cozies

Stuck on Murder(A Decoupage Mystery) by Lucy Lawrence

Stuck on Murder (A Decoupage Mystery) is the first book in the series by Lucy Lawrence. Set in a New England town, the main character Brenna Miller is a recent transplant to the town. She teaches decoupage classes at Tenley’s (her former college roommate) store- Vintage Papers. The town is a perfect place to help Brenna forget a troubling incident from her past- as it’s small and sleepy. However, the small-town charms are questionable when the mayor asks Brenna for help in talking to her landlord, Nate, about selling some of his lake front property to a developer- which will in turn benefit the town. With relunctance, Brenna mentions this to Nate- which starts a feud with mayor when Nate refuses to sell. The situation escalates- then Brenna finds the mayor’s body stuffed into a trunk.

Did Nate kill the mayor to save the land? Or is someone taking advantage of the fact that Nate and the mayor have been seen arguing publicly? Could it be the hungry for fame newpaper editor? Or maybe another disgruntled citizen of the town?

Stuck on Murder is a lovely start to the series. Brenna’s a nice character-and the town and the other characters are great backdrops. The book also has the beginnings of a romance- however, be prepared for another twist in that department. For fans of decoupage- there are also tips.

Recommended.

Literary Friday ya’ll…

Today is a beautiful day. Bright sunshine after a couple of days of dreary rain- temp is in high 60’s/70’s and it’s #literaryfriday!

1. Deep South Magazine will have 2 author chats in the upcoming weeks- so please check back at @deepsouthmag or Deep South Magazine’s Facebook page for more information on that. In other #literaryfriday news, a picture of F.Scott Fitzgerald in drag, a list of 12 Gay Book Characters Turned Straight for Movies ( can you guess who they are?), Pulpwood Queen talk about their upcoming Girlfriend Weekend (Kimberly Brock, The River Witch, will be there!) and much more.

2. What are you reading for #fridayreads? I’m reading Stuck on Murder by Lucy Lawrence ( this will be my 3rd book in goal of 13 for Cruisin Thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2013).

3. In case you missed the announcement earlier this week, She Reads January Book Club pick is The Art Forger by B.A.Shapiro. Here are some links that you might find interesting.

Literary First Love: B.A Shapiro

B.A. Shapiro on Why She Wrote The Art Forger

January Book Club Selection

The Art Forger: Review by Traveling With T

4. Traveling With T took the plunge and made a Facebook page- facebook.com/TravelingWithT

So come over to Facebook and give Traveling With T a “like”. Blog posts will be posted to the facebook page- but not to worry- if you don’t do the facebook thing, feel free to stick around the blog- I’ll be blogging, commenting, posting pictures and recommending books here as well as there.

5. Want to help a soon to be published author? Read Julie Kibler’s tips- Julie’s debut book is Calling Me Home (release date is Feb 12, 2013). Her book has already been getting some advance praise- hopefully will get much more!

6. Excuse my while my inner child squeals- but on Wednesday Jan 16 at 5:30 pm (EST), Scholastic is hosting a BabySitters Club meeting- talk with Ann M. Martin and test your BSC knowledge! Grab the Kid Kits, find some junk food in Claudia’s room (unless you are Stacey or Dawn) and get ready for a great meeting- and don’t be late or Kristy will give you THE LOOK.  Follow @scholastic and use the hashtag #BSCMeeting to join in.

7. Check in with Cozy Mystery Book Reviews– they are giving away books for the month of January!

8. Peeking Between the Pages is giving away a copy of Allison Winn Scotch The Song Remains the Same– check in with that blog for the rules and details.

Happy Reading!

 

 

 

What are your reading goals for 2013?

With all the fesitivies and resolutions of the new year- you may have not been thinking too much about reading goals. But, now that we are a few days into the 2013 year- perhaps it’s time to begin considering some potential reading goals.

My reading goals for 2013:

– Read 115 books in the Goodreads Reading Challenge. for 2012- I challenged myself to originally 100- then I changed it to 110. I ended 2012 with 111 books read.

– Reading at least 13 cozies in the Cruisin Thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2013. 13 books will earn me the title of Super Sleuth. Currently, I’m on book 3 in the challenge. I’m anticipating reading some cozies that people have given me over the years that I had not read- as well as continuing with my favorite cozy authors.

– To read 1 or 2 classics- I read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald in 2012. I anticipate reading another Jane Austen- and trying to decide on another classic.

– To read at least 5 books that have been sitting on my “to be read”shelf for some time. I buy books, people give books, books come in for review. And the new ones always catch my attention- so the ones that are on my shelf sit and patiently wait. I need to be more fair to them- it’s time for them to have some time in the spotlight.

– While it’s not a reading goal, exactly, I resolve to keep my Goodreads shelves updated and my real bookshelves organized and nice looking.

Fingers crossed that at the end of 2013- I’ll have met or exceeded my original goals.

Looking for more ideas for reading goals? She Reads has several! And they want to know “What are you reading goals for 2013”? Is it to read more of a particular author? Read the books on your TBR shelf? Try audio? Maybe e-books? Whatever your reading goal- it’s a worthy one- so drop back by and share!

A Deal to Die For (Good Buy Girls) by Josie Belle

A Deal to Die For is book #2 in Cruisin Thru the Cozies 2013 Reading Challenge.

 

Josie Belle (aka Jenn McKinlay) has a cute series on her hands with the Good Buy Girls! In book 2, A Deal to Die For, Maggie and the Good Buy Girls have their eyes on things for the opening of Maggie’s new second-hand shop. They decide to go to a flea market where Vera Madison will be selling some of her couture- and Maggie is only too excited to look over and purchase some pieces. Unfortunately, so is Summer- so after an incident, Maggie decides to go and check on Vera who is at the doctor’s clinic. However, when Maggie arrives, Vera is dead. And the good Dr. Franklin becomes a person of interest.

Maggie and the Good Buy Girls have to work together to help clear Dr. Franklin, keep the vintage couture out of Summer’s hands and find out what skeletons were hanging in Vera Madison’s closet along with the fabulous vintage clothing. To top it off, Maggie finds herself having caught the eye of 2 local, eligible men. Which one will she choose?

 

In Praise of the “Cozy”

According to Wikipedia a “cozy” is this: A Cozy is a subgenre of crime fiction in which sex and violence are downplayed or treated humorously, and the crime and detection take place in a small, socially intimate community. Or as my brother calls them: Books about women who are coffee-shop owners, bakers, or flower shop owners who solve mysteries.

A cozy is not high-literary reading; it’s not a book with a title that you throw around in conversation to impress book-friends (or book-snobs). A cozy is not a type of book that will generally take the world by storm (Think Twilight, The Hunger Games, Fifty Shades of Grey, Harry Potter, etc).

However, a cozy is still good reading. I like that the books have a small community, a good cast of characters, and are generally likeable.  I like that reading a cozy is like visiting with old friends.  Curling up on the couch, with a cup of hot chocolate and a cozy is my ideal way to spend a lazy day with nothing to do.

If a cozy book sounds good to you, look over this list of “cozies”- maybe you’ll find something to read!

1. Joanne Fluke– Hannah Swensen Series

2. Denise Swanson– Scumble River Mysteries

3. Kate Collins– Flower Shop Mysteries

4. Ellen Byerrum– A Crime of Fashion Series

5. Cleo Coyle– Coffeehouse Mysteries

6. Diane Mott Davidson– Goldy Schulz Mysteries

These are just a few of the cozy books I enjoy- there are many more. You don’t have to begin the books from the beginning of series, either (although I highly recommend beginning the Hannah Swensen from the beginning- as the last few have not been as good as the first several, in my opinion.)

Reading, no matter what the form, whether it’s cozy, mystery/suspense, fiction, or many other genres- Reading is cool. Reading makes you part of a special group of people. Reading is a pleasure and one a person should enjoy as often as possible.

Happy Reading!