denise swanson

Cozies I’m Looking Forward to in 2013

I’m the girl who loves to know when the next book of the series is coming out- pretty much just as soon as I finish the previous book. I may or may not mark my calendar to earmark these special days (I’ll let you be the judge of that!) I adore many types of books, but cozies do seem to hold a special place in my heart (sometimes even above other books). While there will be many cozies released in 2013- these are the ones that I already know I’m excited to read.

Feb 5th- Veiled Revenge: A crime of fashion mystery by Ellen Byerrum

Feb 26 – Red Velvet Cupcake Murder (Hannah Swensen) by Joanne Fluke

March 5th- Nickeled and Dimed to Death- A Deveraux’s Dime Store Mystery by Denise Swanson

April 2nd- Going, Going, Ganache (Cupcake Mystery) by Jenn McKinlay

May 7th- Topped Chef: A Key West Food Mystery by Lucy Burdette

Aug 6th- Seed No Evil (Flower Shop Mysteries) by Kate Collins

Sept 3rd- Murder of a Stacked Librarian (Scumble River) by Denise Swanson

Oct 1- Billionaire Blend (Coffeehouse Mystery) by Cleo Coyle

What cozies are you looking forward to reading?

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!