Book Number in 2010: 7

Author: Debbie Macomber
Title: Mrs. Miracle

Series: 1st in Mrs. Miracle
Genre: Holiday Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 337

Book From: Library
My Rating: 3.5

Date Started: Jan 28, 2010
Date Finished: Feb 3, 2010


My Comments:
I wanted to like this one so much more than I did.. It just seemed a little jumpy to me (going from one character or couple to another)

I enjoyed the story between Seth and Reba and even enjoyed the ending between Reba and her sister, Vicki.. But I felt the argument's between Seth's children's grandparents were a little on the dull side and didn't really seem needed to tell the main story.. It was just a filler.


Description from the publisher:

Seth Webster's heart never healed after he lost his adored wife. Now, with Christmas approaching, wild twin boys to raise alone, a home in chaos, and the latest in a long line of exasperated housekeepers quitting in disgust, Seth needs more than help to keep his family togethe...he needs a miracle.

And then a miracle arrives on his doorstep. Her name is Mrs. Merkle, but the kids call her "Mrs. Miracle"--and from the moment the warm, knowing, and very patient nanny appears, everything is different. Her sassy spirit is infectious, and it gives Seth the courage to approach Reba, a beautiful travel agent who's been hurt and betrayed, and is afraid to ever love again. Through the magic of faith--and with a little help from a children's Christmas pageant and a lot of encouragement from Mrs. Miracle--Seth and Reba might just be able to find a Christmas miracle of their very own: true love

Book Number in 2010: 6

Author: Debbie Macomber
Title: Mail-Order Bride (short story in Small Town Christmas)

Series: Stand Alone
Genre: Holiday Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 174

Book From: Library
My Rating: 3.5

Date Started: Jan 26, 2010
Date Finished: Jan 28, 2010


My Comments:
This one was very cute, but on the silly side.. It held my attention, but didn't have me running back to read more.

I felt the ending was cut a little short as well.. I would've liked to get a little deeper into how things ended up.


Description from the publisher:
Caroline Myers had been eighteen when she'd discovered how potent her great-grandfather's recipe for "tea" was. So, when her two maiden aunts suggested a vacation to Alaska, Caroline was certain they'd overindulged in the family brew. Why go now - especially after she'd just been jilted by her erstwhile fiance?

But Caroline didn't know that her well-meaning relatives had cooked up a scheme - they'd decided that becoming a mail-order bride for rugged Alaskan Paul Trevor would be perfect for Caroline. And, after gazing into Paul's dark eyes, Caroline had to agree...and wonder if she’d just found a more potent elixir than Grandfather’s tea could ever be.

Book Number in 2010: 5

Author: Debbie Macomber
Title: Return to Promise

Series: 8th in Heart of Texas
Genre: Holiday Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 197

Book From: Library
My Rating: 4

Date Started: Jan 24, 2010
Date Finished: Jan 26, 2010


My Comments:
Debbie Macomber is quickly becoming my new favorite author!! I want to devour all her books as fast as I can!  But I won't because her books need to be savored.. And I wouldn't want to get "burn-out". .  But I do plan to read a couple more of her holiday books still before getting on to other authors/books this year.  :)

THis story would've been even more enjoyable had I read the rest of the series first.. but that is my fault :(


Description from the publisher:

The town of Promise, Texas, is a good place to live, to raise a family, to spend the rest of your days with the person you love.

Cal Patterson and his wife, Jane — also known as Dr. Texas — certainly think so. The last thing they expect is a threat to their marriage. But in September, disagreements begin to escalate — with the "help" of an attractive young woman who's got her eye on Cal.

After months of emotional upheaval brought on by doubts about the marriage, the two separate, and Jane returns to her childhood home in California, taking their children.

Cal, now alone on his ranch, is forced to confront what he really wants in his life, what he needs. Jane is confronting the same questions....

How seriously does Cal take his marriage vows? And how important is Promise to Jane? Is there hope for a reconciliation — in time for Christmas?

Book Number in 2010: 4

Author: Debbie Macomber
Title: Can This Be Christmas

Series: Stand Alone
Genre: Holiday Romance
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 91

Book From: Library
My Rating: 5

Date Started: Jan 22, 2010
Date Finished: Jan 24, 2010


My Comments:
A group of strangers all aboard a train heading from Bangor, ME to Boston, MA are stranded in a train depot in a small NH town during a bad snow storm on Christmas Eve..

Each person (or couple) is on their way to spend the holidays with family and special friends... All have their own set of troubles that make them all nervous and/or short tempered.  But as the day wears into evening they begin to connect to each other and make things better as best they can by coming up with ideas to cheer up the kids and cure the boredom.

I loved this story! Feel connected to all of the characters in a special way :)



Description from the publisher:

In this short hardcover, Debbie Macomber shows how a group of train travelers stranded in a New Hampshire depot on Christmas Eve find the true meaning of Christmas. Len Dawber, a navy man stationed in Maine, is desperate to get home to Texas, where he intends to propose to his sweetheart Amy. Cathy Norris, devastated by her husband's recent death, doesn't expect to enjoy the holiday with her daughter's family in Boston. Burned-out computer salesman Matt McHugh, emotionally estranged from his wife and two kids, nurses his resentment and contemplates divorce. Kelly and Nick Berry fear they're losing the closeness they once shared as they struggle to adjust to their new roles as adoptive parents. When a blizzard forces these characters, and several others, all cranky and argumentative, to spend the night before Christmas together, they find that a little kindness and the courage to open their hearts go a long way toward making it a Christmas to remember. A good choice if you're looking to get in the Christmas spirit.

Book Number in 2010: 3

Author: Debbie Macomber
Title: The Perfect Christmas

Series: Stand Alone
Genre: Holiday Romance
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 232

Book From: Library
My Rating: 4.5

Date Started: Jan 18, 2010
Date Finished: Jan 21, 2010


My Comments:
Adorable, yet predictable, sweet holiday romance story..

This was my first book by this author and I plan to read many many more if they are all written with the same friendly style. I found myself sucked in to Cassie's world and dreams for finding the perfect man and perfect Christmas.  The story made me laugh, smile and even cry with Cassie.  :)


Description from the publisher:

WHAT WOULD MAKE YOUR CHRISTMAS PERFECT?

For Cassie Beaumont, it's meeting her perfect match. Cassie, at thirty-three, wants a husband and kids, and so far, nothing's worked. Not blind dates, not the Internet and certainly not leaving love to chance.

What's left? A professional matchmaker. He's Simon Dodson, and he's very choosy about the clients he takes on. Cassie finds Simon a difficult, acerbic know-it-all, and she's astonished when he accepts her as a client.

Claiming he has her perfect mate in mind, Simon assigns her three tasks to complete before she meets him. Three tasks that are all about Christmas: being a charity bell ringer, dressing up as Santa's elf at a children's party and preparing a traditional turkey dinner for her neighbors (whom she happens to dislike). Despite a number of comical mishaps, Cassie does it all --- and she's finally ready to meet her match.

But just like the perfect Christmas gift, he turns out to be a wonderful surprise!

Book Number in 2010: 2

Author: Christie Ridgway
Title: Not Another New Year's

Series: 2nd in Must Have Mistletoe
Genre: Holiday Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 353

Book From: Library
My Rating: 3

Date Started: Jan 6, 2010
Date Finished: Jan 18, 2010


My Comments:
Again I would've loved this book too if not for the overly sexual parts.. However, this one was not nearly as bad as the first one.

This book had two stories going on at once.. Two brothers who fall in love with women who look enough alike to be twins.. which gets one of them in a bit of trouble.

Most of the story I kept losing focus, but there was a lot of good in this story too.. I am glad I stuck with it until the end.


Description from the publisher:

After all, this year brought Hannah Davis nothing but the memory of her wandering fiance marrying someone else behind her back. Now, sitting alone at a bar in Coronado, California, on December 31, she decides to do something radical . . . and lets a brooding good-looker take her to bed. But when a hysterical woman bursts into their room "much" too early on New Year's Day, Hannah realizes this guy's more complicated than she thought . . .

Ex-Secret Service Agent Tanner Hart screwed up, big-time! Hoping to temporarily boot some of the ghosts from his life, he hooked up with this sexy stranger for a hot one-night stand--only to discover she's the woman he's agreed to protect . . . from men just like him!

But a new year is a time for fresh beginnings. Despite the danger, the hoopla, and the hangovers, if Hannah's brave enough to risk her heart again--and Tanner's wise enough to realize he deserves it--maybe this one "will" be different.

Book Number in 2010:  1

Author: Christie Ridgway
Title: Must Love Mistletoe

Series: 1st in Must Have Mistletoe

Genre: Holiday Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 358

Book From: Library
My Rating: 3

Date Started: Jan 1, 2010
Date Finished: Jan 5, 2010


My Comments:
I would've loved this book if not for all the sexual stuff.. I'm not a prude, but this was worse than any book I've in a long long time (maybe ever!)  Every single page had some sort of sexy going on.. It's just not my idea of entertainment.. especially holiday entertainment..

I really loved the characters and the plot besides that and would've enjoyed learning more about them and not just their dirty minds :(




Description from the publisher:

Bailey Sullivan can't stand Christmas, even though her family's business is a store specializing in the perfect holiday. But now her hometown's chief supplier of rooftop Rudolphs and treetop angels is in danger of going under--it's up to Bailey to save the shop.

She has it all planned: She'll arrive on December 1 and be gone by Christmas. Plus there's always spiked eggnog to ease the pain. But "Humbug" Bailey's not the only one home for the holidays. Finn Jacobson--legendary local bad boy-turned-Secret Service agent "and" Bailey's long-lost high-school sweetheart--is once again the boy next door. Only this time he's "all grown up," and the sparks are flying faster and hotter than ever

Bailey believes in true love about as much as she believes in Santa Claus. But as the holiday draws closer, she's starting to think about one thing she'd like to find under her tree . .

Book Number in 2009: 87

Author: Livia J. Washburn
Title: The Christmas Cookie Killer

Series: 3rd in A Fresh-Baked Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: Trade Size Paperback
Pages: 266

Book From: Library
My Rating: 4.5

Date Started: Dec 29, 2009
Date Finished: Dec 31, 2009


My Comments:
I love this series so much.. I love these characters.. I find myself completely drawn into their world.

Four retired school teachers all live together in a big house... Some widowed, some divorced.. 3 women/1 man and 2 are cooks who like to compete against each other in various cooking contests throughout the year.  :)

In this book the cooking contest is for cookies.. Sure did make my mouth water!!


I also tried the recipe for corn bread that was used in the story for their Christmas diner.. it was so good that my family was fighting over leftovers ahead of time ;)



Description from the publisher:

It's Christmastime in Weatherford, Texas, and retired teacher-cum-amateur sleuth Phyllis Newsom is looking forward to finishing up what has been one unlucky year. But she won't be hanging up her apron quite yet, because this year's Christmas bake-off is going to be cutthroat.

Phyllis would like to think she's just entering the Christmas cookie contest for fun. But that's not exactly true. She's can't imagine anyone beating her delicate, snowflake-shaped lime sugar cookies--although her friend Carolyn's pecan shortbread, along with her neighbor Mrs. Simmons's gingerdoodles, might give her a run for her money.

Then, after her annual Christmas cookie exchange, Phyllis heads over to elderly Mrs. Simmons's home and finds the poor thing in a pile of lime sugar cookies, strangled by the belt of her own bathrobe. With a number of names on Santa's naughty list, this case is a cookie Phyllis means to crumble..

Book Number in 2009: 86

Author: Linda Howard, Joan Hohl, Sandra Steffen
Title: Delivered by Christmas

Series: Stand Alone
Genre: Holiday Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 377

Book From: Library
My Rating: 3

Date Started: Dec 23, 2009
Date Finished: Dec 29, 2009


My Comments:
It was the last story "A Christmas to Treasure" by Sandra Steffen that saved this book from total disaster for me..


The first two "Bluebird Winter" by Linda Howard and "The Gift of Joy" by Joan Hohl I found to be just too much, too quick and not believable..  My least favorite being "Bluebird Winter".. What a shock to me that the author I read the book for was the one I enjoyed the least :(

Sandra Steffen was great though and I intend to look her up! :)


Description from the publisher:

A reissue of Linda Howard's Bluebird Winter coupled with two beautiful, brand new stories all about Christmas deliveries, husbands, babies and families! This heartwarming collection is guaranteed to bring Christmas cheer to you and your customers!

Book Number in 2009: 85

Author: Maggie Sefton
Title: Fleece Navidad

Series: 6th in A Knitting Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 265

Book From: Library
My Rating: 4.5

Date Started: Dec 17, 2009
Date Finished: Dec 22, 2009


My Comments:
What's not to love about this amazing series??  I was a little shocked at some of the changes made in the story since the last book (9 months had passed in their world)

I enjoyed the holiday theme and I am looking forward to trying the gingersnap cookie recipe.. I also got a big kick out of the silly ending about who made the fudge.. When I looked at the recipe pages after finishing the story I actually scared my sleeping dog when I let out a loud giggle :)

Can't wait to visit my Lambspun friends again soon!!! :)


Description from the publisher:

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas for the knitters of Fort Connor, Colorado, who are furiously working on their holiday projects. Juliet, the town's "little brown wren" librarian, is known for her beautiful handmade Christmas capes, and she has extra reason to be joyful this year—she's in love. But as soon as she finds happiness, death finds her.

Suspicion falls on a newcomer to the knitting group, but Kelly Flynn and the rest of the crew aren't convinced of this person's guilt. It's up to them to separate the true lion from the lambs—before someone else gets fleeced.

Book Number in 2009: 84

Author: Greg Kincaid
Title: A Dog Named Christmas

Series: 1st in series
Genre: Holiday fiction
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 143

Book From: Library
My Rating: 4

Date Started: Dec 15, 2009
Date Finished: Dec 16, 2009


My Comments:
I read this book because I saw the Hallmark movie and always tend to enjoy books more than the movies.. This one didn't disappoint.  The movie was made very close to the book... only a few things were changed slightly.. However, there was one change that I felt was major to the story and that was the way the father (main character) was portrayed.  In the movie he came off as being rough, not really willing to give in much even to the point of rudeness.  In the book he was much more laid back and willing to agree to things.

In any case, I am glad I read the book :)



Description from the publisher:

In this heartwarming novel, author Greg Kincaid tells the tender story of how one very special dog changed the lives of his adoptive family—and an entire town—forever.


“Todd, they always want you to adopt a dog. That’s what they do. Besides, we don’t need another animal around here, and most definitely not a dog.”
When Todd McCray, a developmentally challenged young man still living on his parents’ Kansas farm, hears that a local animal shelter is seeking temporary homes for its dogs during the days leading to Christmas, he knows exactly what he wants for the holidays. His father objects, but Todd’s persistence quickly wins out. Soon the McCrays are the short-term foster family for a lovable pooch the young man names Christmas.

But what about all the other dogs who will be forced to spend the Yuletide season in cages? In the days that follow, Todd uses his special gifts of persuasion to encourage his hometown to participate in the “Adopt a Dog for Christmas Program.” What follows from his small act of kindness will teach his family, and his community, about peace on earth and good will toward men—and animals

Book Number in 2009: 83

Author: Heather Graham
Title: Home in Time for Christmas

Series: Stand Alone
Genre: Holiday Romance, Paranormal
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 330

Book From: Library
My Rating: 4.5

Date Started: Dec 13, 2009
Date Finished: Dec 15, 2009


My Comments:
Heather Graham is up there with my all time favorite authors.. When I read her stories I get so lost in the characters and their worlds that I almost forget to come up for air!!

I'm glad I chose this book for the last few days, I wasn't feeling well and it really helped me to get lost for a little while..

Melody and Jake were quite the unusual couple.. I don't normally read books about time travel, but this one worked so well for a holiday story. Jake was to be hanged in 1776, but his sister, Serena, used magic and a portal to send him to modern times where he met Melody and fell in love with her while trying to get back "home" to his sister.

Very good read!! :)


Description from the publisher:

Centuries ago, by a scaffold in Manhattan, rose petals drifted gently to the ground......like snow on a wintry Massachusetts night. Melody Tarleton is driving home for Christmas when a man--clad in Revolutionary War-era costume--appears out of nowhere, right in the path of her car. Shaken, she takes in the injured stranger, listening with concern to Jake Mallory's fantastic claim that he's a Patriot soldier, sentenced to death by British authorities. The last thing he remembers is the tug of the noose.

Safe at her parents' house, Melody concocts a story to explain the handsome holiday guest with the courtly manners, strange clothes and nasty bump on the head. Mark, her close friend who wishes he were more, is skeptical and her family is fascinated--though not half so fascinated as Melody herself. Jake is passionate, charming and utterly unlike anyone she's ever met. Can he really be who he claims? And can a man from the distant past be the future she truly longs for?

With the aid of enchanted petals, ancient potions and the peculiar magic of the season, Melody and Jake embark on an unimaginable Christmas adventure--and discover a love that transcends time

Book Number in 2009: 82

Author: Joanne Fluke
Title: Plum Pudding Murder

Series: 12th in Hannah Swensen Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 285

Book From: Library
My Rating: 5

Date Started: Dec 9, 2009
Date Finished: Dec 13, 2009


My Comments:
I already can't wait for the next book!  Fluke just has me so addicted :)

I'm still pulling for Norman.. And I'm slightly annoyed that Mike didn't get a good talking to for his actions in the last book lol

Moishe had me laughing my butt off with all his tree climbing, ornament hunting and ribbon chasing :)  Love that cat! 


Description from the publisher:

Holiday business is booming at Hannah Swenson's Cookie Jar pastry shop, but the mysterious murder of "Lunatic Larry" Jaeger puts a serious crimp in the season of good cheer.

From the looks of it, Larry had as many enemies as Hannah's sugar cookies have sprinkles. With the 12 days of Christmas ticking down and cookie orders piling up, tracking down the killer won't be easy.

A clever whodunit with pastry recipe dividends

Book Number in 2009: 81

Author: Suzanne Brockmann
Title: Otherwise Engaged

Series: 3rd in Sunrise Key Trilogy
Genre: Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 291

Book From: Library
My Rating: 5

Date Started: Dec 8, 2009
Date Finished: Dec 9, 2009


My Comments:
This book was slightly different than the first two books in the trilogy, but equally great!!!

In this bok the island's billionaire, Prescott Seaholm, falls for the newest resident, Molly Cassidey, and her 10-yr old son, Zander who is hearing impaired.

Wow, what a story!! Kept me flipping those pages quickly right through to the end.. I am really sad that there are no more to this series, But now Suzanne Brockmann has made her way to the top of my list of favorite authors for sure!  I can't wait to read more by her sometime very soon..


Description from the publisher:

A woman convinced she must choose between the sensual and the sensible, between romance and reality. A man who settled for nothing less than having it all. A powerful novel of second chances, last chances, and a relationship that almost wasn’t—by New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann…

It was the chance Molly Cassidy was waiting for and she wasn’t letting it slip away. She’d unexpectedly inherited the Kirk Estate and was determined to restore the historic house as one of Sunrise Key’s finest bed-and-breakfasts. Of all the obstacles she faced, the biggest challenge was the man determined to buy the roof from over her head. Sexy billionaire Preston Seaholm owned the biggest resort in the little Florida community. But Molly knew well that the best things in life couldn’t be bought or sold. She had come to Sunrise Key with a dream, her ten-year-old son, and no intention of falling for a thrill-seeking adventurer. But from the moment they met, when he risked his own neck to save hers, Pres Seaholm proved he wasn’t the man Molly thought he was. Now, with something even more precious on the line, was she too late to recognize that he was the man she’d given up ever finding?

Book Number in 2009: 80

Author: Suzanne Brockmann
Title: The Kissing Game

Series: 2nd in The Sunrise Key Trilogy
Genre: Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 277

Book From: Library
My Rating: 4

Date Started: Dec 5, 2009
Date Finished: Dec 8, 2009


My Comments:
I'm really glad I decided to try this author, she has captured my attention completely through the first 2 books of this trilogy and I've already started the 3rd book as I'm writing this.. I just could not wait!!

Frankie and Simon knew each other as kids.. Frankie was Simon's  younger sister's best friend.. They secretly loved each other all along and it was such a sweet story watching it unfold.  :)


Description from the publisher:

A Florida beauty who hides her stunning good looks. A childhood friend who’s made a career of seduction. A thrilling story of mystery, secrets, and romance—as only New York Times bestselling author Suzanne Brockmann can tell it…

Sunrise Key native and aspiring private investigator Frankie Paresky has her first bona fide case—a client has hired her to find the missing heir to a priceless property. But there’s one complication: Simon Hunt, her best friend’s brother and a notorious heart-breaker, insists on being Frankie’s assistant. For Frankie, even Simon’s street-smart know-how isn’t worth the cost of dealing with his distracting good looks and overactive libido. But Simon’s on a mission to prove he’s not the man Frankie thinks he is. The truth is, he’s been dreaming about Frankie since they were teenagers, and not one woman on his endless list of conquests has managed to stop him. But he needs to work fast. Because the real Frankie—every gorgeous inch of her—isn’t under wraps anymore, and a stranger is already moving in.

Book Number in 2009: 79

Author: Suzanne Brockmann
Title: Kiss and Tell

Series: 1st in Sunrise Key Trilogy
Genre: Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 278

Book From: Library
My Rating: 5

Date Started: Dec 2, 2009
Date Finished: Dec 5, 2009


My Comments:
Oh what a sweet story!  Like a reverse Cinderella :)

Leila was dressed as Cinderella for a New Year's Eve party in her hometown of Sunrise Key Florida.. At midnight a ninja kissed her and she spent her 2 week vacation finding this ninja who we knew all along was her brother's best friend, Marsh.. But Marsh and Leila had a long, long history of arguing about everything from the color of the sky to a song on the radio.. so she never even gave him a thought as being "her ninja".

I loved every second of this book and am continuing with the trilogy right away :)



Description from the publisher:

When Leila Hunt is swept off her feet by a ninja at a New Year's Eve costume party, she has no idea who the masked man is—but after he disappears into the night, she’s determined to find him. When the clock struck twelve, what began as a friendly New Year's greeting quickly became the most unforgettable kiss Leila had ever experienced with anyone—including her absent boyfriend. But of all the possible suspects, Leila hardly imagines that the ninja is the same man who’s teased, tormented—and secretly intrigued her—since childhood.

Marshall Devlin is finally ready to face the terrifying truth: he’s in love with his best friend’s sister, and has been for years. There’s just one complication: Leila didn't know he was her ninja. To win her, Marsh will have to woo her. But can he make Leila forget their decades of verbal sparring in time to stop her from making the biggest mistake of her life?

Book Number in 2009: 78

Author: Maggie Sefton
Title: Dyer Consequences

Series: 5th in A Knitting Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 289

Book From: Library
My Rating: 5

Date Started: Nov 29, 2009
Date Finished: Dec 2, 2009


My Comments:
So much fun to go back to Colorado with Kelly Flynn and her gang of amazing friends!! I always feel like they could be my friends too :)

This book had me on the edge of my seat a few times and laughing out loud even more :) so much fun and suspense packed into this series.. Can not wait for the next (6th) book!


Description from the publisher:

Kelly Flynn is eager to renovate the alpaca ranch she's just bought, but someone else has different ideas for keeping her busy, which seem to include slashing tires, cracking windshields, and covering the walls of her cottage with red paint. Then her local yarn shop, House of Lambspun, is trashed and a young woman is found dead in the basement, drowned in a tub of dye. As disturbing incidents continue to pile up, Kelly knows she must try to pick up the stitches of these crimes before a killer strikes again. But she can't fathom what anyone at Lambspun could have done to invite such dyer consequences

Book Number in 2009: 77

Author: Krista Davis
Title: The Diva Runs Out of Thyme

Series: 1st in A Domestic Diva Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 286

Book From: Library
My Rating: 5

Date Started: Nov 24, 2009
Date Finished: Nov 28, 2009


My Comments:
I love Sophie and ALL her gang!! :)  What a crazy bunch lol She had so many people staying with her for Thanksgiving weekend: Her parents, her sister, her sister's fiance, her ex-husband's mother!  Along with her dog, Daisey and her new kitten Mochie :)  And a whole slew of nutty neighbors and friends dropping by constantly as well.

 I had no clue whodunit and had an absolute blast reading my way through to find out :)

Can not wait to read the next one!!!


Description from the publisher:

Gracious living can be murder. First in an all-new mystery series? includes delicious recipes and great tips on entertaining!

Few can compete with Natasha Smith when it comes to entertaining, but her childhood rival, Sophie Winston, certainly tries. Natasha may have stolen the spotlight?and Sophie?s husband?but Sophie is determined to rob her of the prize for the Stupendous Stuffing Shakedown. She just needs the right ingredient.

But Sophie?s search for the perfect turkey takes a basting when she stumbles across a corpse. And when the police find her name and photo inside the victim?s car, Sophie will have to set her trussing aside to solve the murder?or she?ll be serving up prison grub.

Book Number in 2009: 76

Author: MaryJanice Davidson
Title: Sleeping with the Fishes

Series: 1st in the Mermaid series
Genre: Paranormal?
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 268

Book From: Library
My Rating: 3

Date Started: Nov 22, 2009
Date Finished: Nov 24, 2009


My Comments:
I'm not even sure what to say about this book!! :)  I didn't love it, but I didn't hate it either.. It was very odd, but still sort of addicting at the same time.. I couldn't stop reading, but found myself wondering why LOL

I enjoyed that the story took place in Boston and the aquarium :) I loved that the city I grew up in got it's own little mention in the middle of the story in reference to some "random ass-kicking" ;)  Wonder what that says about our reputation? :)

I enjoyed it enough to want to read more of the series at some point soon..

Description from the publisher:

Fred is not your ordinary mermaid. She's not blonde. She's not buxom. And she's definitely not perky. In fact, Fred can be downright cranky. And it doesn't help matters that her hair is blue. While volunteering at the New England Aquarium, Fred learns that there are weird levels of toxins in the local seawater. A gorgeous marine biologist wants her help investigating. So does her merperson ruler, the High Prince of the Black Sea. You'd think it would be easy for a mermaid to get to the bottom of things. Think again

Book Number in 2009: 75

Author: Joanne Fluke
Title: Cream Puff Murder

Series: 11th in Hannah Swensen Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 310

Book From: Library
My Rating: 4.5

Date Started: Nov 18, 2009
Date Finished: Nov 22, 2009


My Comments:
As usual I love this series, these characters and this author!!



********** Semi spoilers here... please don't look further if you want to be totally surprised about some things while I rant about my obsession of Norman and Mike********




My main obsession while reading this book was in trying to weigh the choice between Norman and Mike..

I've always been a Norman fan, but find myself moving closer and closer to totally disliking Mike for so many reasons.. He is blunt/bold and it comes off as insensitive at times.. He has a roaming eye and has now been proving a liar about it  (Sorry for the spoiler, but I just got so overly mad at the character ;) )  He is a bit conceited, a little selfish at times.. And for Hannah's feelings.. When she kisses MIke she says things to herself like "he's the best kisser in the state: and how she "gets tingles from her head to her toes"  that is lust, not love.  When she hugs Norman she thinks to herself how she feels so safe and loved.. isn't that what love should feel like?? The tingles will happen as their relationship grows :)  Norman always thinks of Hannah first.. Makes sure she has what she needs and feels comfortable.. Never forces his opinions on her. Mike is pushy and wants her to do things his way all of the time.  Mike does do some nice things too, but I feel as if he does them to burst his own ego and keep her hanging on or to choose him over Norman.  And he's usually the one who "saves" her in the end of the stories, but his "I love yous" feel empty after all the rest of the way he acts..




Description from the publisher:

Bakery owner Hannah Swensen has a dress to fit into and a date with her sister, Andrea, at Lake Eden's new health club, Heavenly Bodies. Dragging herself out of bed on a frigid Minnesota morning for exercise, of all things, is bad enough. Discovering the body of man-eating bombshell Ronni Ward floating in the gym's jacuzzi? Okay, that's worse. Nor does it help that there's a plate of The Cookie Jar's very own cream puffs garnishing the murder scene.

Trying to narrow the list of Ronni's enemies down to fewer than half the town's female population, Hannah has her plate full. Trouble is, when it comes to cookies—and to murder—there's always room for one more...

Book Number in 2009: 74

Author: Ginny Aiken
Title: Mixed Up with the Mob

Series: 2nd in the Mob Series
Genre: Christian, Romance, Suspense
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 249

Book From: Library
My Rating: 3.5

Date Started: Nov 13, 2009
Date Finished: Nov 18, 2009

My Comments:
I wasn't as happy with this book as I was with the other two in the series.. I found this one to be a little more "preachy" and felt a little forced.

I enjoyed Lauren and Mark and David and his Grandma Dottie.. I just felt a distance from the characters that I didn't feel in the other books


Description from the publisher:

Strange things were happening to Lauren DiStefano. Since her brother's funeral, a mysterious driver had tried to run her down, menacing mobsters threatened her and a handsome FBI agent saved her life. Something was seriously wrong, and Lauren feared for her life. As Lauren discovered her brother Ric had left behind a trail of treachery, lies and mob ties, Special Agent David Latham seemed determined to uncover the truth. Could she place her trust, her life--and her heart--in David's hands?

Book Number in 2009: 73

Author: Ginny Aiken
Title: Mistaken for the Mob

Series: 1st in Mob Series
Genre: Christian, Romance, Suspense
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 247

Book From: Library
My Rating: 4

Date Started: Nov 10, 2009
Date Finished: Nov 13, 2009


My Comments:
"Maryanne the library-Anne" was an awesome character!  She was sweet, but wouldn't let anyone walk all over her or her family.  She had an amazing relationship with her father and she was so caring and considerate towards others.. The kind of woman anyone would be so lucky to call a friend  :)

I thoroughly enjoyed her story and building relationship with J.Z. (the FBI agent who was tailing her)

Looking forward to reading the 2nd book in this trilogy next.. I wish I had read them in the proper order.. It was a little odd knowing that somethings would still happen in the 3rd book LOL




Description from the publisher:

Being mistaken for a gangster and accused of a series of murders she didn't commit was hardly the quiet life Maryanne Wellborn expected as a Philadelphia librarian. Who would have thought volunteering at her father's retirement home would be so complicated? When handsome but determined FBI agent J. Z. Prophet takes the case, Maryanne can tell he's prepared to bring her down -- or die trying. But then the "real" mob gets involved, and the situation turns deadly.

Book Number in 2009: 72

Author: Melinda Wells
Title: Death Takes the Cake

Series: 2nd in A Della Cooks Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 266

Book From: Library
My Rating: 4

Date Started: Nov 3, 2009
Date Finished: Nov 10, 2009


My Comments:
I really enjoy these cute cooking cozies!  :)  This is the 2nd in a cookie show mystery series.. In this book Della enters a cake cooking contest to help promote her new cable TV cooking show.

The characters in this series are all so fun.. and real.  I love that she has both a dog and a cat in the story as well :)  Makes for a friendly setting.  Looking forward to reading the 3rd book, The Proof is in the Pudding, really soon!


Description from the publisher:

To help boost ratings for her show, Della Carmichael agrees to enter a televised cake competition sponsored by Reggi-Mixx, even though the company's owner, Regina Davis, is an old college nemesis. When she finds someone drowned in a mixing bowl of batter, Della realizes solving this murder will be no cakewalk.

Book Number in 2009: 71

Author: Linda Palmer
Title: Love You Madly

Series: 3 in Daytime Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 307

Book From: Library
My Rating: 3.5

Date Started: Oct 30, 3009
Date Finished: Nov 3, 2009


My Comments:
I love the characters in this story :) and her kitten "Magic" is a cute addition..
And I hope we get to read more about Penny and her cooking show in the next book of the series..

I still don't know which of the 3 men in her life I like best!! No wonder she can't choose ;)

The only reason I gave this book a 3.5 and not a 4 is because I felt like parts of the story were a little long-winded and other parts a bit jumpy.. Both reasons made me lose focus a couple of times, but all-in-all I look forward to more Daytime Mysteries with Morgan Tyler :)




Description from the publisher:

Soap-opera producer Morgan Tyler is enlisted to investigate when a TV hunk is plagued by death threats and a secret stalker.

Book Number in 2009: 70

Author: MaryJanice Davidson
Title: Dead Over Heels

Series: Undead series (short story - in-between)
Genre: Paranormal
Format: Trade Size Paperback
Pages: 266

Book From: Library
My Rating: 3

Date Started: Oct 29, 2009
Date Finished: Oct 30, 2009


My Comments:
This book read incredibly fast!  I really enjoyed the Undead short story and look forward to reading more soon :)

The Mermaid story was interesting enough that I requested the first book in the series from the library :)  I've always loved the ocean..

The werewolf story however was cut too short and felt very rushed :(



Description from the publisher:

Three all-new paranormal stories of lust, laughter, and love from the New York Times bestselling author, including an original novella featuring Undead queen Betsy Taylor.

With her trademark "sassy dialogue, lusty lovemaking [and] irreverent humor"* New York Times bestselling author MaryJanice Davidson delighted fans with her wickedly sexy and wildly funny anthology, Dead and Loving It-stories in which the worlds of the Wyndham Werewolves and Undead Queens collided. Now she returns to that sensual and irresistible after-dark realm of werewolves, vampires, and mermaids in three more original novellas--including an all-new Betsy Taylor novella.

Book Number in 2009: 69

Author: Wendy Roberts
Title: Devil May Ride

Series: 2nd in A Ghost Dusters Mystery
Genre: Paranormal, Mystery
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 272

Book From: Library
My Rating: 4.5

Date Started: Oct 27, 2009
Date Finished: Oct 29, 2009


My Comments:
Wow what a story!  I am normally not one for reading anything gory and the details of crime scenes can be quite nasty in this series!  However, this 2nd book was not as bad as the 1st book was.

Wendy Roberts is an amazing writer! I am so glad I decided to just go ahead with this series anyway :)  The story has everything from mystery to paranormal, humor, emotions and even a romance! The characters are so easy to connect too.. I find myself really drawn to their lives and want to read the in the series right away. :)

It also really makes you think about what it must be like to clean up after any death :'(



Description from the publisher:

When Sadie and her sexy partner Zack stumble on evidence of a chilling cult ritual in an abandoned meth lab, Sadie comes face to face with an evil spirit unlike any she’s ever seen before. And it’s no coincidence that a bundle of stolen cash turns up at her next crime scene just in time to convince a biker gang that Sadie made off with their money. She knows the threads are connected—but how?

Book Number in 2009: 68

Author: Ginny Aiken
Title: Married to the Mob

Series: 3rd in Mob series
Genre: Christian, Romance, Suspense
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 249

Book From: Library
My Rating: 4

Date Started: Oct 22, 2009
Date Finished: Oct 26, 2009


My Comments:
There were times I felt like I was missing something, but that was my own fault.. This book was 3rd in a series that had connected characters, though the main characters/couple were different for each story.

I enjoyed it enough to want to read the previous two books in the series really soon!  :)

Carlie and Dan had a fun relationship with lots of comical moments..  Great story and looking forward to more by this author now.  :)


Description from the publisher:
A spitfire wife of a recently slain mob boss was much more than FBI agent Dan Maddox had bargained for when he signed on to protect Carlotta Papparelli. After turning state's evidence, Carlie was at the top of the mob's hit list, and it was up to Dan to keep her alive long enough to testify. From the streets of Philly to the sun-drenched Florida coast, Dan and Carlie were running for their lives, and only their faith in each other--and the Lord--would keep them safe..

Book Number in 2009: 67

Author: Elizabeth Lenhard
Title: Chicks with Sticks

Series: 1st in Chicks with Sticks series
Genre: Young Adult
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 247

Book From: Library
My Rating: 3.5

Date Started: Oct 16, 2009
Date Finished: Oct 22, 2009


My Comments:
This was a cute teen story about life and friendship..

Four very different girls come together and help each other with their lives.. all bound by their common love of knitting.

Was a little predictable for me, but still a very cute read and I do hope to read more of the series someday. :)



Description from the publisher:

Scottie's life is changing, and not for the better. She feels like she's losing her best friend, Amanda, and her mom has morphed into the new It girl of Chicago's art world. It feels just like the bottom is about to drop out of her world completely, and then she's thrown a cashmerino lifeline when she discovers KnitWit, her local yarn store. There she and Amanda meet new friends Bella and Tay, and soon all four girls are bound together by their yen for yarn and their hunger for friendship. Soon the stitches and the friendships become so intertwined, it's hard to remember which came first--the girls or the purls.

Book Number in 2009: 66

Author: Maggie Sefton
Title: Dying to Sell

Series: 1st in series
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: Hardcover
Pages: 241

Book From: Library
My Rating: 3.5

Date Started: Oct 9, 2009
Date Finished: Oct 16, 2009


My Comments:
Although not as good as her knitting series, this book was still very pleasurable to read.  I enjoyed the character of Kate.  :)

The one thing that did annoy me a bit was all the similarities to the knitting series characters and settings.. :(



Description from the publisher:

Real estate agent Kate Doyle knew divorce was messy especially when mixed with business, but she didn't expect it to be bloody. Kate agrees to sell the home of old friends who're locked in bitter wrangling and manages to keep the peace long enough to get signatures on contacts. She congratulates herself on what will be an easy sale in this upscale Colorado college town. However, Kate's celebration turns to horror when she walks into the lawyer-client's study to find him brutally murdered—stabbed in the throat.

"A crime of passion," say Kate's police detective brother-in-law. The prime suspect is Kate's close friend, the spurned wife, who begs Kate to help her.

Kate's meddling turns up some surprising suspects. The successful lawyer deceived numerous ex-lovers as well as his wife. He'd also played off one land developer against another, dangling a choice tract of land as bait. Businesses were ruined and fortunes lost. Had the loser taken revenge on the wily lawyer? Or had an ex-lover killed in jealous rage?

Kate's real estate license helps her dig into the clever lawyer's dealings as she sifts clues from cyber space to crawl space. Unfortunately, her snooping tempts the killer to exercise his own license—to kill

Book Number in 2009: 65

Author: Juliet Blackwell
Title: Secondhand Spirits

Series: 1st in A Witchcraft Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Paranormal
Format: Mass Market Paperback

Pages: 313

Book From: Library
My Rating: 4

Date Started: Oct 7, 2009
Date Finished: Oct 8, 2009


My Comments:
Lily Ivory is a witch that runs a new vintage clothing store in San Francisco... Her new "familiar" is a goblin/pot bellied pig, Oscar.  Bronwyn runs the herb counter in her story and Myra scouts for new clothing she can sell.

Aiden is a male witch who gives her Oscar and helps her with some magic.

Max is a man who doesn't believe in witchcraft or magic at all, but falls for Lily none-the-less.

A group of fun and entertaining characters made this book very interesting and kept me reading fast.  :)

Looking forward to reading the 2nd book of the series..



Description from the publisher:

Lily Ivory is not your average witch. Her spell-casting powers tend to draw mischievous spirits while keeping normal humans at a distance. But now her vintage clothing store could give her a chance to make friends in San Francisco....

Lily hopes for a normal life when she opens Aunt Cora's Closet. With her magical knack for vintage fashion -she can sense vibrations of the past from clothing and jewelry—her store becomes a big hit.

But when a client is murdered and children start disappearing from the Bay Area, Lily may be the only one who can unravel the crime. She tries to keep her identity a secret while investigating, but it's not easy—especially under the spells of sexy "mythbuster" Max Carmichael and powerful witch Aidan Rhodes. Will Lily's witchy ways be forced out of the closet?

Book Number in 2009: 64

Author: Christie Craig
Title: Gotcha!

Series: Stand Alone
Genre: Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 335

Book From: Library
My Rating: 5

Date Started: Oct 1, 2009
Date Finished: Oct 6, 2009


My Comments:
Awesome story telling in this one!!  Amazing :) Really great humor.. I spent half the book giggling at al the crazy/silly things Macy said to Jake.

The characters were all very loveable.. We had our main romance between Macy and Jake who is a detective who was trying to find her escaped convict brother, Billy..

Macy's mother had a little love story of her own with an injured prison guard. And Macy's brother had a romance with a woman he met by accident through prison mail.

I will be reading more of this author for sure!!  Great book!



Description from the publisher:

Macy Tucker was five years old when her beloved grandfather dropped dead in his spaghetti. At twelve, her father left his family in the dust. At twenty-five, her husband gave his secretary a pre-Christmas bonus in bed, and Macy gave him the boot. To put things lightly, men have been undependable.

That's why dating's off the menu. Macy is focused on law school, and putting herself through—which means being the delivery girl for Papa's Pizza. But cheesier than her job is her pie-eyed brother, who just recently escaped from prison to protect his new girlfriend. And hotter than Texas toast is the investigating detective. Proud, sexy...inflexible—he's a man who would kiss her just to shut her up. But Jake Baldwin's a protector as much as a dish. And when he gets his man—or his woman—Macy knows it's for life

Book Number in 2009: 63

Author: Kim Gruenenfelder
Title: A Total Waste of Makeup

Series: 1st in series
Genre: Chick Lit
Format: Trade Size Paperback
Pages: 359

Book From: Library
My Rating: 2

Date Started: Sept 27, 2009
Date Finished: Oct 1, 2009


My Comments:
There was some really funny parts to this, but unfortunately that seemed to be all there was to this book..

There didn't seem to be much of a point to the story at all.. I found some of the humor to be over dose to the point of distraction.. the story just didn't flow smoothly either..

I did enjoy some of the characters and the friendships between Charlie, Dawn and Kate.. Also between Charlie and Drew.. Drew was annoyingly charming.

Funniest part was an elephant named Cinderellaphant :)


Description from the publisher:

Charlize "Charlie" Edwards certainly knows, in theory, what it takes to lead a successful and happy life. She owns a nice house in Silverlake, LA's trendiest neighborhood. She has glamorous and loyal friends who accompany her to the hottest clubs in town. And she works as the personal assistant to Drew Stanton, Hollywood's sexiest movie star. But she's also turning 30, chronically single, and faced with serving as maid of honor at her younger sister's wedding. Charlie finds herself struggling to juggle the chaos of wedding planning (while wondering if she'll ever wear the white dress herself), her all-consuming job for lunatic boss Stanton, and a serious crush on Jordan, a photographer on the set of Drew's latest feature--a man who might actually return her feelings. A page-turner from start to finish, A Total Waste of Makeup puts a fresh face on women's fiction.

Book Number in 2009: 62

Author: Linda Goodnight
Title: The Millionaire's Nanny Arrangement

Series: Baby on Board
Genre: Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 241

Book From: Library
My Rating: 4

Date Started: Sept 24, 2009
Date Finished: Sept 27, 2009


My Comments:
Awww.. Such sweet story telling!  Kelsey was an enjoyable character.. A recently widowed and pregnant out of work teacher who meets Ryan and Mariah (his daughter) in an airport waiting area.  Mariah decides to "interview" Kelsey for the job of being her "nanny/tutor" .. And being the sweet romances that these books are of course this is what end ups happening! ;)

Very cute story and an enjoyable escape on a cold, rainy day..


Description from the publisher:

A super successful businessman, the only thing Ryan Storm can't quite get a handle on is his daughter, Mariah. All she really wants is a mom. So he hires the next best thing.... Pregnant, widowed Kelsey Mason isn't Ryan's idea of the perfect nanny, but little Mariah bonds with her straightaway.Even Ryan starts to fall under Kelsey's spell as she tempts the workaholic to take time off to enjoy his family--a family that might grow into something even more special if Ryan can open his heart again...

Book Number in 2009: 61

Author: Jackie Braun
Title: Expecting a Miracle

Series: Baby on Board
Genre: Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 243

Book From: Library
My Rating: 5

Date Started: Sept 22, 2009
Date Finished: Sept 23, 2009


My Comments:
This story was amazing and I don;t even want to give it back to the library!

The ending had me smiling through my tears :)  Can't ask for anything more in a romance than that!

Lauren and Gavin were such a sweet couple..


Description from the publisher:

When Lauren Seville unexpectedly finds herself pregnant, it's the end of life as she knows it...and the beginning of everything she's dreamed of.But when she finds the perfect place for her soon-to-be family of two, she is blindsided by her anything-but-maternal attraction to her sexy new landlord.

From the minute Lauren moves into the cottage on his estate, she arouses Gavin O'Donnell's fiercest protective instincts. And as her delivery date nears, the independent mother-to-be awakens something else in the real-estate tycoon: his yearning to be a daddy

Book Number in 2009: 60

Author: Barbara Hannay
Title: Adopted: Outback Baby

Series: Baby on Board
Genre: Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 241

Book From: Library
My Rating: 3.5

Date Started: Sept 17, 2009
Date Finished: Sept 22, 2009


My Comments:Cute, sweet story about a couple who's parents tore them apart as teenagers and forced them to give up their baby.

Now 20 years later they each learn their daughter has passed away leaving an infant behind..


Description from the publisher:

And baby makes three...
Nell Ruthven thought she'd missed her chance to be a mom when, at age nineteen, she was forced to give up her baby for adoption. Now Nell's discovered she has a tiny grandson in need of care. And her teenage sweetheart, cattleman Jacob Tucker, is in town....
At thirty-nine, this couple never thought they'd be parents, let alone grandparents! They never even thought they'd see each other again. But taking care of baby Sam gives them a second chance - maybe even a second chance to fall in love....

Book Number in 2009: 59

Author: Judy Christenberry
Title: Coming Home to the Cattleman

Series: Western Weddings
Genre: Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 241

Book From: Library
My Rating: 4.5

Date Started: Sept 16, 2009
Date Finished: Sept 17, 2009


My Comments:
Judy Christenberry has such an amazing way with her characters.. I feel all wrapped up in a warm blanket while reading :)  She creates these beautiful worlds for us to imagine.. mostly life on a ranch!  Her words flow so easily across the pages that you are finished before you even know it!


Jenny comes home to the ranch she was born and raised on until she was 8 years old, when her high society mother whisked her away from her father and the ranch she loved so much.  Now at 26, she longs to reconnect with her father and rediscover the beauty of the land.. Never imagining she would fall for the smart mouth partner, Jason, that her father took on to help him in his dark years alone without his daughter.

We also got the bonus romance of Sam, Jenny's father, and his housekeeper of 26 years, Rachel.

So two beautiful weddings and lots of emotional tears later, I am happy to say I adored this story, these characters and this author!!  :)


Description from the publisher:

Jenny has distant, happy memories of her long-lost dad, and has finally gained the confidence to find him. Only one man stands in her way: the aloof and brooding Jason Welborn--her dad's business partner. And it's clear he's not happy she's come home....Jason's convinced this city girl has only come to claim her share in the business, and then hotfoot it back to the Big Apple. But Jenny seems determined to win him over, and the more he tries to push her away, the more feisty Jenny's response becomes. Slowly but surely she's starting to get under Jason's skin....

Book Number in 2009: 58

Author: Margaret Way
Title: Cattle Rancher, Secret Son

Series: Stand Alone
Genre: Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 250

Book From: Library
My Rating: 3

Date Started: Sept 11, 2009
Date Finished: Sept 15, 2009


My Comments:
I feel this story was cut way too short.. There were 3 romances in the story and just not enough words to fully develop each character.  It made me feel rushed and not connecting well with them.

The stories themselves could have been really great with a little more time on each.. I enjoyed Cal and Gina and their son Robbie.. I loved Meredith and Steven but wanted so much more!  I would have enjoyed knowing more of the story for Edward and Rose as well.. That story was hardly told at all..


Description from the publisher:

He's the toast of Australian society...Cattleman Cal McKendrick is under pressure from his family to produce an heir for the magnificent McKendrick homestead that lies deep in the Outback. Then he discovers he's already a father

She's the mother of the son he never knew he had

Gina Romano had loved Cal with all her soul. But in her heart she'd known she'd never be good enough for him or his society family--so she'd kept her pregnancy secret. Now that Cal knows the truth, he demands she marry him. But Gina wants Cal's love, not just to be his convenient bride...

Book Number in 2009: 57

Author: Melinda Wells
Title: Killer Mousse

Series: 1st in Della Cooks Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 293

Book From: Library
My Rating: 4.5

Date Started: Sept 7, 2009
Date Finished: Sept 11, 2009


My Comments:
This was a really good and really cute mystery!  I had guessed the outcome, but never knew for sure until it was revealed..

I loved Della and her cooking show!! That was so much fun :) And Tuffy the poodle and Emma the cat were great side kicks!  Eileen, a college student that she had practically raised herself was a great addition to the cast and I hope to see more of her in future books..

 I can not wait to read the next one!!!


Description from the publisher:

Meet Della Carmichael, owner of a cooking school in Santa Monica, California, and, as of this week, star of a brand-new cable cooking show. But she's about to add another credit to her résumé: suspect.

Book Number in 2009: 56

Author: Millie Criswell
Title: Asking for Trouble

Series: Stand Alone
Genre: Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 377

Book From: Library
My Rating: 4

Date Started: Sept 2, 2009
Date Finished: Sept 9, 2009


My Comments:
A very fast read with cute characters.. However parts of the story felt a little awkward at times, but not enough to stop me!

I enjoyed the setting in a PA B&B.  I loved the crazy old sisters who had previously owned the old Victorian home they gave to their niece to turn into the B&B.

There was a lot of fun, a lot of quirkiness, a little mystery and a sweet romance.. :)  Who could ask for anything more??

I will for sure read another romance by this author soon!


Description from the publisher:

Take a cozy bed-and-breakfast, a missing guest and a mysterious stranger . . . throw in a pile of bones, a past-due bank loan and the cops . . . and it's no wonder innkeeper Beth Randall needs a vacation from her life!
Her dizzy aunts mean the world to Beth, but could their dabblings in the occult have finally gone too far? Now handsome Dr. Brad Donovan has arrived on her doorstep looking for his missing father — last seen here at the Two Sisters Ordinary. Sure, Beth would love to explore the sudden attraction between them — but not if it means implicating her family in murder! Dating the doctor could be fun, but it's probably just, well . . . asking for trouble.

Book Number in 2009: 55

Author: Judi McCoy
Title: Hounding the Pavement

Series: 1st in A Dog Walker Mystery
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 305

Book From: Library
My Rating: 5

Date Started: Sept 2, 2009
Date Finished: Sept 7, 2009


My Comments:
Oh I loved this book!!!  And I would think anyone who is a dog lover.. especially small breeds, would love it also! It's just too cute  :)

Ellie can "hear" her little yorkiepoo talking to her and they carry on long hilarious conversations!!  Very original and entertaining..



I can not wait for the next book and more Ellie and Rudy adventures!!  :)



Description from the publisher:

Meet Ellie Engleman, psychic dog-walker

The newest dog-walker on Manhattan?s Upper East Side has a talent?she can hear what her canine clientele is thinking. So when a dog?s owner turns up dead, Ellie must bone up on her sleuthing?and perk up her ears to find a killer.

Book Number in 2009: 54

Author: Nancy Bush
Title: Candy Apple Red

Series: 1st in the Jane Kelly Mystery
Genre: Mystery
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Pages: 338

Book From: Library
My Rating: 3.5

Date Started: Aug 24, 2009
Date Finished: Sept 1, 2009


My Comments:
I had a really hard time getting into this story at first.. took me to chapter 6 to really start wanting to read more.. It wasn't that the story was that bad, it was the fact that the author was throwing in a lot of uncommon words which was distracting me.. Around chapter 5/6 it slowed down to a minimum and I was able to really get into Jane's world.. I enjoyed Jane and although I was not shocked about the "whodunit", I was big time shocked about the why!  Enough so to make me actually gasp out loud and claps my mouth LOL  Not many books can give me that reaction!

I'm glad I stuck it out at the start, was worth it by far and will read more at some point not too far off I hope!  :)


Description from the publisher:

Jane Kelly is through following men. She left Southern California for the murky quaintness of Lake Chinook, Oregon, apparently so she could trade her bartending skills for much more glamorous work process serving. And the boyfriend, of course, is long gone. But things have been looking a little brighter lately. Her hobby doing PI work is kind of fun, especially when she lands a real case - that pays real money. But the case is about Bobby Reynolds, best friend of Tim Murphy, the only guy she's never gotten over. Everyone except Tim believed Bobby murdered his young family - isn't that why he vanished? Now Tim's coming home and Jane's on her way to talk to Bobby's father. Looks like Jane'll be trailing men after all - this time with a tape recorder and a camera. To top it off, she's being trailed by a homely pug named Binky, left to her by a distant relative. With a job she's learning as she goes along and her ex back in town, Jane's life just went from stress-free to completely stressed-out. And then there's the dead body...