Dying for a Cupcake - A Cozy Review

TITLE: Dying for a Cupcake (A Deveraux's Dime Story Mystery #4)
AUTHOR: Denise Swanson
PUBLISHER: NAL
PUBLISHING DATE: March 2, 1015

FROM GOODREADS: When Devereaux “Dev” Sinclair hosts a cupcake contest at her five-and-dime store, she discovers that someone is just dying to win...

Kizzy Cutler finds it so delicious to be back in her hometown of Shadow Bend, Missouri, that she seems to have forgotten why she fled twenty years ago. For now, she’s excited to kick off her new line of cupcakes with a competition, which Dev has agreed to host in her shop. But before the first yummy cupcake is even baked, Kizzy's assistant Fallon dies from a mysterious ailment.

While the medical examiner attempts to discover what killed Fallon, Kizzy declares that the show must go on. However after Kizzy escapes several near misses, Dev is convinced that someone in Shadow Bend has it in for the Cupcake Queen. Is the secret from her past so dark someone still wants to kill her for it?

With a list of not-so-sweet suspects, Dev’s in a race against the timer to solve the murder before someone else gets iced…

MY THOUGHTS: 
This was another great installment to the Deveraux's Dime Store Mystery series. Kizzy Cutler, a past resident of Shadow Bend, has hit the big time with her cupcakes and returns to her hometown to host a contest to discover her new flavor. Along the way, it seems someone has different plans for Kizzy and the wrong person ends up killed.

I always enjoy this series by Swanson. The characters are interesting and amusing to say the least. Plus, Shadow Bend seems like such an interesting small town and that is one of my favorite aspects about cozies in general. The mystery in the book is good and it wasn't until Dev started to figure out who was the culprit that I started to do the same. I really like that Swanson has written Dev as a somewhat flawed, "real" person and I am interested to see how the dynamic with her newly paroled father shapes up. However, not only is she torn between the two love interests in her life, but Swanson had to go and add a third. Now while I am finding myself quickly hopping on the firetruck and hoping Dev gives this new hunky fire chief a chance, it seems a tad unrealistic that she is going to be able to juggle three men for long.

Swanson does a great job setting up for the next installment at the end of this book and I am glad it comes out soon so I don't have a long wait. If you enjoy cozies, this is definitely a series you should check out. 

RATING: 4 PAWS

 

Stacking the Shelves (51) - The Two Week Edition

Stacking the Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves or TBR piles, may it be physical or virtual.  This means you can include books you buy in a physical store, online, books you borrow from the library or friends, review books, gifts and of course, ebooks! The original meme was started over at Tynga's Reviews.  Clicking on the book should take you to the Goodreads page. 

I didn't have a post last week.  It was an extremely busy one and I just didn't have the time or energy.  I hope I can remember what I accumulated over the past 2 weeks so that I can share it with you.  I really missed doing this post and hopping around to see what everyone else got.  

I received the following galleys from Netgalley, Edelweiss and the publishers:




I managed to snag a few books for my Kindle. They were either free or on sale for under $4.00 so I though getting them was justifiable.


I had to get City of Savages after loving A Criminal Magic so much and Lagoon has been on my radar for some time and both were $2.99 when I grabbed them. So I think I did enough damage. Just hope life slows down enough so I can read some of them soon!

 What did you add to your shelves this week?

A Quick Friday Reads Post

So, it's going to be frigid here at The Farm this weekend and I have one or two small errands to run, but hopefully I can get some reading done this weekend.  Of course, I will also be gearing up to watch The Walking Dead mid-season premier Sunday night so........

  

Happy Valentine's Day!  Zombies for everyone!

Of course the husband and I are making bets on who dies because come on, a premier on Valentine's Day?  You know the show is twisted enough that someone, or maybe several characters, are going to die.

I am in the middle of Dying for A Cupcake and since I usually get through cozy mysteries pretty fast, I may have time for something else.  I have a few graphic novels I need to get through, but I am also thinking about picking up The Changing Season or Welcome to Night Vale.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

 

Marked By Flesh (Oh Why Can't Anne Bishop Write Faster!!!)

TITLE: Marked in Flesh (The Others #4)
AUTHOR: Anne Bishop
PUBLISHER: Penguin/Roc
PUBLISHING DATE: March 8, 2016

FROM GOODREADS: For centuries, the Others and humans have lived side by side in uneasy peace. But when humankind oversteps its bounds, the Others will have to decide how much humanity they’re willing to tolerate—both within themselves and within their community...

Since the Others allied themselves with the cassandra sangue, the fragile yet powerful human blood prophets who were being exploited by their own kind, the delicate dynamic between humans and Others changed. Some, like Simon Wolfgard, wolf shifter and leader of the Lakeside Courtyard, and blood prophet Meg Corbyn, see the new, closer companionship as beneficial—both personally and practically.

But not everyone is convinced. A group of radical humans is seeking to usurp land through a series of violent attacks on the Others. What they don’t realize is that there are older and more dangerous forces than shifters and vampires protecting the land that belongs to the Others—and those forces are willing to do whatever is necessary to protect what is theirs…

MY THOUGHTS:  Anyone who knows me knows how much I love this series. I rave about it all the time and recommend it to practically everyone. I never dreamed when I grabbed "Written in Red" from the library on impulse (and because I liked the cover) that it would become one of my faves. So needless to say, I was thrilled when Penguin/Roc provided me with an advanced copy of the newest installment. I almost immediately dropped what I was reading and started it, but I did manage to hold off for a few days because I am chronically a one-at-a-time book kind of gal.

Marked in Flesh takes up where Vision in Silver left off. The relationship between The Others (terra indigene) and humans has always been strenuous at best. Now, the humans are waging a way, but The Others aren't having it. And let's just say The Others seem to have more resources.

While I felt this book was a tad slow in the beginning, that feeling didn't last long and I was quickly immersed back into the Courtyard life. Marked in Flesh introduces some new characters and given that there were already quite a few, I was a tad confused initially. Also, while Simon and Meg play pertinent roles in the book as always, there weren't the main focus as in the past and I was left wanting a little more of them. But, you might have noticed I still gave it a 5 paw rating because even with those few points, this book is still freakin' awesome. There is plenty of action, lots of plot twists and turns and truly enjoyable characters. This is one of the few series where so many unique creatures have been woven together so well that an extremely magical world is created.

If you have started this series, pick this up as soon as it is released and if you haven't started it, what are you waiting for? It's important for me to also note that my weather ponies also make an important appearance or two in this book and I STILL want one for a pet.

I was provided an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

RATING: 5 PAWS

 

The Big Rewind - A Must for Music and Mystery Lovers

TITLE: The Big Rewind
AUTHOR: Libby Cudmore
PUBLISHER: William Morrow Paperbacks
PUBLISHING DATE: February 2, 2016

FROM GOODREADS: Jett Bennett moved to New York to become a music journalist. What she found was a temp gig as a proofreader, but at least she’s fitting in with the artists and musicians in the tragically hip Brooklyn neighborhood she calls home.

But when Jett opens up her mail and finds a mix tape meant for her neighbor, KitKat, a local queen bee renowned for her “enhanced” baked goods and retro videogame collection, everything changes. Jett drops off the cassette and discovers that it’s game over for KitKat: someone bashed her head in with a rolling pin… and left her pot brownies burning in the oven.

KitKat’s boyfriend, Bronco, is M.I.A. Her sister is so desperate that she asks Jett to snoop around. Then there’s that mix tape. Jett didn’t know KitKat well, but she knows music. And a tape full of love songs from someone other than Bronco screams motive—sending Jett and her best friend, Sid, on an epic quest to find KitKat’s killer through record stores, strip joints, vegan bakeries, and basement nightclubs—a journey that resonates with Jett, and her past, in unexpected ways.

MY THOUGHTS:  This book started out a tad slow, but it definitely picked up a few chapters in and it turned out to be one I raced through much quicker than I originally thought when I first started. I have seen this book described a "hipsters meets cozy mystery" and I think that is probably a pretty accurate description.

The whole books is centered around the concept of "mix tapes" in one way or another. Jett's neighbor KitKat ends up dead right after Jett mistakenly receives KitKat's mail which includes a mix tape of breakup songs. KitKat's boyfriend is accused of the murder and Jett takes it upon herself to prove his innocence. There are some great characters in this book. It is actually quite sad that the reader never gets to actually meet KitKat as she sounds absolutely unique and positively quirky. Also, Jett's friend Sid is pretty much the perfect best friend - flawed and all. As Jett works on the mystery, she visits some boyfriends of her past through saved mix tapes of her own, and discovers what she really wants out of life.

Music plays such a pertinent part of this book and if you are a true fan, you will easily recognize many of the musical references. In addition, the mystery part of the book isn't half bad either, even if I did figure out who killed KitKat about 2/3 into the book. If you love mysteries or music, definitely consider picking this one up.

I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review from the publisher and Edelweiss. 

RATING: 4 PAWS

 

I'm Back - Even Though I Never Technically Left

Well, February has been a busy month so far and it doesn't look like it will get any easier in the near future.  Work and personal issues are taking their toll, but nothing to worry about.  Just not leaving much time for everything else.  If it wasn't for graphic novels, I don't think I would be getting anything accomplished.  Anyway, I thought it was time to play catch up and I wanted to mention a few things, so this post was born.

Don't forget this feature this month over at Stormi's blog Books, Movies, Reviews! Oh My!  She has already posted some great reviews and author interviews.  Also, in conjunction with this, I will be doing a review, interview and giveaway the week of February 22nd so keep your eyes open.

Also, I hope everyone who is participating in this challenge is having a blast.  I know this link-up is being posted a few days late but better late than never.

February Link-up

We just had another snowstorm Monday night and yesterday was a mess, so I hope you guys are having a better February than we are here at "The Farm." I will be doing some advance posts this week so hopefully I won't have a long hiatus again!

Waiting on Wednesday (42)

"Waiting on" Wednesday" is weekly meme hosted over at Breaking the Spine which spotlights upcoming anticipated releases. 

March 31, 2016

FROM GOODREADS: The second book in the mind-blowing new supernatural thriller from bestselling author DEREK LANDY, creator of international sensation Skulduggery Pleasant.

Reeling from their bloody encounter in New York City, Amber and Milo flee north. On their trail are the Hounds of Hell – five demonic bikers who will stop at nothing to drag their quarries back to their unholy master.

Amber and Milo’s only hope lies within Desolation Hill – a small town with a big secret; a town with a darkness to it, where evil seeps through the very floorboards. Until, on one night every year, it spills over onto the streets and all hell breaks loose.

And that night is coming.

WHY I'M WAITING: I have yet to read the first book, but it sits patiently on my Kindle.  From the sounds of this series, it seems right up my alley so I know I will have to grab this one the minute it comes out.

What are you waiting for this week?