REVIEW: Berried Secrets

Berried Secrets
Author: Peg Cochran

Monica Albertson comes to Cranberry Cove to help her half-brother Jeff. Jeff's cranberry farm is about to go bankrupt and she wants to help him keep his business. Just after she notices some anomalies in the farm's financial records, the former manager's body is found floating in the cranberry bog during harvest. Apparently, Sam Culbert was stealing from the farm the entire time Jeff was fighting in Afghanistan, making Jeff the prime suspect in his murder. But, Monica knows Jeff isn't a murderer. She has to find the real killer before her brother ends up in jail!

I love cranberries. I buy a year's supply each fall when they appear in stores for the holiday season. I keep them in the freezer and put them into my morning protein shake almost every day. So when I saw a cozy series set on a cranberry farm, I had to read it! There are four books in the series.

I enjoyed Monica as a main character. She is intelligent and dedicated to helping her brother. Jeff is recovering from injuries sustained in Afghanistan and really does need her help. The one character I really didn't like....and that almost made me stop reading the book on more than one occasion....is the overbearing stepmother, Gina. I found the character just a bit too annoying. Gina did mellow out and became helpful when the mystery got rolling. That's what kept me reading when I wanted to jump into the book and tell her to shut up. Lord have mercy -- what an annoying character! lol

All in all, a nice start to a cozy series! Since this series is a relatively short one....just four books...I will definitely read the rest of the series. I liked the side theme of a cranberry farm....there was a lot of information on growing and harvesting cranberries sprinkled in with the mystery. I enjoyed it!

This is definitely a cozy mystery. No cursing, no sex, no graphic descriptions of murder victims. An enjoyable "clean'' read. On to book 2!

This is the first book by Peg Cochran that I've read. She has written several other cozy series including the Gourmet De-Lite series, Lucille Mysteries and a new series, Murder, She Reported.

REVIEW: Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library

Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library
Author: Chris Grabenstein

What a wonderful, imaginative, and creative story! This book totally reminded me why I still love to read children's books!

After several years without a city library, a new wonderous library has been built by an ecentric, quirky billionaire...Mr. Lemoncello. Kyle and his school friends are familiar with Mr. Lemoncello as his company has made many of their favorite boardgames, including Mr. Lemoncello's Indoor Outdoor Scavenger Hunt. At school, they write essays for a contest -- the winners get to see the new library before anybody else. It's the adventure of a lifetime!

For me, this story was reminiscent of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory with a library theme instead of a candy factory. The characters are fun and quirky....and there's lots of book references and library goodness. Fun story!

I was delighted to find out that there is a television movie version, streamable on Hulu. I'm going to watch it as soon as I post this review. :) Following my rule: Always read the book first! I'm not quite sure how they are going to capture the magic of this story in only 69 minutes though.....the movie must cut out a lot. I hope I'm not disappointed.

I listened to the audio book version of this story. The audio is almost 6.5 hours long and narrated by Jesse Bernstein. Bernstein reads at a nice pace and does a great job bringing the characters to life. Excellent performance!

There are 3 other books in the Lemoncello series so far. Chris Grabenstein has written several books for middle grade kids. I'm definitely going to be reading more! Loved this story!

REVIEW: If Walls Could Talk

If Walls Could Talk
Author: Juliet Blackwell

Melanie Turner remodels homes. Not just any homes....historic San Francisco homes. Rejuvenating properties to their former glory is Melanie's favorite thing to do. She's taken on a problematic project this time. A dilapidated Pacific Heights mansion needs a makeover. The property owner attempts a drunken DIY session that ends with a death by power tool. Melanie steps in to help finish the remodel work, but the dead man's ghost won't leave her alone. She begins investigating to save her reputation as a contractor and rid herself of a pesky spirit.

I listened to the audio book version of this story and enjoyed every minute of it. The background theme (historic homes restoration), characters, and mystery were all interesting. I'm not sure how I would respond to the situation (death by power tool is pretty gruesome), but Melanie stepped right in to try and help. I like her as a MC. She is intelligent, very good at her job and feisty when required. It would be difficult to be a woman in a typically male job, but she pulls it off with gusto.

This book is definitely a cozy. While the death is a gruesome, it isn't described in graphic details. There is no sex, cussing or otherwise distressing moments. The story is a nice mix of humor and mystery. I like the combination of historic home renovation and murder mystery. It just works well. And wouldn't that be a fun job?? So much history! And getting to bring an old home back to life. It would be so interesting! Lots of work....but rewarding!

There are seven books in this series. I'm definitely going to be reading my way through the rest! This was a fun book to read! Juliet Blackwell writes several other cozy series including Witchcraft Mysteries, and Art Lover's Mystery series.

Moving on to book two -- Dead Bolt!

REVIEW: The Haunting of the Old Box: The Spirit Guide

The Haunting of the Old Box: The Spirit Guide
Author: Caroline Clark

Fern is obsessed with the occult and she's excited to interview a reportedly possessed murderer in prison. Raymond Tibbs isn't dangerous, but what he carries inside definitely is. When Fern starts showing signs of possession herself, two paranormal experts come to help. Everything ties back to a Dybbuk box and the evil spirit it contained.

I didn't realize when I started reading this book that I was jumping in at book 5 of a series. But I was easily able to grasp the characters and plot, even without reading the prior books. Gail and Jesse are Spirit Guides, helping people rid themselves of all sorts of evil entities. This time, they have to call in some expert help as the demon involved is very dangerous. This story reminded me of a story I watched on tv about a woman who bought a Dybbuk box in an antique store and accidentally brought a demon home with her. Eeek! The Jewish history and ceremony added a nice depth to this story.

All in all, an enjoyable, quick read. I'm going to backtrack and read more of this series, starting with book one. The concept isn't anything new -- exorcists/ghost-demon hunters travelling about helping people -- but I liked the characters and the plot. It's a simple, scary read....nothing fancy.....brain candy! Pure entertainment. It made for a nice afternoon of reading. I won't be opening any wooden wine boxes anytime soon! :)

The book could do with a bit of editing in places. For example, at one point the character Fern had a sudden name change to Clare for a bit. It didn't hurt my enjoyment of the book though. No writing issues....just a few minor editing mistakes.

REVIEW: Inherit the Bones

Inherit the Bones
Emily Littlejohn

Gemma Monroe is a detective in Cedar Valley, CO. She's six months pregnant and stressing over her relationship with the baby's father. Her life gets a lot more complicated when a traveling circus comes to town  and one of their workers is murdered. The killing reveals some dark secrets related to a 30-year old cold case. Gemma will discover that digging for the truth when it means revealing past dark deeds can be very, very dangerous.

I really like this series! I accidentally jumped in at book three, Lost Lake, a few months ago, and finally backtracked to read the first book. I like Gemma Monroe as a main character. She is very good at her job. She's intelligent, thorough, ethical, and determined, but being driven comes with a price. The unsolved murders of two young boys in 1985 haunts her. She has nightmares about the dead boys. Her determination to solve the case and get justice for the victims almost breaks her at times.

The mystery moves at a nice pace with plenty of suspense. I figured out some of the clues, but the ending surprised me. I love it when a book holds a few surprises back until the very end. Nicely done! I'm glad I finally jumped back to re-start this series at the beginning. It isn't necessary to read the books in order, but I do understand the characters -- especially Gemma -- a lot better now that I've read the first book.

There are three books in this series, with a fourth book, Shatter the Night, coming out in December 2019. I can't wait! For now, I'm moving on to the second book, A Season to Lie.

REVIEW: Be Still My Beading Heart

Be Still My Beading Heart
Author: Janice Peacock

Jax O'Connell is a glass bead artist. When she isn't working with glass to make her one of a kind beads and jewelry, she slips in a bit of amateur sleuthing. Be Still My Beading Heart is a Valentine's Day short mystery and part of the Glass Bead Mystery Series.

I enjoyed this story. The action centers around someone stealing Jax's VW Bug. I've loved the old style Bugs since my family had a lemon yellow one back in the 70's. I wish I had one! I love my PT Cruiser.....but the little rounded putt-putt classic VW Bugs are still my favorite cars! Valentine's Day for Jax turns out to be a mix of juggling two love interests and looking for her car. Cute story!

I like the background theme of a glass artist who creates beads and jewelry for sale to shops and galleries. There was a nice mix of humor and sleuthing. Well-written. Fun to read. I will definitely be reading more by this author! I love reading short stories that introduce a cozy series or author that is new-to-me. After reading this story, I'm definitely going to read the Glass Bead Mystery series. I like to read cozies in-between thrillers, horror novels or other hard-hitting adult fiction. Makes for a nice relaxing reading experience....a happy palate cleanser before jumping into rougher reads again. This series has fun characters and humor....perfect cozy series for me!

The Glass Bead Mystery series has 4 books so far. The author's website states that she will be announcing a new cozy series in 2019! I enjoyed this short story. I own book 1 of this series, High Strung. Looking forward to reading it!

**I received a free copy of this short story from the author. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.**

REVIEW: Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale

Under the Moon: A Catwoman Tale
Writer: Lauren Myracle
Art by: Isaac Goodhart
Lettering/Coloring: Jeremy Lawson, Deron Bennett

Selina Kyle is constantly victimized by her mother's horrible live-in boyfriends. Her current "love'', Dernell seems to be around to stay. Selina has endured his temper and abuse for two years. At school she has three friends (read as...people she doesn't consider jerks...)....Angie, Tristan and.....Bruce Wayne. But, high school isn't her only worry. People in Gotham are being violently murdered by a monster called The Gotham Growler. Sharp Teeth, ripping claws, savage attacks. The kids at school are scared. Selina isn't scared. She already knows the world is full of monsters.  She leaves home, vowing to become stealthy and aloof, never allowing anyone to victimize her again.

My husband is a huge comic book fan. He knows the backstory and details of nearly every DC and Marvel character. I love comics too, but as a child I wasn't allowed to read them. My parents didn't let me to read superhero comics. To this day, I'm not sure why. My best guess is that the considered them violent and inappropriate reading for a girl (eyeroll). I've been grown up for years now and can read what I want...so slowly I'm starting to enjoy comics and appreciate the art and storylines. I'm no expert like my husband. Sometimes that's a disadvantage. But when it comes to new visions of established characters, I see it as a positive thing. I can read reboots and updates with new eyes and enjoy them for the fascinating story, rather than being disappointed that an old storyline is getting a reboot. I love this new introduction to Selina Kyle. It follows the framework of the old storyline, but updates it to appeal to a new, younger audience.

Positives first:

The art in this book is awesome! The dark blues and shadowy hues work perfectly for a Catwoman story.

I like the plot and most of the changes in the story & character. I felt so sorry for Selina when she endured so much at the hands of her mother's bad boyfriends...and loved seeing her grow into a strong character. My favorite character in the story is hands-down Selina's new friend, Ojo. Definitely a Parkour enthusiast, Ojo is an awesome character that really brings the updated feel home. Her other new friends, Briar Rose and Yang, are interesting additions to the story as well. They form a family of sorts for Selina, who has learned to withdraw from any emotional ties. It added a nice depth to the character.

I do understand that this story might be a bit of a drastic departure from the norm for some Catwoman fans. There have been other recent Catwoman stories published that are completely different (I haven't read any of them....so this is secondhand information), and this new book does not follow the character or story continuity very much at all. This version of Selina Kyle is only 14. She is a runaway, a high school dropout, and makes some pretty rough decisions -- self harm, living homeless, joining a gang of street kids, etc. There are changes to the character....but I liked the differences. After looking at other reviews, I see that some did not. Not every story (or comic book) will appeal to every reader.

Now a few concerns:

This story is definitely aimed at a younger YA audience....so why all the cussing? And at one point, Selina gets angry and yells about boys being dicks, followed up by a string of rather graphic penis references. I'm not sure that is something a 13-14 year old would be mature enough to read. I do understand that kids cuss...I have a middle school age boy at home, so I'm well aware. But I think putting the F word repeatedly into a graphic novel aimed at 13 year olds is a bit much.....

The storyline gets a bit rough in places....a dead kitten, some rather rough child abuse, etc. I would start the age range for this book at 15+. Older teens can handle the cussing and strong plot. Might be a bit too rough for younger kids. It all depends on maturity level. Some kids are more mature than others. Parental guidance suggested. That being said.....I remember how much I hated my parents trying to "protect'' me from things I didn't need protection from. Kids cuss. Kids say rather graphic things to each other on a daily basis at school. And they are witness to real and fake violence at pretty high levels these days. So...despite the fact I was surprised at the F word popping out in this graphic novel....that word is in just about every Youtube video, television show and social media post that kids see these days. I've played video games with my son on public servers before and heard kids that sounded really young spouting off torrents of cussing that were beyond even what I could string together. So....I suppose even those limits are relaxed and change with the times. Still not sure that the F word was entirely necessary though.....but I also recognize that I am way way outside the target age range for this graphic novel.

I would change the title to "Under the Moon: A Catgirl Tale'' to be honest. Selina takes that nickname...why not run with it? Selina is very young in this story and just learning how to take care of herself. In my mind "Catwoman'' conjures up images of a woman who already knows her way around and has her street smarts at max. In this story, Selina finds herself homeless and has to learn to find her way. Definitely more of a Catgirl.

All in all, an enjoyable graphic novel! I liked the new approach to the character!