Weekend Book Reviews

 Slashing through the Snow by Jacqueline Frost is the third book in the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series.  Holly is excited to be the innkeeper at the Christmas tree farm and is hard at work with some helpers wrapping gifts for the toy drive.  She also welcomes B&B critic Karen to the inn with hopes of a good review.  Unfortunately Karen is true to her name with cranky added as a descriptor.  When she is found dead by way of a nutcracker Holly gave to her friend Cookie, it is up to Holly to hep save Christmas and her inn's reputation.  The setting was wonderful, but some of the side stories were a bit distracting. Overall it was a nice addition to the series and a great Christmas themed read.

The seventh book in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series by Lauren Elliot is To the Tome of Murder.  Thanks to a Civil War era cooking and baking contest vintage books are flying off the shelves of Addie's bookstore.  Thanksgiving may be just around the corner but Addie is not thankful to be dealing with another murder when her cousin's boyfriend is found dead. For me the cousin is just as irritating as in previous books, and I am tiring of the love triangle.  The mystery is not as strong in this book, but I do love the setting and most of the characters.  I would not suggest starting the series with this book however.

Strangers on a Skein by Anne Canadeo is the twelfth book in the Black Sheep Knitters Mystery series.  Phoebe, assistant manager at the Black Sheep, is venturing out on her with a booth at the farmers' market to sell her handmade socks.  She learns she only got the booth as the previous tenant committed suicide.  When the suicide is changed to murder, Phoebe is even less excited.  Add in the fact that people at the market are not as friendly as she first thought. The setting and characters are wonderful, but the actual mystery was less than mysterious.

disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley in exchange for honest reviews.  I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own!

Weekend Book Reviews

Mistletoe Cake Murder by Lena Gregory is the fifth book in the All Day Breakfast Cafe Mystery series.   The All Day Breakfast Cafe series is one of my very favorites, and this book did not disappoint.  Gia and Savannah are in the final preparations of Savannah's wedding.  The tasting with the caterer is interrupted by an arguing trio - a bride, her son, and her husband to be.  When the fussy bride is found murdered, they add "solve a mystery" to their to do list.  The suspects are many, and time is running out to solve the mystery or be out a caterer for the wedding.  It is a fun, slightly romantic holiday themed book.

Ellie Alexander's Bake, Borrow, and Steal is the fourteenth book in the Bakeshop Mystery series.   Juliet and the staff at Torte are challenged with creating all of the food for a gala unveiling a lost work by William Shakespeare.  As if that were not enough she also has to create a working desk made entirely of chocolate.  Against all odds everything comes together except the unveiling of the manuscript which has been swapped for a forgery.  That discovery is quickly followed by an attempted murder and an actual murder.  The best parts of this book were the descriptions of the food and the town.  The identity of the murderer was a bit too obvious in this particular book.  Still I love a good visit to Torte and will be back for the next book.

Strawberries and Crime by Elle Brooke White is the second book in the Finn Family Farm Mystery series.  This is a very lighthearted, laid back, cozy mystery.  For me with this book and these characters, it works just fine.  Charlotte is settling in as the owner of Finn Family Farm.  She has her hands full with strawberry season which is about to be ruined by a blight.  Worse than that is a murder of the only farmer not affected by the blight.  There is a fair amount of silliness which I appreciate.  I do read to escape after all, and Finn Family Farm is the perfect escape.

disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley in exchange for honest reviews.  I received no other compensation and all opinions are my own!