I reread Little Women last fall as a group read (different GR group), and while I still liked it, I did not love it as much as I did when younger -- mostly because I thought it a lot more "preachy" than I remembered.

[Heidi]

Heather L wrote: "I reread Little Women last fall as a group read (different GR group), and while I still liked it, I did not love it as much as I did when younger -- mostly because I thought it a lot more "preachy"..."

Yup that is what I have heard

[Betty]

I decided to review some books by authors requesting a review. (I know how difficult it can be to get those reviews.) So I've read a few outside of my usual genres. Interesting to get to know some new authors. I read One Second After, a dystopian novel, which I would recommend. A quick read with some compelling insight about a US-wide disaster. I'm still thinking about it and I read it a month ago.

[Maria]

Betty wrote: "I decided to review some books by authors requesting a review. (I know how difficult it can be to get those reviews.) So I've read a few outside of my usual genres. Interesting to get to know some ..." Yes, reviews are hard to obtain. Thanks for doing some!

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Have started the latest Kay Hooper, The First Prophet. I'm sure to need a cozy or light romance when done with this one.

[Mollie]

I'm reading Major Pettigrew's Last Stand. It's fabulous. I think f you like cozy mysteries, particularly of the British variety, you'd like this booksMajor Pettigrew's Last Stand

[Maria]

I haven't read a Kay Hooper in a long time, but I sure did enjoy them when I was reading that series.

[Barb]

Mollie wrote: "I'm reading Major Pettigrew's Last Stand. It's fabulous."

That's good to hear, Mollie. I have that one in my audiobook collection, but I've not heard much of anything from anyone about it -- good or bad -- so I keep putting off listening to it. Maybe I'll have to move it higher up on the list :)

[Melodie]

Starting

[Heidi]

Barb wrote: "Mollie wrote: "I'm reading Major Pettigrew's Last Stand. It's fabulous."

That's good to hear, Mollie. I have that one in my audiobook collection, but I've not heard much of anything from anyone ab..."

Barb I have heard that books is good on audio. I am an audiobook lover so always keep my ear out.

[Karen M]

Heather L wrote: "I reread Little Women last fall as a group read (different GR group), and while I still liked it, I did not love it as much as I did when younger -- mostly because I thought it a lot more "preachy"..."

It is a bit preachy but it still was like putting on an old sweatshirt or snuggling in an old quilt. I guess I'm trying to say it was like comfort food for the mind. I go back to favorite books when I really need to escape from what's happening in my life. New books are also an escape but sometimes I need to go to someplace that I know will be warm and cozy.

[Barb]

Heidi (up to no good) wrote: "Barb wrote: "Mollie wrote: "I'm reading Major Pettigrew's Last Stand. It's fabulous."

That's good to hear, Mollie. I have that one in my audiobook collection

Barb I have heard that books is good on audio. I am an audiobook lover so always keep my ear out."

Thanks, Heidi, that makes it even better :) I get really frustrated when I like a book's story but the reader drives me nuts! LOL

[Shirley]

Added classics to my challenge list for 2013 and started this one

Jane Eyre



very nice as an audio

[Maria]

Karen M wrote: "Heather L wrote: "I reread Little Women last fall as a group read (different GR group), and while I still liked it, I did not love it as much as I did when younger -- mostly because I thought it a ..."
I totally get that.

[Heidi]

I am listening to Black Heart on audiobook and reading My One and Only

[Melodie]

I'm not big on audiobooks, but will always make an exception for the Harry Dresden books. James Marsters, he of Spike fame on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, is the reader on all but one and he is SO spot on for the books!

[Heidi]

Jessie Eisenberg does a fantastic job with the audiobooks for the Curse Workers series.

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Shirley wrote: "Added classics to my challenge list for 2013 and started this one

Jane Eyre"

I hope you enjoy this one, Shirley. I've read it twice and loved it both times.

[Paula]

I have started Paper Valentine. The writing is good, but the story is not as strange and interesting as her other 2 books. I like that strangeness. I do like the cover art. I'm only a couple of chapters in, maybe the story will become more complicated. Actually, this story may be a mystery of sorts, but not a cozy.

[Kaye]

Right now reading Mercedes Lackey and James Mallory's second book in the Obsidian Trilogy To Light A Candle

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

I was up until 4am last night -- okay, this morning -- finishing The First Prophet by Kay Hooper. I was tired, and did start to nod off a couple times, but I was so close to the ending, the tension had quickend, and I couldn't go to bed until the final chapter unfolded. It will be interesting to see where she is going with this new series!

As a change of pace, I plucked an older romance off Mount TBR this afternoon, Luke by Jill Shalvis.

[Danielle]

Just finished which I ended up really enjoying, and now I'm reading which I'm loving so far. I love Mitch Albom and this one is not disappointing!

[Heidi]

I enjoyed How to Save Life as well. Very strange but good.

[Danielle]

Heidi (up to no good) wrote: "I enjoyed How to Save Life as well. Very strange but good."

Yes, it was definitely strange! I will hide the next part in case anyone wants to read it... (view spoiler)[ I wasn't a HUGE fan of the ending and how everything was wrapped up with a convenient little bow, but I still really liked the book and would recommend it to anyone. (hide spoiler)] :-p

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

Have just started Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf, the classic group read for another group here at GR. Here's hoping it doesn't take me all week!

[Paula]

I'm listening to Kitty Steals the Show. Good story.

[Sydney]

I love that series! I have a lot of it to catch up with though. I'm currently reading

[Melodie]

Paula wrote: "I'm listening to Kitty Steals the Show. Good story."

I've had this one in The Pile forever. Need to get to it. There's a new one coming out soon.

[Leslie]

I'm currently reading Doctor Thorne by Anthony Trollope as part of a personal challenge to read his Barsetshire and Palliser series this year.

[Susan]

I am reading Theft of Swords by Michael J. Sullivan.

[Maria]

I just read it was sort of okay, not what I had expected.

[Lynne]

Sandy wrote: "I read other mysteries, fantasy, paranormal romance, horror and sci-fi as well as cozies."

Me too. I will read pretty much anything though.

[Shirley]

Heather L wrote: "Shirley wrote: "Added classics to my challenge list for 2013 and started this one

Jane Eyre"

I hope you enjoy this one, Shirley. I've read it twice and loved it both times."

It was marvelous. So glad I listened to it. I am making room for more of the classics from the "27" that were free last year. I might try to fit Moll Flanders into the Toppler.

[Heather L , Cozy Mysteries Moderator]

I'm glad you liked Jane Eyre. Have not read Moll Flanders. In fact, I don't think I've read anything by Defoe. Might have to rememdy that...some day. Too many other classics (and books in general) ahead of him.

My next classic will be a reread of Northanger Abbey for a February group read. Still trying to decide whether to tackle The Count of Monte Cristo for another group in February. I'd really like to read it, but at almost 900 pages, I know it would take a couple weeks. *sigh*

Of course, I have to work a few cozies or romances in as well... *G*

[MaryJo]

my current non-mystery book is Shadow of the Wind by C. Zafon. this is a Feb. book club read for me. the author writes wonderfully. I have some mixed feelings about the graphic nature of some of the language, and it is a sad story in many ways, but this is an intriguing read.

[Vera]

I read almost anything I can get my hands on. Mostly I enjoy book series, thrillers, mystery, paranormal, but I have been known to read many other types! Just a book addict :)

[Sylvia]

I'm like Vera. I read almost anything. Of course, I love cozies. I also like any other kinds of mysteries, thrillers, suspense. I've also begun reading romantic suspense because some of my author friends write them. Straight romance is not my cup of tea but with some suspense thrown in, I can handle it. :-) I also enjoy historicals, biographies, and on and on.

[Vera]

Romantic suspense is good. There are some straight up romance I've enjoyed but I tend to think of them as cheesy romance. Some of the paranormal romance falls under that category too. The suspense romance usually has more mystery and action along with the romance parts. That being said I am fond of Kay Hooper, mostly the bishop series, but some of her cheesy romance novels were sweet, short reads. Also fond of JD Robb because who doesn't like a female cop that can kick butt and a sexy dark-haired, piercing eye Irishman!