Weekend Book Reviews

Violet Tendencies by Kate Dyer-Seeley is the second book in the Rose City Mystery series.  Britta and her aunt Elin are thrilled to be designing a float for the city's rose parade.  A group of protesters are doing everything to stop the parade and ruin the town's peaceful setting.  When the group's leader is found murdered, the situation reaches a breaking point.  The subject matter was a touch heavy for a cozy mystery.  The author handled including politics better than other books I have read.  I do prefer the more traditional cozy storylines.  The plot moved along quickly and kept me entertained until the end. 

The third book in the Rose Avenue Wine Club Mystery series by Christine E. Blum is The Name of the Rose.  Annie and her fellow wine club members find themselves in the middle of another mystery when one of the members is accused of being involved in illegal drugs smuggled through the local airport.  When a mechanic at the same airport is murdered, the mystery becomes more complicated.  The characters are fun and quirky.  While I know very little about wine, I do enjoy this series.  This book did not disappoint.

The Body in the Attic by Judi Lynn is the first book in the Jazzi Zanders Mystery series.  Jazzi and her cousin Jerod are house flippers.  While working on their latest project, they discover a body stuffed in a trunk in the attic.  It turns out to be Jazzi's aunt who everyone assumed had moved to New York and never looked back.  Jazzi teams up with the local detective to solve that mystery when another body turns up on the property.  The characters were fun, and the series has promise.  My only issue was the rush to romance.  It worked on some level, but I hope to read more mystery than romance in future books.

Game of Scones by Mary Lee Ashford is the first book in the Sugar and Spice Mystery series.  Sugar and her friend Dixie "Spice" Spicer have started a cookbook publishing company.  Their first project hits a standstill when two women get into a fight over which scone recipe to include.  When one of the women ends up dead, Sugar and Dixie add crime solvers to their resumes.  This was a quick, light read.  The mystery was not particularly strong, but the characters were fun.  If you are looking for an easy read, this is a great choice.

disclosure:  I received these e-books through NetGalley but was not otherwise compensated for these reviews.  All opinions are my own!