50 Book Reviews Reviews Published

Thursday, September 12, 2019

Shopping on Amazon for FREE





Do you have patience? Can you wait 35 days if you know you are going to get a check in the mail? Rebate Key. Used in conjunction with Amazon, sellers who are eager to move their merchandize and could use some ratings will give you a discount  to buy now and hopefully review later. Start by setting up your account on Rebate Key just like you would set one up on Amazon with basic information. You aren't going to be purchasing through Rebate Key, just using it as a shopping portal that will finish up on Amazon. The only other catch to this most excellent shopping experience is that there are amount limits and time limits. Each item will have a certain number for sale per day and when the limit is reached that is it. There is the option to be "notified" when the item's time slot comes up and it is available. Items change often so be sure that if you see something you like to set up the notification and maybe even a separate alarm on your phone or calendar as to not miss the great deal. You can search for a wide variety of categories like "pets" or by % , highest rebate, newest or even ending.  
Do you like getting bargains? Do you have a gift closet where you store potential presents that you've collected over the year when you see a great price or that special something? Then you need to take a look at

Once you find your something special you'll need to complete the following steps:

1. Buy the product at FULL price - Do NOT use discount codes. Click on "buy product" and you will be redirected to Amazon where you will select the same item at full price. If you get it discounted you will not receive your Rebate Key rebate.

2. Complete the purchase and confirm your "Rebate Key" within ONE hour. After making the purchase look at the order and copy and paste the Order ID number on Rebate Key this is how the purchase is confirmed with the seller.

3. When the Rebate Key is provided the rebate is automatically pre-approved and on hold for 30 days. You will receive your order within the time frame you selected when ordering. After 35 days you will receive a check in the mail for the amount of the rebate.

YES it is that easy and YES it works! We have already started gearing up for the holiday gift giving season as well as replacing old worn out garden hoses. I even bought a new self inflating air mattress in case we have hurricane or ice storm evacuees. 




Thursday, September 5, 2019

Cozy Tales of Foodies




Muffin but Trouble
By Victoria Hamilton
Published by Beyond the Page

Merry Grace Wynter is an amazing lady. Her tenacity and level head inspires me to breathe deeply and count slowly when I would want to do otherwise. This was a very interesting story with a unique cast of characters. The best part, in my opinion, is the recipes at the end of the story that I cannot wait to test out in my kitchen.  Without giving too much of the plot away, I will say that it was developed at a nice even pace and I did not completely figure it out. So many possible suspects. I was also intrigued by the idea that this scenario could quite possibly take place in this day and age in or around any small town. Some authors use their books to make a statement about social injustices or their personal beliefs regarding politics or religion. When those ideals are very strong it can take away from the light-hearted aspect of a cozy mystery. I do not think that is the case with Muffin but Trouble. Much like a good recipe, the blending of the topics, the characters, and the plot created a wonderful final product. I look forward to reading more Merry Muffin Mysteries and trying out more Merry Muffin recipes in my new silicone muffin pans.

The Hidden Corpse (Food Blogger Mystery #2)
by Debra Sennefelder
Published by Kensington Books

Full time blogger and part-time cook, Hope Early finds herself embroiled in another murder mystery. A house fire that leads to the death of a neighbor and the finding of a missing body was not on Hope's "to-do" list. She doesn't set out to stir up trouble but what is a blogger to do when her best friend is an investigative reporter egging her on to help him get the scoop first. Then there is her sister who wants Hope to host a proper English tea to help Claire's mayoral campaign by way of supporting a new potential member of the planning and zoning board. In the midst of all things that are not food blog or food photo related, Before too long Hope gets not one but two warnings, to cool it. In Hope's defense, it does help to  know the Chief of police, especially when he is easy on the eyes and makes Hope's heart feel all mixed up. Highly entertaining and the recipes are AWESOME!


Murder with Collard Greens and Hot Sauce (Mahalia Watkins Mystery)
by A.I. Herbert
Published by Kensington Books

Soul Food and Soul Sisters mix murder with Suave Styling and Hair by Monique. Halia ( to her friends), owner of Sweet Tea southern comfort food at its best has a nose for a good mystery a side-kick cousin Wavonne, who is as sassy and saucy as the house-blend hot sauce. There is quite a variety of suspects each with unique personalities not unlike Ms. Monique Dupree, out beauty mogul victim. Local law enforcement does not take kindly to the caterer with a nose for clues and a great ability to create culinary diversions while eliciting tidbits of information. Too many secrets and they all seem so very scandalous, not unlike Wavonne's wardrobe. The story took a little while for me to get into it but once the groundwork was well laid I started to truly enjoy each every character from the stylist such n such Maurice to Halia's Momma who makes the best sweet treats. Of course, Halia is new type of cozy character for me and I truly enjoy hearing the thoughts in her head especially when she is thinking about what Wavonne is going on and on about.


Strangled Eggs and Ham (A Country Store Mystery #6)
By Maddie Day
Published by Kensington Books

The grass is always greener, especially when it's a parcel of land that a developer wants to replace with a high-end resort. Robbie's Aunt Adele is the leader of the resistance group wanting to save the town of South Lick from urbanization. A visiting eco lawyer and bike enthusiast is more than happy to wade in and fight, at least until he is found dead on the property in question. The developer is your typical city slicker, Fiona Closs, polished and all about the progress. Aunt Adele is your typical down to earth matron who doesn't back down to anyone or anything, which has Robbie worried about Adele's safety as the protesting starts. I'm not sure how Robbie manages to run a successful restaurant with delectable dishes (recipes included YUM), B&B, country store, and find time for a steady guy plus a little side sleuthing.  Although, it would seem that local law enforcement does help to keep the bottom line healthy since Officer Buck is pretty much a fixture when it comes to meal times offering both tidbits of info and tidbits of comedy and local flavor. The story was as engaging as its predecessors and I look forward to the next installment.


Guilty as Charred
By Devon Delaney
Published by Kensington Publishing

The only thing better than a cozy with great characters and yummy recipes is a cozy with creative characters, great recipes, and cooking tips! Sherry Oliveri (love her name) professional cooking contest winner/participant, Ruggery retail worker, Community Garden board member, tennis player, and part time sleuth. After cooking the winning entry in a multi-state competition, Sherry returns home to the news that the Garden coordinator/owner has been murdered and worse yet is under character assasination. Sherry not only mixes up wonderful recipes and helpful hints, she also has quite a knack for putting clues together like a new recipe. A nice variety of suspects from sibling rivalry to not so neighborly complaints and even political malfeasance. I must say that this is the first time I have read a cozy where it seemed like every other character encouraged the main one to actively pursue the murder investigation. Everyone except for local law enforcement of course. Looking forward to trying the artichoke hummus recipe and so happy that they are at the end of the story.


Risky Biscuits
By Mary Lee Ashford
Published by Lyrical Press

Sugar and Spice Publishing is made up of two dynamite ladies with most excellent names. Rosetta Sugarbaker Calloway aka Sugar and Dixie Spicer aka Spice or Spicy (but most people just call her Dixie) have my dream job, putting together cookbooks and testing the recipes. Speaking of recipes, you will find 3 must try breakfast recipes at the end of the book. Before you get those yummy recipes you will be tantalized by the descriptions of Dixie's cooking which must be good because Disco their retail neighbor seems to make an almost daily appearance. Everyone is quite neighborly as would be expected in a small town where everyone knows your name and if you skipped your usual muffin at breakfast they will be talking about before brunch rolls around. Small town but big secrets. Talking about rumors, the mill is churning when the prodigal Marchant boy comes home driving his fancy jag and fighting with his twin. In addition to being the designated taste tester, Sugar is also a designated driver for a group of lively seniors who take care of their own and fully expect Sugar to get to detecting when Alma becomes the victim of a hit and run.....with her own car...Needless to say, local law enforcement does not agree with Ms. Greer and her gang. You have got to love a story with lively seniors, they add a great touch of zest and small town seniors are the best! Great story line excellent characters!

Tuesday, September 3, 2019

Pet Cozies




Honest reviews are given in exchange for access to new stories via NetGalley and various publishers.



Homicide by Horseshow
By Arlene Kay
Published by Lyrical Press

Perri Morgan is back and this time she will need to do more than create exquisite riding harnesses for horses. Babette, Perri's socialite BFF wanted to help a horse farm but what she got was murder. Babette's personal assistant winds up dead, in her unmentionables, in Babette's bed and there is no way that Perri is going to let Babette take the fall for this. Of course, Perri isn't alone on her fact-finding mission as Wing Pruett, her hunky paramour and D.C.'s most eligible bachelor is hunting for his story. There are some viable suspects, some valuable horses, and some very funny goings on in this latest installment. I did feel that Peri should have been more confident in her relationship with Pruett after the first book. It seems as though the relationship progress that was made in the first book is gone and Peri is back to second guessing herself and Pruett's feelings for her. As always, I do love the care and effort that is made with regards to Peri's dogs and hope to one day see a Belgian Malinois as they sound quite regal.


Cat Got Your Crown
Written by Julie Chase
Published by Crooked Lane Books

Debutante turned Furry Godmother seamstress to pets and successful pupcake/tuna tart bakery owner. Lacy Crocker is a fun character who does her best to not embarrass her socialite Mother who would love nothing more than to have Lacy married to a socially responsible and eligible former volleyball star and practicing attorney bachelor named Chase Hawthorne. Chase is a childhood friend who always has her back but he isn't the one who raises her pulse. That would be handsome and financially well off Detective Jack Oliver, who would really like it if Lacy could keep herself out of his investigation and danger, just once. What is a Furry Godmother to do when the pageant MC falls down dead on the buffet table and before the body is even cold, Lacy manages to get herself threatened. Too many suspects thanks to the disreputable character





Death by Dog Show
Written by Arlene Kay
Published by Lyrical Press

Persephone "Perri" Morgan is a former Army K-9 unit officer and currently a leather smith crafting various useful and attractive dog and horse items that are all the rage. Her latest selling spot is a Massachusetts dog show venue. Accompanying her BFF the very posh Babette and her favorite little person, Ella, the daughter of Wing Pruett, DC's sexiest man, investigative reporter, and keeper of Perri's heart. Perri didn't expect to be involved in a murder investigation but when she stumbles upon a body shortly after Pruett she knows that she will do anything it takes to keep him off the suspect list. Perri and her ex-military Malinois boys Keats and Poe are on the trail of a killer who is no stranger to the dog show world. The victims have their fair share of enemies unlike Perri who is as down to earth and as likable as can be with a heart of gold and a mind like a steel trap. Great set of characters and I can't wait to read the next adventure Homicide by Horse Show available on October 15, 2019.

Left Fur Dead (Jules and Bun Mystery #1)
by J.M. Griffin
Published by Kensington Books

This was a new one for me, a bunny rescuing/yarn selling sleuth with a telepathic bunny side-kick. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and was able to guess part of the who done it but not the complete story or the why.  There did seem to be some back story that was missing or would be helpful to know so I am hoping that the next book dives into that a little bit more. The small-town feel and the character development between Jules and the Sheriff was a nice one, almost like a father/daughter feel to it. Jules is a fiercely independent gal and Bun is too cute for words. Just imagine a bulldog attitude and a wiggly bunny nose, absolutely precious in my mind. This story definitely gives a nod to therapy animals without explicitly getting into it but I could see how one aloof Andrew Stone could become a  regular if he doesn't wander off.