December Theme Read

[Sherrie]

December theme read is going to be a little different, to give everyone a break from the holidays we will do something different. Since December is a Stress Free holiday month and Call a Friend Day this months themes will be as follows:

1. Relaxation (spas, yoga, hobbies, anything you would do to relax)
2. Friendship (sleuthing with a friend, ivestigating a friend, etc.)

[Marisa, Cozy Mysteries Assistant Moderator]

Well, in this case, the first one is easy: A Blush With Death, that I have for the clue challenge. The second, I've to look for.

[Sherrie]

My first one will be . I have to think about the second.

[❂ Murder by Death]

Marisa wrote: "Well, in this case, the first one is easy: A Blush With Death, that I have for the clue challenge. The second, I've to look for."

Marisa - If you have trouble finding one for friends, Jill Churchill had the Jane Jeffry series that was all about two friends sleuthing. Also, Sheryl J. Anderson had three books, starting with Killer Heels about three friends investigating mysteries. That series was a bit 'sex in the city' but a fun read.

If anyone else has any suggestions about current mysteries involving friends, I'd love some pointers. I don't have any current series that fit the bill that I haven't already read. :)

[❂ Murder by Death]

Kari wrote: "Valerie Wolzein Susan Henshaw has an ex-cop friend that helps her solve mysteries.

The Susan Wittig China Bayles series also has a friend.

You could also go real old school and read a Nancy..."

Kari, thanks for the suggestions. I'm up to date on both those series, but the Nancy Drew might be worth investigating. :D. I'm not sure I'd be able to remember which of those I've read! Lol

[Sherrie]

Jennifer-in-oz wrote: "Marisa wrote: "Well, in this case, the first one is easy: A Blush With Death, that I have for the clue challenge. The second, I've to look for."

Marisa - If you have trouble finding ..."

How about the Bed and Breakfast by Mary Daheim or the Cooking Class mysteries by Miranda Bliss? Or the Miss Zukas series.

[Daphne]

I love the December themes and they will both also cover books in my Clue challenge. I will be reading for the friendship topic and for the relaxation theme.

[Miki]

Susan Wittig Albert has the Darling Dahlias books about friends and Laura Childs has the Cackleberry Club series. Both are very enjoyable reads.

[Marisa, Cozy Mysteries Assistant Moderator]

I was thinking about Cackleberry Club, because I've the second book and I haven't read it yet, so perhaps I'll read it. We'll see.

[Sherrie]

For my friendship book I'll be reading .

[Jan]

Sherrie wrote: "My first one will be . I have to think about the second."

I love this series. But I am all caught up on it. I will have to find something else for relaxation.

[Jan]

I will read Scent to her Grave and I still need the friendship one. I need to think about it.

[Linda]

I am in too. I am going to try by India Ink for Relaxation And am going to start Jill Chruchill's . I am just starting the series and have had it in my TBR pile for ages.

[Valorie]

I'm planning on reading for the relaxation theme and will probably go with or for the friendship theme.

[Heidi]

I keep reading perfect theme books a month before the theme! I just read this month and last month (Oct.) I read - I guess I am psychic or something!

[Kim]

I'll be reading The Christmas Cookie Killer and Jack & Jill for buddy reads. I'll see how I do for the month.

[Jan]

For my friendship choice I decided on Killer Heels by Sheryl J. Anderson. It has been on my To Read list for some time.

[Nell]

Other than reading, the two main ways I relax these days is yoga and knitting. So I will read and . In the knitting mystery, two friends investigate the murder of another friend so I may use that as a two-fer.

[Sherrie]

Another way people relax is a glass of wine, So that is another idea if someone is thinking about a relaxation book.

[Kim]

On the other hand, my best friend cooks and bakes for stress relief, so my choices could work, too. Well, her more than me. I enjoy cooking and baking, but not for stress relief. Eating is more for that!

[Robin]

This December reading sounds like fun, especially this time of year with the holidays fast approaching.

[Nell]

The cozy mystery website has a list of hobbies under Cozies by Theme. If you're looking for ideas go to www.cozy-mystery.com. You'll see cozies by theme on the left. Mysteries with hobbies are about half-way down that page. This is a great website. Thanks to whomever suggested it.

[Robin]

Kim, I am with you as far as eating the results of someone else's cooking and baking.LOL

[Lindy-Lane]

I'm aiming for just one of the theme reads this month (December) and since I'm still in a Jessica Fletcher frame of mind I'm going with:

Murder, She Wrote: A Slaying In Savannah (theme of friendship).

[Trine]

Great idea, Sherrie. :-)

I'll be reading by Diana Killian and
by Elizabeth Lynn Casey.

Happy Reading/Holidays, everyone! :-)

[Andrea]

Yay, I can't wait to read this month's theme reads. I've been dying to read a yoga cozy and have had one on my to-read list forever. Here are my picks for December:

Relaxation: Dial Om for Murder by Diana Killian
Friendship: Murder, She Wrote: Panning For Murder by Jessica Fletcher/Donald Bain (Loved Jessica so much last month, I have to read another one!)

[Kimmie]

For the relaxation read I am reading Death By Cashmere. Tried to get into this one before and I got kind of bored. I will see if it picks up.

For the friendship read I am reading Christmas Cookie Murder. The mystery centers around a cookie exchange between friends. Hopefully it will get me in the Christmas spirit.

,

[Marisa, Cozy Mysteries Assistant Moderator]

For the relax theme I've read A Blush With Death. Not a great read, I've liked the first one much better. I don't think I keep on the series.

[Miki]

For the friendship read, I am reading Slay it with Flowers by Kate Collins. The friendship between Abby and Nikki rings true in this one.

[KarenF]

I totally blew November (bad library timing) but I'm back on the horse for December.


Relaxation: by Maggie Sefton

Friendship: by Laura Childs

[Daphne]

I was originally going to go with another book for the friends theme, but I just finished An Uplifting Murder and loved the friendship between Josie and Alyce. I really enjoyed this book and all of the main characters. I will back track and read more in the series.

[Heidi]

I am going to count as my friendship book because Sophie and Nina are great friends :)

[Jan]

Just started for the relaxation book. Too early to tell what I think.

[❂ Murder by Death]

I'm doing Scent to Her Grave for the spa/relaxation read, and Death of A Tart for the friendship read, as it has a heavy best friends theme.

[Caitlin]

Working on Knit One, Kill Two for the relaxation book. Not sure which one to do for friendship.

[Robin]

I think any of the cozies, like Laura Childs would be a good December read, esp. the friendship aspect for Carmela and Ava. They are always so much fun to read about. Their antics are absolutely hysterical.

[Marisa, Cozy Mysteries Assistant Moderator]

Well, I've finished my challenge. For friendship I've read Waiting for Armando, three women who forge her friendship while they try to help another coworker. I've liked it a lot. As a summary:

2 / 2

1.- Relaxation: A Blush With Death
2.- Friendship: Waiting for Armando

[Sherrie]

Congrats Marisa!

[Robin]

good job, marisa.

[Valorie]

I just finished and I'm going to use it for the friendship theme. The main character Leigh tries to solve a murder with her cousin and best friend who works for the local police department. I really enjoyed it! It was a cute, fun read!

[Donna]

Daphne wrote: "I was originally going to go with another book for the friends theme, but I just finished An Uplifting Murder and loved the friendship between Josie and Alyce. I really enjoyed this..."

I agree with Daphne. I just finished An Uplifting Murder for the Autumn Challenge, and will count this as my friendship theme book. This was the first book I had read by this author, and I also plan to read more of the series.

[Jan]

I finished my relaxation book, Scent To Her Grave by India Ink. I solved this as soon as the murder took place and I really did not care for the main character.

On to my friendship book, hope I like it more.

[❂ Murder by Death]

Uh oh... I chose Scent to Her Grave as my relaxation book - just waiting for it to arrive in the Post. Hope I don't find it as disappointing...

[Melodie]

Jan wrote: "I finished my relaxation book, Scent To Her Grave by India Ink. I solved this as soon as the murder took place and I really did not care for the ..."

I agree on this series. Didn't care for the main character or the stories either!

[Jan]

Jennifer-in-oz wrote: "Uh oh... I chose Scent to Her Grave as my relaxation book - just waiting for it to arrive in the Post. Hope I don't find it as disappointing..."

It was not all bad. I liked some of the other characters. There are some nice bath products recipes. I am even going to try one of them.

[KarenF]

I finished for my friendship read. I liked it but not as much as I liked the other series by Laura Childs. The friendship between the women was nice but it almost felt like there was too much crammed into this book.

[Priscilla]

I am reading .I hope this fits into the theme read. I am reading it and a few friends have won the lottery together! Its a nice holiday read anyway...

[Kimmie]

Kimmie wrote: "For the relaxation read I am reading Death By Cashmere. Tried to get into this one before and I got kind of bored. I will see if it picks up.

For the friendship read I am reading ..."

I finished my relaxation read Death By Cashmere yesterday. I didn't really like it. I am not sure why but I didn't connect with any of the characters. Has anyone else read this book? What did you think?

[Sherrie]

Let's start getting some ideas together for Janury's theme.

[Sherrie]

I don't think we've done a sports one yet, that could be fun.