50% Off Murder

Title: 50% Off Murder

Author: Josie Belle aka Jenn McKinlay aka Jennifer McKinlay Orf

Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Mystery

Series: Good Buy Girls Mystery, Bk 1

ISBN: 9780425247020

Pages: 273 + "The Good Buy Girls' Top Ten Thrifty Tips"

Obtained: Library copy

My Comments:

I enjoyed this (as expected since I like Jenn McKinlay's mysteries).  The characters were interesting.  I liked Maggie the other Good Buy Girls.  I really appreciated the idea of the group and having such a circle of friends.  The overall idea had my mind flashing to that Extreme Couponing show.  and I enjoyed the Thrifty Tips at the end.  They can be both useful and give some additional insight into the characters.

The mystery was nice, especially since the suspect the amateur sleuths work to prove innocent is the head librarian.  Solving of the murder was wrapped up perhaps a tad more abruptly than I would have liked, and the killer was someone I suspected much earlier on in the story.

Overall, I thought this was a nice start to a new series. I look forward to reading A Deal to Die For, due out Dec. 2012.

Due or Die

Due or Die (Library Lover's Mystery, Bk 2) by Jenn McKinlay (library copy) -

This was another enjoyable book by Jenn McKinlay.  In addition to the obvious library factor there was also the stormy weather (is it just me, or is reading books set in stormy weather when you're perfectly comfortable at home, etc add an extra something to the reading experience?), the puppy, and of course the story.  The third book in the series, Book, Line, and Sinker is due out this December.



I know this is short; it's more mini-review only without any others, but the next three cozies (past tense, because I'm backed up on my blogging... oops) are going to be lumped together.  I really wish I had found a trailer to go with this one but no such luck.

A smattering of death ...

Circle of Enemies (Twenty Palaces, Bk 3) by Harry Connolly (library copy) -

Ray Lilly visits his past life (and I'm not talking time-travel here) ... where the group he used to hang out with and steal cars with are dying.  As anticipated this book gave me a better grasp of Ray, where he came from, and what made him him (repeat intended).  This series as a whole is so intense and the magic is dark and powerful... add Ray, with his flaws and qualities, and you have a complete package.  And the ending was a great lead into future books.  Now to the big disappointment ... IT'S OVER!!!! No book 4, or at least not any time soon.  I just found this out when I was trying to find a title for book 4.  Now I'm gonna be in a funk the rest of the day.  =<  He (the author) does say he's working on a prequel with more background deets, which is cool, but still...

Death by the Dozen (Cupcake Bakery Mystery, Bk 3) by Jenn McKinlay (library copy) -

I'd already forgotten basic stuff from the previous books, which was frustrating, but the story itself was still enjoyable.  And a new character, Oz the intern, was introduced.  It sounds like he's a permanent addition, and I'm glad because he was cool.  I look forward to reading book 4, Red Velvet Revenge.

Mind Your Own Beeswax (Queen Bee Mystery, Bk 2) by Hannah Reed aka Deb Baker (library copy) -

I'll be honest... I put off reading this.  While I enjoyed book 1, I found the bullet points and text speak a tad annoying.  But I finally sat down and started and found out that... I enjoyed this story too.  It's paced well enough to keep my interest.  I guessed the murderer early, but that's never bothered me.  Only real problem was the bullets (though better this time than last) and text speak...again.  But I'll keep reading because so far the stories are enjoyable enough that they're worth the irritation.  So I will be reading book 3, Plan Bee.

A Sheetcake Named Desire (Piece of Cake Mystery, Bk 1) by Jacklyn Brady aka Sherry Lewis and Sammi Carter (personal copy - obtained via paperbackswap.com) -

You'll notice I read a lot of cozies, and I say most are enjoyable... and they are.  I wouldn't be such a huge fan of the genre if they weren't.  But the real judge of a good cozy - to me - is if it moves quickly.  I don't mean the story itself is fast paced.  Just that I can read it quickly.  The ones that take me longer to get into aren't as successful, IMO.  And all that to say this was a quick cozy.  I started it yesterday morning, I read it all through lunch, I came within the last two pages during my 15 min break, and I finished it as soon as I got home.  Success.  Not that it was perfect or anything.  For instance, Rita made a big assumption towards the beginning that I disagreed with.  And I didn't connect with some of the secondary characters like I suspect I was supposed to.  But overall, I enjoyed it.  I look forward to reading the second in the series, Cake on a Hot Tin Roof.

Light on the reading...

Since the last post, I've read:

Sealed with a Kill by Lucy Lawrence (library copy) - I enjoyed it, not as much as the 1st 2 books, but still.  And this series has lead to more, if you continue to read into my post...

Wicked Witch Murder by Leslie Meier - I liked this one better than the last few Leslie Meier books I read, so I'm happy.  Hoping the next book is as enjoyable.

Glazed Murder by Jessica Beck - Kind of had a slow start with this one, but it picked up part way in.  I'll have to see where the series goes from here.

So I haven't been reading as much.  It's mostly the usual ... life.  But I noticed part of it was because of books.  Sounds like a contradiction - but it isn't.

I've mentioned before that after reading Monica Ferris's Needlecraft Mysteries I took a crochet class.  Well now that I've read Lucy Lawrence (Jenn McKinlay)'s Decoupage Mysteries, I've been trying (it's more difficult than I thought) to do decoupage.  My sister and I have been been practicing and working on little projects together for the past 4 weeks.

    I did something similar to this - different color scheme - for my ma's birthday gift.  My sister became interested when I brought my finished project over to show her.  

Anyway, this is good because it means we're spending more time together.  But it also contributes to my decline in time spent reading.   So do your books influence your life, beyond the time spent actually reading them? (or the physical space they consume)?

Update:

My first decoupage project.  It hasn't been hung on the wall yet. 

You're Invited... (Birthdays, Cupcakes, Books, and a Giveaway!)

It's my birthday!  And I'd like to invite you to celebrate it with me.

I'm having a cupcake giveaway.

The giveaway includes the first 2 Jenn McKinlay Cupcake Mysteries (used), Sprinkle With Murder and Buttercream Bump Off, a cupcake table runner, a cupcake clock (battery not included), a cupcake bag, three cupcake picture holders, cupcake recipe cards, and various cupcake stickers and notepads.  Nothing real expensive, but I think it's all cute.  And I loved the first Cupcake Mystery (I'll be re-reading that and reading the second before I send this).

All you have to do is post a comment telling me how you like (or don't like) to celebrate your birthday and include an email addy (or PBS nickname, or if we're friends on FB let me know) so I can contact you.  As for my own birthday celebration, in addition to having this giveaway, I'll be having dinner at Olive Garden and (assuming it's still open... it was as of 8/31) going to the only Borders left in the area to see if I can catch any closing sales.

Open until Sept. 8, 2011, 11:59 PM CT.

Sprinkle with Murder

Title: Sprinkle with Murder

Author: Jenn McKinlay (Jennifer McKinlay Orf) (Also writes as Lucy Lawrence)

Publisher: Berkley Prime Crime Mystery

Copyright Date: 2010

Print Date: March 2010

ISBN: 9780425233429

Pages: 215 + Recipes

Series: 1st in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series




Book Description (from back cover):

Cupcakes to Die For

Melanie Cooper and Angie DeLaura are finally living out their dream as the proud owners of the Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery. Their first big order is a sweet deal, too — five hundred cupcakes for a fashion designer's wedding. The only sour note is the demanding bridezilla who insists on original recipes for the cupcakes.

When Mel stumbles upon the bride-to-be dead-by-cupcake, she immediately becomes the prime suspect. The police believe that a secret ingredient in the cupcakes caused her death. To save Mel and their business, the ladies need to find the real murderer — before the cupcake killer ices someone else...

Comments:

This was a quick, light, fun cozy mystery.

I hadn't realized there was such a thing as a cupcake bakery (as opposed to a general bakery). But the Fairy Tale Cupcakes bakery sounded like it had great products and great atmosphere. Too bad it's fictional. I liked Mel... The chubby kid who made strong and lasting friendships. Loyal, hardworking, and determined to achive her goals. With a little childhood crush on her best friend's brother. And the other characters were likeable as well.

I read a library copy, but I may have to get my own copy (at some point). In fact, the biggest problem with it is that it just came out this month...which means I have to wait to read the next in the series, Buttercream Bump Off (next January!!!).