An Amish Heirloom: Four Amish Novellas

Happy Book Release Day!  A few of the books out today are The Weaver's Daughter by Sarah E. Ladd, Lord of the Pies by Nell Hampton, A Death of No Importance by Mariah Fredericks, The Shadow of Death by Jane Willan, and An Amish Heirloom by Amy Clipston, Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller and Kelly Irvin.  

An Amish Heirloom contains four novellas by Amy Clipston, Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller and Kelly Irvin.  Legacy of Love by Amy Clipston involves Leon King, a local volunteer fire fighter and carpenter.  Susie Bontrager, Leon’s ex-girlfriend, is getting married to Josh Chupp and she wants her grandmother’s rocking chairs repaired for her new home.  Leon agrees to restore them for Susie.  Susie stops by Lancaster Furniture Sales and Repair each week to check up on the rocking chairs and old feelings begin to resurface for each of them.  Leon regrets letting Susie get away, but he does not want to come between her and Josh.  Meanwhile, Susie recognizes that she agreed to marry Josh for the wrong reasons.  Will the rocking chairs bring Leon and Susie back together?

Beth Wiseman wrote The Cedar Chest which features Emma Fisher and her daughter, Catherine.  Emma knows something is bothering Catherine, but she cannot get her daughter to confide in her.  They are in the basement and find the cedar chest that belonged to Emma’s great grandmother which has been unopened since her death.  Inside are letters written by her great grandparents.  They tell the story of how they came to be together.  Emma and Catherine decide to read the letters together.  Emma is hoping it will allow time for Catherine to open up to her.  She is unprepared for the secrets that come to light when they read the letters. 

The Treasured Book by Kathleen Fuller takes us to Birch Creek, Ohio.  Lucy Fisher has traveled to Birch Creek to assist Cevilla Schlabach while she recovers from a sprained ankle.  Lucy is surprised when she is picked up at the bus station by Shane Broyles who is staying with Noah Schlabach and his wife, Ivy.  Lucy and her father had helped Shane renovate a home in Iowa.  Lucy carries the miniature Bible that Shane gave her and has been careful not to reveal to Shane how much she cares for him.  Shane is considering joining the Amish faith and is using his time in Birch Creek to decide.  Cevilla wants Lucy to use her time in Birch Creek to build a life for herself and away from her parents.  Shane and Lucy spend time together and are becoming closer.  Then Shane’s ex-fiancé arrives in town and wants him back.

The Midwife’s Dream by Kelly Irvin is set in Jamesport, Missouri.  Iris Beachy twenty-three years old and is the midwife for her community.  Her dream is to have a family of her own, but she is still in love with man who is married to someone else.  Mahon Kurtz seeks her help with delivering the baby of a teenage Englischer.  Jessica and her boyfriend, Quinn are traveling to Texas and are unprepared when she goes into labor early.  Iris brings them home and delivers their little girl, Lily Marie.  The next morning Iris finds the two teenagers gone, but they left the baby behind wrapped in a beautiful quilt similar to one Iris will inherit when she becomes a mother.  Mahon is able to provide sketches of the two teenagers which they use to trace their movements around town. Iris had always considered Mahon her best friends’ older brother, but, as she spends time with him, she sees him in a different light.  Mahon has been in love with Iris for years and has just been waiting for her to get over her prior love. 

An Amish Heirloom contains four heartwarming stories that captured and held my attention.  Each story has great characters and beautiful settings.  I like how each story has an antique item that helps bring the couples together.  A handmade quilt, love letters, a miniature Bible and antique rockers are the four items that help unite these four couples.   The novellas are well-written and have an easy pace.  It is nice to take a break from a full-length book and read these shorter wholesome tales.  The authors did a wonderful job at interlacing the Christian elements into their stories.  In God’s timing, having faith, the power of prayer, and family values are some of the Christian themes.   It was delightful to revisit Cevilla Schlabach.  She is an entertaining, eccentric character and provides levity to The Treasured Book.  I hope Kathleen Fuller will feature Cevilla in future books.  In Amy Clipston’s Legacy of Love, I appreciate her featuring Amish volunteer firefighters.  Local fire departments in many areas rely on volunteer fire fighter’s, and I did not know that Amish volunteered for this service.  Four wholesome, heartfelt novellas from four seasoned Amish writers.  Settle into a comfy chair, relax and escape into An Amish Heirloom--a wonderful way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Thank you for visiting and reading my review.  Amy Clipston's next novel is Room on the Porch Swing which will be published on May 8, 2018.  I will return on Wednesday with my review of Lord of the Pies by Nell Hampton.  I hope you find a book that draws you in and does not let you go until the very last word.  They are the best type of books.  Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

The Weaver's Daughter by Sarah E. Ladd

Welcome!  Murder at the Mushroom Festival by Janet Finsilver and The War Nurses by Lizzie Page will be released on April 17.  I am featuring Sarah E. Ladd today.  She is the author of A Stranger at Fellsworth, The Curiosity Keeper, Dawn at Emberwilde, A Lady at Willowgrove Hall, The Headmistress of Rosemere and The Heiress of Winterwood.  Readers can follow Ms. Ladd on Amazon, Twitter, Facebook, and Bookbub.  

The Weaver’s Daughter by Sarah E.Ladd sweeps readers back in time to January of 1812 in Amberdale, West Riding Yorkshire, England.  Kate Dearborne lives with her father at Meadowvale Cottage and helps him with the weaving business. She is shocked when she learns her father has no intention of leaving her the business.  Silas Dearborne wishes her to marry a John Whitby, a weaver who will run the business while Kate tends to the home (she is allowed to supervise the dye house).  Silas clings to the old ways along with other men in the area, but the mill owners are bringing change to the industry with machines.  The issue has divided the town, and, in Leeds, the mills have been attacked.  Henry Stockton, heir to the Stockton Mill, returns home after fighting in the Iberian Peninsula for the last three years.  On his way home, he encounters Kate and she captures his interest.  Henry is surprised at the changes that have taken place during his absence and does not agree with all of them.  Henry does, though, feel that the machines are needed especially if they are to keep up with the demand for their goods.  Then tragedy strikes the Stockton family and Henry will face major challenges.  Fate keeps bringing Kate and Henry together despite their being on opposing sides.  Soon Kate will need to make a choice that will change many lives including her own.  What will happen to the weavers of Amberdale?  Is there a chance for Henry and Kate?

I like how the author introduced three of the characters in the prologue of The Weaver’s Daughter.  We get a glimpse of their personalities and it sets the stage for the future.  The book is well-written, has a gentle pace and multifaceted.  Sarah E. Ladd has a descriptive writing style.  She creates a rich environment with her words.  I could picture the village with the cottages and businesses as well as the people moving about on foot and in their conveyances.  In the description of the mill, I could visualize the people working to create the finished cloth.  The whole weaving industry was changing, and it was just the beginning.  A process that used to be completed by hand was now being taken over by machines.  However, the machines were far from perfect.  They still needed to be monitored and many workers received debilitating injuries.  It was deplorable that children worked in the mills, but it was a fact of life.  This circumstance would not change for another hundred years (longer in the United States).  The author did a remarkable job at weaving the history into The Weaver’s Daughter.  The characters are well-developed, complex and realistic. The romance between Henry and Kate builds throughout the novel.  They slowly get to know each other and do not rush the relationship.  They know that they cannot think only of themselves.  The Christian element is light and handled deftly.  The mystery was well crafted (many will be surprised by the culprit’s identity).  The Weaver’s Daughter is filled with tension, love, suspicion, heartbreak, loyalty, drama, and conflict.  For readers who enjoy the Regency period, you will not want to miss The Weaver’s Daughter.

Thank you for visiting today.  I will return tomorrow with my review of An Amish Heirloom by Amy Clipston, Kathleen Fuller, Beth Wiseman and Kelly Irvin.  I am off to install a new outside light fixture outside.  The backyard light stopped working recently, so I decided to update all the fixtures.  The next big project is to paint the house (it will take me weeks).  First, though, we have to decide on a paint color.  I hope you have a merry day.  Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

A Borrowed Dream: Cimarron Creek Trilogy

Greetings!  A Charming Corpse by Tonya Kappes will be released on April 20.  It is the eleventh book in A Magical Cures Mystery series.  The Amish Teacher's Gift by Rachel J. Good and Expiration Date by Devon Delaney are coming out on April 24.

A Borrowed Dream by Amanda Cabot is the second novel in Cimarron Creek Trilogy.  Catherine Whitfield is the schoolteacher in Cimarron Creek and lives alone since her mother passed away.  Catherine has a strong dislike of physician’s courtesy of the local doctors archaic practice of bleeding, purging and blistering which hastened her mother’s demise.  Catherine has a chance to marry, but she does not want to be a person’s second choice.  Austin Goodard is the new widower in town with a young daughter, Hannah.  He has traveled across the country to hide from Sherman Enright.  Sherman is a dangerous criminal who wants Austin to use his surgical skills in a way that goes against Austin’s values.  Unfortunately, Sherman is not one to take no for an answer.  Austin has bought a ranch and is keeping his medical background under wraps.  Catherine and Austin are brought together in their desire to help Hannah, who has become withdrawn and quiet, and assist Seth Dalton.  Seth has an abusive, slave driver for a father and natural artistic skill.  Austin is falling for the schoolteacher, but she is unaware of his secret. In order for Austin to have the future he envisions with Catherine, he will have to deal with Sherman Enright. 

A Borrowed Dream is well-written, has a steady pace and delightful characters.  The characters are well-developed and, most of them, are warm caring people that you would want as friends. Sherman Enright and his minions along with Seth’s father provide a counterpoint to Austin and Catherine. There are smooth transitions as the story goes from one scene to the next.  Amanda Cabot has a fluid writing style that gives readers an engaging novel.  It is a multi-layered story (which I loved) filled with suspense, mystery, history and romance.  I had no idea there were plastic surgeons that far back in history.  The author included some research information at the end of the book that propelled me into finding out more about the profession (it is fascinating). The Christian element is present and is gently woven into the story (forgiveness, prayer, having faith, trust, helping others and letting God show you the way).  It is done with a light touch. A Borrowed Dream can be read alone.  The characters from A Stolen Heart are in A Borrowed Dream, and it is nice to catch up with them.  Grace Sims is a character introduced in the story (Catherine takes her in), and I hope we get to find out more about Grace in the next book in the trilogy.  A Borrowed Dream is a heartwarming and charming story that will delight those who read it.

I sincerely hope that you have a beautiful day.  Make sure to take time out to relax and do something that you enjoy (makes you happy).  I will be featuring The Weaver's Daughter by Sarah E. Ladd on Monday.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

The Bengal Identity: A Cat Groomer Mystery

Welcome!  Flowers and Foul Play by Amanda Flower will be released on May 8 along with Room on the Porch Swing by Amy Clipston.  The Vampire's Last Dance by Deanna Chase is now available.  The first book in Witch Island Bride's series.  By the way, have you followed my blog yet?  If not, please consider clicking the button at top right (I added it recently).

The Bengal Identity by Eileen Watkins is the second book in A Cat Groomer Mystery series.  Cassie McGlone owns Cassie’s Comfy Cats in Chadwick, New Jersey.  A man arrives at the shop wishing to board his cat, Ayesha with Cassie because his home burned the previous night.  Even though he cannot provide identification or veterinary records, Cassie agrees to board Ayesha.  When putting the cat in her cage, Cassie notices something sticky on her coat.  A bath shows that Ayesha has been dyed to cover up her beautiful spots (rosettes).  It seems that someone has also removed the cat’s chip.  A consultation with Dr. Mark Coccia, the local veterinarian and Cassie’s boyfriend, reveals that Ayesha is a rare Bengal which is quite valuable.  While watching television, Cassie sees a report of a hit-and-run accident that killed a man who had no identification.  The sketch revels it to be the same man who dropped off Ayesha.  Cassie contacts Detective Angela Bonelli and starts searching for Ayesha’s owner.  At the same time, there are sighting of a large cat on Rattlesnake Ridge.  Is there a connection between the wild cat and Ayesha?  Then someone tries to break into Cassie’s Comfy Cats.  Someone wants Ayesha and Cassie is determined to find the cat napper.  Join Cassie on her latest hair-raising adventure in The Bengal Identity.

The Bengal Identity can be read alone.  Everything a reader needs to know is included.  I found The Bengal Identity easy to read with a steady pace.  The author’s writing style is straightforward, and it is obvious that that Eileen Watkins is knowledgeable about cats.  She presents some interesting information on Bengal’s in this book.  I had to laugh when Ayesha’s caterwauling was described.  I knew immediately what the problem was and waited to see when Cassie would figure it out.  The author accurately described the sound a female cat makes when in heat.  Ayesha and the other cats in the book are the primary focus of The Bengal Identity.  I love the description of Cassie’s Comfy Cats.  The cats that stay there have deluxe quarters and plenty of places to roam and explore (gave me some ideas to use in my cat’s rooms).  The mystery is uncomplicated.  The solution can easily be discerned along the reason.  Cassie devoted her time to looking for Ayesha’s owner.  Solving the murder was just a bonus.  My rating for The Bengal Identity is 3 out of 5 stars.  The Bengal Identity is a light, cozy mystery that will appeal to feline lovers.  The next installment A Cat Groomer mystery series is Feral Attraction (September 25--the cover will have you chuckling).  The Persian Always Meows Twice is the first book in the series.

I appreciate you visiting today.  I will be sharing my review of A Borrowed Dream by Amanda Cabot tomorrow.  The second novel in Cimarron Creek Trilogy.  I hope you have a very special day.  Take care of yourself and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

A Breath of Hope: Under Northern Skies

Welcome!  Bleeding Tarts by Kirsten Weiss comes out on April 24 along with Murder in the Locked Library by Ellery Adams (I cannot wait for this one).  Did you know that Berried at Sea by Peg Cochran is out?  It is the fourth book in A Cranberry Cove Mystery series.

A Breath of Hope by Lauraine Snelling is the second novel in Under Northern Skies series.  Nilda Carlson, Rune’s sister, wants to leave Norway and go to America.  She is thrilled when a letter arrives from Einar Strand in America offering to pay for her passage.  Nilda’s parents, though, will not allow her to travel alone.  Ivar, her brother, will accompany her but he does not want to be beholden to Einar for his passage.  Nilda must wait while the family earns enough money to pay for Ivar’s passage.  Nilda and Ivar finally arrive in Benson’s Corner, Minnesota and are happy to be reunited with Rune and Signe.  They are unprepared for Einar’s rudeness (he is bitter and mean) and determination to clear the trees from his property.  Gerd is recovering nicely from her illness, and she enjoys spending time with little Kirstin.  When Rune is not clearing trees for Einar, he and his sons are busy digging the cellar for the families’ new home.  The Carlson’s have enjoyed getting to know the people of Benson’s Corner.  They were unsure of how people would treat them because of Einar.  Einar has alienated every person in the small town, but the Carlson’s have not been able to get the full story behind his misdeeds.  An accident lays up one of the men and the others will have to continue without him.  Pick up a copy of A Breath of Hope and read this heartwarming family saga to discover what happens next.

I thought A Breath of Hope was well-written and an engaging novel.  I opened the book and was immediately drawn into the story.  A Breath of Hope held my attention until I read the very last word (I rarely find books like this).  The book has well-developed characters that I wish were my neighbors and friends (except Einar).  We get to see how immigrants struggled to start their farms.  They had to work to earn money food and the supplies needed to build their home.  The trees had to be felled to plant crops and erect their homes and barns.  They would have to fight the land and animals to survive.  One bad crop and they could be ruined.  It was important to have family and friends that they could rely on for help as well as comfort, friendship, and fellowship.  This is all represented in A Breath of Hope.  Lauraine Snelling has a conversational writing style that makes the story easy to read and savor.  Christian values are represented in the book.  Turning the other cheek, prayer, faith, following the path God has laid out for an individual and forgiveness are some of the Christian themes in A Breath of Hope.  Forgiving someone can be very difficult especially when they continue to wrong you. It is one thing to say you forgive an individual and another to forgive them in your heart.  A Breath of Hope is not a standalone novel.  You need to read The Promise of Dawn before embarking on A Breath of Hope.  I am rating A Breath of Hope 5 out of 5 stars (I loved it).  I am looking forward to finding out what happens next with the Carlson family.  My only complaint is that I now must wait a year for another installment in Under Northern Skies series which will be A Season of Grace.

If you like contemporary Christian novels, I want to recommend Lauraine Snelling's The Healing Quilt.  It is a special novel.  Tomorrow I will be sharing my thoughts on The Bengal Identity by Eileen Watkins.  May you have a merry day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Murder, She Knit: A Knit and Nibble Mystery

Good Day!  A Daughter's Courge by Kitty Neale is out today.  Fiction Can Be Murder by Becky Clark will be released on April 8.  The Weaver's Daughter by Sarah Ladd will come out on April 10 along with An Amish Heirloom by Amy Clipston, Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller and Kelly Irvin.

Murder, She Knit by Peggy Ehrhart is the first story in A Knit and Nibble Mystery series.  Pamela Patterson is a widow who lives in Arborville, New Jersey.  Pamela is associate editor of Fiber Craft magazine and is the founder of the Knit and Nibble knitting club.  On her way to the co-op grocery store, Pamela runs into Amy Morgan who has just moved to town.  Pamela has not seen Amy in five years.  She invites Amy to the Knit and Nibble meeting that will be held at her house.  Unfortunately, Amy fails to show up for the meeting.  After everyone has departed, Pamela finds Amy dead in the bushes with a metal knitting needle sticking out of her chest.  Pamela notices that Amy’s knitting bag is missing.  Who killed Amy and why?  Pamela believes that the police do not always ask the right questions and decides to conduct her own investigation.  While walking home from the market, Pamela finds a woman dead behind Amy’s apartment building.  Are the two deaths connected?  Pamela and her friend, Bettina set out to unravel the clues and hook the killer in Murder, She Knit.

Murder, She Knit is a cute cozy mystery.  The book is nicely written and, for the most part, has good pacing.  I do wish that the author had taken the time to establish the characters.  I would have liked more detail on Pamela and the town.  I liked the knitting theme and the beautiful yarn descriptions.  The author mentions a knitting harness that allows knitters to knit with one hand (I am looking that one up).  The mystery is straightforward.  There is some misdirection and the author provided good clues that will aid readers in solving the crime.  I kept hoping for more action (anything besides questioning and speculation).  Pamela’s method of questioning leaves a lot to be desired.  The police are in the periphery in the book (practically nonexistent).  I felt that many of the scenes felt contrived (farfetched).  The members of the knitting group attend the funeral of a woman they had never met (because she was about to join their group—would you take off work) and she happens to see a man wearing argyle socks that match one’s the victim knitted are just two examples.   I also did not understand Pamela talking with a reporter after finding Amy’s body (come on into my kitchen and let’s chat).  There is a lot of time spent shopping, knitting, cooking, chatting, and taking care of the stray cat.  The series has potential, and I am hoping for improvement in Died in the Wool (out on August 28, 2018).  My rating for Murder, She Knit is 3 out of 5 stars.  There is a recipe for Autumn Apple Cake at the end of the book.

I appreciate you visiting today and reading my review.  I will be featuring A Breath of Hope by Lauraine Snelling.  It is the second book in Under Northern Skies series.   I hope you return to see what I have to say about this new Christian, historical novel.  May you have a day filled with laughter.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader   

The Shipyard Girls in Love: The Shipyard Girls Series

Welcome!  Nancy Revell is the author of The Shipyard Girls Series which includes The Shipyard Girls, Shipyard Girls at War, Secrets of the Shipyard Girls, and Shipyard Girls in Love.  Nancy Revell is the pen name for writer and journalist Amanda Revell Walton.  Nancy lives in Sunderland (setting of The Shipyard Girls Series) with her husband and dog, Rosie. Readers can follow Nancy Revell on Twitter (@arevellwalton), Facebook, Bookbub, Amazon and Goodreads.  

Shipyard Girls in Love by Nancy Revell is the fourth book in The Shipyard Girls Series.  We return to Sunderland, England in 1941 where Gloria, Rosie, Hannah, Martha, Angie, Dorothy, and Polly work at J.L. Thompson & Sons Shipyard.  All the ladies except Hannah work as welders which before the war was a male only occupation.  It is a beautiful Saturday in November, and Gloria Armstrong is having her daughter, Hope christened.  Gloria is shocked when Jack Crawford arrives at the church with Arthur for the christening. Jack is suffering from retrograde amnesia.  Gloria is filled with hope that Jack’s memory might be returning.  It will not be easy, though, for these star-crossed lovers.  Jack’s wife, Miriam is not about to let herself be humiliated with Jack leaving her for someone like Gloria.  Then there is the matter of Vinnie Armstrong, Gloria’s violent husband.  Gloria’s divorce is progressing, but it is not final.  Vinnie has yet to see Hope and does not know that she is not his biological daughter.  If Vinnie discovers the truth, there is no telling what he will do to Gloria.  Rosie is head over heels in love with DS Peter Miller, but her business venture goes against his beliefs and the law.  Lily, Rosie’s business partner, wants Rosie to be happy, but she also does not wish to go to jail.  Every person has a secret or two that they hope will never be uncovered.  What happens when those secrets are brought into the light.   Rejoin the ladies in Sunderland to see how they are faring in Shipyard Girls in Love.

I thought Shipyard Girls in Love to be well-written and have a gentle pace that suits the story.  The books in The Shipyard Girls Series are best read in order.  Each book builds upon the previous one.  I just love the characters in this series. They are such a diverse group of women.  With the men off fighting the war, these women have been hired to do a labor-intensive job.  They are welders (except Hannah) who work long, backbreaking hours working to build ships to aid the war.  The co-workers became friends and now they are a family.  These women will do anything for each other.  While Shipyard Girls in Love focuses on Rosie and Gloria, we still get to catch up with the other ladies and their families (Bel and Joe, Maisie, Lily and George, Arthur, Tommy).  The book takes place from November 1941 through the beginning of January 1942.  The United States enters the war after Pearl Harbor is attacked.  The story touches on what is happening to Hannah’s parents who are Jews still in German occupied Czechoslovakia.  Kate opens Maison Nouvelle, but then someone from her past pays a visit.  Shipyard Girls in Love will take you through the gamut of emotions as you progress through the book.  I cannot wait to find out what happens next in Victory for the Shipyard Girls when it comes out September.

During World War II seven hundred women worked in the Sunderland shipyards.  Thank you for stopping by and reading my review.  I will return tomorrow with my thoughts on Murder, She Knit by Peggy Ehrhart.  I am off to wrangle Doozy (one of my dogs) into the tub. Wish me luck (he is wiley).  May you have a day full of happiness.  Take care of yourself and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Wedding Cake Crumble: A Cupcake Bakery Mystery

Happy Book Release Day!  Lost Books and Old Bones by Paige Shelton, A Breath of Hope by Lauraine Snelling, School for Psychics by K.C. Archer, Tart of Darkness by Denise Swanson, Full Moons, Dunes and Macaroons by Erin Johnson, Death by Sea by Kathleen Bridge, The Road Home by Beverly Lewis, Cinco de Murder by Rebecca Adler and Wedding Cake Crumble by Jenn McKinlay are some of the delightful novels that are now available. 

Wedding Cake Crumble by Jenn McKinlay is the tenth book in A Cupcake Bakery Mystery series.  Angie DeLaura is marrying Tate Harper in just one week.  Angie and Mel have left Fairy Tale Cupcakes in the capable hands of Oz and Marty while they head out to issue payment to wedding vendors.  After visiting the florist, they head to Blaise Ione’s studio, the wedding photographer and old friend of Tate’s.  They find Blaise sitting at his desk with a camera strap twisted about his neck.  Later that day, they discover that the driver Angie hired was found bludgeoned to death.  Is someone trying to sabotage Angie and Tate’s wedding?  To keep their minds and hands occupied, they agree to provide five hundred cupcakes for a book signing Cassie Leighton of A Likely Story is hosting the next day.  The event is for the release of Elise Penworthy’s The Palms which has many people up in arms.  It turns out that Cassie needed a new baker because the one she hired had been murdered.  It seems that Cassie had hired the same photographer and driver for Elise that Angie was using for the wedding.  Mel and Angie rush off to find Elise, but they are too late.  Elise has been stabbed in the back with her own pen (ouch).  Cassie ends up arrested.  Angie and Mel know she did not kill anyone and set out to find the guilty party.  The suspect list for those who disliked Elise is quite lengthy thanks to her book.  Can the cupcake ladies find the killer before the wedding march begins?

Wedding Cake Crumble is not a standalone novel.  You need to read the other books in the series prior to picking up Wedding Cake Crumble.  I thought the book was well-written and had a nice, steady pace.  Jenn McKinlay has a writing style that draws the reader in and keeps their attention.  The characters are well-developed and relatable.  There is a nice mix of personalities and Angie’s brothers will have you in stitches.  Marty is a unique character that has issues with his daughters and his girlfriend, Olivia Puckett.  I was happy to see him stand up for himself (finally).  Oz has come such a long way.  From the descriptions provided, the cupcake tower he made for the wedding was beautiful (the color scheme for the wedding was aqua and pewter).   My favorite character was Peanut, Elise Penworthy’s puppy (he stole the show).  His hijinks will have you laughing out loud.  Peanut and Captain Jack are adorable together.  The mystery was not complicated (unfortunately).  Identifying the guilty party was child’s play.  I thought it was clever how the author managed to work in a mention of an incident from the of A Hat Shop Mystery series.  There are plenty of cozy moments in Wedding Cake Crumble with the family and friends coming together for Angie and Tate’s wedding.  I am looking forward to Joe and Mel’s upcoming nuptials now that they have set a date.  I am giving Wedding Cake Crumble 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it).  Jenn McKinlay has provided readers with an entertaining cozy mystery that they will delight in devouring as quickly as possible.

Thank you for reading my latest review.  On April 4, I will be featuring Shipyard Girls in Love by Nancy Revell.  I hope you will visit and see what I had to say about this historical novel.  I hope you find some new books to add to your TBR pile (I believe mine could fill a room or two).  Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

Tart of Darkness: Chef-to-Go Mysteries

Greetings!  I hope everyone had a delightful Easter weekend and you are not suffering from a sugar hangover.  Murder in the Locked Library by Ellery Adams will be released on April 24.  It is the fourth novel in A Book Retreat Mystery series.  Fiction Can Be Murder by Becky Clark will be published on April 8.

Tart of Darkness by Denise Swanson is the first book in Chef-to-Go Mysteries.  Danielle “Dani” Sloan has quit her job at Homestead Insurance and given her cheating boyfriend the heave ho.  While deciding what to do next, she been cooking for the college girls down the hall and vegging out on the couch watching cooking shows.  Then a letter arrives stating she inherited a nearby Victorian mansion that has been remodeled for a bed and breakfast with a fabulous kitchen.  This is the perfect opportunity for Dani to pursue her passion—cooking.  She opens Chef-to-Go which provides catering for events, personal chef services and ready-to-go lunches for college students.  Dani also ends up with three college student tenants (the ladies she cooked for in her old building).  Dani is hired to cater spoiled rich girl Regina Bourne’s Summer Palooza.  The event goes off without a hitch until a drunk guest sets fire to the dessert table and Regina has a hissy fit.  Dani is surprised when Detective Mikeloff arrives at her home stating Regina was found dead by her pool surrounded by Dani’s desserts.  The detective has it out for Dani.  Dani needs to clear her name before she ends up as chef for the local penitentiary.

I like the premise of Tart of Darkness.  It is set in a college town (provides a variety of victims) where Dani inherited a large Victorian home with a gourmet kitchen.  I thought it was a clever idea to provide ready-to-go lunches for college students.  Dani is a character who keeps trying to please her father and fails (has an inferiority complex).  Additional characters are the three female college students living with Dani (Tippi, Starr and Ivy) along with Spencer Drake (Ivy’s uncle and love interest for Dani).  The attraction between Dani and Spencer is “instant” (of course).  Readers gets detailed descriptions of Spencer’s physique and what Spencer thinks about Dani’s attributes (repeated mentions of her heart shaped derriere).  I wish the author had dialed back on the attraction (lust) between Dani and Spencer.  The point of view switches between Dani and Spencer.  I found it disjointed and it lacked an ease (clunky).  The novel would have flowed better if it had been written from Dani’s POV or in the third person (my preference).  Unlike most cozy mysteries, Tart of Darkness contains foul language.  There is a cliché nasty detective and repetitiveness (especially of the phrase “ass hat”).  The authors background in psychology is evident in Tart of Darkness with how Dani listens and dispenses advice (confirming response technique).  There is a lot going on in Tart of Darkness (seems to be a common malady in cozy mysteries that I have read recently).  I did not feel that the ex-boyfriend showing up looking for a book he gave to Dani was needed.  The characters from Denise Swanson’s A Scumble River Mystery series and Welcome Back to Scumble River are mentioned (Wally, Skye) and Frannie Ryan is in the story (she wants to write about the murder—get her big break).  The mystery was clever with a unique murder method.  There are good clues that will aid readers in solving the crime.  I give Tart of Darkness 3 out of 5 stars.   Tart of Darkness will appeal to fans of Denise Swanson and cozy mysteries.   I am curious to see what happens next with Dani Sloan. 

Tart of Darkness will be published on Tuesday, April 3. Thank you for reading my review today.  Tomorrow I will be featuring Wedding Cake Crumble by Jenn McKinlay.  Please follow my blog by clicking on the "Follow" button (upper right--I added it recently).  I hope you have an easy going day. Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

A Mother's Gift: An Amish Novel by Charlotte Hubbard

Happy Easter!  I hope all of you are having a beautiful weekend.  The War Nurses by Lizzie Page will be available on April 17 along with Murder at the Mushroom Festival by Janet Finsilver.  Seashells, Spells and Caramels by Erin Johnson is free today on Amazon.  It is the first book in the Spells and Caramels series and it is a magical and humorous story.  Full Moons, Dunes and Macaroons is the fifth book in the Spells and Caramels series and will be out on April 3.

A Mother’s Gift is the latest novel by Charlotte Hubbard.  Leah Otto is marrying Jude Shetler, but her mother is worried that Leah has not thought it through completely.  Jude has twin daughters who are sixteen and enjoying their rumspringa along with a five-year-old son who misses his mother.  Leah has always preferred working with animals to taking care of a home and feels that Jude is the right man for her.  There is the added benefit of Jude’s mother, Margaret who takes care of the household.  Jeremiah, Jude’s older brother, has his doubts about the match as well and wishes Jude would delay the wedding.  Jude and Leah have no reservations and proceed with their wedding.  Three months pass, and Leah is miserable.  Margaret moved out after the wedding, the twins are making life difficult for Leah, Stevie is still not talking to Leah, and Jude has not been supportive.  Something needs to change if their marriage is to survive.  Then a baby named Betsy is left on their porch with a note asking that they give the baby a loving home.  Leah has no clue on how to care for a baby and is thankful when Lenore, Leah’s mother, comes to assist her.  After a long-needed talk, Jude alters his behavior and begins reigning in the twins.  This is just the beginning for Leah and Jude.  With communication, faith, and love they can have a happy, rich life together that is full of unexpected blessings.  Come along for the journey in A Mother’s Gift.

I found A Mother’s Gift to be well-written in a nice, conversational writing style.  There are a variety of characters in the story with different personalities.  They are realistic in their attitudes and behaviors.  A blended marriage is challenging for all parties and it takes time for people to adjust (come together as a family).  There are good life lessons in the story and we can see that the Amish have the same problems/struggles as Englischers.  It is important not to judge others, the harm that gossip can cause to people, forgiveness of oneself and others, God is in control, the power of prayer and the importance of having a strong faith in God.  God had a plan when he brought Leah and Jude together. My rating for A Mother’s Gift is 4 out of 5 stars.  I do wish the characters had been introduced into the story differently (in the beginning).  A Mother’s Gift is such a lovely, heartwarming story that will take readers on an emotional journey.  

If you enjoy A Mother's Gift, I suggest reading A Mother's Love.  I hope you have a day filled with sweet treats.  I will be back tomorrow with my review of Tart of Darkness by Denise Swanson.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader