I wanted to love this, because who can't resist an entire pet friendly town, cute pets and a great mystery? I know I can't. Unfortunately, this one just didn't live up to my expectations. I've read the earlier books in this series and enjoyed them, but I just couldn't get in to this one. The matchmaker storyline just felt...forced. I wasn't feeling it any more than Holly was. While the plot was intriguing and interesting, I felt like it just dragged on too long, there were parts in the middle where it just lost my interest, and it took me a few tries to get through it. While I'll continue to read this series, this book just underwhelmed me.

An adorable and enjoyable cozy mystery, from the charming location to the cute characters and the excellent plot, it was a fun read. I loved the world that the author created with Keepsake Cove, a beautiful little tourist town in Maryland with quaint little shops and I would love to wander around the music box shop, looking at all the different models. The characters were just as charming as the location, I really liked Callie, a realistic main character that is easy to relate to. But the plot really shined, from the ghostly music box to the twisty plot full of misdirections, I couldn't read it fast enough.

A Fatal Collection will delight any cozy mystery fan, and this stands out as one of the finest mysteries I've read in 2017. I look forward to seeing the series continue, can't wait for the next book!

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Cassie, Cassie, Cassie. As if you don't have enough on your plate to keep you busy, what with wedding plans and your concierge job catering to the upscale residents of the Parkstone luxury apartment building and finding who is the lucky recipient of a lovely pair of Lovebirds, but you had to go and find yourself in the middle of another murder. And poor Stella! Readying her 75th birthday party, she is ruthlessly killed. Who could have it in for this innocent little old lady? There's a whole RSVP list of suspects and motives and as if finding the killer wasn't hard enough, untangling the half-truths and mysteries of Stella's life prove to be just as difficult. What's a fashionista to do other than to put on her Jimmy Choo's and solve another mystery?

I enjoy this cute little cozy series, from Cassie's running narrative of what the residents of the Parkstone are wearing to her ability to ferret out the smallest details and help her homicide detective boyfriend close the case, it always puts a smile on my face. The Clubroom Corpse had an especially juicy plot, with a victim who hid many secrets, a whole building full of suspects and lots of clues and misdirections to keep me guessing. I loved the madcap ending, it was a fun and exciting way to cap off an enjoyable mystery. And I've got my eye on you Mr. Beasley narrows eyes

I think this is my favorite of the author's many series, and I was happy to see it return. They're always a light cozy read. I love the quaint upstate NY location and I really like Katie, she's endlessly patient (I am not, so I envy this quality in others) and I love the down to earth realism attitude that retired detective Ray Davenport brings to balance out all the wild theories Katie comes up with. The pace on this is relaxed, and that's what I love about this series, it's sets just the right pace for the story, allowing the reader to really get to know the different characters while still keeping the mystery suspenseful. I loved the plot, who killed Katie's ex-boss Josh the Jerk and why? Lots of suspects and lots of motives, Katie has her hands full investigating, leading up to the exciting conclusion.

All in all, a great addition to the Victoria Square series and an enjoyable read.

A Will to Die is the 7th Cliff Knowles mystery but also a standalone. What sets this book apart from the other books in the series is that Cliff is a bit of an outsider to this investigation, since it was his estranged sister who died, he was more on the sidelines, not that Cliff let that stop him.

This was an intriguing case, and I have to hand it to the author, he comes up with some pretty unsettling plots (read Fatal Dose!) and this one, a suicide cult preying on Cliff's sister is no different. Lots of twists and turns, what you think is an insignificant scene comes back later to be very relevant to the investigation, so it keeps the reader on their toes. Since Cliff wasn't right in the middle of the official investigation, I really liked watching Cliff and the detectives come to the same conclusions separately by different means. Detectives Sanchez and Martin were a great pair, I liked their friendly rivalry and dogged determination. A sprinkling of geocaching (I always find that interesting, one of these days I'll have to give it a try) and the moving storyline about Denise's daughter gave a human touch to the story.

Overall, another fantastic book in the Cliff Knowles series and a must read for any fan of realistic police procedurals and a good mystery.

Biscuits and Slashed Browns is the 4th book in the Country Store Mysteries, and the small town of South Lick, IN is gearing up for a Maple Festival when a visiting college professor ruffles some feathers and winds up dead with a chef's knife stuck in his chest. Puzzle fanatic Robbie can't seem to let the matter go, espcially when the prime suspects are her best friend Christina and the father of one of her employees! Robbie ruthlessly chases the truth, and finds herself in a couple of sticky situations before being confronted by the killer and barely escaping with her life! (And I loved how the title was a part of the plot!)

I love a visit to South Lick and catching up with Robbie, Buck and Adele and of course, Robbie's food (I'm going to make those maple biscuits!) and this one didn't disappoint. The author does such a great job of creating a world that welcomes you back like an old friend. The rich plot had a lot going on without feeling too cluttered, with a fast pace and a riveting plot that kept me glued to the pages. I mean, the floors can wait to be washed, but mysteries don't solve themselves! Robbie's bike rides had me, who is freezing in arctic Indiana right now, yearning for those spring days with the promise of warmer weather to come. I would've liked to have seen a little bit about the maple syrup process, too bad Robbie didn't make it to see the Native American sugaring demonstration. And did she ever fix her taillight? Did she give Warren's crown back to Noreen? These are the things I worry about, folks.

Overall, Biscuits and Slashed Browns serves up another finger lickin good cozy mystery and another enjoyable visit to South Lick.

Whoo, what a ride! Loved, loved, LOVED this, I was swept up in this deftly written mystery from the very first page. Combining the Victorian fascination with mediums and spirits with a classic whodunit,I loved the simple yet complex plot that takes twist after turn and by the time the surprise ending was unfolding, I was just holding on for dear life! The tragic stories from the suspects made it hard to single one out, and although you think you know who did it, you'll be wrong.

Sitting Murder was a fantastic mystery and one I will be thinking out for a long time. I've not read any of the earlier books in the series (you can bet I will now!) so this book can easily be read as a standalone or as an entry into the series.

Death of a Toy Soldier by Barbara Early

Ok, first of all, I have an ulterior motive for picking up this book. You see, I know the setting very, very well. East Aurora, a small town outside of Buffalo, NY, is home to landmarks like Vidlers, The Roycroft, and of course, Fisher-Price and all of its toys. So when I saw that Death of a Toy Soldier was set in that tiny speck on the map that few people outside of Western NY know about, I had to read it. The book was full of recognizable places and captured the flavor of the town so well that it made me feel like I was transported back to the bricked lined Main Street with its wide sidewalks and cute little shops.

The plot surrounds a man who brings a box of old toys to be appraised at the vintage toy shop owned by Liz McCall and her retired police chief father Hank. When the man and is later found dead in the middle of the night, murdered with a lawn dart and Hank falls under suspicion, there's no choice for Liz and her father to investigate, turning up family squabbles, a possible haunting and some mischievous fun.  Lots of red herrings and false clues made this an enjoyable and puzzling plot and I loved the charming characters that truly embodied the warm community atmosphere of the town. The surprise twist and exciting ending capped it all off and left me eager to read more.

An excellent debut mystery set in a place close to my heart and I definitely recommend it for cozy mystery fans looking for a fun and enjoyable read.

Another fun mystery in the Second Chance Cat series, The Fast and the Furriest dug into the shadowy past of Mac, the enigmatic handyman at Second Chances. And what a story it was! It would've made for a great soap opera plot even Elvis the cat could get in to (as long as it wasn't on during Jeopardy, of course.) When Erin Fellows shows up in town looking for Mac and is later found dead, Mac comes under suspicion after an eyewitness places him at the scene. Sarah's sassy senior friends, an informal PI agency calling themselves "Charlotte's Angels", kick into gear to solve the murder to save their friend.

I always enjoy this series, it's a relaxing, light read and the charming characters make it feel like I'm catching up with old friends. I have to say, Sarah is stubbornly clueless about Nick's interest, maybe he needs to step up his game? I enjoyed their "field trips" they took in the course of their investigation (Stevie's alibi made me laugh) and it all came together for an exciting ending, Mr. P. certainly is a man of many talents.

Overall, The Fast and the Furriest is a delightful addition to an already great series. This book can easily be be read as a standalone or an entry into the series, as any references to prior books are summed up nicely and it would be easy for readers new to the series to understand.

Ahhh Jamie, how can you be such an adept investigator but be so oblivious to what's around you? *sigh*

This series is always a fun, laugh-out-loud, absorbing read. You can't help but like Jamie, a sassy, independent, and strong woman, yet vulnerable and a little unsure (especially when it comes to Kip!) Her banter with Duke is always hilarious, and the gents at the old folks' home (named 'La Vida Boca', a take off on the Ricky Martin song,  translated, it means 'The Mouth Life' which made me laugh a bit too, considering the sassy level of many of its residents!) In Jeopardy in July, Jamie is uncovers a case of art forgery that turns into murder and I enjoyed how the story weaved together several threads into one intricate plot. Jamie is also reconsidering the focus of her law practice and I can't wait to see how that develops in coming books. The book capped off with an exciting conclusion that opened up so many possible future storylines (which I'm looking forward to!) My only criticism was that I thought the showdown at the end ended a little abruptly, but it was still satisfying. A few new characters were introduced that I hope to see return, especially Herb, Uncle Teddy and his friends. The heartwarming twist at the end was adorable and left me with a serious case of the feels, if you've been following the series from the beginning, it was a satisfying and endearing end to the book and left me eagerly awaiting the next book.