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A Slay Ride Together With You ~ Year-Round Christmas #7 (by Vicki Delany)
Vicky Delany has become one of my go-to cozy mystery authors and her Year-Round Christmas series is one of my favorites. Though you would assume this is a Christmas-theme book by the title, it actually occurs at Easter. I enjoy spending time with Merry and the gang in Rudolph, New York. The characters have begun to feel like friends and I have grown to care about them. As in the past, Merry will get involved in solving the latest murder mystery. With a delightful cast of char

Ms. Ladybug
6 days ago1 min read
Death of a Tom Turkey ~ Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails #18 (by Lee Hollis)
I have loved the books. I have read in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails series by the writing team of Lee Hollis. I enjoy the time I get to spend with Hayley, Liddy, and Mona. And Sergio's misuse of the English language always has me chuckling. You need to read the books in the series to understand and appreciate this. The murder mystery was very misguided and more time was spent in the courtroom trying the case, then trying to solve the mystery. That was a little bit of

Ms. Ladybug
Mar 271 min read
Epilogue to a Christmas Murder ~ Beyond the Page Bookstore #11 (by Lauren Elliott)
I have read five of the previous books in the Beyond the Page Bookstore series. I enjoyed them so much that I could not wait to get lost in the pages of this 11th book in the series. And the fact that this will be the last book in the series because the author passed away unexpectedly in 2025 makes it even sadder. I enjoyed the Christmas theme … always a plus for me. The characters are well developed and I enjoyed Addie’s efforts to solve the murder mystery and prevent her fr

Ms. Ladybug
Mar 221 min read
The Holly Village Murders ~ Marius Quin #6 (by Benedict Brown)
This was the first book I have read the Marius Quin series by Benedict Brown. I do believe I would have enjoyed it more if I had more background into the primary characters, Marius Quin and Lady Bella Montague. However, I still liked spending time trying to solve the murder mysteries and getting to know Marius and Bella more. The relationship between the two of them is entertaining, and I loved that while they have such different personalities, their relationship is built on

Ms. Ladybug
Mar 221 min read
Christmas at the Little Bookshop by the Sea ~ Micklewick Bay #4 (by Eliza J. Scott)
This is the first book I have read in the Micklewick Bay series. And it was a perfect time to snuggle up under a warm blanket in my recliner and enjoy a cozy Christmas story. I think this worked okay as a standalone. But my reading would probably have been more enjoyable if I had grown to know the characters from the first three books in the series. I did enjoy getting to know Florrie and Ed. Their love for and excitement in running the Happy Hartes Bookshop was sweet to obse

Ms. Ladybug
Dec 30, 20251 min read
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (by Beth Moran)
While books in the romance genre are not my favorite, this book was a delight to read. I loved the characters ... from Mary to Beckett to Gramps, Beckett’s elderly father. They were realistic and like people you know in your everyday life. The people who welcomed Mary into their group of friends were amazing. They surrounded her with love, support, baby gifts, and encouragement. And I hope there are still some men like Beckett out there ... a man with a heart of gold with his

Ms. Ladybug
Nov 14, 20251 min read
A Holiday Homicide ~ A Secret Bookcase #4 (by Ellie Alexander)
I have really enjoyed the books in A Secret Bookcase series by Ellie Alexander. I have loved getting to know Annie, Hal, Fletcher, Liam, and the rest of the gang. Of course, there is a murder and Annie is pulled into the middle of the investigation. Lots of twists and turns and discovering people are not who they present themselves to be. I was clueless on who was guilty of murder until it was revealed. I also was glad to see that Annie might be one step closer to discovering

Ms. Ladybug
Oct 19, 20251 min read
Deck the Halls with Homicide ~ Killer Chocolate #3 (by Christina Romeril)
I have loved the books in the Killer Chocolate series by Christina Romeril. Having the opportunity to spend time with Alex and Hanna is time well spent. A wonderful cozy mystery that will keep you invested in the story and with well-developed characters. The Christmas holiday theme is a bonus! With a lot of twists and turns and plenty of suspects, you will be sitting on the edge of your seat. I really enjoy watching how Alex and Tom’s and Hanna and Duncan’s relationships are

Ms. Ladybug
Oct 19, 20251 min read
Gingerbread Danger ~ Amish Candy Shop #9 (by Amanda Flower)
I have loved the books in the Amish Candy Shop series. As I have traveled through the stories, I have grown to love Bailey, her fiancé,...

Ms. Ladybug
Jul 16, 20251 min read
The Christmas Cherub (by Ronda Wells)
What a sweet romance that will have your heart breaking as you wait with Clara to see if her fiancé, Jack, will make it home from the war...

Ms. Ladybug
Jul 14, 20251 min read
The Book Club Hotel (by Sarah Morgan)
First of all, I should have known better than to try to read this book because it is a romance. And I just do not care for books whose...

Ms. Ladybug
Jun 13, 20251 min read
The Season of Second Chances (by Kristina McMorris and T. Greenwood)
This actually is two short stories in one book. I think for that reason, the characters were not that well developed. I enjoy stories...

Ms. Ladybug
Jun 13, 20251 min read
Christmas with the Queen (by Hazel Gaynor)
I loved this delightful historical novel and the holiday focus it provided. I was able to listen to the audiobook version and the...

Ms. Ladybug
Jun 12, 20251 min read
A Killer Romance ~ Beach Reads #3 (by Maggie Blackburn)
I enjoyed the first two books in the Beach Reads series and was excited at the opportunity to read the next one. The characters are well...

Ms. Ladybug
Apr 9, 20251 min read
Christmas in Bethel (by Richard Paul Evans)
Richard Paul Evans has such a gift with words. This story will pull you in from the first page and hold tight as you travel through the...

Ms. Ladybug
Feb 14, 20251 min read
Sleep in Heavenly Pizza ~ Deep Dish #4 (by Mindy Quigley)
I have enjoyed all of the books I have read in the Deep Dish series by Mindy Quigley. The characters are well developed and the murder...

Ms. Ladybug
Feb 14, 20251 min read
The Cruise (by Caroline James)
I should have known better than to try to read this book. I am not a fan of contemporary romance books. And this one was definitely well...

Ms. Ladybug
Feb 14, 20251 min read
A Merry Little Murder Plot ~ Library Lover #15 (by Jenn McKinlay)
I have read a few of the books in the Library Lover series and have enjoyed them immensely. This one was a great addition and I was drawn...

Ms. Ladybug
Dec 7, 20241 min read
The Christmas Inn (by Pamela M. Kelley)
This is a sweet holiday story about family, relationships, and discovering what really matters in life. The characters are well developed...

Ms. Ladybug
Sep 25, 20241 min read
Four Leaf Cleaver ~ Country Store #11 (by Maddie Day)
I have enjoyed the books I have read so far in the Country Store series. I love the characters and the town of South Lick, Indiana. The...

Ms. Ladybug
Nov 25, 20231 min read
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