100 + Reading Challenge

January 1st ~ December 31, 2009

The 2009 100+ Reading Challenge will be hosted by J. Kaye's Book Blog. Since I read 200 books last year, I can't see this being too hard :) But I do enjoy seeing what everyone else is reading. At the end of each month I'll come back here and post what I've read for that month.

Here are the guidelines:

1) You can join anytime as long as you don’t start reading your books prior to 2009.

2) This challenge is for 2009 only. The last day to have all your books read is December 31, 2009.

3) You can join anytime between now and December 31, 2009. 4) If you don’t have a blog, please join our Yahoo Groups.

5) When you sign up under Mr. Linky, list the direct link to your post where your 100+ books will be listed. If you list just your blog’s URL, it will be removed.

6) All books count: children’s, YA, adults, fiction, non-fiction, how-tos, etc.

7) Feel free to post in the comment section or on Yahoo Groups your monthly progress as well as your favorite books that month.

January books read (20)

• A Crazy Little Thing Called Death by Nancy Martin
• A Deadly Yarn by Maggie Sefton
• A Wedding To Die For by Leann Sweeney
• Breakneck by Erica Spindler
• Bronx Justice by Joseph Teller
• Evil Without A Face by Jordan Dane
• Fatal February by Barbara Levnson
• Fed Up by Jessica Conant-Park & Susan Conant
• Find Me by Debra Webb
• Getting Old is a Disaster by Rita Lakin
• Hail to the Chef by Julie Hyzy
• In The Dark by Brian Freeman
• Killer In High Heels by Gemma Halliday
• Leftover Dead by Jimmie Ruth Evans
• Out of Circulation by Jo Dereske
• Prime Time by Hank Phillippi Ryan
• The Spare Room by Helen Garner
• Torn by Chris Jordan
• Trick My Truck by Don't Mess With My Heart by LuAnn McLane
• Whisper of Warning by Laura Griffin

December Books Read

Dead Men Don't Crochet by Betty Hechtman
Eggs In Purgatory by Laura Childs
Extracurricular Activities by Maggie Barbieri
Face of A Killer by Robin Burcell
Fit To Die by J.B. Stanley
Getting Old Is To Die For by Rita Lakin
Murder on Bank Street by Victoria Thompson
Murder on The Down Low by Pamela Samuels Young
Murder On The Menu by Miranda Bliss
Perfect Victim by Jay Bonansigna
Serendipity by Louise Shaffer
Six Seconds by Rick Mofina
The Agency by Ally O'Brien
The Ghost & The Dead Deb by Alice Kimberly
Wicked Game by Lisa Jackson & Nancy Bush

2009 ARC Reading Challenge

Now through December 31, 2009

Teddy from So Many Precious Books So Little Time is hosting the 2009 ARC Reading Challenge. It's all about reading Advance Reader's Copies (or Advance Reader's Editions) of books.

Here are the rules:

1. To sign-up , leave a comment and a direct link to your blog post about this challenge that includes your list from rule #2.

2. List all of the ARC's that you have to read right now. Then throughout the year, you must continue updating that list as you receive more ARC's. (This is important). You should also strike out the ones that you finish.

3. a. All of us who have or will have more than 12 ARC's must read and review 12.
b. All of us who have or will have less than 12 ARC's must read all of the ARC's we have. Note, that if you have 11 ARC's and then receive a 12th one you will be bumped up to catagory a.

4. You don't have to make a list of which ARC's you plan to read, but you can if you want.

5. Crossovers with other challenges are allowed and Audio-books are allowed as long as they are ARC's.

6. Read the books and review them on your blog. If you don't have a blog, you can post your review on sites like Powells, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, etc. Leave a comment on this postwith a link to each of your reviews.

7. Please subscribe to Teddy's blog , as she will be posting updates to the challenge periodically.

8. Enjoy!

Note of clarification: I guess I use the term ARC loosely. I consider anything sent from a publisher or author as an ARC because they are sent to us with the expectation that we will review them.

• Among The Mad by Jacqueline Winspear
• Bronx Justice by Joseph Teller - done 1/16/09
• Defending Angels by Mary Stanton
• Don't Tell A Soul by David Rosenfelt
• Fatal February by Barbara Levenson
• Fractured by Karen Slaughter
• Hotel on the Corner of Bitter & Sweet by Jaime Ford
• I See You Everywhere by Julia Glass
• Identical by Ellen Hopkins
• Lark & Termite by Jayne Anne Phillips
• Lethal Legacy by Linda Fairstein
• Locke 1928 by Shawna Yang Ryan
• Show No Fear by Perri O'Shaughnessy
• The Spare Room by Helen Garner ~ done 1/12/09
• Testimony by Anita Shreve
• Thanks For The Memories by Cecilia Ahern
• The Believers by Zoe Heller
• The Condition by Jennifer Haigh
• The Courtier's Secret by Donna Russo Morin
• The Little Giant of Aberdeen County by Tiffany Baker
• The Little Sleep by Paul Tremblay
• The Miracle of Prato by Laura Morwitz & Laurie Albanese
• The Other Queen by Phillipa Gregory
• The Weight of Heaven by Thrity Umrigar
• Ultimatum by Matthew Glass

A Crazy Little Thing Called Death

A Crazy Little Thing Called Death: A Blackbird Sisters Mystery by Nancy Martin ~~

The Blackbird sisters—Nora, Libby and Emma—tackle their sixth arch mystery (after 2006's Have Your Cake and Kill Him Too) set among Philadelphia's contemporary blue-blooded (and red-handed) set. When former child star Sweet Penny Devine goes missing and is presumed dead, her brother, Porter "Potty" Devine, opts for a memorial party and polo match instead of a funeral, which Nora, a society reporter, covers for a Philadelphia paper. The festivities falter after Nora discovers a severed hand that could be Penny's. Nora, Libby and Emma aid detective Ben Bloom in an investigation whose suspects include Potty; Vivian, Penny's cat-crazy sister; the Devines' former housekeeper's daughter, Julie Huckabee; Julie's missing father, Kell Huckabee; and Crewe Dearborne, a food critic. Sleuthing provides a welcome distraction for Nora, still grieving over a miscarriage and a little nervous about her engagement to Michael Abruzzo, son of a notorious New Jersey mobster.

Once again Nora and her sisters find themselves in the middle of a murder investigation. This time former child star Penny Devine has gone missing (again). Usually Penny reappears after a few months, but now her family is very quick to want her declared dead. Why are they in such a rush this time? And does the hand they find during the celebration have anything to do with it? Trying to find out what happened to Penny is a great distraction for Nora as she continues to grieve for her lost baby while at the same time is nervous about her engagement to Mick. Will they stay together this time?? Nora and her sisters are a hilarious trio who despite everything work well together to find out what happens. While there is a nice twist at the end, this wasn't my favorite of the series (and I do love this series). I would love to see a little more focus on Libby & Emma ~ who seems to have a mysterious side to her. And I think there should be a resolution to the Nora/Mick thing once and for all.

Fit To Die

Fit to Die: A Supper Club Mystery by J.B. Stanley ~~

Welcome back to Quincy's Gap, Virginia, where James Henry and his dieting group contend with dangerous secrets, dark intrigue, and delicious praline sundaes. Six months after starting their low-carb diet, the Flab Five are feeling motivationally- challenged. A new ice cream shop has come to town, but so has the Witness to Fitness weight loss center, run by the fanatical Veronica Levitt. Maybe Veronica's "take-no-prisoners" approach is just what the group needs.

Between dieting, caring for his cranky father, and struggling with his growing affection for Lucy, James has his plate full. But when he and his fellow dieters poke around in an arson case that turns into a murder investigation, the Flab Five discover that they may have bitten off more than they can chew.

The Flab Five are back for another go round at the weight loss challenge. Of course everyone has been "cheating" and it's time to get tough. When the meet uber "coach" Vernoica at the market they can't help but being sucked into her new weight loss center. At first everything seems to be working for them, until of course the murder! And the Flab Five just can't let it go. They've got to work together to figure out who killed one of their own. In the mean time uncovering some dark secrets and manipulations that have far reaching affects. Will they be able to solve the murder? Will James finally tell Lucy how he feels????? A wonderful read that brings you more into the everyday lives of these five people as they struggle, like everyone else, to take the weight off. This is one "indulgence" that should be on everyone's diet :)

Extracurricular Activities

Extracurricular Activities (A Murder 101 Mystery) by Maggie Barbieri ~~

English professor Alison Bergeron wishes she'd stop getting uninvited visits from her ex-husband, Raymond Stark, fornicator extraordinaire and fellow professor at St. Thomas, a small Catholic university north of New York City. Ray's past conquests include Alison's slutty neighbor, Terri, and St. Thomas student Kathy Miceli, whose recent murder shocked the campus. Then Alison comes home one night to find Ray's body in her kitchen, hands and feet chopped off: the slaying signature of chubby mobster Peter Miceli, Kathy's father. Peter begins stalking Alison, showing up uninvited in her house to proclaim his innocence. Alison reluctantly turns to her soon-to-be-divorced former boyfriend, Bobby Crawford, an NYPD homicide detective, for help and comfort. The plot thickens when Terri disappears, leaving Alison in charge of Trixie, a scene-stealing golden retriever who makes a gruesome discovery.

Allison really wishes her ex-husband Ray would just leave her alone already. But she didn't mean permanently - as in dead! When Ray's body shows up in her house she has no choice but to turn to sometime boyfriend, not yet divorced "Detective Hot Pants" Bobby Crawford. As Allison tries to figure out who killed Ray, she is pestered by mob boss Peter Miceli - much to her and his wife's dismay. There are a lot more bodies, more quirkiness and less fainting on Allison's part. The killer's identity will certainly surprise you. Why the writing style is a bit more choppy, and there seems to be a lot of repeat phrases and switching from first to third person, you won't be disappointed in this installment.

The Ghost & The Dead Deb

The Ghost and the Dead Deb (Haunted Bookshop Mystery) by Alice Kimberly ~~

Bookshop owner Penelope Thornton-McClure wants her resident sleuth-ghost, Jack, to stop haunting her customers. But when a pretty author is murdered, Jack can't rest in peace.

When I first started this series, I was hesitant to believe the concept of Penelope and Jack's Ghost. But I think Ms. Kimberly has done an excellent job in putting these two together. When a "hot topic" author is murdered, Penelope will once again stop at nothing to prevent someone she knows from being railroaded into an arrest. And with the help of Jack, she is able to do just that. Especially when she finds out the key to "releasing" Jack from the confines of the book store. I love how Jack relates a case from his past, and how it relates to Penelope figuring out the current murder she finds herself involved in. I really enjoyed the hint of romance between Penelope and Jack and can't wait to see how this develops with upcoming books.

Murder On The Menu

Murder on the Menu: A Cooking Class Mystery by Miranda Bliss ~~

Annie, Eve, and their former cooking teacher are in the trenches, trying to keep a new restaurant, Bellywasher's, from going belly up.

Everything's simmering along just fine until Annie and Eve find their friend Sarah, staffer to a powerful congressman, lying dead in her tub. The cops want to write it off as a suicide, but the facts just don't add up. Then, after a series of suspicious "accidents," Annie and Eve realize that this kitchen fire isn't about to put itself out.

What's someone like Annnie ~ who can't even boil water ~ doing working at a restaurant??? Well thankfully she's not working in the kitchen (except for one hilarious night!). When Annie's sometime boyfriend opens his new restaurant, she and Eve find themselves working for him - and involved in yet another murder! I thought this book was really cute. A fun read, and enough twists and turns to keep your turning the pages. Not only do we get more of these wonderful friends but we also get a peek into what makes them tick. I love how their friendship continues to be a central part of the story line as they work together to solve what appears is going to be murder after murder. I look forward to seeing what they dish up in their next book.

Book Giveaway - Wicked Game by Lisa Jackson & Nancy Bush ~ ARC

Wicked Game by Lisa Jackson and Nancy Bush (ARC) ~~



ONE BY ONE, THEY'LL DIE.

Twenty years ago, wild child Jessie Brentwood vanished from St. Elizabeth's high school. Most in Jessie's tight circle of friends believed she simply ran away. Few suspected that Jessie was hiding a shocking secret-one that brought her into the crosshairs of a vicious killer.

UNTIL THERE'S NO ONE LEFT.

Two decades pass before a body is unearthed on school grounds and Jessie's old friends reunite to talk. Most are sure that the body is Jessie's, that the mystery of what happened to her has finally been solved. But soon, Jessie's friends each begin to die in horrible, freak accidents that defy explanation.

BUT HER.

Becca Sutcliff has been haunted for years by unsettling visions of Jessie, certain her friend met with a grisly end. Now the latest deaths have her rattled. Becca can sense that an evil force is shadowing her too, waiting for just the right moment to strike. She feels like she's going crazy. Is it all a coincidence-or has Jessie's killer finally returned to finish what was started all those years ago?

Now on to the RULES ~~~

1. Open to residents of the US only
2. Post a comment here. You MUST LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS OR ACTIVE BLOG ADDRESS IN YOUR COMMENT. Any comment that DOES NOT INCLUDE this information WILL BE DELETED. I have to have a way to contact you if you win!!!!
3. If you blog this contest and leave a link in your comment so I can check it out, you will receive an extra entry to the contest.

Contest open through January 4th. Winner will be announced on January 5th.

Book Giveaway - Face of A Killer - WINNER!!!!!

CONGRATULATIONS

Wendy

My friendly randomizer picked Wendy as the lucky winner of Face of A Killer. Congrats!!! I've sent Wendy an email requesting her address so I can get the book right out to her. If I don't hear from Wendy by Sunday I'll pick another winner.

Thanks, once again, to everyone who has signed up. Don't forget to check back for my newest giveaway :)

Murder on Bank Street

Murder on Bank Street (Gaslight Mystery) by Victoria Thompson ~~

In the four years since her husband’s death, midwife Sarah Brandt has become an angel of mercy in the tenements of turn-of-the-century New York, helping the less fortunate bring new life into the world––and, with Detective Sergeant Frank Malloy, seeing that justice is done for them.

Now, Malloy has taken up the task of solving the murder of Dr. Tom Brandt, believing he’s found a motive among the families of the doctor’s patients. But when he discovers what he believes to be the truth, the shocking revelation may destroy Sarah–– and Malloy’s hopes for any future with her…

I am a huge fan of this series and am so glad I'm finally all caught up, as this has to be one of my favorites :) After 9 books, and 4 years the murder of Dr. Tom Brandt is finally solved with Frank Malloy heading the case. This time Frank doesn't get help from Sarah in solving the murder, but from her nursemaid Maeve, an unlikely, but productive "detective". But will the solving of this murder help or hurt Sarah? And what will be the ramifications to Sarah & Franks relationship? Not only does this book involve finding Dr Brandt's murder, it also serves as a history lesson on The Pinkertons, the bicycle and "Old Maid's Disease". The author does a fantastic job of weaving these history lessons into the telling of the story as well as keeping the reader in the dark as to the shocking reason for the murder, all the way until the final chapter. I can't wait for the next installment to see where things go with Sarah & Frank.

Getting Old Is To Die For

Getting Old is to Die For by Rita Lakin ~~

Gladdy Gold may have gone from dyed-in-the-wool New Yorker to South Florida retiree, but she’s loving every minute of it. Between poolside gossip, a hot-to-trot boyfriend, and a booming detective business, life couldn’t be sunnier—until a trip back north with her sister Evvie leads to murder and mayhem starring the usual suspects.

Unbeknownst to Gladdy, her fellow detectives are hot on her trail. Sophie, Bella, and Ida no sooner land their tootsies in the Big Apple than trouble promptly finds them. But while the girls go deep undercover, posing as bag ladies to catch a criminal, there’s another surprise awaiting Gladdy. Her boyfriend, Jack, is in town too—and he’s reopening a forty-seven-year-old cold case: the murder of Gladdy’s husband. Can Gladdy and Jack join forces to solve a decades-old crime—and maybe heal some wounded hearts in the process?

I absolutely love this series. It reminds me so much of my grandparents when they were living in Ft Lauderdale. I can vividly picture the shopping scenes at Publix as well as everyone "hanging out" by the pool. This time Gladdy and her boyfriend Jack are trying to work things out. He feels that the only way she'll truly be his is if he goes to NY to solve the murder of her first husband. And off he goes - without telling Gladdy!! Meanwhile Gladdy and her girls take on the case of a couple who want their daughter to attend their anniversary party, but she won't come. After the emotional reunion between this family, Gladdy and her sister Evvie decide to head north to visit their families - not knowing that Jack is there as well. In the meantime, the rest of Gladdy's friends are hurt because they aren't heading north too and decide to go on their own adventure - and boy do they find one. After getting over the shock of Jack being in NY and his reason for being there, he and Gladdy team up to solve her husbands murder. I thought this was a great addition to this series. The amount of love that Jack has for Gladdy - to do this for her, is heartwarming. I can't wait to find out what kind of trouble Gladdy and her girls find next.

Murder On The Down Low

Murder on the Down Low by Pamela Samuels Young ~~

A high-profile lawsuit erupts into chaos, revealing its place in a larger spree of violence in this scandalous tale of lust, lies, and vengeance. A brazen gunman is targeting prominent African American men on the streets of Los Angeles, and police are completely baffled. At the same time, savvy big-firm attorney Vernetta Henderson and her outrageous sidekick, Special, lead the charge for revenge against a man whose deceit caused his fiance's death. For Special, hauling the man into court and suing him for wrongful death just isn’t good enough. While she exacts her own brand of justice, a shocking revelation connects the contentious lawsuit and the puzzling murders.

Why are wealthy African American males in LA being gunned down? There are lots of theories as to why and the police are clueless. When the reason is disclosed you'll find each person dealing with the "why" in their own unique way. Meanwhile a young woman dies of AIDS seemingly infected by her fiance. In steps Vernetta Henderson and her sidekick Special to assit in the case since they knew the young woman. Will Special's obsession with getting to the truth be the end of her? There are enough twists and turns in this story to keep you guessing until the very end. Ms. Young does an amazing job creating a riveting novel you won't want to put down. Unbeknownst to me this was not the first book featuring Vernetta and friends, but you can be sure I'll be picking up the rest and settling down on the couch for some marathon reading sessions!

Wicked Game by Lisa Jackson & Nancy Bush

Wicked Game by Lisa Jackson and Nancy Bush (ARC) ~~

ONE BY ONE, THEY'LL DIE.

Twenty years ago, wild child Jessie Brentwood vanished from St. Elizabeth's high school. Most in Jessie's tight circle of friends believed she simply ran away. Few suspected that Jessie was hiding a shocking secret-one that brought her into the crosshairs of a vicious killer.

UNTIL THERE'S NO ONE LEFT.

Two decades pass before a body is unearthed on school grounds and Jessie's old friends reunite to talk. Most are sure that the body is Jessie's, that the mystery of what happened to her has finally been solved. But soon, Jessie's friends each begin to die in horrible, freak accidents that defy explanation.

BUT HER.

Becca Sutcliff has been haunted for years by unsettling visions of Jessie, certain her friend met with a grisly end. Now the latest deaths have her rattled. Becca can sense that an evil force is shadowing her too, waiting for just the right moment to strike. She feels like she's going crazy. Is it all a coincidence-or has Jessie's killer finally returned to finish what was started all those years ago?

Book Giveaway - Face of A Killer

Face of a Killer by Robin Burcell ~~

In this strong first in a new series from Burcell (Cold Case), San Francisco FBI forensic artist Sydney Fitzpatrick races to unravel the 20-year-old mystery of her father's murder before the upcoming execution of his convicted killer, Johnnie Wheeler. When Sydney interviews Wheeler in San Quentin against her mother's and stepfather's wishes, Wheeler's claims of innocence have a ring of truth. As Sydney begins to investigate her father's past, she uncovers unsavory secrets linking him and some old army buddies, including one who's now a high-powered U.S. senator, to a bank engaged in illegal activities. Sydney's dogged persistence and willingness to bend FBI rules endangers her family, but an 11th-hour meeting with Wheeler for a new forensic sketch points to the answers she's been seeking. Burcell, herself a former FBI-trained forensic artist, keeps her appealing heroine hopping just a step ahead of mortal peril in this intricately plotted page-turner

Now on to the RULES ~~~

1. Open to residents of the US only


2. Post a comment here. You MUST LEAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS OR ACTIVE BLOG ADDRESS IN YOUR COMMENT. Any comment that DOES NOT INCLUDE this information WILL BE DELETED. I have to have a way to contact you if you win!!!!


3. If you blog this contest and leave a link in your comment so I can check it out, you will receive an extra entry to the contest.

Contest open until December 24th. Winner will be announced on December 25th.

Book Giveaway - Weeding Out Trouble -- Winner~

Congratulations

Nicole

My friendly randomizer picked Nicole as the lucky winner of my autogrpahed copy of Weeding Out Trouble. Way to go!! I've sent an email to Nicole requesting her address so that I can get the book out to her. (If I don't hear from Nicole by Wednesday I will pick another winner.)

Thanks to everyone who signed up! Don't forget to sign up for my next giveaway -this time a mystery/thriller :)

Six Seconds

Six Seconds by Rick Mofina (ARC) ~~

A vengeful woman who aches for her place in paradise…

In Iraq an aid worker who lost her husband and child in a brutal attack saves the life of an American contractor. Believing he can help her avenge her family's deaths, she follows him back home to the United States.

An anguished mother desperate to find her child…

In California a soccer mom arrives to pick up her son from school, only to discover that her husband has taken their child and vanished without a trace.

A detective who needs to redeem himself…

In the Rocky Mountains an off-duty cop rescues a little girl from a raging river moments before she utters her final words in his arms. Haunted by failure, he launches an investigation that leads him to a Montana school where time is ticking down on an event that will rewrite history.…

Three strangers entangled in a plot to change the world in only six seconds…

What could an Iraqi aid worker, a soccer mom from California and a off duty Canadian RM cop have in common? Not much you would think except they are all drawn into an evil plot to assassinate one of the nost powerful people in the world. The reasoning behind the assissination is not outrageous - it's the way in which it is to be carried out. The author does an amazing, and scary, job of leading you to the culmination of this sick plot - the six seconds that will change the world. To think that this method of elimination could possibly exist is enough to chill you to your bones. Rick Mofina has always been a favorite author of mine, and once again does not disappoint. You will be turning the pages late into the night to see how and if the impossible is possible.

The Agency

The Agency by Ally O'Brien (ARC) ~~

Meet Tess Drake. She’s earned everything she has. Now it’s time to get what she deserves…

Sexy super-agent Tess Drake has worked hard to make a name for herself in the glamorous yet cut-throat entertainment industry. Tess works at an international agency, where she skillfully manages some of the world's biggest egos—her company, Bardwell International operates in the thrilling, fast-paced worlds of Rights, wrongs and revenge. Tess has been an agent there for longer than she cares to remember and now she's in trouble. Real trouble. After the mysterious death of the agency's senior partner, Lowell Bardwright, Tess's sworn enemy, Cosima Tate, has taken over and would do anything to send Tess's career down in flames. And Cosima is only one of the rogue’s gallery of agents in London and New York who want Tess to take a fall.

Tess has another little complication, too. She’s sleeping with men on both sides of the Atlantic who are in bed with the women who are trying to sink her.
Can Tess jump ship without losing her clients and breaking her heart? Or will she lose everything before finding out if she really has what it takes to do what she’s always wanted?

There’s risk and reward in this wickedly funny novel that turns the world of agenting inside out and lays bare all the ambition, sex, adrenaline, bad luck, and good luck at the center of one young woman’s success.

I was all prepared not to read this book because I know who one of the authors really is, and I didn't want to be let down if this book wasn't up to his usual standards. I'm so glad I changed my mind though. I thought this book was hysterical. Tess Drake is a hoot. She speaks her mind so freely you often think- man how I'd love to be able to get away with saying something like that! She's smart, sexy and knows exactly what she wants!! When her strongest supporter at her agency dies Tess feels it's time to go out on her own. But can she make it? Will her clients follow or will someone sabotage her and leave her on her own? When her worst fears happen Tess doesn't know who to trust ~ her new boss who she can't stand but seems to want her to stay, her married lover or even mega earning client. Or will she be her own worst enemy? In the end the culprits will shock you, but you won't be completely surprised. Although there is one not 100% believable aspect to the story ~ I'd LOVE for it to happen to me :) I am so glad I picked up this book as I really Tess and her fiestiness. I hope our two mysterious authors write more with this sassy, fun character.

Eggs in Purgatory

Eggs in Purgatory: A Cackleberry Club Mystery (Cackleberry Club Mysteries) by Laura Childs ~~

Suzanne, Toni, and Petra lose their husbands but find independence when they open the Cackleberry Club. Then their cozy cafe becomes the scene of a crime when a lawyer dies with a secret on his lips and egg on his face. What this all has to do with a religious cult and Suzanne’s past could put her own life on the line.

What a wonderful beginning to a new series. For one reason or another, Suzanne, Toni & Petra have all lost their husbands but find out who they really are by opening a wonderful place called Cackleberry Club. Not only is CC a restaurant that also serves as a tea shoppe in the afternoon, but it's also a bookstore and a knitting shoppe. When Suzanne find her lawyer dead in the parking lot she decides she must find out who killed him. Then there is a second murder and Suzanne finds herself a potential target. The main character is very realistic and has a well formed supporting cast. There is an "actual" reason for Suzanne to get involved and she works in a logical way to get at the information she is so desperately seeking. The author throws plenty of potential legitimate suspects at the readers to prevent them from figuring out "who done it" to early in the book. Cackleberry Club was a fun read and sounds like a really fun place to visit. I can't wait to go back there again. A.

Dead Men Don't Crochet

Dead Men Don't Crochet: A Crochet Mystery (Berkley Prime Crime Mysteries) by Betty Hechtman ~~

When a member of Molly Pink’s crochet group is suspected of murder, it’s up to Molly and her pals to pick up the dropped stitches and catch a killer.

Molly and her Tarzana Hookers are back! When one of their own crochet group is the prime suspect in a murder, Molly will stop at nothing to help clear her friend. Molly leads the group in rounding up clues to help solve the murder, once or twice finding herself in a sticky situation - again! All of the original crocheters are back, along with some new members. And Adele still loves getting in her little digs at Molly whenever she can. On top of trying to play Joe Detective, Molly has to figure out what she wants in her personal life ~ with two men vying for her attention! I can't wait to figure out which road she takes personally, not to mention what murder she'll get entangled in next. A fun read!