My Review Checked Out for Murder is jam-packed with relationship drama and genuine characters. When a new town resident is murdered, library event director, Carrie, investigates. She believes it might be related to an unsolved homicide from twenty years earlier. Or could it really be as simple as the victim’sContinue Reading
The blurb for Murder at Hotel 1911 drew me in. “A hotel clerk prone to panic attacks turns amateur detective in this elegant and atmospheric murder mystery.” The book’s setting in a mansion permanently stuck in 1911 is very original. In my opinion, the atmospheric setting and its associated historyContinue Reading
The Liberation of Marguerite Harrison involved breaking all of the norms within the society in which she was born. Originally, Marguerite was a rich and respected Baltimore wife and mother. When her husband died, she was only 37. So she decided to live life to the fullest. First, she becameContinue Reading
Atlas at War! contains 50 war comics that initially ran from 1951 to 1960. The comics are raw and violent—just like the wars they depict. They are definitely not politically correct, especially to the villains of World War II and the Korean War. However, the stories give us an opportunityContinue Reading
Lily Wong is a lot of things: half-Hong Kong Chinese, half North Dakota Norwegian, and full ninja. She works with a women’s shelter to extract women from dangerous situations. In The Ninja’s Blade, Lily is trying to break up a child sex trafficking ring in her own Los Angeles backyard.Continue Reading
Long-buried secrets are revealed in the Dark Hollows of Jacob’s life. Jacob lives in The Hollows in Vermont. He owns a coffee shop. Jacob also short-term rents out a cottage on his land to leaf peepers and other tourists. His large black Lab mutt, Murphy, is prominent in his adsContinue Reading
Beverly Cleary captured the rebel inside every little girl when she first captured Ramona on a page. No one could replace Beverly. However, the illustrators did change throughout the years. Louis Darling, Alan Tiegreen, Joanne Scribner, Tracy Dockray, and Jacqueline Rogers all had a hand in creating the Art ofContinue Reading
In Not Your Idol Vol 2, high school students Nina and Hikaru continue to explore their relationship. But now there is another student trying to break them up. I was disappointed by Vol 2. It was much slower paced than the first volume, which I loved. There are many conversationsContinue Reading
The Forger family return in Spy X Family Vol 2. Spy dad Loid, assassin mom Yor, and telepathic adopted daughter Anya return to prevent a world war from being started in Westalis. But first, they have to enroll Anya in the prestigious Eden Academy and have her befriend the evilContinue Reading
Calling all otaku! If you adore anime, manga, or Japanese culture in general, you will love learning how to Cook Anime. Wow, the author has spent some quality time watching anime! Each recipe is based on a single show episode. However, there is list of other anime where the foodContinue Reading
Life coach Cat and her humorous assistant Gilley return. Hopefully not To Coach a Killer! Cat has a new client, Willem. He is a good-looking little person. Willem is convinced he curses all the places he goes ever since a gypsy cursed him in his mother’s belly. As he isContinue Reading
I absolutely loved The Night Circus. When I saw Where Dreams Descend listed on NetGalley and compared to one of my favorite books, I picked it up. While they both have similar topics, this is no Night Circus. It seemed over long and really slow-paced. Admittedly, I am not aContinue Reading
Mina is a first generation immigrant to the United States from Korea. She owns and works in her own store in a Koreatown swap meet in Los Angeles. This is The Last Story of Mina Lee. Mina’s only child, Margot, has moved to Seattle. Margot only visits on holidays. SheContinue Reading
My Review Three Treats Too Many is a character-centered Southern cozy mystery—with recipes! In small town Wheaton outside Birmington Alabama, everyone is entwined in each other’s life. Sarah, her twin sister chef Emily, and Emily’s boyfriend chef Marcus are opening a restaurant called Southwinds. However, they are delayed at everyContinue Reading
In The Day I Disappeared, five-year-old Amy’s older brother was supposed to be watching her. Instead he was outside fishing. However, when he came home later, Amy was missing. When later she was found drowned, her brother blamed himself. Holly was kidnapped as a child of five. She was returnedContinue Reading
Doggone Dead is the first book in a new cozy mystery series featuring best friends, and ladies of a certain age, Nora and Gwen. You have to love a cozy mystery that gets to the point quickly. In chapter one, we meet Gwen trying to sleep late on her firstContinue Reading