Review of: Motherhood is Murder by Diana Orgain

Nights out are hard to come by for new mommy Kate Connelly. So when Kate and her husband are invited to a dinner cruise hosted by her new mommy club, Roo & You, they jump at it. But when the president of the club takes a deadly spill, everyone becomes suspect-and Kate's on deck to solve the mystery. 

Review of: Dead Head by Rosemary Harris

Fugitive Mom. That’s the tabloid headline that rocks Springfield, Connecticut when one of the town’s favorite ladies is discovered to be an escaped convict. With a little help from the always game Lucy Cavanaugh, Paula is hired to find out which of her neighbors is a fugitive from the law and why the long-kept secret has finally come out.

Review of: The Big Dirt Nap by Rosemary Harris

Something stinks to Paula Holliday, and it isn't just the corpse flower, titan arum, named for its off-putting fragrance. When Paula's friend Lucy asks her to tag along on an all-expense-paid junket to the Titans Hotel, it seems like a good idea. Paula even manages to squeeze a few bucks and a byline out of the local paper for writing an article on the titan arum, a rare flower that's just about to bloom and on display at the hotel. But when her friend is unavoidably detained, a would-be suitor is found with a gaping hole in his head, and the corpse flower refuses to bloom, the entire venture starts to seem less like a good idea.

Review of: Pushing Up Daisies by Rosemary Harris

Meet Paula Holliday, a transplanted media exec who trades her stilettos for garden clogs when she makes the move from the big city to the suburbs to start a gardening business. Paula can handle deer, slugs, and the occasional human pest---but she’s not prepared for the mummified body she finds while restoring the gardens at Halcyon, a local landmark.


Casual snooping turns serious when a body is impaled on a garden tool and one of Paula’s friends is arrested for the crime.


Aided by the still-hot aging rocker who owns the neighborhood greasy spoon, a wise-cracking former colleague, and a sexy Mexican laborer with a few secrets of his own, Paula digs for the truth and unearths more dirty business the town has kept buried for years.

Review of: An Earl to Enchant

Young Miss Arianna Sweet, in grave danger after her father's death, rushes to his old friend Lady Elder—but her protectress has passed away, and now Arianna must rely on Lady Elder's dashing grandson, Lord Morgandale. Having watched his cousins surrender their freedom to two beautiful young ladies (A Duke To Die For, A Marquis To Marry) Morgandale is determined to elude the parson's mousetrap. But can he save the lady without losing his heart?

Key Lime Pie Murder (Book 9) by Joanne Fluke

The yummy [ninth] small-town cozy from Fluke (after 2006's Cherry Cheesecake Murder) finds sometime sleuth Hannah Swensen, owner of the Cookie Jar in Lake Eden, Minn., judging the baking contest at the Tri-County Fair. When one of her fellow judges, home economics teacher Willa Sunquist, is murdered, Hannah determines to sniff out the killer. Was it a man from Willa's mysterious past? Or a student she flunked? Fluke has developed a charming supporting cast—Hannah's besotted (and slightly spineless) two suitors, her overbearing but likable mother, her endearing sisters and her levelheaded business partner all feel like friends by the time the murder is solved. The dozens of tempting recipes Fluke includes are an added treat. (Mar.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Review of: Cherry Cheesecake Murder by Joanne Fluke

Hannah Swensen and her bakery, The Cookie Jar, bask in the glow of Hollywood glamour when Main Street becomes a movie set. And although tensions simmer as the cameras roll, no one expects the action to turn deadly...until it's too late...

There's no such thing as privacy in Lake Eden, but Hannah never thought things would go this far. Everyone has been telling her what to do ever since she got not one but two marriage proposals. Movie mania soon shoves Hannah's marriage dilemma into the background and even gives her cat a shot at stardom. The Cookie Jar serves as snack central with Main Street rented out for the week. She stirs lots of fresh gossip, whipping up treats for cast and crew, including demanding director Dean Lawrence's favorite--cherry cheesecake.

Everything's on schedule until Dean demonstrates a suicide scene with a prop gun that turns out to be all too real. As filming continues, Hannah sifts through the clues, hoping against hope that the person responsible for Dean's death is half-baked enough to have made a mistake. When it happens, Hannah intends be there--ready to rewrite a killer's lethal script with the kind of quirky ending that can only happen in Lake Eden...

Review of: Peach Cobber Murder

With The Cookie Jar, Hannah Swensen has a mouthwatering monopoly on the bakery business of Lake Eden, Minnesota. But when a rival store opens, tensions begin to bubble... As she sits in her nearly empty store on Groundhog Day, Hannah can only hope that spring is just around the corner—and that the popularity of the new Magnolia Blossom Bakery is just a passing fad. The southern hospitality of Lake Eden's two Georgia transplants, Shawna Lee and Vanessa Quinn, is grating on Hannah's nerves—and cutting into her profits.

At least Hannah has her business partner Lisa's wedding to look forward to. She's turned one of Lisa's favorite childhood treats into a spectacular Wedding Cookie Cake. And Lisa's aunt will be bringing her famous Peach Cobbler to the reception. But Hannah starts to steam when she finds out that Shawna Lee has been invited—and is bringing her own Peach Cobbler.

Hannah doesn't like having the Georgia Peach in the mix, especially when both Shawna Lee and Hannah's sometime-boyfriend, Detective Mike Kingston, are no-shows to the wedding. Hannah has suspected that Mike is interested in more than Shawna Lee's baking abilities. So when she sees lights on at the Magnolia Blossom Bakery after the reception, she investigates—and finds Shawna Lee shot to death.

Everyone in town knew the Cookie Jar was losing business to the Magnolia Bakery—a fact that puts Hannah at the top of the initial list of suspects. But with a little help from her friends, Hannah's determined to prove that she wasn't the only one who had an axe to grind with the Quinn sisters. Somebody wasn't fooled by the Georgia Peaches and their sweet-as-pie act—and now it's up to Hannah to track down whoever had the right ingredients to whip up a murder…

Review of: Bundle of Trouble by Diana Orgain

Bundle of Trouble begins with Kate Connolly at home on bed rest. She and her husband, Jim, get a phone call that leads them to wonder if the body that was recovered from San Fransisco Bay is Jim's brother, George. Kate goes on to get involved in the investigation of 3 murders.

Kate desperately wants to NOT go back to work after her 6 week maternity leave is over. She falls in love with the idea of becoming a Private Investigator after learning that established PI, Galigani, makes $200 an hour. Kate sees it as a challenge and away for her to earn money while still being with her new baby, Laurie.

First-time mom Kate Connolly is bringing up baby- and bringing down a killer.

Kate Connolly may have found the perfect work-from-home Mommy job: private investigator. After all, the hours are flexible, she can bring the baby along on stake-outs, and if you-re going to be up all night anyway, you might as well solve some crimes. But when a body is pulled from San Francisco Bay that may be her brother-in-law, Kate must crack the case faster than you can say "diaper rash" in order to keep her family together.

Author Sheldon Siegel (Judgment Day) calls Bundle of Trouble "Deftly plotted". I completely agree. I've read a lot of mysteries (especially cozies) and I can sometimes pick out the kill way before the protagonist even suspects them. That was NOT the case with Bundle of Trouble. I did suspect the person who ends up being the guilty party, but they were not the only one I suspected (right along with Kate).

Because of Diana Orgain's Bundle of Trouble, I ignored my family for an entire afternoon. I ended up throwing together a last minute dinner of grilled cheese, oops! I will definitely be looking out for #2 in the Maternal Instincts Mystery series.

Title: Bundle of Trouble (A Maternal Instincts Mystery)
Author: Diana Orgain
ISBN: 9780425229248
Pages: 304
Published by: Berkley Prime Crime (August 4, 2009)
Genre(s): Fiction, Mystery, Cozy, Part of a Series
Grade: A+ What does this grade mean?

Other reviews:
Julie @ Booking Mama
Laura @ I'm Booking It
A Real Librarian @ Confessions of a Real Librarian
For more reviews search book blogs.

Books in this series:
Bundle of Trouble**
Motherhood is Murder (being released March 2010)
**This review.

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Review {of sorts} of: Blood Orange Brewing by Laura Childs

Social darling Delaine Dish is throwing a lavish Candlelight Concert to raise funds to restore a run-down Victorian home-and Theodosia Browning is more than happy to help out with tea and tasty treats from the Indigo Tea Shop.

Unfortunately, the unveiling of Theo's opulent spread proves to be far from grand after retired CEO and beloved politico Duke Wilkes falls to the floor with a jagged piece of metal protruding from his neck.

When the Widow Wilkes begs Theo to apply her sleuthing skills, she can't refuse. But her investigation opens up a simmering pot of shady politics and personal payback, and Theo soon finds herself in a situation stickier than any jam she's ever served.

Warning there is a bit a rant headed your way if you continue to read this post.

This series... I love the setting, a tea shop in Charleston, South Carolina's historical district. I love the characters of Theodosia, Drayton, Haley, Delanie, and Theo's dog Earl Grey. The recipes sound YUM (I haven't tried any yet). The plots themselves are solid.

So now you're saying to yourself, "So what's your problem chick?" Here in ONE word is my problem: proofreading! There seems to be a serious lack of proofreading with this series. It's been an issue that keeps cropping up throughout the series. Blood Orange Brewing is the 7th book and it's still happening. Just one example that is still stuck in my craw (2 months later) is on one page Theo pulls a pen out of her purse and on the very next page when she uses it, it has somehow morphed itself into a pencil!

There are no misspelled words, no awkward breaks. It seems to me that they are being put through an automated spellchecker but not being checked for errors. It just irritates the HECK out of me! I wish I could say that I will continue with the series despite this issue, but I can't. I don't know if I will.

Title: Blood Orange Brewing (A Tea Shop Mystery, #7)
Author: Laura Childs
ISBN: 9780425208076
Pages: 304
Published by: Berkley (April 4, 2006)
Genre(s): Fiction, Mystery, Series
Grade: C What does this grade mean?

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Review {of sorts} of: Lord Peter: The Complete Lord Peter Wimsey Stories by Dorothy L Sayers

One of the founding mothers of mystery, Dorothy Sayers first introduced the popular character Lord Peter Wimsey in 1923 with the publication of Whose Body? Over the next twenty years, more novels and short stories about the aristocratic amateur sleuth appeared, each one as cunningly written as the next.Now in single volume, here are all the Lord Peter Wimsey stories, a treasure for any mystery lover. From "The Fantastic Horror of the Cat in the Bag" to "The Image in the Mirror" and "Talboys," this collection is Lord Peter at his best -- and a true testament to the art of detective fiction.

I enjoyed many of the stories in this Lord Peter collection. I cannot remember any of the titles and I have already returned to book to the library; I read it in July. It was interesting though to see Lord Peter himself change throughout the stories. In the beginning of the collection he is very happily unattached and by the end not only is he married, but he and his wife have a few children.

Title: Lord Peter: The Complete Lord Peter Wimsey Stories
Author: Dorothy L Sayers
ISBN: 9780060913809
Pages: 496
Published by: Harper Paperbacks (December 3rd 1986 (first published 1971))
Genre(s): Fiction, Mystery, Short Story Collection
Grade: C What does this grade mean?

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Review of: The Treasures of Venice

Author: Loucinda McGary
ISBN: 9781402226700
Pages: 352
Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca (September 2009)
Genre(s): Romance, Contemporary Romance, Fiction, Mystery
Grade: B+

I really don't know how to explain how much I enjoyed The Treasures of Venice. Venice... how romantic. I was swept away from the very beginning. A handsome stranger walks up to Samantha and asks her to play along and act like they are together. (Yes, please!) Most of the chapters end with a flash back to Serafina and Nino in 1485 Venice; you notice some correlation between the two couples.

I would really recommend this to any fan of romance/historical fiction.

From GoodReads:

When American librarian Samantha Lewis and Irish rogue Keirnan Fitzgerald set off to find priceless jewels, they become embroiled in a 500-year-old love story that eerily prefigures their own...

In 15th century Venice, beautiful and wealthy Serafina falls in love with Nino, a young Florentine sculptor. They decide to flee to Padua, and to fund the trip, Nino copies a set of jewels that then disappear.

In modern-day Venice, Keirnan needs Samantha's help to locate the jewels so he can pay his sister's ransom. Samantha must decide whether the man she's so drawn to is her soul mate from a previous life...or are they merely pawns in a relentless quest for a priceless treasure?

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Review of: Behold, Here's Poison

Author: Georgette Heyer
ISBN: 9781402217982
Pages: 336
Published by: Sourcebooks Landmark (February 2009 [first published 1969])
Genre(s): Fiction, Mystery, Cozy
Grade: B+
Challenge(s): 100+ Reading Challenge - Read 'n Review '09

I love these kinds of mysteries, English country cottage style. I even took notes this time, I jotted down bits that I thought might be important. I recorded who I thought was the guilty party; I changed my mind a few different times. I was wrong each time. It made sense in the end, but I never suspected this particular person.

Mr Matthews was not very well liked by many, repected but not liked. Practically everyone in the house had reason to want him dead. Later Mr Matthews' spinster sister, Harriette, dies as well. That really throws a wrench into the works; even for Scotland Yard!

It's no ordinary morning at the Poplars - the master is found dead in his bed and it turns out that his high blood pressure was not the cause of death. Heyer uses her attention to detail and brilliant characterizations to concoct a baffling crime for which every single member of the quarrelsome family has a motive, and none, of course, has an alibi. Heyer's sparkling dialogue is a master class in British wit, sarcasm and the intricacies of life above and below stairs.

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Review of: The Smart One

Author: Ellen Meister
ISBN: 9780061129629
Pages: 384
Published by: Avon A (August 2008)
Genre(s): Mystery, ChickLit, Humor
Grade: B+
Challenge(s): 100+ Reading Challenge - Read 'n Review '09



When I first got this book I was excepting your typical chick-lit, which I enjoy now and then. I personally need to read something light and fluffy after something heavy and dragging just to get my head back on straight. The Smart One was perfect for that. Up until the industrial drum was discovered in the neighbors basement. It is a great read! Bev, Clare and Joey are really funny (though I don't think Clare realizes how funny she is).

There are elements of quite a few genres in The Smart One. Definitely chick-lit, but also, mystery, romance, family strife, humor, and suspense. In my opinion, any fan of chick-lit or romance will really enjoy The Smart One by Ellen Meister. Below is the blurb from the back of the book.

Bev is the Smart One, who finally leaves her artistic ambitions in chalk dust (and her humor-impaired husband in the arms—and legs—of his nubile protégée) to become a schoolteacher. Clare is the Pretty One, who married well and seems to be living a designer version of the suburban dream. Joey is the Wild One, struggling to stay clean and sober now that she's used up her fifteen minutes of fame as a one-hit-wonder rock star.

They love each other but mix like oil, water, and hundred-proof gin . . . a combination that threatens to combust over family tensions, suspected infidelities, a devastating accident, a stunning confession, and the sudden reappearance of their handsome, now all-grown-up former neighbor, Kenny Waxman, who's back in town making his mark as a TV comedy writer.
It seems they'll never understand where their differences begin and their own destructive tendencies end. Then it happens: the sisters discover a decades-old body stuffed inside an industrial drum and begin a bold, heartbreaking, and sometimes hilarious journey that will either bring them together . . . or tear them apart for good.

Renee Giroux at IJustFinished sent me a copy of The Smart One for review. Thank you, Renee.

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Review of: Third Girl

Author: Agatha Christie
ISBN: 0671805304
Pages: 248
Genre(s): mystery, cozy
Grade: B







Third Girl is a Hercule Poirot novel. Poirot is my favorite Christie detective to watch, but he's not a favorite to read. (I much prefer Miss Marple for reading.)

Three single girls share a London flat. The first works as a secretary; the second is an artist; the third, who comes to Poirot for help, disappears believing she is a murderer. There are rumours of revolvers, flick-knives and blood stains. But, without hard evidence, it will take all Poirot's tenacity to establish whether the third girl is guilty, innocent or insane.

I've enjoyed every Christie that I've ever read. I don't know what it is about her characters, her writing. And I can read them more than once. For me they are the literary equivalent to a sip of water (in the case of food judges); they cleanse my mental palette. This one was interesting. I had a feeling from the beginning that the girl, Norma, was being gas-lighted. I wasn't sure who was doing it (if anyone). There is a nice little trick at the end. I will definitely read this one again; see if I can spot any clues now that I know 'who dunnit'.

Shared Reviews: If you've reviewed this book too, please send me an e-mail or leave a comment with the link to your review, and I will add a link to it at the bottom of my review. Please, for convenience, if you leave a comment, leave it in the review-post.