Mark Reads and Reads Cozies (and Reads and...)

[Mark]

I haven't started a thread yet, but I'm definitely back for this challenge again in 2019. And I'm signing up for Level 4, which is where I should have been last year. All free choice cozies.

And I have my first book of 2019 all ready to go, too.

1. A Literal Mess by J. C. Kenney http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Betsy]

Mark wrote: "I haven't started a thread yet, but I'm definitely back for this challenge again in 2019. And I'm signing up for Level 4, which is where I should have been last year. All free choice cozies.

And I..."

Great review. Might have to check this one out.

Good luck on the challenge!

[Mark]

Thank you!

[Yvonne]

Great review! I just reviewed this one too and really enjoyed it.

[Mark]

Cool! It's definitely a good debut.

[Donna (weegraydog)]

Yay, Mark--glad you're doing the challenge again!

[Mark]

Thanks. :) Wouldn't miss it.

[Mark]

Here are my cozies for the week:

2. Saturn Night Fever by Diane Vallere http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

3. Due or Die by Jenn McKinlay http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Betsy]

Due or Die -- nice review. Like the series. Really like the locale. The children's librarian is my fave. Love to hear what she always comes up with. The series does have its ups and downs. Hope you continue to enjoy them.

I also like her Cupcake Bakery series. I am partial to it since was my introduction to cozies.

[Mark]

Thanks. :)

I'm up to date on the Cupcake Bakery series and Hat Shop series. Really enjoyed both of them. I intended to start the Library series sooner, but I didn't get to it. Changing that this year finally, although it will take me a couple of years to catch up at this point.

[Betsy]

Mark wrote: "Thanks. :)

I'm up to date on the Cupcake Bakery series and Hat Shop series. Really enjoyed both of them. I intended to start the Library series sooner, but I didn't get to it. Changing that this y..."

Have not gotten to her Hat Shop series. Hope to soon.

[Tonya]

The Library series is probably the least favorite of the 3 series, but it does get better as I get into it...I just finished the 3rd book in the series.

[Mark]

I've enjoyed the first two. Didn't think they were that different from her other series, but I know sometimes a new series from a favorite author take a little time to gel with me.

[Donna (weegraydog)]

Mark wrote: "Here are my cozies for the week:

2. Saturn Night Fever by Diane Vallere http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co......"

I enjoyed Due or Die--I was drawn to the book by the cute Scottie on the cover, and then enjoyed the mystery and the library setting. I think I read at least one more in the series. Nice review, as always!

[Mark]

Thanks, Donna. I really enjoy Jenn's books, but I am woefully behind on this series. Fortunately, I'm up to date on her other cozy series.

[Mark]

Just one cozy this week:

4. Not a Creature was Stirring by Christina Freeburn http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Yvonne]

Mark wrote: "Just one cozy this week:

4. Not a Creature was Stirring by Christina Freeburn http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co......"

I just finished reading this and loved it.

[Mark]

It's fun.

[Mark]

Three new releases this week:

5. Pruning the Dead by Julia Henry http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

6. The Gun Also Rises by Sherry Harris http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

7. Murder, She Meowed by Liz Mugavero http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Mark]

This week's cozies:

8. Murder, She Wrote: Manuscript for Murder by Jessica Fletcher and Jon Land http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

9. Murder on Lenox Hill by Victoria Thompson http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Mark]

Just one cozy this week:

10. A Lady's Guide to Etiquette and Murder by Dianne Freeman http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Mark]

This week, I enjoyed:

11. The Golden Tresses of the Dead by Alan Bradley http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

12. Permanently Booked by Lisa Q. Mathews http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Mark]

Three new releases this week:

13. Drawn and Buttered by Shari Randall http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

14. Restaurant Weeks are Murder by Libby Klein http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

15. One Feta in the Grave by Tina Kashian http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Mark]

Catching up for the month.

16. Chocolate Cream Pie Murder by Joanne Fluke http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

17. Bridges Burned by Annette Dashofy http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

18. Drowned Under by Wendall Thomas http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Mark]

This week's cozies were:

19. The Hidden Corpse by Debra Sennefelder http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

20. Downton Tabby by Sparkle Abbey http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Mark]

A couple of new releases this week:

21. Death Waits in the Dark by Julia Buckley http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

22. Murder from Scratch by Leslie Karst http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Betsy]

Mark wrote: "A couple of new releases this week:

21. Death Waits in the Dark by Julia Buckley http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co......"

Love Writer's Apprentice series. Different.

[Mark]

It is different, and that makes it fun. It's nice to read something different every so often.

[Mark]

This week, I enjoyed:

23. A Dream of Death by Connie Berry http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

24. Dyeing Season by Karen MacInerney http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Mark]

This week, I enjoyed:

25. Sifting Through the Clues by Daryl Wood Gerber http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

26. With a Kiss I Die by J. A. Hennrikus http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Mark]

One cozy so far this week:

27. Lights! Camera! Puzzles! by Parnell Hall http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Mark]

One from late last week and then two more from this week.

28. Barking Mad at Murder by Jacqueline Vick http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

29. Staging is Murder by Grace Topping http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

30. The Scent of Murder by Kylie Logan http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Mark]

Two fresh off the presses cozies this week:

31. Dying for Devil's Food by Jenn McKinlay http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

32. A Deadly Feast by Lucy Burdette http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Betsy]

Mark wrote: "Two fresh off the presses cozies this week:

31. Dying for Devil's Food by Jenn McKinlay http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co......"

Looking forward to Devil's Food. Great review. I find this series so nostalgic. It is the first cozy I ever read. Love the movie quotes.

[Mark]

I love the movie quotes, too.

I didn't start this series until it was on about book 7, but I quickly became addicted.

[Mark]

Two cozies this week:

33. Double Whammy by Gretchen Archer http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

34. Murder in Little Italy by Victoria Thompson http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Mark]

One cozy for me this week:

35. Forget Me Knot by Mary Marks http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Betsy]

Mark wrote: "One cozy for me this week:

35. Forget Me Knot by Mary Marks http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co..."

Good review as usual. I don't usually like the craft books much either. I found the craft aspects interesting in this one though. My main issue was the political snipes. Found it offputting. I will probably not continue since I figure the author will probably feel more comfortable putting her views into future books.

[Mark]

Thank you. It makes me feel so much better to know I wasn't the only one put off by the political snipes. I want to give the series at least one more shot, but I hope those fade out as the series progresses. Unfortunately, you are quite possibly right.

And thanks for the compliment on my review.

[Betsy]

Mark wrote: "Thank you. It makes me feel so much better to know I wasn't the only one put off by the political snipes. I want to give the series at least one more shot, but I hope those fade out as the series p..."

I'll see what you think when you read the next one. :)

[Mark]

No promises on when that will be. I don't even have the book yet, and I have so many calling my name.

[Betsy]

Mark wrote: "No promises on when that will be. I don't even have the book yet, and I have so many calling my name."

I hear you on that. Ha!

[Mark]

This week's cozy:

36. Murder, She Wrote: Murder in Red by Jessica Fletcher and Jon Land http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Mark]

37. Full Bodied Murder by Christine M. Blum http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Mark]

I'm reading like crazy so far this summer. Two more to report.

38. A Baker Street Wedding by Michael Robertson http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

39. Malice Domestic 14: Mystery Most Edible http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Mark]

A couple more cozies:

40. Murder at the Palace by Margaret Dumas http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

41. Murder Knocks Twice by Susanna Calkins http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Karen]

Congatulations, Mark!!! You've hit the minimum -- PLUS!!

Looking forward to see how many you end up with at the end.

[Mark]

Thank you! Got a couple more to report already, just haven't had time. It's going to be another banner year.

[Mark]

My latest two cozies:

42. One Taste Too Many by Debra H. Goldstein http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

43. Book, Line, and Sinker by Jenn McKinlay http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co...

[Betsy]

Mark wrote: "My latest two cozies:

42. One Taste Too Many by Debra H. Goldstein http://carstairsconsiders.blogspot.co......"

Like Jenn's books. My fave part of this series is the kids programs her friend does.