First Line Fridays

First Line Fridays hosted by Hoarding Books Blog

"Isabelle took great pride in herself that she did not cry once during the whole wretched, messy ordeal." 

What can I say I'm sucker for Robin Hood retellings and the 90's kid in me loved this one.

Black Widow: Forever Red review

Title:  Black Widow: Forever Red

Author:  Margaret Stohl

Ch: 37

Pg:  401

Series: Black Widow book 1

Genre:  YA Retelling, Comic Book novel

Rating: 4.5 stars

Publisher:  Marvel Press

I’ve literally had Black Widow Forever Red by Margaret Stohl on my shelf for five years. My mom bought the book for me when it came out in 2015 because Black Widow is my favorite Marvel character I’ve always loved her comics. It set on my shelf and I forgot about it. But after watching the MCU in chronological order during the shutdown and not liking the ending I wanted more marvel and more black widow and I finally picked this up and I was not disappointed.

Black Widow Forever Red gave me all the a Black Widow feels, it was prefect. I loved the bit of back story we got of hers. There’s a twist in this book that i didn’t see coming. A twist I don’t remember from the comics.

    

One of my favorite lines from the book is about Natasha having friends in low places and I actually guessed the friend she was talking about but if you’re a marvel fan it’s one that easy to figure out.

I am looking forward to the Second book in the series and plan on picking that one up soon.

Still Knife Painting review

Title:  Still Knife Painting

Author:  Cheryl Hollon

Ch: 36

Pg:  304

Series: A Paint and Shine Mystery

Genre:  Cozy Mystery

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher:  Kensington Publishing

Still Knife Painting by Cheryl Hollon is the first book in A Paint and Shine Mystery. It’s only the second cozy mystery series I’ve read that set in Kentucky. And I’ve enjoyed this one.

It’s set in a small town in Eastern Kentucky and Miranda Trent the main character after inheriting her uncles farm is determined to open a cultural experience tourist place. That includes hiking painting classes in which the clients are walked through painting the local scenery with a moonshine tasting. She also hopes to open a moonshine distillery on the property.

But all her hopes are dashed when there’s a murder on the property. And she becomes the prime suspect. She’s determined to find the real killer and clear her name and save her business.

I loved reading a cozy mystery set in Kentucky. I’m a sucker for books with a Kentucky setting. There are a few stereotypes in the book some bad some neutral. Miranda’s favorite soda is Ale Eight which just happens to be Kentucky’s soft drink. They also refer to one of her sheriffs deputy’s as Barney Fife based on the way he acts. And the sad thing is there are some small town deputy’s that so remind me of Barney Fife.

The residents of the town are iffy of outsiders in the book which does sometimes happen in Kentucky small towns.

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. 

First Line Fridays

First Line Friday Hosted by Hoarding Books Blog

Saturday afternoon,Miranda's Farmhouse 

"Miranda Trent felt the color drain from her face as she stared at the blood on her kitchen floor."

I was in the mood for a cozy mystery this week and I've been enjoying it. 

Mousse and Murder review

Title: Mousse and Murder

Author:  Elizabeth Logan

Ch: 38

Pg: 304

Series:  Alaskan Dinner Mystery book 1

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 4 Stars

Publisher:  Berkeley

Mousse and Murder is the first book in the Alaskan Dinner Mystery by Elizabeth Logan. It was also my first cozy mystery set in Alaska. I loved the small town Alaska setting and meeting all the characters especially Eggs Benedict Benny for short Charlie’s cat.

Dinner owner and chef Charlie Cooke finds herself involved in a murder mystery when her head chef is killed and is considered a suspect. She teams up with newspaper reporter Chris Doucette to find the real killer and clean her name.

This was a fairly quick read and I enjoyed the banter between the two main characters and I’m looking forward to the next book in the series and other books by this author.

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. 

First Line Friday

First Line Friday is hosted Hoarding Books Blog

On the Outskirts of Odessa, Ukraine Near the Black Sea

"Natasha Romanoff hated pierogies -but more than, she hated lies.." 

This book has been sitting on my bookshelf for years, my mom bought it for me when it first came out.  After finishing the MCU movies and not liking how Avengers Endgame ended and the release of the Black Widow movie being pushed back I wanted more Black Widow so I picked up this book finally and i'm loving it. 

The Jane Austen Society review

Title: The Jane Austen Society

Author:  Natalie Jenner

Ch: 30 Plus Epilogue

Pg:  320

Series:

Genre: Literary Fiction

Rating: 4 stars

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

I didn’t know what to think when I started reading this one, but I love all things Austen so I wanted to give this one a try. The Jane Austen society by Natalie Jenner takes place in England after World War II when some of the villagers are determined to save Jane Austen’s legacy.

I loved seeing the different characters come together because of their love of Austen. I also love that you get chapters and POV of views from most of the main characters.

It was nice to visit a part of Jane Austen’s England even during a pandemic from the comfort of my own chair. This novel gave me The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society  feels.

I would recommend this book to fans of

I look forward to other books by this author.

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. 

An Appalachian Summer review

Title: An Appalachian Summer

Author:  Ann H Gabhart

Ch: 43

Pg: 368  

Genre: Christian Historical fiction with a hint of romance 

Rating: 5 stars

Publisher: Revell

In depression era Louisville Piper Danson has just had her debut a few years later than most but she wants more from life than marrying that her father wants for her. After hearing Mary Breckinridge speak about the frontier nursing service she volunteers to be a courier for the service for the summer. Hoping that she can find herself and what she wants out of life.

Jamie Russell has been Pipers friend since childhood but since his family has lost everything in the crash he’s pretty much black balled from society.

I enjoyed this novel as I have ever novel I’ve read by Ann H Gabhart and I loved the Kentucky sitting and seeing my hometown during the depression at least in fiction. Since I was a child I’ve been fascinated by both the Frontier Nursing Service and the Packhorse librarians both founded in my home state of Kentucky. These women were indeed heroes.

My favorite character outside of Piper is Mrs. Miller one of the locals that works in the garden whom everyone refers to as a granny herself included. Her wisdom and knowledge and the fact that she reminds me of her my own granny who has the same last name.

An Appalachian Summer shows to groups of people and how they were handling the depression. Pipers father and family despite the crash were trying to hold to their way of life and wealth. Then there’s the mountain people who as a reader I don’t think they even realized that the country was in a depression.

Quite frankly as a reader i would spend time with the mountain people.

The theme that stood out to me the most in An Appalachian Summer was rich in spirit. And how that would be better for you in the long run.

An Appalachian Summer is a great historical fiction read that gives slight Christy vibes. I would recommend this book to fans of historical fiction who are looking for a summer read.

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

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. 

First Line Friday

First Line Friday is hosted by Hoarding books

May 20, 1933

"Piper Danson's cheeks hurt from smiling for what seemed like hours with no relief in sight." 

I love this line because it seems like the heroine hates to be forced to smile which I can relate to. 

June Wrap Up

I started the month with (34) unread books. Brought (1) books.  Got my owlcrate book (3) Book of the month (0) Got (2) book for review Won a book in a giveaway () Got books for gifts () which brought my total to (40). Read (5) owned books. Read (2) Kindle books I own  DNF’d () So I am ending the month at books (35) unread books and hoping to get back on track with the whole read 5 physical books before I buy anymore.  I read a total of (12) books across (4,034) pages.

Dream , Plan, and Go: A Travel Guide to Inspire Your Independent Adventure by Rachel McMillan (owned)

A Call for Kelp by Bree Baker

To Kill a Mocking Girl by Harper Kincaid

What Momma Left Behind by Cindy K Sproles (owned)

Murder in the Storybook Cottage by Ellery Adams

A Moonbow Night by Laura Frantz

Dear Mr. Knightly by Katherine Reay (kindle)

A Spell for Trouble by Esme Addison

By The Book by Amanda Sellet (owned)

Entanglements by Rachel McMillan (kindle)

The Kingdom of Back by Marie Lu (owned)

Their Family Blessings by Lorraine Beatty (owned)

A Spell for Trouble review

Title:   A Spell for Trouble

Author:   Esme Addison

Chapters: 25

Pages: 336

Series: An Enchanted Bay Mystery book 1

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 3.5 stars

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

A spell for trouble is the first book in the An enchanted bay mystery series by Esme Addison. And while it wasn’t my favorite cozy it was still an enjoyable read. I loved the small fictional North Carolina beach town. The coast of the North Carolina is one of my favorite setting for books.

Alexandra Daniels finds herself back in Bellamy Bay her mom’s hometown and not only discovers she’s descendent from mermaids and is a witch but finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery. In which her aunt is a prime suspect she’s determined to clear her aunts name. But does that mean she’ll become the killers next victim?

This book was a quick read for charm and I’m not going to lie gave me Practical Magic vibes. I am looking forward to the next book in the series as well as other books by this author.

This book is a good book for readers who like a little magic with their cozies.

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.