How To Wash A Cat by Rebecca M. Hale

Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: Mass Paperback

This is from the back cover blurb:

A young woman’s uncle, Oscar, suddenly dies and leaves her his antique shop, the Green Vase. The shop is in the Jackson Square neighborhood in San Francisco and is dedicated to the Gold Rush era. Unsure of what to do with the shop, she packs up her two cats and moves into her uncle’s house.

It doesn’t take long before Oscar’s former associates and neighbors start snooping around the Green Vase. There’s more to the antique shop than meets the eye and questions begin to surround Oscar’s sudden death. Was it really a stroke?

This is the first in a brand new cozy series. Of course the cats part is what attracted me to this book. The cast of characters were quirky and fun. The storyline was a bit complicated and tied in with some real-life history. It made for a great start to a new mystery series. I already have the second book waiting in my TBR.



For reading challenges:

Cozy Mystery Reading Challenge
Read Your Own Book Reading Challenge
What an Animal Reading Challenge

Murder Past Due by Miranda James

Genre: Cozy Mystery
Format: EBook

The small town of Athena, Mississippi is turned upside down when one of their own returns home for a visit. Godfrey Priest is now a bestselling author, but as arrogant and obnoxious as ever. When Priest contacts widower Charlie Harris, Charlie is more than a little surprised since Priest never wanted anything to do with him before.

Along with his Maine Coon cat, Diesel, Charlie talks to Priest and is pleased to hear the author wants to make a donation to the college library where Charlie is a part-time librarian. Not long after they meet, Priest is found dead and Charlie happens to be the one who finds the body. Now, much to the chagrin of the local police, he conducts his own investigation. Otherwise, he might find himself behind bars.

Charlie makes many discoveries along the way. His 18 year old boarder, Justin, has a few family secrets and obviously hiding something about Priest. Justin’s mother, Julia, also has some secrets and Charlie wonders if she’s protecting someone. As the investigation progresses, he learns that more than half the town wanted Priest dead but he’s still no closer to finding out who actually accomplished this deed.

This is the first book in Miranda James’ new series “Cat in the Stacks Mysteries” and she’s off to a good start. The characters still need to be developed more, but readers will adore Charlie and Diesel. The plot is classic cozy with a cast of several characters who could have committed the crime. I did figure out the culprit before the last page, but I loved finding out the ‘whys’ of it all. It’s books like this that make me remember why I love cozies so much. I’m looking forward to the second book in the series.






For reading challenges:

Cozy Mystery Reading Challenge
What An Animal Reading Challenge

Shoulder Bags and Shootings by Dorothy Howell

Kensington Publishing
July 2010

Genre: Chick Lit, Cozy Mystery

Haley Randolph enjoys everything life has to offer. She just spent the last couple of weeks in Europe with her handsome boyfriend, Ty, who happens to be the owner of the department store where she works as a salesperson. She then gets a chance to drive his grandmother’s expensive Mercedes home from the airport and now she’s on her way to buy the latest designer pocketbook – a Sinful pocketbook. She absolutely must have one. Things don’t get better than this…until she looks in the trunk of the car. Facing her is the dead body of her business competitor, Tiffany Markham.

Haley and Tiffany have had their problems in the past since they both have purse party companies and are constantly competing with each other, but Haley didn’t want her dead. Unfortunately, the police don’t believe her and are ready to pin the crime right on her doorstep. Haley realizes if she wants to prove her innocence, she’ll have to do it on her own.

This madcap adventure will have readers laughing along with Haley’s antics, as well as trying to figure out who really killed Tiffany. Howell writes with a comedic flair and in the same vein as Sophie Kinsella’s Confessions of a Shopaholic series. Think chick lit meets cozy mystery.

Although it’s the third book in the “A Haley Randolfph Mystery” series, I have not read the previous two but that did not take away from my enjoyment of this book. I do have the first two books and intend to read them.

I totally enjoyed this book. It’s a fast-paced tale that will leave readers smiling after the last page is turned. This is one author I’m adding to my book buying shopping list.




For Reading Challenges:

Chick Lit Reading Challenge
Cozy Mystery Reading Challenge
Mystery Reader Cafe Reading Challenge
Read Your Own Book Reading Challenge

Knit One, Kill Two by Maggie Sefton

After the murder of her Aunt Helen, Kelly Flynn returns to Colorado to settle her aunt's estate. When she hears the details of the murder, she's convinced the police have the wrong man in custody. She's determined to find out what really happened to her aunt, even though the police are less than cooperative.

As Kelly proceeds with her investigation, she seeks the help of her aunt's friends from her knitting group. The women are more than happy to get to the bottom of their friend's gruesome death. They welcome Kelly into their group and insists she learn to knit. Kelly has no interest in knitting, but once she starts, she can't seem to stop.

Kelly and her new found friends begin to uncover shocking secrets from Helen's past and they unravel a scheme that sickens them all. They vow to see justice served.

This is the first book in Maggie Sefton's knitting mystery series. I don't know how to knit, but this book made me want to learn. LOL It features a cast of fun, quirky characters that readers will wish they could meet in real life. The knitting shop comes to life with the author's detailed description. The plot has so many twists and turns, it left me guessing until the last chapter.

I have the rest of the series in my TBR and I'll definitely be reading it. I loved this one so much that it gets a "Socrates Great Book Alert" award and 5 kitties!





For reading challenges:

A to Z Reading Challenge
Read Your Own Book Reading Challenge
Cozy Mystery Reading Challenge
TBR Lite Reading Challenge

Cozy Mystery Reading Challenge 2010

I've been waiting for this one! I so love my cozies!

Here are the rules:

1. The challenge runs April 1st, 2010 through September 30, 2010.

2. The goal is to read at least 6 cozy mysteries, one for each month. You can choose to read more, but you must read 6 in order to complete this challenge. You don't have to read 1 each month, you can read them whenever you like, you just have to read at least six.

3. While you can overlap with other challenges, please try to have at least 2 of the books only count towards this challenge.

4. Prizes you ask? Everyone loves a prize! Everyone who completes this challenge will get a bookmark made by yours truly (even if I don't mail them in a timely manner - I will mail them.)

5. Sign-up using the dedicated form. The form can be found in another post or here's a direct link. While it would be great if you signed up before April 1st, last year I had several people who wanted to join but didn't learn about the challenge until after it had started. Therefore you can sign up anytime between now and September 1st.

I'll list my books here...

1. Knit One, Kill Two by Maggie Sefton Click for review
2. Shoulder Bags and Shootings by Dorothy Howell Click for review
3. Murder Past Due by Miranda James Click for review
4. How To Wash A Cat by Rebecca M. Hale Click for review
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