April Wrap Up

I read a total of 29 books and (6367) pages. My average rating for the month was 3.3  I listened to three audiobooks.  Finished three series and started another. I now have 34 unfinished series.  My TBR pile started April at 36. I  Read two owned books. Received myOwlcrate book and bought a  book.  and because of this my TBR # is still at 36 but it didn't go up. 

Carnegie’s Maid by Marie Benedict (audio)

Craig & Fred: A Marine, A Stray Dog, and How they Rescued Each Other by Craig Grossi

Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

Husband by Arrangement by Angel Moore

Where Courage Calls by Janette Oke and Laurel Oke Logan

Don’t Blink by Amy Krouse

The St. Patrick’s Day Shillelagh by Janet Nolen

The Reader’s Advisory Handbook by Jessica E Moyer

Anne’s House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery

The Bone Garden by Tess Gerritsen

Death by Dumpling by Vivien Chien

Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall

Not if I Save You First by Ally Carter

Lost Books and Old Bones by Paige Shelton

Beyond the Gathering Storm by Janette Oke (e-book)

Anne of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery

To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander finished series

Goodnight Soccer by Michael Dahl

Rainbow Valley by L.M. Montgomery (audio)

Good Day Carl by Alexandra Day

When Tomorrow Comes by Janette Oke finished series (e-book)

Carl and the Sick puppy by Alexandra Day

The Fairy Dogfather by Alexandra Day

I’ve Loved You Since Forever by Hoda Kotb

Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery (audio) finished series

The Case for Jamie by Brittany Cavallaro

The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan 

Library on Wheels: Mary Lemist Titcomb and America's First Bookmobile by Sharlee Glenn

 Who Moved My Goat Cheese? by Lynn Cahoon 

Reading this week

Reading this week

Finished

I’ve Loved you Since Forever by Hoda Kotb

The Fairy dog father by Alexandra Day

Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery (audio)

Currently reading

The Case for Jamie by Brittany Cavallaro

Who Moved by Goat Cheese by Lynn Cahoon

Non-fiction reading

Getting ready to read

A Viscount’s Proposal by Melanie Dickerson

The Wish Granter by CJ Redwine

Pitch Dark by Courtney Alameda

The Innkeeper’s Daughter by Michelle Griep

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

Don’t Forget Me by Victoria Stevens

Where Trust Lies by Janette Oke

Classics

Audio on the way to work

The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

Books reading for school

Reviewing

Thief of Corinth by Tessa Afshar

Murder at the Flamingo by Rachel McMillan

Where Trains Collide by Amber Stokes

Devotional reading

Did not Finish

Reviews Posted this week 

Review of Hummus and Homicide

Title: Hummus and Homicide

Author: Tina Kashian

Series: Kebab Kitchen Mystery

Pages: 321

Genre: cozy mystery

Rating: 3 stars

     Lucy is back in her hometown after losing her job as a patent lawyer. She hasn’t really been back after fleeing after college graduation. But not she’s back. And she has to solve a murder in order to clear her family, and save their Mediterranean restaurant.

     I enjoyed this cozy mystery even though I didn’t love it. I am willing to pick up the next book in the series when it comes out. This book including Lucy’s family gave me slight My Big Fat Greek wedding feels in the sense it has some crazy family moments. Including locking two people in a walk in freezer. This was actually the funniest cozy mystery that I have read in a while.  



I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Reading this week

Reading this week

Finished

Not if I save You First by Ally Carter

To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander

Beyond the Gathering Storm by Janette Oke

Anne of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery

Rainbow Valley by L.M. Montgomery (audio)

When Tomorrow Comes by Janette Oke

Now A Major Motion Picture by Cori McCarthy

Good Dog Carl by Alexandra Day

Goodnight Soccer by Michael Dahl

Currently reading

The Case for Jamie by Brittany Cavallaro

I’ve Loved you Since Forever by Hoda Kotb

The Fairy dog father by Alexandra Day

Eliza and Her Monsters by Francesca Zappia

Non-fiction reading

Getting ready to read

A Viscount’s Proposal by Melanie Dickerson

The Wish Granter by CJ Redwine

Pitch Dark by Courtney Alameda

The Innkeeper’s Daughter by Michelle Griep

Classics

Audio on the way to work

Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery

The Sword of Summer by Rick Riordan

Books reading for school

Reviewing

Thief of Corinth by Tessa Afshar

Murder at the Flamingo by Rachel McMillan

Where Trains Collide by Amber Stokes

Devotional reading

Did not Finish

Reviews Posted this week 

Review of A Grave Issue

Title: A Grave Issue

Author: Lillian Bell

Series: A Funeral Parlor Mystery  Book 1

 

Pages: 288

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 3.5 stars

A Grave Issue by Lillian Bell is the first book in the A Funeral Parlor mystery series. Desiree Turner has come home to her hometown and the family business she couldn't wait to get away from years ago. The Turner family funeral parlor. But for now she's home and she's going to make the most of it. But being back home brings all kinds of memories and nicknames she rather forget.  

When she finds herself involved in  a murder investigation to help clear a family friend because she is convinced that the sheriff wants to take the easy way out.  The smart thing would be to look the other way. But Desiree is already to deep in the mystery. She wants to see it through.  She'll have to balance helping at the funeral home with working on the mystery. All while trying to keep her out of harm’s way.  It's not going to easy. 

I enjoyed A Grave Issue but I guess that's because I have a weird sense of humor, and I guess because I have family members who use to own a family funeral parlor as well in a small town.  The Small town humor and everyone knowing everyone's business it’s the curse of a small-town.  I look forward to the next book in the series. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Review of Biscuits and Slashed Browns

Title:  Biscuits and Slashed Browns

Author: Maddie Day

Series: Country Store Mysteries book 4

 

Chapters: 39

Pages: 292

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 4 stars

Biscuits and slashed Browns is the fourth book in the Country Store Mysteries by Maddie Day.  Robbie runs her restaurant and  country store Pans 'N Pancakes,  in small town in Indiana in the heart of Brown County not far from Blooming-ton and the IU Campus. By this book she has proven to be quite good at solving mysteries especially murders, even better than the small town police. However it tends to get her into scraps.  

I enjoyed Biscuits and Slashed Browns more than I did the first three in the series. I think that is because we have gotten to know Robbie and the rest of the characters.  What I love about Maddie's writing is that the characters seem so real. Unlike other mysteries  in which I figure out who did it fairly quickly I am not able to do that with Maddie's mystery. She keeps me guessing till right up to the end.   I am looking forward to the next one in the series. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone. 

Reading this week

Reading this week

Finished

The Reader's Advisory Handbook by Jessica E. Moyer

Anne’s House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery (audio)

The Bone Garden by Tess Gerristen

Death by Dumpling by Vivien Chien

Currently reading

To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander

Talk to the Paw by Melinda Metz

Not if I save You First by Ally Carter

Non-fiction reading

Getting ready to read

A Viscount’s Proposal by Melanie Dickerson

The Wish Granter by CJ Redwine

Pitch Dark by Courtney Alameda

The Innkeeper’s Daughter by Michelle Griep

Classics

Audio on the way to work

Books reading for school

Reviewing

Thief of Corinth by Tessa Afshar

Devotional reading

Did not Finish

Reviews Posted this week 

Review of Lethal Licorice

Title: Lethal Licorice

Author: Amanda Flower

Series: Amish Candy Shop Mystery

 

Pages: 344

Genre: cozy mystery

Rating: 4 stars

In Lethal Licorice the second installment in the Amish Candy Shop Mystery Bailey King is slowly settling in to life in Harvest Ohio working at her Amish grandparents Candy shop. It’s completely different that her life in New York. She has her own plans for her life, while her grandmother and Juliet have other plans that involve Juliet's son Deputy Sheriff Aiden Brody. But match making is going to have to wait, both Aiden and Bailey get sucked into a murder investigation of an Amish woman Aiden because he's a sheriff's deputy Bailey because she doesn't really trust the county sheriff to be fair.  Add in a missing pet pig and its chaos. 

As it is a second book in a series it's hard to give too much background information in order to prevent giving away too much about the first book in the series. In this book Bailey finds herself in a candy making contest with other Amish Candy shops across the United States.  Bailey has to figure out how to balance the contest with helping Aiden solve the murder rather or not he wants her help.

I actually enjoyed the second book in this series more than the first.  I think part of it is I can relate to related to what personal issue both Bailey and her grandmother are going through in the book. At least from Bailey point of view as I went through something similar two years ago.  I've read quite a few of Amanda Flowers in the past in four other series and I have to say that the Amish Candy Shop mystery series is my favorite. I love how her mystery keeps you guessing what up till the end. I look forward to the next book in this series. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Review of Murder in an Irish Churchyard

Title:  Murder in an Irish Churchyard

Author: Carlene O’Connor

Series: Irish Village Mystery book 3

 

Chapters: 33

Pages: 325

Genre: cozy mystery

Rating: 4 stars

In Murder in an Irish Churchyard by Carlene O'Connor book three in the Irish Village mysteries.  Siobhan is now Garda O'Sullivan. No longer just a restaurant owner and part time sleuth she is now a cop in her small village, ready to take on her first murder mystery as a professional. However the garda force is pretty much a man's only club, and they give her a hard time. Then Macdara Flannery who's now a detective sergeant and Siobhan's ex has come back to the village to oversee the case.  And he's keeping secrets. 

Murder an Irish Churchyard looks at just how far someone is willing to keep genealogical secrets a secret.  Whoever said family history can be murder must have had this book in mind. Not only is the victim researching his family history, Siobhan's first big case as a Garda she has to deal with America's to boot.  But she does what she has to, in order to solve this case. Even if she tries to solve it in her slightly unordothdox way.  

I enjoyed Murder in an Irish Churchyard more than the first two books in the series.  Siobhan's starting to come into her own by this book.  She's finally figured out how to balance all the things in her.  I am looking forward to the next book in the series.  As well as any other books by Carlene O'Connor.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Reading this week

Reading this week

Finished

Craig & Fred: A Marine, A Stray Dog, and Howthey Rescued Each other by Craig Grossi

I Have the Right by Chessy Prout
Carnegie's Maid by Marie Benedict

Where Courage Calls by Janette Oke(audio)

Husband by Arrangement by Angel Moore

Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

Currently reading

To Wager Her Heart by Tamera Alexander

Not if I save You First by Ally Carter

Talk to the Paw by Melinda Metz

Non-fiction reading

Getting ready to read

A Viscount’s Proposal by Melanie Dickerson

The Wish Granter by CJ Redwine

Pitch Dark by Courtney Alameda

The Innkeeper’s Daughter by Michelle Griep

Classics

Audio on the way to work

Books reading for school

The Reader's Advisory Handbook by Jessica E. Moyer

Reviewing

Thief of Corinth by Tessa Afshar

Devotional reading

Did not Finish

Reviews Posted this week 

Review of The Survival of the Fritters

Title: Survival of the Fritters

Author: Ginger Bolton

Series: Deputy Donunt Mystery

Chapters: 38

Pages: 313

Genre: Cozy mystery

Rating: 4 stars

What's the first thing you think of when you think donuts?  If you are like most people you thought police. In Survival of the Fritters we are introduced to Emily Westhill who owns a donuts shop with her father-in-law the former police Chief of Fallingbrook Wisconsin.  The name of the donuts   shop is also a funny bit; Deputy Donuts. She also has a kitten named Deputy whom she shorten the name to Dep. 

Emily is quite happy to leave her old life behind she was a 911 dispatcher before her husband was killed in the line of duty. Since then she has avoided his former partner content  to run Deputy Donuts with her father-in-law and sometimes hang out with her friends. But when she accidentally   finds herself in a murder investigation she decides to see it through, because something isn't right.

Survival of the Fritters was an interesting cozy mystery.  I hadn't read anything like it before.  But a retired cop and a 911 dispatcher opening a donuts shop kind of does make since when you think about it. I am looking forward to the next book in the series. 

Review of Olivia Twist

Title: Olivia Twist

Author: Lorie Langdon

Chapters: 25 plus Epilogue

Pages: 331

Genre: Teen historical retelling

Rating: 5 stars

In Olivia Twist Lorie Langdon puts a twist on the classic tale of Oliver Twist. With the what if Oliver was actually a girl who do the times circumstances of her birth had to live as a boy for her own safety.   I hadn't looked at the story that way at all until Lorie proposed that question. But during the Victorian era boy orphans had a slightly easier life than girl orphans. Girl orphans only had one option and it wasn’t good.

We then fast forward 18 years when the story takes place. Olivia Brownlow is now 18 and living with her uncle who rescued her. She’s torn between two worlds helping London’s orphans and being a society lady.  After everything her uncle’s done for her she’s willing to do anything to help him even marry a man she doesn’t love. She thinks she has everything figured out when someone from her past returns.

Jack MacCarron has been taken in my the widow March and he’s determined to help her with what she needs done.  And then he is going to turn a new leaf and live his life as a gentleman. But then a person from his past returns and he’s in for the surprise of his life. Ollie is who he thought Ollie was.

Aside from a Christmas Carol Oliver Twist was my favorite Charles Dickens novel. I also loved Oliver and Company. So it was nice to read this retelling with a twist. You will laugh with the characters, cry with the characters. But more importantly you will want to talk sense into Olivia.  Overall I enjoyed this story and I can’t wait for the next book from Lorie Langdon. I am also looking forward to more YA retellings of classic novels.