Irish Stewed

Title: Irish Stewed

Author: Kylie Logan [Website][Facebook][Twitter] aka Casey Daniels [Website][Facebook][Twitter] aka Miranda Bliss aka Zoe Daniels aka Constance Laux aka Connie Deka aka Connie Lane aka Connie Laux

Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Mystery

Series: Ethnic Eats, Bk 1

ISBN: 9780425274880

Length: 275 + Recipe

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

Placed purchase request because I was in the mood for some cozies and the series and book titles sounded interesting.

Comments:

I enjoyed.  This was a quick read.  I liked Laurel.  Though she was a bit distant and slow to warm up, I could understand why.  She's come from a foster background, spent time in backstabbing Hollywood, come to this small town based on false information, and encountered a murder within hours of coming.  None of those factors lend to trust, and so I did find the small town expectations that she just accept them as trustworthy to be grating.  The mafia spin (a small bit) seemed surreal.

Laurel moved past that, though, as she investigated the crime and tried to make the best of her situation.  And maybe she and this small town can help each other after all.

Anyway, I was immediately interested in the second book, French Fried which I have since finished.

A Tale of Two Biddies

Title: A Tale of Two Biddies

Author: Kylie Logan [Website][Facebook][Twitter] aka Casey Daniels [Website][Facebook][Twitter] aka Miranda Bliss aka Zoe Daniels aka Constance Laux aka Connie Deka aka Connie Lane aka Connie Laux

Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Mystery

Series: League of Literary Ladies, Bk 2

ISBN: 9780425257760

Length: 276 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

I enjoyed the first book in the series and was interested in reading more.  Plus books and book discussions and cozy mystery and a cover with a cute cat...

Comments:

The League of Literary Ladies have been reading A Tale of Two Cities.  Like the first book in this series, I have not read this classic (yet).  That did not detract from my enjoyment of the story, (though I know even less about Dickens's book and needed all the details provided throughout).  The town is even more immersed in literature than usual because they are having a special Bastille festival, complete with a Dickens impersonator competition.

Between the various Charles Dickens, the re-named formerly big rock boy band members, and the locals there are plenty of suspects when the chaos-causing and much-hated handyman Richie is murdered.

So you can rather guess who the culprit is (although there is actually more than one mystery) due to some pretty large hints.  But plenty of twists - and suspects - keep you from being too sure, so that was okay.

Bea Cartwright is settling in.  Her B&B is doing well.  She is keeping a truce with her neighbors and book discussion group (dare I say she has even become friends with them?).  She and Levi have more potential for developing a relationship.  The fly in the ointment is that Bea is STILL not sharing anything from her past life with anybody.  And can all these budding friendships survive on secrets?

Anyway, I look forward to reading the third book in the series.  And maybe by then I'll have read some of these classics.

Mayhem at the Orient Express

Title: Mayhem at the Orient Express

Author: Kylie Logan [Website][Facebook][Twitter] aka Casey Daniels [Website][Facebook][Twitter] aka Miranda Bliss aka Zoe Daniels aka Constance Laux aka Connie Deka aka Connie Lane aka Connie Laux

Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Mystery

Series: League of Literary Ladies, Bk 1

ISBN: 9780425257753

Length: 282 pages

Obtained: Library copy

Why this book?:

A cozy mystery featuring "literary ladies," at title referencing a classic cozy mystery, and a cat on the cover.  How could I resist?

Comments:

I enjoy pretty much any book that involves books, but those that parallel a classic work seem to have an extra touch of fun.  I haven't read Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express (yet), but I know enough of the story that I could see those parallels.  And if you aren't familiar with the story, teh relevant parts are discussed.  But this is more than just an "inspired by" book.  It also has book discussion.  And I love that part as well.

Now the part that annoyed me is the secrecy of the main character, Bea.  I understand she's getting away and doesn't want her business leaked all over town.  She certainly doesn't want it to be spread beyond that.  She's been the victim of a stalker before, and she has a secret, apparently high-profile identity (and while the reader is not specifically told what that identity is, you are given abundant and obvious clues).  But despite all the validity of her wanting privacy and normalcy, she needs to learn to trust.  I am a nosy (I want to know what is going on) and open (I will talk about my life to friends and family.  I don't hold back because of the stigma of the situation.) person, both.  I can keep your secrets, but I dislike ones kept from me.  And I feel strongly that family and/or friends (if you aren't close to your family) should be kept in the loop.

Anyway, that's a personal quirk that nagged throughout the book, but it didn't detract from me enjoying the story or characters.  I look forward to reading more of the series and have, in fact, already read book 2, A Tale of Two Biddies.