chez_jae: (Books)
One Foot in the Grape (Cypress Cove Mystery, #1)One Foot in the Grape by Carlene O'Neil

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



After finishing my regular book last night, I picked up my "spare" one and finished it, too. Woo! It was One Foot in the Grape by Carlene O'Neil, and it's the first in her "Cypress Cove" mystery series. The main character is Penelope "Penny" Lively, a photo journalist turned vintner.

After refusing to embellish a story, Penny is fired from her job as a photo journalist. However, she recently inherited a small winery from her aunt, and Penny relocates there to reset and reevaluate. When the Antonia Martinelli, owner of the neighboring winery, confides in Penny that someone is sabotaging her wines, Penny agrees to help. Things become more complicated when one of Antonia's employees is murdered, and the last person to see him alive was Penny's niece and employee, Hayley. In the course of her investigation, Penny is drawn further into the dysfunctional dynamics of the Martinelli family. The trick will be figuring out which of them is capable of murder.

Very well written and engrossing. Penny is an engaging character, and other characters are fully realized, from austere Antonia to conniving Francesca to Penny's gay friends, Ross and Thomas. The plot was sensible and fast paced.

Favorite lines:
♦ I'm not very good at picking out the good ideas from the bad. I'll pretty much try them all.
♦ Success in the kitchen escaped me. The only thing I could reliably make was salad.
♦ Lying comes naturally to me. I'm not proud of it, but there it is.
♦ "I always knew she didn't have her panties on too tight."


Enjoyable and entertaining, four stars.

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chez_jae: (Archer book)
Wild & Hexy (Hex, #2)Wild & Hexy by Vicki Lewis Thompson

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Took awhile, but I finally finished reading Wild & Hexy by Vicki Lewis Thompson. It's part of her "Hex" series of paranormal romances. Main characters are Annie Winston and Jeremy Dunstan, along with witch Dorcas and her husband, wizard Ambrose.

Annie left her home in Big Knob IN to follow her journalism dreams to Chicago. However, she's back home for her sister's wedding. Annie is unhappy about the weight she's gained since her divorce, and she's not too keen on her matron of honor dress, either. Jeremy has been half in love with Annie since school, but he never had the courage to ask her out. Now that she's back, and available, he longs to approach her. Dorcas and Ambrose are professional match-makers, and they use a bit of magic to boost Jeremy's confidence in hopes he can win Annie over. Annie is flattered by the attention and her own, newfound attraction to Jeremy, but when she learns the unlikely truth, can she be certain she fell in love with the real Jeremy?

This was a cute, lively story filled with magic and humor. Dorcas and Ambrose's main assignment in Big Knob is to rehab the young dragon, George, who lives in the forest, but they can't resist nudging soulmates to one another. There's also a lake monster, named Dee Dee, and it's her presence that both intrigues Annie and makes her question everything. Characterizations were well-done, and the plot was interesting.

Favorite line: "I just wanted you to know the good news about the great penis caper."

I'm not so into paranormal romance as I once was, but this was good enough to earn 4 stars.
chez_jae: (Books)
Antiques MaulAntiques Maul by Barbara Allan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Finished reading my "extra" book last night. It was Antiques Maul by Barbara Allan, which is the second in the authors' "Trash 'n Treasures" mystery series. Story is in first-person point of view of the main character, Brandy Borne.

Recently divorced, Brandy has moved back home with her mother, Vivian. Mother is eccentric and over the top, and when she quits the local theater in a huff, Brandy is anxious to find another outlet for Mother's energy. To that end, she convinces her to rent a booth at the newly opened antiques mall in Serenity. In the meantime, Brandy's son, Jake, has come to stay with her for a week. He is fascinated by the cigar store Indian that Brandy and her Mother have for sale. When Brandy and Vivian go to the mall early one morning they find the owner dead--an apparent victim of her own dog, Brad Pit Bull. Vivian is convinced the dog is scared of his own shadow and wouldn't harm a fly, much less his owner. The local police don't seem keen to delve into the matter any further, at least not until someone kidnaps Jake. Brandy is desperate to get her son back, but she's also in Mama Bear mode, and no one is going to escape her wrath.

The story was mostly lighthearted fun. Brandy's wry observations and biting wit were hilarious, as were Mother's antics. The backstory strayed from the typical cookie cutter cozy mystery in that Brandy's marriage ended because she cheated. She's also battling mental health issues with the help of a therapist and Prozac. As for the sleuthing, there really wasn't any. Mother was asking questions, but since virtually the entire book was in Brandy's pov (save for one chapter in Vivian's pov), the reader isn't privy to that. Although things were resolved at the end, I felt a tad blindsided since no investigating had been going on to lead me to the same conclusion the authors wrote. There was also the disconcerting matter of the prologue skipping ahead in time, to when Brandy and Vivian discovered the body. It felt like a spoiler.

Favorite lines:
♦ Dogs are forgiving (unlike cats, who will pretend to forgive you then later spray your favorite Jimmy Choos with urine).
♦ It was the kind of morning where your first thought is: I think I have just enough energy to survive...
♦ I punched her in her considerable stomach--that belly could hide underneath that Fisher smock, but it couldn't run.*
♦ I said, "I did too stop." // He said, "You did not." // "Did too." // "Did not." // "Too!" // "Not!" // "Too, too, too!" // "Not, not, not!" // I let it drop. Honestly, for a kid his age, Jake could be childish sometimes.


The story was somewhat odd, but I appreciated its uniqueness in the genre. Four stars.

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chez_jae: (Books)
Murder Gone A-Rye (A Baker's Treat Mystery, #2)Murder Gone A-Rye by Nancy J. Parra

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I finished my "spare" book last night. It was Murder Gone A-Rye by Nancy J Parra. This is the second installment in the "Baker's Treat" series of cozy mysteries, but it's the first one I've read. The main character is Toni Holmes, who owns a gluten-free bakery.

While Toni is getting ready for the upcoming Thanksgiving rush by baking up a storm, her Grandma Ruth is tabbed as the prime suspect in the murder of Ruth's nemesis, Lois Striker. Toni knows her grandmother is innocent, and she hopes to keep Ruth out of trouble while the police do their investigating. However, Ruth is a former investigative journalist, and she can't help but get involved, much to Toni's chagrin. Soon she finds herself involved in the hijinks as she strives to prevent her grandmother from causing more havoc. When Ruth is seriously injured, Toni throws herself into the investigation. It's time to find this killer, once and for all.

For beginning with the second in the series, I didn't feel I missed too much. The author did, however, include far too many spoilers from the first book in this one. Le sigh. Characterizations were done well, and the plot was interesting and made sense. What bothered me is that, once again, an author had a character go to the courthouse to search records and get brushed aside. Note to authors: the public cannot be denied access to public records during normal business hours. Also, I didn't really care for Ruth. I know that feisty senior citizens are meant to provide comic relief, but I find such behavior to be childish and tedious.

Favorite lines:
♦ "If you wanted better weather you'd have gotten out of the Midwest."
♦ "Have you ever noticed how alike funerals and weddings are? There are flowers, seats up front for the family, someone cries, and afterward we all eat cake."
♦ "Got myself in a real pickle this time."


Interesting enough story. I'd love to award 3 1/2 stars. Since I can't, I'll be kind and give it 4.
chez_jae: (Books)
Stakes & Stilettos (Immortality Bites, #4)Stakes & Stilettos by Michelle Rowen

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I was on a roll last night, and I also finished reading Stakes & Stilettos by Michelle Rowen. It's the 4th book in her "Immortality Bites" series of lite paranormal, featuring newly-turned vampire Sarah Dearly.

Sarah is still mourning the loss of her normal life, which makes her determined to attend her class reunion. There, she encounters a powerful witch, who curses Sarah for being a mean girl to her back in high school. Sarah is now a nightwalker--the worst kind of vampire there is. Her new incarnation makes her a danger to everyone, even those she loves. Sarah is determined to break the curse, no matter the cost. In the meantime, she has more than one encounter with the Red Devil, a legendary, masked vampire thought dead more than a century ago. Sarah's love interest, Thierry, thinks the Red Devil is an imposter, but Sarah isn't so sure. Nor is she sure what a future with Thierry may look like. He's still married to Veronique, and while Thierry would like to annul the marriage, Veronique is being stubborn. It's all enough to make a fledgling vampire cry.

While I enjoyed this book for the most part, it ended without any resolution. None whatsoever. Absolutely nothing was resolved. Douse me with lemon juice and call me bitter. At least I warmed up a bit to Thierry in this one, and I knew who the Red Devil was all along. Called it!

Favorite lines:
♦ They always talk about love at first sight. They never mention seething dislike at first sight.
♦ "We're still together. Even though everybody and their pet rabbit thinks we're doomed." // "Who thinks we're doomed?" // "Everybody. And their pet rabbit."


Once again, what would have been a rating of four stars is getting knocked down to three for that shoddy ending.
chez_jae: (Books)
Yarn to Go (Yarn Retreat Mystery, #1)Yarn to Go by Betty Hechtman

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



I was nearly done with my "spare" book, so I polished that one off today, too. It was Yarn to Go, which is the first book in the "Yarn Retreat" mystery series by Betty Hechtman. Narrative is in the first-person pov of main character Casey Feldstein.

Casey has bounced from one thing to another throughout her adult life, but she's currently working as a pastry chef on the Monterey Peninsula. When her beloved aunt Joan dies unexpectedly, it falls on Casey to host the final yarn retreat that Joan had planned. Casey knows nothing about knitting, but she steps up, determined to do her best. She ends up relying heavily on Kris, the woman who worked closely with Joan for the retreats. When one of their group ends up murdered in her hotel room, Casey draws on the limited skills she acquired working for a PI in one of her previous incarnations. Her efforts draw the ire of the police lieutenant in charge of the investigation and the manager of the hotel. The more Casey learns, however, the more she becomes convinced that Edie's death is connected to her aunt's. Now it's up to her to snag a killer and salvage her aunt's reputation.

The story was well-written; it simply wasn't my cup of tea. I'm not into fabric arts, but since Casey wasn't either, the reader got to learn along with her. To be honest, I grabbed the book because of the cat on the cover. He did play a role, albeit a very small one. I admired Casey's grit and tenacity, and it was lovely to see how everyone participating in the retreat bonded by the end of it. The worst part was when Casey's overbearing mother (and father) appeared on the scene, dragging her ex-boyfriend with, in an effort to get Casey to leave this retreat foolishness behind and do something mother-approved with her life. Is this a thing in real life? Do you or anyone you know have a mother who acts like this? I would hand my mother her head if she tried it. Just reading about it aggravates me.

Favorite line: Leave it to Edie; from beyond the grave she had managed to say the wrong thing.

The story was okay overall, but I'm not certain I'd read another in the series. Giving this one three stars.

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chez_jae: (Books)
Reserved for the Cat (Elemental Masters, #5)Reserved for the Cat by Mercedes Lackey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I finished the book Reserved for the Cat last night. It's by Mercedes Lackey, and it's part 5 of her "Elemental Masters" series.

The story begins in France, with ballet dancer Ninette Dupond being called upon to replace the injured star of the Paris Opera Ballet. Ninette's debut as the prima is a smashing success...so successful, in fact, that the star herself insists she be ousted. With few options other than prostitution, Ninette is in despair. That is, until a tabby cat begins speaking to her, advising her to travel to England and assume the identity of a famous Russian ballerina. In the relatively small town of Blackpool in the 1920's, who will guess at the subterfuge? Unfortunately for Ninette, the real Nina learns of her deception and vows vengeance. Even more unfortunately, the real Nina is no more. She has been consumed and absorbed by an Elemental--one who now has its sights set on Ninette.

I've always loved Lackey's high fantasy stories. This was more of an urban fantasy, set as it was in a familiar setting yet peopled with magic wielders and creatures. The story was beautifully written with lush descriptions and amazing characterizations. However, I had trouble getting lost in the book. It failed to hold my attention, in spite of Lackey's masterful prose. This was purely subjective on my part.

Favorite lines:
♦ There was a Minister for practically everything else in the government, there damned well ought to be a Minister of Magic!
♦ "When a Scotsman butchers a pig, he uses everything but the squeal."


Alas, not even the talented Mercedes Lackey has eschewed the 'holding my breath' line:

He took a deep breath in a gasp, and in that moment, Ninette found she was holding her breath and did the same.

I'm giving this four stars. It probably deserves five, but again, I found it difficult to get engrossed in.
chez_jae: (Archer book)
Better Homes and HauntingsBetter Homes and Hauntings by Molly Harper

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I was thinking the other day about the books I take to work to read on lunch breaks and how I wouldn't be able to do that once I retire. Then I thought, 'Well, you could still choose a book you might not be all that eager to pick up, yet reluctant to purge, and read a chapter a day.' Then I thought, 'Why not do that now?' Therefore, I selected a paranormal lite book, Better Homes and Hauntings by Molly Harper, and poked away at it until I finished it yesterday evening. Main characters were landscape artist Nina Linden and wealthy tech mogul Deacon Whitney.

Due to the unscrupulous actions of a former-partner-turned-bitter-rival, Nina's landscaping business is floundering. When she wins the bid to work on the gardens of the crumbling island home called Crane's Nest, Nina knows it's the last chance to save her reputation. The owner has stipulated that his workers must stay on the island, as he's had too many people walk off the job and never return. Joining Nina on the choppy boat ride to the Crane's Nest is Jake, an architect, and Cindy, who runs a cleaning business. Deacon is determined to restore his ancestors' mansion, no matter the cost. He's a confirmed skeptic, but when even he begins experiencing odd phenomena on the island, he is forced to admit that maybe the house is haunted. While working closely together to restore the Crane's Nest, Nina and Deacon find themselves falling for one another. However, something on the island seems intent on keeping them apart. It's up to Deacon and Nina, along with Jake and Cindy and Deacon's dotty cousin Dotty to lay these spirits to rest.

This was a fun and pleasing story, combining humor, romance, and plenty of creepiness. Although Nina and Deacon were the main protagonists, Jake and Cindy's budding romance was an enjoyable side-plot. I also loved Dotty, who was as charming as she was eccentric. The author created some odious antagonists in Regina, who had her cap set for Deacon, and Nina's former partner, Rick.

Favorite lines:
♦ Beware all enterprises that start with the purchase of Crocs.
♦ She acted as if she was about to file a restraining order against her shadow.
♦ "I never joke about my snickerdoodles."
♦ "Suddenly, my Scooby-Doo jokes don't seem so lame."
♦ She would run around in pajama pants most days if it didn't mean getting funny looks at the grocery store.
♦ There they would defend their stash of shrimp balls to the death.
♦ "Surviving the terrors of a haunted house together is a bonding experience every potential couple should go through."
♦ "What do you girls even do over there at night?" // "Oh, you know, lounge around in our undies, feed each other grapes. We have tickle fights on Tuesdays."
♦ "You're proposing to me with a cell phone?" // "If you think about it, they're both long-term contracts."


A charming story over all. A few minor things aggravated me, but nothing too egregious. Four stars.

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