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

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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

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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.