A Simple Wish: Simple Gifts (Charlotte Hubbard)

Welcome!  Thread the Halls by Lea Wait will be published on October 31.  It is the sixth book in A Mainely Needlepoint Mystery series.  In This Moment by Karen Kingsbury will be released on November 7.  

A Simple Wish by Charlotte Hubbard is the second book in a Simple Gifts series.  Loretta Riehl is surprised when Will Gingerich expresses his interest in courting her again.  She no longer feels the same way about Will, but she has definite feelings about Drew Detweiler.  Loretta is ready to spread her wings and get out from under her father’s thumb (and away from his moods).  She accepts a position working at Simple Gifts craft shop owned by Nora Hooley.   Nora provides a place for local crafts people to sell their goods and she provides guidance for the women in the community.  Cornelius Riehl is a difficult man to live since the passing of his wife.  Drew cannot help but notice that Cornelius makes numerous buying trips for clock parts.  Drew is curious and sets out to get answers (maybe find out why Cornelius is so stern) with the help of the Hooley’s.  He is hoping to help improve Loretta’s relationship with her father.  But you know what they say about the best of intentions!

A Simple Wish is well-written and pleasurable to read.  It has lovely, well-constructed characters and a beautiful, caring town.  I do not recommend starting with A Simple Wish (you should start with Summer of Secrets).  It would be too confusing for a new reader.  There are numerous characters with convoluted relationships (Simple Gifts series is a spin-off from Seasons of the Heart series).  It is nice to return to Willow Ridge and catch up with these great characters.  There is just the right amount of humor along with compassion, love, caring, hope, suspicion, and worry along with much more.  It showcases real people with complicated relationships and life issues.  My rating for A Simple Wish is 4 out of 5 stars.  There is some predictability to the story (mostly with the romance).  It was nice to see Rebecca find someone to care about in A Simple Wish.   The story talks about forgiveness which is difficult to do as we can see in A Simple Wish.  I look forward to more books in the Simple Gifts series.  The first book in a Simple Gifts series is A Simple Vow.  

I appreciate you visiting today.  If you are a member of Google+, consider adding me to your circle (at right).  I will be sharing my review of Dial Meow for Murder by Bethany Blake next time.  Have a delightful day and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

A Plain Leaving: The Sisters of Lancaster County

Welcome!  I am actually starting to recover from the flu that has plagued me since August (keeping my fingers crossed).  A Dangerous Legacy by Elizabeth Camden came out earlier this month.  If you enjoy historical fiction, you should read this wonderful book (I will be reviewing soon).

A Plain Leaving by Leslie Gould is the first book in The Sisters of Lancaster County series.  Jessica Bachman is at work when she receives a call from her sister, Leisel that their father has passed away.  Jessica left their Amish community three years prior and is shunned (she was baptized when she left).  She returns for the funeral and receives a less than warm welcome from her relatives.  Jessica is filled with mixed feelings upon her return.  She misses her home and family, but Jessica still remembers why she left.  Silas Kemp (courted Jessica for two years) works on the farm and Jessica realizes that her feelings for him have not faded.  At their father’s funeral, Arden (her older brother) has a heart attack.  Jessica is the one person who can keep the farm running while he recovers (and he really does not want to ask for her help).   While on the farm, Jessica spends time with her Aenti Suzanne who shares a special story with her about their ancestor, Ruby Bachman.  When the time comes for Jessica to return to her home, will she want to leave or return to her roots?

A Plain Leaving was such a lovely story.  I was drawn into the book from the very beginning.  The characters are nicely developed.  There are characters that readers will love and there are ones that you will love to hate (Arden, Marie, Bethel).  In the face of such dislike and contempt, it can be hard to turn the other cheek.  A Plain Leaving has a good pace, beautiful setting, and good writing.  Leslie Gould managed to combine the two storylines (Jessica and Ruby’s) into one pleasing book.  Some of the themes in A Plain Leaving are love, hope, forgiveness, foolishness, choices, history, trusting in God and having faith.  I appreciated the growth of the characters in the story.  I am rating A Plain Leaving 5 out of 5 stars (I loved it).   I did not want A Plain Leaving to end.  It is an inspiring story.  I am eager to read the next book in The Sisters of Lancaster County series.  A Simple Singing is the next book in this series and it is scheduled to be released on July 31, 2018.  It tells the story of Marie, Jessica's uptight sister.

I appreciate you taking time out of your day to stop by and read my latest review.  I will return next time with my review of A Simple Wish by Charlotte Hubbard.  May you have a exceptional day.  Take care, think positive thoughts and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

This Side of Murder: A Verity Kent Mystery

I hope everyone is having a nice, relaxing Saturday. Slay Bells Ring by Karen Rose Smith will be published on October 31.  It is the seventh book in A Caprice Deluca Mystery series.  Anna Lee Huber is the author of A Lady Darby Mystery series and now A Verity Kent Mystery series.  

This Side of Murder by Anna Lee Huber is the first book in A Verity Kent Mystery series.  Verity is a widow who has been invited to the engagement party of Walter Ponsonby and Helen Crawford.  Verity's husband, Sidney was comrades with Walter.  Verity was not going to attend the weekend event, but then she received a suspicious note regarding Sidney.  Along the way Verity meets Max Westfield, Earl of Ryde who also served with Sidney.  Right away Verity can tell there is tension among the men at the party.  The group finds themselves stranded on Umbersea Island with the men getting picked off one by one.  Why is someone targeting these ex-soldiers?  Verity with Max's assistance sets out to get answers, but she is in for a big surprise.

This Side of Murder has a slow pace (glacial) that makes the story seem twice as long (the author tends to be elaborate on tiny details).  The same details are rehashed throughout the book.  Too much time is devoted to Verity contemplating the case (analyzing, thinking) and talking about it with others.  There is little actual investigation.  The pace picks up in the last 12% of the book.  Verity was lackluster.   She misses her husband (understandably), but she is flirting with Max at the party.  I did tire of the many mentions of Sidney.  She had potential to be dynamic (charismatic), but it was not realized (had potential to be similar to Miss Phryne Fisher).  The mystery was slightly complicated, but the culprits were not hard to discern.  The “twist” was expected.  I am giving This Side of Murder 3 out of 5 stars.   Ms. Huber did a great job at capturing the time period as well as what people were thinking and feeling after the war.  People had a hard time after World War I, dealing with the loss of life (loneliness) and women were finding themselves at a loss after all the action (work).  Women were allowed to take on new roles during the war and men expected them to go back to them (home, cooking, cleaning, having children) after the war.  The descriptions about ciphers (prevalent throughout the book), though, will have some readers screaming with frustration and boredom (it was interesting, but tedious at the same time).  I hope Ms. Huber will up her game in the next A Verity Kent Mystery.

I appreciate you stopping by today.  I will be featuring A Plain Leaving by Leslie Gould on Sunday.  It is the first book in The Sisters of Lancaster County series.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Mining for Justice: A Chloe Ellefson Mystery

Welcome!  Seashells, Spells and Caramels by Erin Johnson is the first book in Spells and Caramels series.  The author states it will be available on October 29 on Amazon.  It is an entertaining story (I will provide my full review soon).

Mining for Justice by Kathleen Ernst is the eighth book in A Chloe Ellefson Mystery series.  Chloe Ellefson is off to spend a week at Pendarvis, a historic site in Mineral Point, Wisconsin.  First, though, Chloe and her boyfriend, Roelke McKenna will be assisting Adam Bolitho with some work on Chy Looan (Bolitho family cottage in Mineral Point).  Adam and Roelke are excavating the old root cellar when they discover the skeleton with a bashed in skull.  Chloe agrees to look into the victim’s identity using the records at Pendarvis.  It looks like her week at Pendarvis will not be as pleasant as she hoped when an article appears in the local paper about the possible closing of the historic site for lack of funds thanks to Old World Wisconsin where Chloe works as a curator.  One morning, Chloe enters Polperro House looking for her Pendarvis counterpart, Claudia and discovers the body of Dr. Yvonne Miller at the foot of the stairs.  Now she has two mysteries to resolve before heading back home at the end of the week.  Can Chloe discover the identity of the bones that were Adam’s root cellar?  Who wanted Dr. Miller dead and why? 

Mining for Justice can be read alone.  Everything the reader needs to know is included in the book.  I found the characters to be nicely developed and just right for this series.  I kept forgetting is the story is set during 1983.  Every time that Chloe needed a phone, I kept wondering why she did not use her cell phone.  I can tell that Ms. Ernst did her research for this novel and the series.  I liked finding out more about the history of Cornish miners after they came to the United States.  Part of the story takes readers back in time (starting in 1827) to discover how the body ended up in the root cellar.   There is quite a bit of action in the story.  We have what I summarized above along with Roelke dealing with his sister, Libby’s abusive ex-husband, a possible promotion/training for Roelke, and Roelke dealing with a drug investigation (Roelke is a police officer).  The novel has a slower pace, but it is due to the details that enrich the story.  I am giving Mining for Justice 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it).  The identity of Dr. Miller’s murderer can be ferreted out before the reveal along with who did in the boney remains.  While I do not like murders to occur early in the book, I felt that at 42% it was a little late in the story.  Overall, Mining for Justice is an entertaining cozy mystery and I look forward to reading more books in A Chloe Ellefson Mystery series.

Thank you for reading my review today.  Tomorrow I will share my thoughts on This Side of Murder by Anna Lee Huber.   Until then, I hope that you have a special day and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

The Persian Always Meows Twice: A Cat Groomer Mystery

I hope everyone is having a lovely week.  Broken Bones by Angela Marsons will be published on November 3.  It is the seventh book in the D.I. Kim Stone series.  Each book in this suspense/thriller series is better than the last.

The Persian Always Meows Twice by Eileen Watkins is the first book in the new series A Cat Groomer Mystery.  Cassie McGlone has opened Cassie’s Comfy Cats in Chadwick, New Jersey.  Cassie is off to her biweekly appointment at George DeLeuw’s house to groom his Persian cat, Harpo.  She arrives and finds Harpo outside and the front door ajar (you know where this is leading).  She follows Harpo to George’s study where she finds him dead from obvious blunt force trauma.  Detective Angela Bonnell of the Chadwick PD is assigned the case.  With herself and Nick Janos’ son (Cassie’s handyman) suspect in the murder, Cassie starts investigating.  Unfortunately, no one is giving her bupkis. Then Cassie becomes the temporary guardian of Harpo and someone is determined to get their paws on George’s confidant.  Did George’s high standards get him killed?  And why is everyone after Harpo?

The Persian Always Meows Twice is nicely written.  The author has an easy writing style which makes for a pleasant paced story.  There is just the right amount and type of humor.  I found the characters to be nicely developed (especially for the first book in the series).  Cassie is a smart, personable and caring woman with her own business (hooray).  I also think she is brave since she bathes cats (not an easy task unless the cat has been bathed since it was a kitten).  Cassie’s business sounds like a lovely place for cats.  My cats would love the perches in her place.  I thought it was funny that Cassie is not willing to let cats sleep in her bed (that is one of the best benefits unless they commandeer your pillow), but she does allow a cat on her table (while she eats).   My rating for The Persian Always Meows Twice is 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it).  The only disappointment was the mystery—it was light.  I wish the author had made it more complicated or added in a good twist to surprise me.  The killer’s identity is not a puzzler.  I was happy with the investigation and the amount of action.    I like that Cassie worked with the police to help solve the crime (and that the detective did not constantly tell Cassie to stay out of the investigation).  I will definitely be reading the next book which is The Bengal Identity.

I appreciate you visiting today!  I will return tomorrow with my review of Mining for Justice by Kathleen Ernst.  May you have a splendid day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

A Christmas Peril: A Theater Cop Mystery

Thank you for visiting today.  On October 31 Crazy Like a Fox by Rita Mae Brown will be published along with Knit to Kill by Anne Canadeo.  The Murderess by Jennifer Wells will be released on November 1.  Potions and Pastries by Bailey Cates will be out on November 7.  So many delightful new books to purchase and devour.

A Christmas Peril by J.A. Hennrikus is the first story in A Theater Cop Mystery series.  Edwina “Sully” Sullivan has been the general manager of the Cliffside Theater Company in Trevorton, Massachusetts for the last five years since leaving the force (and her ex-husband).  Sully is busy with preparations for their annual performance of A Christmas Carol, but she is taking time out to attend the funeral of Peter Whitehall.  Peter’s son, Eric is a friend and Sully is tending the event for him.  When Eric ends up arrested for Peter’s murder, Sully puts her detecting skills to work finding the real killer.  Sully has her hands full with keeping the budget on track for A Christmas Carol, replacing an actor, dealing with Patrick King who cannot remember his lines and has a drinking problem (along with a huge ego), and finding Peter’s killer.

When I started reading A Christmas Peril, I went back to check that this was the first book.  I felt like I was plopped down in the middle of a series.  The book is very confusing in the beginning.  It felt like the book was written out of order (with the beginning in the middle and the middle at the beginning).  The pace of the story is a little too slow for my liking and it felt dated (like it was written for a different time period).  The book lacked flow and smooth transitions.  Many of the same details are repeated frequently (after I while I could recite them by rote).  Sully became fixated on murder (obsessed). Too much of the book is focused on conjecture and hearsay (Sully going over the same details).    I solved the crime at Peter’s funeral (it should not be that easy).  There are a couple of possible love interests for Sully in the story.  I could have done with less “flirting” and a more interesting/engaging mystery.  At the end of the story, there are dangling threads (it felt unfinished) and it was convoluted. The Christmas aspect was very light (almost non-existent).   A Christmas Peril would have benefited from more editing/rewriting.

I appreciate you reading my latest review.  I will be sharing my evaluation of The Persian Always Meows Twice by Eileen Watkins on Thursday, October 19.  Take care, have a hauntingly good day and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

The Girl Who Saved Ghosts: Second book in The Unbelievables series!

Greetings! K. C. Tansley is the author of The Unbelievables series.  The first book is The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts.  It is a paranormal mystery series aimed at young adults.  K.C. Tansley is author Kourtney Heintz who wrote The Six Train series.

The Girl Who Saved Ghosts by K.C. Tansley is the second book in The Unbelievables series.  Kat Preston Langley is returning for her senior year at McTernan Academy with her best friend, Morgan Sanchez.  The ghosts that wants their reckoning have followed her back to school.  One young ghost named Ellie is covered in blood and asks Kat for her help.  Kat is not sure how she can save Ellie and something more pressing captures her attention.  Kat discovers that a sinister force called the Dark One is out to kill her.  She needs training and the only people who can provide it are her two greats aunts (Jacqueline and Vivian) at Dumbarton.  Kat along with Evan Kingsley travel to Dumbarton and meet with trouble as soon as they step off the train.  The Dark One is testing their strength.  To help Kat in the present, Evan and Kat need to travel back to 1831 Vienna to retrieve the Kingsley dagger.  It is supposed to be a quick mission, but then Kat has a chance to help Ellie.  Will Kat and Evan make it back to the present safely (let’s settle for alive) or will they meet their end in old Vienna? 

The Girl Who Saved Ghosts is the second book in The Unbelievables series and I suggest reading the series in order (otherwise, you will be a little lost).  There are numerous characters and it can be hard to keep them straight.   Those of you who have read The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts there are references to it that will help remind you of what occurred (it has been a year).  I thought the pace was a little slower in this installment and the same details are repeated throughout the story (after a while I could recite them by heart).  I understand Kat wanting to know her father, Max, but it got to be a repeated refrain.  The Girl Who Saved Ghosts is a good story.  Readers are given more details on the Langley heir and her relationship to the other three families.  I wish there had been more action.  The book leads up to Kat and Evan going back in time (once again) and it was such a short section (rich with historical detail though).  I wanted more of the time traveling and supernatural aspect.  I am giving The Girl Who Saved Ghosts 4 out of 5 stars! The romance element is light (hooray) and the story is aimed at a young adult audience (adults will enjoy it as well).  I am glad that the author excluded intimate relations and foul language from the story.   The Girl Who Saved Ghosts is nicely written, has good characters, and has an intriguing mystery (you never know what will happen next). I appreciated the growth in Kat that took place during the course of the story.  I am happy to see these changes in her.  I want to know who is the Dark One and how will they stop him. I will be reading the next book in The Unbelievables series to find out what happens next.

Authors need our reviews.  After you finish a story, take the time to write a short review (two sentences minimum for Amazon).  Thank you for visiting today.  I will be reviewing A Christmas Peril by J.A. Hennrikus next time.  Have a delightful day, stay safe, and Happy Reading!

Kris
The Avid Reader

The Skeleton Paints a Picture: A Family Skeleton Mystery

Hello!  A Place at Our Table by Amy Clipston will be published on November 14.  It is the first book in An Amish Homestead series.  The first three books in A Family Skeleton Mystery series are  A Skeleton in the Family, The Skeleton Takes a Bow, and The Skeleton Haunts a House.

The Skeleton Paints a Picture by Leigh Perry is the fourth tome in A Family Skeleton Mystery series.  Dr. Georgia Thackery is working at an adjunct at Falstone College of Art and Design (FAD) in Falstone, Massachusetts.  Georgia arrives home (the borrowed bungalow) and finds two packages on her porch.  She opens them to find her best friend, Sid inside—a walking, talking skeleton.  Sid was feeling lonely (too many grad students at the Thackery home) and decided to visit Georgia (who was equally lonely).  That night Sid (who doesn’t need to sleep) is out exploring the backyard and spots a car crashed in the woods behind the bungalow.  When Georgia and Sid check it out, they find the body of a woman.  The next day, Georgia discovers the victim is Kelly Griffith who ran the writing lab at FAD.  Georgia and Sid believe there is something off about Kelly’s death and start researching the victim (and faculty—Sid is whiz with computers).  It seems that Kelly was involved in her own investigation and it ended up getting her killed.  Can Georgia and Sid follow the trail and find Kelly’s killer?

The Skeleton Paints a Picture is nicely written and easy to read.  I just love Sid.  He is such an entertaining and unique character (Sid will provide many laugh out loud moments) and Georgia is the perfect counterpart for him.  I like that their relationship is changing and developing into a partnership (a team).  I especially like the creative “swear” words that they utilize.  The author has certainly found some creative ways for Sid to get out and explore the world as well as investigate (Sid just loves snow blowers).  I do want to mention the author included a “gender fluid” character.  I applaud the author for tackling a gender fluid character and her handling of it (though it was confusing to read about the character without the gender specific pronouns).  My rating for The Skeleton Paints a Picture is 4 out of 5 pumpkins.  The mystery is medium complexity.   I think some readers will be surprised by the solution (pay very close attention & it can be solved).   I did miss Georgia’s parents and daughter (Madison) in this installment.  I hope they return in the next book in A Family Skeleton Mystery series.  While The Skeleton Paints a Picture is the fourth book in this series, it can be read alone.  Personally, I am glad I have read each book in the series.  I believe you will be missing out by not reading the first three books (you find out more about Sid and how he joined the family, Georgia’s teaching history).  The Skeleton Paints a Picture is a humorous (Sid makes a “humerus” pun in story that will tickle your funny bone) cozy mystery that will delight many readers.  I am glad that Sid is back!  

I do hope that you are having a lovely day (and that it is not stressful).  I am currently reading Cremains of the Day by Misty Simon.  I will be reviewing The Girl Who Saved Ghosts by K.C. Tansley tomorrow (10/17).  Thank you for visiting, take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

Yuletide Homicide: A Wiccan Wheel Mystery

Welcome!  I wanted to mention that Cremains of the Day by Misty Simon and Slay Bells Ring by Karen Rose Smith will be published on October 31.  So many new books and so little time to read them!  I think my TBR list is topping 300. My mother is actually starting to complain about the piles of books around the house (I have them stacked on top of and under many pieces of furniture in every room of the house).  I really need to get more bookshelves!

Yuletide Homicide by Jennifer David Hesse is the third story in A Wiccan Wheel Mystery series.  Keli Milanni is a lawyer at the law firm of Olsen, Sykes and Rafferty.  Keli is called into Beverly’s office (her boss) along with Crenshaw Davenport III (an overbearing colleague).  One of their clients, Edgar Harrison of Harrison Properties LLC is being blackmailed.  Beverly would like them to work Edgar’s offices and attempt to locate the culprit.  Edgar has just announced that he is running for mayor of Edindale in the next election.   Keli is at the Harrison Properties Christmas party at the Harrison Hotel and is surprised when her old college boyfriend, Mick MacIntyre shows up (he is a piece of work).  Later that night, Keli gets a call from Mick asking her to return to the hotel.  Keli notices a small Christmas tree knocked over and Edgar dead nearby.  Police rule the death an accident, but Keli knows he was murdered.  She sets out to discover who was blackmailing Edgar and sent him plunging to his death. 

Yuletide Homicide had a mystery with medium complexity, and I believe some readers will be surprised by the outcome.  Keli, though, was annoying and lackluster in this installment in A Wiccan Wheel Mystery series.  The Wiccan elements did nothing to enhance or add to the story.  Another unnecessary element was the return of Keli ex-boyfriend.  The only reason it seemed he was added was to get Keli to return to the hotel.  His storyline was left unfinished.  I am giving Yuletide Homicide 3 out of 5 stars.  I was glad to see the action pick up towards the end of the story.  The book lags in the middle while Keli does her investigating (questioning).  If you are looking for a feel-good Christmas cozy, I suggest you keep looking.  The first two books in A Wiccan Wheel Mystery series are Midsummer Nights Mischief and Bell, Book & Candlemas.

I hope that you have a pleasant day!  I will be featuring The Girl Who Saved Ghosts by K.C. Tansley (aka Kourtney Heintz) October 17.  Tomorrow I will share my review of The Skeleton Paints a Picture by Leigh Perry (Sid is back). Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

A Secret History of Witches by Louisa Morgan

Happy Saturday!  Sweet Tea and Sympathy by Molly Harper will be published on November 1.  It is the first book in A Southern Eclectic Novel series.  I have added it to my "wish list" on Amazon.  

A Secret History of Witches by Louisa Morgan is a historical novel that starts in 1838 at Orchard Farm.  The Orchierres families magic seemed to wither with the death of Grandmere Ursule.  Her descendants keep following the practices she established that have been handed down from mother to daughter.  They have Ursule’s magic crystal and grimoire.  Some of them can do simple spells, simples and charms.  Nanette, Ursule’s granddaughter, is the first one to blossom with real power.  Magic, though, always comes at a price.  Follow the magic through the generations to see what happens to the Orchierres line of witches.

A Secret History of Witches was a slow-paced novel that I found lacking in magic.  The story had potential, but it was never achieved.  Each generation seemed to make the same mistake (it seemed like the same story repeated over for each generation—the author just changed the clothes or words to fit the time period).  I thought it would be a story about strong, female witches (instead we have women that grow up, get pregnant, pass on family history and repeat for the next generation).  Unfortunately, the only strong person was Gradmere Ursule (and she was dead).  The woman and men were stuck in their gender roles and they were conventional.  The magic elements were uninspiring.  For a book about witches and magic, it was deficient.  The characters lacked development (they were flat).  Some sections were more complete than others.  I was disappointed in the ending (it was unsatisfying and felt unfinished).  I did not understand why the author did not bring the book into modern times and bring the witches full circle.  She could have shown them back in full power in modern times.  The book needed some oomph.   My rating for A Secret History of Witches is 2 out of 5 pumpkins.  There is some good writing and the author did her research for the historical periods featured.  My favorite section the World War II with Veronica Selwyn.  If you are looking for a magical novel, check out Deborah Harkness’ All Souls Trilogy (vampires too)!

I appreciate you reading my latest review.  I will be sharing my evaluation of Yuletide Homicide by Jennifer David Hesse next time.  I hope that you have a very special and happy day!  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader