MrBallen Presents: Where Nightmares Live

MrBallen Presents: Where Nightmares Live: The Graphic Stories

MrBallen, Robert Venditti (Contributor), Andrea Mutti (Illustrator)

⭐️⭐️⭐️

This graphic novel is based on the stories told on MrBallen’s YouTube channel. As a fan of his, I was excited to read this book. I was given an early release copy from NetGalley, not realizing it was a graphic novel. The stories I read were ones I had already heard on his channel. Honestly, I like the videos better than the graphic novel. The narration in the videos brings these stories alive. I thought the illustrations were good, just not my style. If you are into graphic novels, this may be for you. 

Cocoa, Peppermint and Murder

Cocoa, Peppermint and Murder: A Willow Creek Cozy Mystery, Book 5

Jenni Marie

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

B&B owner Cynthia Harper is happily preparing for the Winter Festival in Willow Creek when tragedy strikes. During his opening speech, Mayor Grigsby collapses and it is determined he was poisoned. From this point on, Cynthia, along with her dog Duke and friend Evan, look for clues to find the killer.

I was gifted an ARC copy of this book and felt the book started out in a positive direction. As I read, however, there were inconsistencies in the plot that made it difficult to follow the storyline at times. Since it was an ARC copy, I am assuming that these issues were resolved prior to the release. Unlike other mysteries I’ve read, it was pretty apparent who the culprit was early on. The story had more of a focus of discovering the motive and bringing the killer to justice. I did not feel that this was a negative, it was just a different way to approach the story. This book has mystery, suspense, and a slowly developing relationship between Cynthia and Evan that I found sweet. If I could, I would give this story a solid 3 1/2 stars. It has a lot going for it, just needed tidied up a bit.

Murder at the Marina

Murder at the Marina: A Paisley Penrose Cozy Mystery, Book 2

Cheryl Marlow

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Paisley Penrose has left her big city PR job to help her Aunt Dottie run the Sandlin Inn in Sand Keys Shore. Paisley and her dog Noodle are enjoying the laidback life of Florida until a man from her PR past turns up dead in Sand Keys Shore. After the police ask for her assistance in the case, Paisley pairs with Detective Grant Halloway to investigate the murder. While they are digging up clues, another murder occurs. Will they be able to solve this case before another person dies?

Marlow does a really nice job setting the scene and developing her main characters, which helps pull the reader into the story. There were viable suspects and several twists and turns, making it difficult for me to determine the culprit. I was surprised when the murderer was revealed and I like how all of the loose ends were tied up. There is also a hint of romance between Paisley and Grant, which adds another level to the story. This was an easy and interesting read and I recommend it to readers who enjoy cozy mysteries.

*I was gifted a copy of this book and all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Black Forest Cake Murder

Black Forest Cake Murder: A Sinclair Sisters Bakery Mystery

Karen McSpade

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Sinclair sisters (Noell, Holly and Joy) find themselves in the middle of a mystery when a well-known food critic is murdered after visiting their bakery and their father is the prime suspect. The sisters are determined to clear their father’s name and team up with local detective Chad, who also happens to be Holly’s former boyfriend. Will the girls be able to find the real killer and clear their father’s name?

I was gifted this book and I must say, it was an enjoyable read. Even though it is the second book of the series, it can be easily read as a standalone. The book is told from multiple POV’s which can sometimes lead to a little bit of confusion. I liked the main characters and thought the plot line was solid. It was a pretty fast read and there is even a recipe for Black Forest Cake at the end. All-in-all, I feel this is a book that cozy mystery lovers will appreciate.

Secrets in the Mist-Book 2

Secrets in the Mist Book 2: The Lochraven Romantic Mystery Series

Cait Byrne

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The series continues as Isla and Finley investigate the disappearance of Isla’s friend Abby. As they search for answers, dark, hidden secrets are unearthed. The plot line is pretty solid and there are several twists and turns that kept me guessing throughout the book. I do think the main characters could be fleshed out a bit more, as they sometimes feel a little two-dimensional. While this book could be read as a standalone, I would suggest starting with book one to be the full backstory leading into book two. Overall, it’s an enjoyable read and I think cozy mystery readers would likely appreciate it.

*I was gifted a copy of this book and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Murder Over Coffee

Murder Over Coffee: Silver Pines Mysteries, Book 3

Lyla Blue

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Silver Pines is hosting a coffee and food truck festival which keeps Clare Garner busy between her hosting duties at the Mill and her customer order furniture business. She adds to the load after a popular coffee influencer is murdered and her friend is arrested. Clare jumps into the investigation, hoping to clear her friend’s name. Can she identify the killer before it’s too late?

This is the third installment of the Silver Pines mysteries and it’s as entertaining as the first two. Not only does the author compose a mystery that engages the reader, but also continues the love triangle between Clare, Jackson and Blake. I was unsure of the killer’s identity until the reveal. I was gifted the audiobook and it was an easy listen as the narrators did a nice job with the different voices. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.

Frosted Pines and Holiday Signs

Frosted Pines and Holiday Signs: A Quillhaven Magical Cozy Series Book 10

Tessa Silver

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

In this 10th installment of the Quillhaven series, Clara Snow has a special magic that connects her to the trees at the Frosted Pines Tree Farm. She also is the keeper of magical Wishing Ornaments in her shop, Snowfall Enchantment. Things go awry when the ornaments mysteriously disappear and it’s up to Clara and Nick (the owner of Frosted Pines) to figure out who took the ornaments and find them before the Winter Wishes Festival begins.

Tessa Silver has outdone herself once again. This Christmas story has magic, mystery, humor and love woven throughout the pages. The book not only focuses on solving the mystery but also highlights the Christmas spirit and forgiveness. I honestly had a hard time putting this book down. I highly recommend this book (and series) to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries and Christmas miracles.

Christmas, Clues and Killers

Christmas, Clues and Killers: Witchy at Fifty Cozy Mystery, Book 3

Bella Colby

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This fun cozy mystery begins with the owner of a local animal shelter is found dead after it is announced that the shelter may be closing due to money issues. Josie Appleton, B&B owner and rookie witch, begins investigating the crime with the help of her familiar, Einstein. Will Josie solve the mystery before the killer strikes again. 

I was gifted a copy of this book and can honestly say I enjoyed it from beginning to end. Josie is a strong main character who I could relate to and I enjoyed her banter with Einstein. The mystery was solid with several viable suspects and kept me guessing until the end. And the slow-burn romance between Josie and Tom is so sweet. If you like paranormal cozy mysteries, I encourage you to check this book out.

Life of Pie…Cut Short

Life of Pie…Cut Short: A Penelope Sinclair Cozy Murder Mystery

Tessa Aura

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Penelope Sinclair is surprised when her Grandma Joyce shows up unexpectedly for a visit. Things get complicated when Joyce enters a pie baking contest and one of the judges drops dead after taking a bite of her pie. It’s up to Penelope to clear her grandmother’s name and find the true culprit.

This installment of the Penelope Sinclair series was fun to read. There were plenty of suspects and many twists and turns. Aura’s story kept me engaged throughout as I tried to figure out the killer. I also enjoyed the banter between the characters, especially Penelope and Caleb (the detective). There’s a little bit of heat simmering between those two! Overall, I think this was a good read and I recommend it to anyone who enjoys cozy mysteries.

*I was gifted this book and all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Murder in the Garden

Murder in the Garden: Silver Pines Mysteries, Book 2

Lyla Blue

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is book #2 of the Silver Pines Mysteries series and it is as entertaining as the first book. It picks up  with Clare Garner’s furniture building business flourishing, but her love life is complicated. She is torn between her high school ex-boyfriend Jackson and her college ex-boyfriend Blake. And if that isn’t difficult enough, she finds herself in the middle of a murder mystery when she stumbles upon a body in the community garden. The author does a wonderful job appealing to the reader’s senses with her detailed descriptions. She creates a story that has drama, suspense, humor and a touch of romance. I can honestly say that I had no idea who the culprit was until the reveal. I also like how she included some important background information so the reader would still be up to speed even if they had not read the first book. I highly enjoyed this book and cannot wait to read Book 3.

*This book was gifted to me and all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Curses of Bhangarh Fort

Curses of Bhangarh Fort: GKP Most Haunted Places, Series 1 Book 9

Grant Kelly

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This installment of GKP “Most Haunted Places” takes the reader to Rajasthan, India where Bhangarh Fort lies in ruins. According to legend, the fort was cursed by a sorcerer when he was rejected by Princess Ratnavati. Stories  of ghostly figures, eerie whispers and unexplained phenomena make the fort one of the most haunted places in the world. I enjoy listening to these short audiobooks. Kelly introduces the listeners to faraway places with haunted backgrounds. He gives a good overview of the legend of the Bhangarh Fort. Listeners who enjoy history and the paranormal will enjoy this audiobook.

Shadows of Hotel Kurrajong

Shadows of Hotel Kurrajong: GKP Most Haunted Places, Series 1 Book 7

Grant Kelly

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Hotel Kurrajong is located in Canberra, Australia and is said to be a hotbed of paranormal activity. Kelly describes several events that have been reported, such as apparitions, flickering lights, and ghostly voices. This installment of the “Most Haunted Places” series is intriguing and fascinating. I love listening to the stories of these otherworldly phenomena and only wish the books were longer.

Secrets of the Ancient Ram Inn

Secrets of the Ancient Ram Inn: GKP Most Haunted Places, Series 1 Book 6

Grant Kelly

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Ancient Ram Inn, located in Wooten-under-Edge, England, was built in 1145 and is the site of many paranormal incidents. During renovations, workers found human remains in both the inn and a sacrificial pit. Many people believe that this building may be a doorway to another realm. It was extremely interesting to listen to the many paranormal phenomena that have occurred here. Many people have reported ghostly figures, poltergeist activity and eerie voices, including children’s laughter. Kelly does a good job of giving the listener a chilling overview of the ghostly nature of this building. I recommend this too readers/listeners who are interested in the paranormal phenomena. 

A Very Sticky Murder

A Very Sticky Murder: A Darcy and Mozart Culinary Cozy Mystery

Greta Sinclair 

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

When Darcy Finnegan travels to her hometown for Thanksgiving, she hoping for a relaxing time with family. What she gets, however, is a murder in the backyard and her family members under suspicion. With boyfriend Marcus by her side, Darcy is determined to find the killer, even if it’s one of her relatives.

I truly enjoyed this book!  Sinclair uses descriptive writing to paint a picture of Vermont in the fall. It makes the reader feel as if they are right there in the middle of the story. There is mystery, red herrings, family loyalty and a bit of romance throughout the book. I was guessing the culprit right up to the end. I’ve read most of the books in this series and I have yet to be disappointed. I encourage cozy mystery lovers to check out Greta Sinclair’s books…they wont regret it!

*I was gifted a copy of this book and all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Murder at the Culinary Showdown

Murder at the Culinary Showdown: A Clementine Harper Cozy Mystery Book 4

Lorna St. James

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

Clementine Harper was looking forward to hosting a cooking showdown at the Honey Hollow Inn. But when one of the judges turns up deceased, Clem’s culinary contest turns into a murder mystery. There are plenty of suspects and Clem, along with her friends Mabel and Finn, become entangled in the investigation. Will they find the killer before they strike again?

This story started strong. It has a good premises and the characters are likable. There were some red herrings that made it hard to guess the killer. However, midway through the book, it seemed like the plot became repetitive and I had a hard time staying focused on the story. I thought the reveal at the end was surprising and I do like the camaraderie between the main characters. Overall, I liked this book and feel it is a solid 3.5 stars. I was gifted a copy of this book and all opinions expressed are my own.

Harvest Dance Dilemma

Harvest Dance Dilemma: Mysteries a la Mode

Tammy Beck

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This cute novella takes place in the 1960’s in Harmony Bay. Frances Desmarais is assisting at the annual Harvest Dance when an heirloom locket goes missing. Frances uses her skills to investigate to help locate the locket and return it to its rightful owner. The storyline is sweet and simple and it is a very quick read. You don’t get to know the characters as well in a short book but it does spark my interest to check out the rest of the Mysteries a la Mode series. I think readers who like their cozies charming and clean-cut will enjoy this story. I was gifted this book and all opinions expressed in this review are mine.

Suspicion in Elvis Town

Suspicion in Elvis Town: A Ted Sherlock Cozy Mystery, Book 1

P.M. Mahoney

⭐️⭐️ 1/2

The book begins with the main character, Ted, being bullied as a child at a talent show where he and his step-father were performing as Elvis. This background information helps to explain Ted’s dislike of Elvis as an adult. Now grown up, Ted is a journalist sent to cover an Elvis festival in a small Australian town. Throughout the story, Ted is besieged with bad luck, the worst being a witness to a murder that no one believes happened. Fearing for his own wellbeing, he is eager to unmask the killer before he becomes the next victim. 

I was gifted this book and I’ve got to be honest, in was rough reading for me. First of all, most of the characters were hard to like. The main character, Ted, was whiny, self-absorbed and somewhat of a wuss. His coworkers were either bullies or jerks. The one character I did enjoy was Skye, who helped her dad run the caravan park. The premise itself was not bad, it just seemed as if the plot was all over the place and there were too many subplots. Also, every time Ted turned around, something bad happened and over the 290 pages, it got to be monotonous. There was a little bit of language and sexual innuendos (which is not necessarily bad, just a heads up for readers). The mystery itself had a clever plot twist at the end and I had to laugh when the author referred to a group of Elvis impersonators as “Elvii”. Bottom line, I found this book to be a bit sophomoric and one that I probably would not recommend to others.

Devil’s Margarita

Devil’s Margarita: Livvy Mercer Mysteries, Book 3

Brett Monk and McKenna Langford

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

After having a fall out with her best friend/roommate, Livvy Mercer was desperate to find a place to stay. Her estranged father offered to let her house-sit while he’s out of town on business. Livvy reluctantly agrees, but soon finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation when an employee of her father is killed. Can Livvy solve the case before she becomes the next victim?

This book was a fantastic read! I felt that the characters were realistic and relatable. As a daughter who’s estranged from her father, I could really relate to what Livvy was going through. The plot was fast paced and engaging. There was mystery, humor, romance and many twists and turns that kept me captivated. The ending was a surprise to me! This is a stand alone story, but I encourage readers to start at the beginning to get the full effect. I can’t wait to read the next installment!

*I was gifted a copy of this book and all opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Murder at Maisie’s

Murder at Maisie’s: Silver Pines Mysteries #1

Lyla Blue

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Clare Garner has returned home to run her family’s furniture gallery. She works closely with her former high school boyfriend, Jackson. Everything is going well until her ex-boyfriend from college (Blake) arrives in town to attend an estate sale. This puts her in somewhat of an awkward situation. To make it worse, there is a murder and Clare, Jackson and Blake are all suspects. Clare is determined to clear all of them and find the real killer before it’s too late.

I was gifted an audiobook of this story and I was hooked from the beginning. Blue uses very descriptive language for her scenes and it makes the reader feel as if they are there. The character development is strong and the story telling is spot on. There is mystery, suspense, humor and a slow-burn romance that kept me engaged throughout the entire book. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this audiobook and think mystery lovers will be entertained.

Twinkling Tree Trouble

Twinkling Tree Trouble: Succulent Sleuth #2.5

Iris March

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Garden center owner Molly Green is preparing the shop for Christmas tree sales. One night, someone sneaks into the tree area and decorates some of the trees with lights. Molly wants to find out who was behind this sweet gesture, so she begins to question her “suspects”, hoping to solve the mystery. This is a short and sweet Christmas story that has a festive ending. I like that the focus is on family, celebrating and goodwill. Definitely a great read to start the holiday season. I was gifted a copy of this book and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Flour Power

Flour Power: Bluebird Bakery Cozy Mystery, Book 2

Amber Ward

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 1/2

Bakery owner Lily Fairchild becomes entangled in a murder when florist Mabel Maynard is found dead in her greenhouse. Though the police think it is accidental, something doesn’t sit right with Lily. Along with her quirky friend Penelope and local vet Jack, Lily is determined to find the truth and bring justice for Mabel.

I was gifted this book and wanted to write an honest review. This book has both pros and cons to it. First of all, Ward does a fantastic job of describing the settings throughout the story. I can almost picture it in my mind. Also, the plot line is pretty solid, it’s a good story that cozy readers will enjoy. However, I did have some issues with the book. One thing I noticed was that it seemed as if Ward was trying too hard to make Penelope quirky. For me, that was distracting me from the story. Also, there were a few times that there were gaps in the storyline, that caused me some confusion . Overall, this book is a solid 3.5 stars and I look forward to reading more of this author’s work.

Murder by the Lighthouse

Murder by the Lighthouse: A Paisley Penrose Cozy Mystery, Book 1

Cheryl Marlow

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Paisley Penrose finds herself entangled in a mystery when the mayor of Sand Key Shores is killed when a stage collapses under him during a speech. When the death is ruled a homicide, Paisley and Detective Grant Holloway are determined to find the killer and the motive behind the murder. Murder by the Lighthouse has a solid plot line. The author adds a few twists and turns to make things interesting. I also liked the end of the story where Detective Grant went through each suspect, explaining why they may have a motive and what evidence ruled them out. That being said, there were a few things that the author could improve on in future books. The character development seemed a bit lacking. It was a little difficult to connect to the characters because there wasn’t much background information given. Also, Marlow tended to repeat similar narratives throughout the book. Despite these issues, I enjoyed the story line and would give this 3 1/2 stars if possible. I look forward to reading more from this author.

*I was gifted a copy of this book and all opinions expressed in this review are my own.