Book Review: Grilling Season

Title:  Grilling Season
Author:  Diane Mott Davidson
Pages:  400
Publication Date:  1997
Version:  Paperback
Genre:  Adult Fiction (Mystery/Suspense)

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"A chilly reception....

Caterer Goldy Schulz has been hired to host a hockey party. But the proceedings won't be all fun and games. Unfortunately, her client won't be satisfied until Goldy adds a hefty serving of revenge.

An ex-husband from hell....

Patricia McCracken is certain that her obstetrician and her penny-pinching HMO are responsible for the loss of her baby. Now she is suing both, and she wants Goldy's advice on coming out on top. For Dr. John Richard Korman, aka the Jerk, is none other than Goldy's abusive ex-husband. Goldy knows all about John Richard's secret life--but even she is shocked when he's arrested for the murder of his latest girlfriend.

A dish best served cold....

As much as Goldy would like to see her ex get his just desserts, could he really be a killer? Soon she will find herself sifting through a spicy mix of sizzling gossip for clues to a mystery that threatens her catering deadline, her relationship with her son and new husband... and even her life."

My Review:

This was an unexpected read for me.  While on a family vacation this book caught my eye.  After reading the back, my interest was peeked and I just had to read it.  This book is a few books into a series, but it made a fantastic stand alone book.  There were references at times to previous books, but nothing that made this book confusing or difficult to read.

Not sure how I would respond if my ex would be arrested for murder.  Goldy does amazing!  She is determined to find out if he really did it or not, and not for his sake, but for the sake of their son, Arch.  She encounters so many obstacles and shocking finds along the way to the truth.  Will she find the truth in time?  Will the truth end up being what her son fears the most?  Did this violent, abusive man finally cross that line to murder or was he just in the wrong place at the wrong time?  Will Goldy survive long enough to find the truth at the bottom of a pile of deception and lies?

I just loved the characters in this book!  Goldy, Tom, Arch, and all the others were so well developed and just so full of personality.  I felt like they were new friends of mine that I was getting to know throughout the book.  They were funny, yet serious when need be, and very smart sleuths.  Goldy was by far my favorite character and not just because she was the main one, but because she had such a great personality that was so fun to read and watch develop.  Also, Goldy just had such an admirable way of dealing with everything from her catering business down to how to deal with her ex and her son.  It wasn't just the characters that were well thought out though, the plot was amazing!  Every moment was on the edge of my seat action and new discoveries.  There was never a lull in action in this book.  

This is a must read book for any mystery or suspense lover.  This was a new author to me also and I think she is one of my new favorites to watch for other books of hers to read.  The recipes along the way in the book was an interesting approach too.  At first I found it odd, but then I found it pretty neat to see, as then when Goldy made these delicious sounding dishes I could see a real recipe and try it in my own home if I want to.  Pretty neat idea.  Then an even better idea...I found at the end of the book a table of contents of the recipes that were throughout the book, for easy finding even after I was done with the book.  So neat!

5/5 Stars!

Book Review: Stay Tuned for Murder

Title:  Stay Tuned For Murder
Author:  Mary Kennedy
Pages:  305
Publication Date:  2011
Version:  Paperback
Genre:  Adult Fiction (Mystery/Obsidian)

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"Psychologist Maggie Walsh matches wits with a phony psychic who blows into town and starts holding seances. Does Madame Chantel really have the power to talk to the dead? Two beloved old ladies attend one of her "ghostly chats" and wind up murdered. Meanwhile, Cypress Grove is gearing up for a celebration; the mayor is about to unearth a time capsule dating back fifty years and WYME is promoting the event. Maggie wonders if the contents of the time capsule could somehow be connected with the mysterious murders? People are dying to know what’s inside the capsule. Yes, literally dying! Stay tuned... "

My Review:

I started reading this book thinking it was book two in the series, and after having read book one I decided it was a book I was willing to read.  I read chapter one and two and was discovering I felt like I had either missed something or the author was writing in a style I very much disliked.  After three chapters of small things being said I didn't follow I looked closer at the book and realized it was book three not book two in the series.  Then things started making sense as to why I was feeling like I mussed things.  Ok, it was nothing super big in respect to this book making sense, but it was things that made the backgrounds make more sense.  For instance; why Rafe and Maggie were going to start dating and then we're described as on again off again.  Another instance is; talk of Maggie helping solve two murders when she only solved one in the first book.  Like I said nothing detrimental to the story line, just made for some confusion while reading when I thought it was book two not book three.

As for this book, it was pretty good.  The characters were great as they were in the other book I read.  The writing was wonderful, with a flow like a raging river, nonstop from start to finish.  I again liked the feel of that bit different murder mystery book.  It had basically one plot, but it was more than enough to keep you guessing.  This one had a couple tiny subplots, but they only added to the reading fun.  I must say I really was not sure about the new character of Chantel.  I came to dislike her mostly because of my extreme like for Maggie and how Chantel seemed to be under Maggie's skin all the time.  She just was one of those "I'm better than you" characters, that I just love to hate.

I would recommend this book if you are looking for a new and interesting murder mystery.  

4/5 Stars

2015 Cruisin' Thru The Cozies Reading Challenge Wrap Up Post

Hooray!  Another Challenge can be swept under my "all done" rug.  I am super happy to say I have now finished my third reading challenge this year.  Exciting!!

Below is my original post and my books read with reviews.

2015 Cruisin Thru The Cozies Reading Challenge Sign Up

Cruisin' Thru The Cozies Reading Challenge 2015

Welcome to the fifth annual Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge! Wow, this is the fifth year I'm hosting this challenge and I'm still loving the cozies.



To find out exactly what a cozy mystery is, check out Cozy-Mystery.com. This site is dedicated to cozy mysteries and does a great job of defining them as well as giving a list of cozy mysteries. This challenge is NOT restricted to what is on their list, it's just to be used as a guideline in case you need some hints on what to read.

So, here are the rules...

1. Choose the level you wish to participate:

Level 1 - Snoop - Read at least 6 books

Level 2 - Investigator - Read 7-12 books

Level 3 - Super Sleuth - Read 13 or more books

Level 4 - Sleuth Extraordinaire - Read 20 or more

2. The challenge runs from January 1, 2015 and ends December 31, 2015.

3. You don't have to choose your books in advance. If you do, you can change your list at any time during the year. Books can overlap with other challenges.

4. Books can be in any format - paper, audio, ebooks...it all counts!

5. You don't have to post a review, but I'm sure others would love to know about the books you are reading and may even want to add it to their reading lists.

NOTE: If you don't have a blog and want to participate, that's fine. You don't have to have a blog, just post in the comments section as you finish books. If you belong to a site like Goodreads and review the books there, that's fine too. Just leave us the link.  I also have a group for this challenge on Goodreads and you can sign up by clickinghere.

6. If you do have a blog, take the button above, put it on your blog and post about the challenge. Then add your name to Mr. Linky below. Please use the link of your challenge post, not the link to your home page.

7. I'm going to have one link for signing up, one link for completed reviews and one link for your wrap up posts. I won't be having a monthly link, just one for all reviews read for this challenge.

Have fun!

Going to sign up for Level 1, Snoop, this year of reading 6 books!

My Progress Is Below!

1.  Eleven On Top by Janet Evanovich

2.  Diva Digs up the Dirt by Krista Davis

3.  Twelve Sharp by Janet Evanovich

4.  Plum Lovin' by Janet Evanovich

5.  Goose In The Pond by Earlene Fowler

6.  Dead Air by Mary Kennedy

Book Review: Dead Air

Title:  Dead Air
Author:  Mary Kennedy
Pages:  300
Publication Date:  2010
Version:  Paperback
Genre:  Adult Fiction (Mystery)

Summary Via Goodreads.com:
"The first in an original new series.

When a psychologist hits Florida's airwaves, there's no telling who she's reaching...

...and there's no telling who wants to reach back.

Maggie left her Manhattan practice for sunny Cypress Grove, Florida. where she hosts a talk radio show on WYME, parceling out psychological wisdom between interviews with guests, commercial readings and turns on the news floor. All the local lunatics appear to love her show.

Well, maybe not all of them. She receives threats on her phone lines while interviewing New Age guru Sanjay Gingii. When he turns up dead, Maggie's roommate Lark comes under suspicion by an annoying--and gorgeous--detective. Maggie not only has to prove Lark's innocence, she must find out who's made more than one attempt on her life. "

My Review:

I was a bit unsure about this book when I dove into it.  The back summary sounded ok, but nothing super fantastic.  Plus it seemed to have an odd spin on it.  Usually the amateur sleuth is a different kind of character than Maggie is in this book.  Maggie is a radio show psychologist who starts sleuthing when her latest guest star on her show is found murdered and the only suspect seems to be Maggie good friend and roommate, Lark.  Maggie decides she just can't sit back and watch a woman she knows just had to be innocent be put away for murder.  How can she help?  What will she do to help?  How can she possibly think straight or sound like she knows what she's talking about with a super sexy hunk as the lead detective?  Does she really know Lark like she thinks she does?

As I said, I was unsure, but as the book got going I found it quite the enjoyable read.  It had a new spin on the characters than the "normal" mystery characters.  I just loved every character, even the ones that were not very nice characters.  Each was just so well developed and played out by the author, Kennedy.  I think my favorites we're Maggie and her mother, Lola.  They were just hilarious!  They just did their sleuthing like they really knew what they were doing, but really we're just "winging" it along the way.  Lark was a good character for me too.  She was just so mysterious.  I felt like a lot of the characters that were suspects on Maggie's list were portrayed that way, mysterious and filled with wonder.  I also loved the writing by Kennedy.  She kept the pace moving right along and was very descriptive of things and developed the characters through all that amazingly.  I was a bit surprised to find only one plot for the most part in this book.  It was very well played out and had more than enough development to keep it going right up to the end though, so it worked out great for this book.  I know I was on the edge of my who done it seat until the very end.

I'm not sure I will seek out the whole series that this book kicks off, but it was a good read and I'm glad I decided to read it.  I do have the next book in the series, so I will definitely be reading that book.  I say this was a good book over all to pick up and sleuth along with.  

4/5 Stars