A Louisiana Christmas to Remember by Betsy St. Amant, Morgan Tarpley Smith, and Lenora Worth

 A Louisiana Christmas to Remember

Book Summary

A Rare Snowfall Leads to a Christmas to Remember

Three heartwarming, interconnected stories of faith, love, and restoration, brought to you by three Louisiana-native authors. Will a rare snowy Louisiana Christmas bring restoration and hope to the hometown and hearts of three women from the town's founding family?

In A Louisiana Snow by Morgan Tarpley Smith, meet Mattie: A passionate visionary who learns to forgive and finds love in unexpected places...

In Restoring Christmas by Betsy St. Amant, meet Jolene: An artist and prodigal daughter who discovers love exists in the very place she once called home...

In A Christmas Reunion by Lenora Worth, meet Adale: A beautiful widow who finally dares to love again...

And don't forget Granny, whose feisty spirit, blunt dialogue, and quirky ways play an important and endearing role.

My Thoughts

A Louisiana Christmas to Remember contains three Christmas romance stories by Betsy St. Amant, Morgan Tarpley Smith, and Lenora Worth.  I like how the stories are tied together with the same town, characters, and season.  We get to visit Moreau, Louisiana in December as they are preparing for various events that include the Christmas Market, an eightieth birthday celebration for the town’s matriarch, and the Christmas Eve ball.  We get to learn about Louisiana’s traditions and some of its history.  We get to meet some interesting characters with my favorite being Granny.  Granny is astute and spunky.  She enjoyed meddling in her daughter and granddaughter’s lives.  I did find the stories to be predictable especially when it came to romance.  

Faith was nicely woven into the story.  There were some insightful nuggets in each novella. Each lady needed to overcome an emotional obstacle before there could be a happily ever after.  There are good life lessons.  A control-oriented individual gets to learn that some things are beyond their influence.  Forgiveness, regrets, hope, healing, and second chances are other themes.  I liked the festive Christmas atmosphere, especially the snow.  Christmas is a magical time of year when the impossible is possible if you believe.   A Louisiana Christmas to Remember contains three heartwarming tales that will have you singing Christmas carols and dragging out your Christmas tree.

A Louisiana Christmas to Remember comes out September 1, and it can be preordered from Amazon*.   Thank you for joining me for the last day of August.  It was one hot month.  I have never been so grateful for air conditioning.  My mother and I made it through the hurricane safely for which I am very grateful.  I know others were not as fortunate.  You would think science would have found a way to dispel hurricanes.   I hope everyone has a happy and safe Labor Day. I will return on Tuesday with my thoughts on Witches Get Stuff Done by Molly Harper.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

A Royal Christmas by Melody Carlson

 A Royal Christmas

Book Summary

Adelaide Smith is too busy for fairy tales. She's been working hard to put herself through law school and now that the end is in sight, she's determined to stay focused on her goals. Then she receives a letter notifying her that she has been found through a DNA registry to be a direct descendant of King Maximillian V, the ruler of a small Eastern European principality called Montovia. She's understandably skeptical. This is the stuff of cheesy made-for-TV movies, not real life.

Although the pieces of this surprising family puzzle seem too good to be true, curiosity gets the best of her. At the king's invitation, Adelaide embarks on a Christmas break trip that is chock-full of surprises, including a charming village, an opulent palace, family mysteries, royal jealousies, a handsome young member of Parliament--and the chance at a real fairy tale romance with a happily-ever-after ending.

Spend this Christmas with bestselling author Melody Carlson as she whisks you away to a royal holiday you'll never forget!

My Thoughts

A Royal Christmas by Melody Carlson is reminiscent of a modern-day fairytale (think The Princess Diaries with a slightly older protagonist).  I found the story to be easy to read, and it can be completed in one sitting (relaxing in a cozy chair on a rainy afternoon).  I enjoyed the descriptions of Montovia (a fictional town in Europe near Austria) and the castle.  We get to learn about the Christmas customs in Montovia.  The story is not lacking in holiday charm.  There are some sweet moments between Adelaide and her father.   There is a touch of mystery.  Someone wants the crown, and you wonder what they will do to ensure they get it.  There is a lack of chemistry between Adelaide and Anton (felt more like a friendship).  I was disappointed with the ending.   This is my least favorite holiday tale by Melody Carlson.  It is a sweet story, but it does not have the same charm as her Christmas stories (some of her stories you want to read year after year).  A Royal Christmas is a lighthearted holiday tale with a mindboggling letter, an enchanting town, a mean queen, a handsome parliamentarian, a fading father, a missing man, and a happy holiday.

A Royal Christmas will be out September 5 and it can be preordered from Amazon*.  You can find Melody Carlson's other novels here.  Thank you for stopping by today.  Tomorrow I am featuring A Louisiana Christmas to Remember by Betsy St. Amant, Morgan Tarpley Smith, and Lenora Worth which comes out September 1.  I am off to get some chores done around the house (if I still have a house after the hurricane blows through).  Please keep those who live in Florida in your prayers. Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine

 My Roommate is a Vampire

Book Summary

True love is at stake in this charming, debut romantic comedy.

Cassie Greenberg loves being an artist, but it’s a tough way to make a living. On the brink of eviction, she’s desperate when she finds a too-good-to-be-true apartment in a beautiful Chicago neighborhood. Cassie knows there has to be a catch—only someone with a secret to hide would rent out a room for that price.

Of course, her new roommate Frederick J. Fitzwilliam is far from normal. He sleeps all day, is out at night on business, and talks like he walked out of a regency romance novel. He also leaves Cassie heart-melting notes around the apartment, cares about her art, and asks about her day. And he doesn’t look half bad shirtless, on the rare occasions they’re both home and awake. But when Cassie finds bags of blood in the fridge that definitely weren’t there earlier, Frederick has to come clean...

Cassie’s sexy new roommate is a vampire. And he has a proposition for her.

My Thoughts

My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine is not the type of book that I normally read.  But I was looking for a story that would make me laugh, and My Roommate is a Vampire sounded like it would do the job.  Boy was I wrong!  I did not laugh once.  The characters are not developed, and I was not a fan of Cassie.  Cassie is thirty-two, but her attitude and lifestyle is similar to someone in their early twenties.    Cassie obtained a degree in a field where there are few jobs (of course is up to her neck in student debt.  She manages to get evicted frequently.  Cassie moves into her spacious new abode with Frederick and gets upset that he does not have pots and pans.   Cassie should not be judging Frederick (pot meet kettle) since she does not own pans either (nor dishes, silverware, etc.). 

I did not feel the chemistry between Cassie and Frederick.  Both parties are instantly attracted to each other.  I quickly tired of Cassie talking about Frederick’s attributes.  The relationship took time to develop (it was like watching grass grow).  The vampire aspect was weak.  There were smidgens here and there.  There is more about Cassie’s odd art pieces and how she creates them.  I did enjoy the references to Buffy the Vampire Slayer.    I was not a fan of the foul language or the intimate scenes (they were too graphic for me).  The story lacked humor.  I believe some parts were supposed to be amusing, but they did not work.  The texts between Frederick and Reginald (the only other vampire in Chicago and he is the opposite of Frederick) could have been amusing if they had been done differently.  There is a situation at the end that was just ridiculous and so was the resolution.  I thought the story was way too long (352 pages—good grief).  The majority of the story is told from Cassie point of view (just small snippets from Frederick).  I struggled to finish My Roommate is a Vampire.  What should have been an amusing story ended up being ho hum.  

Made from recycled plastic

My Roommate is a Vampire is available from Amazon*.  While My Roommate is a Vampire is not my cup of tea, I suggest you download a sample to judge for yourself.  Thank you for stopping by today.  I will return tomorrow to share my thoughts on A Royal Christmas by Melody Carlson which will be out on September 5.  I have been doing a different project each day trying to work on my "To Do List" (which is several pages long).  My mother is thrilled that I put together a cabinet for her bathroom.  I still believe she will have a towel storage problem (the woman has too many towels). She has three times the storage that I do (I only have the vanity itself), and she still needs more storage for towels. Up next is a new walker for her.  Everything looks straightforward except the brakes.  I have a feeling this one will take a couple of days.  Wish me luck! I hope that you have a happy day.  We are in for some rough weather on the western coast of Florida. Please keep us in your prayers.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Mrs. Morris and the Wolfman by Traci Wilton

 Mrs. Morris and the Wolfman

Book Summary

Set in Salem, Massachusetts, this fun, cozy series sees a widowed B&B owner teaming up with a charming ghost to solve murders—an engaging read for fans who like a paranormal tinge to their mysteries.

 

Saturday night at the movies has some added flair now that Darren and Elise Shultz are reopening one of Salem’s classic theaters. Charlene is delighted to help the couple with their venture, and Darren has lined up a cult classic double-header featuring Lon Chaney in The Wolfman. But things get hairier than expected when Elise starts to choke on her popcorn mid-movie—and once the lights go up, she’s dead . . .

When tests reveal Elise's popcorn was poisoned, Detective Sam Holden eyes her husband as the guilty party. Charlene doesn’t believe Darren would hurt his wife—even if his company’s specialty seasoned salts were sprinkled on the fatal snack. But who else had a motive to do something so unsavory? With a little help from Jack, the handsome ghost who haunts her B&B, Charlene delves into the ill-fated couple’s past. And the more she learns, the more Charlene wonders if this time, she’s bitten off more than she can chew . . .

My Thoughts

Mrs. Morris and the Wolfman by Traci Wilton takes us to Salem, Massachusetts where Charlene and Avery are getting ready to view Lon Chaney in The Wolfman.  Darren and Elise have renovated (resurrected) an old movie theater.  The Spellbound Movie Theater will feature Darren’s creative seasoned salts which will be served with fresh popped popcorn and locally made soft pretzels.  Mrs. Morris and the Wolfman is the seventh A Salem B&B Mystery and it can be read as a standalone for those new to the series.  The main characters (Charlene, Avery, Jack) are developed and realistic.  I love Avery’s enthusiasm.  Avery is going to make an excellent police officer (I have a feeling that it will not take her long to become a detective).  

I normally have an easy time reading the books in this series, but I found myself struggling this time around.  There were some aspects of the book that I found disturbing (not in a fun way).   I enjoyed the descriptions of Charlene’s B&B as well as the movie theater.  The mystery was unique for a cozy mystery as well as a little odd.  I liked the way the victim was killed.  There are a large handful of suspects.  The details of the crime such as the suspects and how the victim died are rehashed multiple times (I got it the first time).  The crime can be solved long before the reveal if you pay close attention to the details (an episode of CSI that I watched many years ago gave me a leg up).  I did find the reveal to be a tad longwinded and dramatic.  There was one aspect that I wish had not been included.  I did tire of Sam warning Charlene and Avery to stay away from the theater and suspects (wild horses could not keep them away from trouble).

I enjoyed Jack’s input.  His background was helpful.  The epilogue helped wrap things up.  I am probably in the minority, but I am not a fan of Sam for Charlene.  I feel she needs a modern version of Jack.  Someone who appreciates her intelligence and enthusiasm for mysteries (not someone who tells her to keep away from the whodunits). I like how the author tied the mystery to Lon Chaney’s The Wolfman.  Mrs. Morris and the Wolfman is a hair-raising tale with a magnificent movie theater, appetizing popcorn, a poisoned partner, ghost stories, tasty seasoned salts, startling suspects, and a howling whodunit.  

Mrs. Morris and the Wolfman is available from Amazon*.  The next A Salem B&B Mystery is Mrs. Morris and the Mermaid which will be out on February 20, 2024. You can find the other six A Salem B&B Mysteries here.  You can follow Traci Wilton on Amazon and receive an email when she has a new book release.  Thank you for stopping by today.  On August 29, I will return to share my thoughts on My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine.  I am off to put my feet up.  I am still suffering from swollen feet (and ankles) and a rash on the same areas (thanks to the heat).  I hope that fall arrives soon.  I hope that you have a delightful weekend.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

A Family to Foster by Laurel Blount

 A Family to Foster

Book Summary

Can an unlikely partnership…

Turn into a permanent commitment?

Foster dad Patrick Callahan would do anything to prevent the siblings he fosters from being separated. But that means he’ll have to partner with his ex-fiancée, Torey Bryant, to save the local community center. With Patrick’s old-school ideas and Torey’s high-tech upgrades, the pair can’t agree on anything. Could accepting their differences keep the children together—and give them a forever family?

My Thoughts

A Family to Foster by Laurel Blount takes us back to Cedar Ridge where we get to spend time with one of Ruby Sawyer’s former foster kids, Torey Bryant.  I love Ruby and I am glad we get to visit her again.  I enjoyed getting to know Patrick Callahan (Torey’s ex-fiancé who left her with a broken heart) and Torey Bryant.  The two need to work together to fix and reopen Hope Center.  Patrick will do whatever it takes to keep Josh and Jill, the two children he is fostering and would like to adopt.  Torey, who is taking a leave of absence from her recently acquired dream job, will do what is needed because she loves Ruby.  I laughed often while reading A Family to Foster.  I like Laurel Blount’s writing style.  She creates realistic characters that you want to get to know (you want them to be your neighbors and friends).  The story is easy to read and has a good flow.  It was nice how the romance progressed.  I like how Patrick’s foster kids were included.   

Ruby is a delightful character.  She knows her former foster kids well and knows the right buttons to push.  Ruby is working to get each one matched up.  I like the “Rubisms” as I call them.  Ruby doles out good, practical advice (and it is remembered and followed years later).  I enjoyed catching up with Ruby’s other foster children.  While this is the fourth book in the series, it can be read as a standalone.  I do, though, recommend reading each charming story.  A Family to Foster has love, forgiveness, heartache, loyalty, hurt feelings, distrust, and romance.  This is the type of book you want to read while sitting in a comfy chair with hot tea and cookies warm from the oven.  I am looking forward to my next visit to Cedar Ridge.  A Family to Foster is a heartwarming tale with a loyal family, a timid dog, technology troubles, an irascible Ruby, a cantankerous social worker, and a second chance romance.  

A Family to Foster is available from Amazon*.  The other books in the Cedar Ridge series are Together for the Twins, Her Mountain Refuge, and Lost and Found Faith.  Laurel Blount's next book release is Home in the Storm which is the fourth A Johns Mill Amish Romance.  You can find Laurel Blount's other novels here.  Thank you for joining me today.  I will return tomorrow with Mrs. Morris and the Wolfman by Traci Wilton. It is the seventh A Salem B&B Mystery.   After the rain last week, my garden is flourishing.  I sprinkled seeds two weeks ago in the blank spots (I dump all the seeds into one baggie and then scatter them in the raised flowerbeds) and I have seedlings popping up everywhere.  I look forward to seeing the blooms.  I have three types of sunflowers growing:  regular, Teddy Bear, and Mammoth. It will be interesting to how they differ. I hope that you have a happy day.  Take care, stay cool (it is so hot), and Happy Reading! 

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Mountain Abduction Rescue by Darlene L. Turner

 Mountain Abduction Rescue

Book Summary

A wildfire threat…

becomes a missing person search.

A serial arsonist is out for revenge in the Canadian Rocky Mountains—and kidnaps park warden Hazel Hoyt’s son and his camping troop. Now Hazel must team up with the man who broke her heart, firefighter Mitchell Booth, to find the missing boys as wildfires blaze around them. But someone has no intention of letting the pair get off the mountain alive…

From Love Inspired Suspense: Courage. Danger. Faith.

My Thoughts

Mountain Abduction Rescue by Darlene L. Turner is an exciting tale.  I thought it was well-written with developed characters. The author’s vivid descriptions of the Canadian Rocky Mountains brought the area to life for me.  I loved all the action, tension, and suspense (kidnapping, arson, controlling father who is also her boss).  I enjoyed the mystery.  I love solving whodunits and I had fun figuring this one out.  There were some good twists along the way (and a red herring or two).  

You can tell that there is still a connection between Hazel and Mitchell.  The pair must work together if they are to save Hazel’s son as well as the other campers plus stop an arsonist.  The romance is about the rekindling of buried feelings.  Mountain Abduction Rescue is the third book in Crisis Rescue Team series.  It can be read as a standalone, but I do recommend reading the first two books in the series (they are as enticing as this one).  I found myself staying up late and quickly turning the pages to see how Mountain Abduction Rescue would turn out (but also sorry to see it end).  Mountain Abduction Rescue is a suspenseful story with prolific fires, captured campers, a domineering dad, revived feelings, a dismayed mother, treacherous trails, and a vengeful foe.  

Mountain Abduction Rescue is available from Amazon*.  The other two novels in the Crisis Rescue Team series are Fatal Forensic Investigation and Explosive Christmas Showdown.  The fourth book Crisis Rescue Team series is Buried Grave Secrets which will be out on December 26.  Thank you for joining me today.  I want to share with you some of the other books that were published today:  The Body in the Back Garden by Mark Waddell, The Christmas Quilt by Lenora Worth, Moving Forward by Shelley Shepard Gray, Mrs. Morris and the Wolfman by Traci Wilton, Murder at the Cape Bookstore, Board to Death by C.J. Connor, Catch Me if you Candy by Ellie Alexander, A Father for her Boys by Danielle Grandinetti, and A Family to Foster by Laurel Blount. Tomorrow I will be sharing my thoughts about A Family to Foster by Laurel Blount.  I hope you are staying cool.  I know it is hot when my mischievous cat, Dickens is not getting into trouble.  She has been taking her naps in my bathroom sink (very inconvenient).  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Read to Death at the Lakeside Library by Holly Danvers

 Read to Death at the Lakeside Library

Book Summary

Perfect for fans of Jenn McKinlay and Ellery Adams, Rain Wilmot must find a novel solution in order to catch another killer—before her book club members are picked off one by one.

Summer is in full swing as tourists flock back to the Northwoods and travel to Lofty Pines, Wisconsin. For Rain Wilmot, owner of the Lakeside Library, this is the perfect opportunity to bring back her mother’s summer book club. But the summer sun starts to really heat up when one of the club’s members, Lily Redlin, is found dead in her own home not long after the first meeting.

Alongside her sidekick and neighbor Julia Reynolds and the charming Jace Lowe, Rain discovers that the murder is seemingly inspired by the book the club recently discussed Agatha Christie’s classic mystery novel Sparkling Cyanide. But who would kill Lily, and more importantly, why?

The deeper Rain dives into the story, the more confusing and complicated the plot becomes. Was Lily murdered to cover up a tragic accident that occurred years ago involving an old classmate? Or were the rumors true—did Lily really possess a priceless original Laura Ingles Wilder manuscript and someone killed her for it? And what about the mysterious letter Lily received just before her death from a supposed long-lost relative? Was it a hoax?

With a long list of suspects and motives, Rain realizes that all leads come back to people involved in the book club. Rain and her friends take a page from Agatha Christie’s book by hosting a reenactment of the club’s first meeting to flush out the killer. Will Rain’s plan succeed—or will this librarian’s book be checked out for good?

My Thoughts

Read to Death at the Lakeside Library by Holly Danvers takes us back to Lofty Pines, Wisconsin where Rain Wilmot is getting ready to host her first book club discussion.  The group will be discussing Agatha Christie's Sparkling Cyanide.  I like how the author tied Sparkling Cyanide into the story.  Lofty Pines is a charming town with friendly residents (well, most of them).  It is summer and the weather is perfect for spending time on the lake.  Rain and her best friend, Julia, do not miss an opportunity to take a dip in the lake. The library is busy as people stop by to pick up books to read while lounging by the lake (or to read after dinner while relaxing on their deck).  The mystery begins at the book club meeting where the group has a lively discussion about Sparkling Cyanide.  Lily Redlin, who got a little hot under the collar at the meeting, is found dead in her home the next day.  After the book club meeting, I knew who would die and how.  I soon identified the guilty party.  The why took longer to discover.  Rain and Julia are eager to dig into the crime.  The pair come up with justifications for why they should not turn over the information they have uncovered to the police (aka Julia’s brother, Jace).  The case details are repeated way too many times (preliminary details repeated three or four times before Julia and Rain begin sleuthing).  The case is neatly wrapped up at the end.  

Rain, who thinks about her deceased husband, Max often, is ready to date (seems too soon since she often recalls Max and how much she loved him).  Rain is attracted to Julia’s brother, Jace Lowe (and it is obvious to everyone).  I wish there had been less time devoted to romance.  I lost track of how many times Rain admires Jace’s attributes or thinks about him.  I did like the addition of Bento.  He is a Siberian Husky that Rain adopts.  I am a fan of Siberian Huskies.  They are loving and intelligent dogs.  While Read to Death at the Lakeside Library is the third A Lakeside Library Mystery, it can be read as a standalone.  The needed background information on the characters is provided.   I want to like A Lakeside Library Mysteries, but they are not a good fit for me.  It is an easy-to-read story with likeable characters and a quaint area.  I like that the library is in a log cabin.  The author also incorporated information about the state and creation of the Wisconsin Old-Fashioned Cocktail (recipe at the end of the book).  Read to Death at the Lakeside Library is lighthearted tale with an energetic book club discussion, lounging by the lake, a Wisconsin cocktail, an unexpected death, an adorable dog, and a romantic prospect.  

Read to Death at the Lakeside Library is available from Amazon*.  You can find the other A Lakeside Library Mysteries here.  You can follow Holly Danvers on Amazon and receive an email when she has a new book release.  The beauty of books is that there is something for everyone.  If Read to Death at the Lakeside Library sounds entertaining to you, I encourage you to download a sample to check it out.  Thank you for joining me today.  I will be taking next week off.  Heat and fibromyalgia do not mix well. My feet have swollen so much that I cannot get them in my shoes.  I need a little extra time to rest (with my feet propped up).  I will return on  August 22 with Mountain Abduction Rescue by Darlene L. Turner.  It is the third book in the Crisis Rescue Team series.   I hope that you have a relaxing weekend.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Berried Grievances by Peg Cochran

 Berried Grievances

Book Summary

Family fireworks lead to murder in the new Cranberry Cove Mystery from USA Today bestselling author Peg Cochran!

The Fourth of July always means endless celebrations in Cranberry Cove, and this year Monica and Greg have the added pleasure of spending it with Monica’s college roommate, Kelly Cargill. When they join Kelly and her family to watch the fireworks, it’s all very exciting—until the elderly matriarch of the family dies on the spot. Then evidence comes to light that she was poisoned, and Monica promises to do what she can to catch the culprit.

Just about everyone in Kelly’s family wanted to get their hands on what was sure to be a sizable inheritance. But Monica also discovers that one of them was trying to hide a messy love affair the older woman had discovered, and that the victim’s caretaker may have wanted revenge for enduring years of mistreatment. And just as more secrets surface and the clues begin to fall into place, Monica realizes that as she’s closing in on the killer, the killer is closing in on her . . .

Includes a mouthwatering cookie recipe!

My Thoughts

Berried Grievances by Peg Cochran takes us back to Cranberry Cove where Monica is nine months pregnant when it is so very hot.  Everyone keeps asking Monica when her baby will arrive, which she found annoying, and I did as well.  Monica is not Kreskin.  Greg is so sweet and supportive.  He cooks, takes Monica out to eat, and works at his bookstore.  I did wonder about Greg attending an estate sale on a Friday evening.  I have never seen a yard or estate sale in the evening (just seemed like an odd detail).   The mystery was uncomplicated.  A relative of Monica’s college roommate dies during the Fourth of July fireworks.  The family is stuck in town until the crime is solved.  When Kelly, Monica’s friend and former college roommate, asks her to look into the crime, Monica cannot say no (you know she is dying to dive into the case).  Monica asks questions, manages to overhear a conversation or two, and happens upon a juicy tidbit.  Each new detail helps Monica get closer to identifying the killer.  There is a suspenseful reveal and good wrap up at the end.   It seemed unfathomable that Monica would do some of the things she did while in her condition. 

The story moved at a relaxed pace.   We get to follow Monica as she goes about her daily life (over a two-week period).  There is plenty of cooking, eating, and relaxing.  We get to catch up with Mittens and Hercules.  I can tell that the author has pets from her descriptions of the animal’s behavior.  I was extremely disappointed with the ending. I was surprised that the author ended the story without providing two important details (she should have revealed at least one).  Berried Grievances is not my favorite story in A Cranberry Cove Mysteries (as you can tell).  Berried Grievances can be read as a standalone for those new to the series as the author provided the needed background information. Berried Grievances is a relaxed cozy mystery with a creative cranberry cookie, sweltering temperatures, a murdered grandmother, a belated baby, an absent tome, and a surprising solution. 

Berried Grievances is available from Amazon*.  You can find the other seven A Cranberry Cove Mysteries here.  You can find Peg Cochran's other novels here.  Thank you for stopping by today.  Tomorrow I am sharing my thoughts on Read to Death at the Lakeside Library by Holly Danvers.  It is the third A Lakeside Library Mystery.  I am off to work in my bedroom.  My room along with my closet is a disorganized mess.  I am trying to do a little bit each day (I will be glad when it is orderly).  The heat and humidity have caused fibromyalgia flare ups which means I get less done each day (increased pain and tiredness). I will be glad when fall weather arrives.  I hope that you have an upbeat day.  Take care, stay cool, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.