In The Solarium

Happy Halloween Bookworms! If you are anything like me than this time of year is your favorite. I love fall with the cooling weather, the leaves changing colors, and of course, Halloween. And I am also a big fan of reading for the season. Of course read whatever you want whenever you want but there is just something very satisfying about reading something spooky or just a little darker for the season.   Especially if you are able to set the mood with cozy blankets, warm tea and lit candles. Bonus points if it is foggy or raining out.  Now, with out further ado time for some book recommendations.     Cackle by Rachel Harrison Fresh starts, new friends, and friendly spiders. This speculative fiction from Rachel Harrison left me speechless.  Everyone has dreamed of starting over in a new town where no one knows you and your past doesn't define you. Here, that happens and so much more. Perfect for: Those looking for a lighter fantasy, powerful friendships...

  *Possible spoilers, read with care. 5/5 ⭐ Welcome to Shady Hollow. This village lives in harmony with one another until tragedy strikes with the sudden death of the cantankerous old toad that lived in the pond.  I love a good cozy mystery. Something lighthearted and fun but still thrilling and thought provoking. Shady Hollow  hit all the marks making this a series you won't want to miss.  I had seen this one on so many people's TBR lists that I knew I needed to read it as well. And what better time than during Autumn. It just felt right.  This mystery follows Vera Vixen, the local reporter who just so happens to be a fox. Having come from a bigger town, she seems much more in the know of what to do in the case of a murder than the local constabulary. Which is made up of two bears named Meade and Orville. They do get their chance to make up for what they lack.  Let me just put it here, the names of these characters is incredible and l loved the inclus...

  5/5 ⭐ This new cozy mystery series features the classics, a small-town life, beloved bookstores, and a famous cat. I really loved just about everything in this story. The characters unlike the usual disapproving and discouraging ones were supportive of Callie Padget, once a journalist and now a bookshop employee. The setting on beautiful Cattail Island was not one to overlook. Not with its scenic views and long history looming around every corner. And as for the mystery… It was one with many interesting twists and surprises and well, I didn’t see that ending coming. Very interested in what happens next in this promising new series! 7/5/22 *This review was previously posted on my Google Site.

5/5 ⭐ Not very often am I struck with the urge to go and read more of the same books from a series as fast as I was for Laura Child’s Tea Shop Mysteries. Luckily, one of my libraries had a copy of the first story available. I ended up reading it all in just about two days. One thing that struck me right away was how well balanced it was with introducing the characters and setting while also introducing the mystery elements. It never felt like an information dump or that the mystery was pushed to the side. Which is often the case for setting up a cozy mystery series. The information we need was carefully dotted throughout the novel, explained exactly when we needed it. As for the characters, they were to be expected for a cozy mystery. An amateur sleuth thrust into an investigation after suspicion falls on them. Desperate to prove themselves innocent and find the guilty party they drag their coworkers and friends into their shenanigans. Different from most though, Theodosia (this series...

5/5 ⭐ Haunted houses, tea, and murder. The perfect pairing for a cozy mystery. I had heard plenty about Laura Childs mysteries before. But before now, never had the notion to try one myself. It just never seemed to work out. But I finally did and am I glad I did. This is the 22nd book in the series and while my first, I didn’t find that I was missing any important information that I could have learned from the first ones. I enjoyed getting lost in their day-to-day business of making and serving tea and other tasty treats. Sometimes it felt like more of the story went to these tasks rather than the actual mystery but I still enjoyed them. As a tea lover, it sparked an urge to not only brew a cup but also try some of the blends they talked about as well. As for the characters, they were so colorful and vibrant I couldn’t help but fall in love with them and their antics. Yes, sometimes it feels overdramatic. But this is the south we are talking about so it doesn’t feel out of place in the...

4/5 ⭐ I was a little nervous when I started it that I wasn't going to like it because some of the dialogue is a bit much but I was pleasantly surprised! The setting was wonderfully designed and you felt like you were there in Las Flores, walking downtown and visiting the cute and quaint places Abby visits in her quest to solve the murder of French-Canadian pastry chef Jean-Louis Bonheur. She is aided by the victim's brother and her former colleagues in the police department to uncover the truth. And the victim's adorable and excitable dog, Sugar. I liked how the book was dotted with recipes for not only baked goodies but other things like doggie treats, chicken wraps and how to treat a bee sting. I wasn't the biggest fan of all the cheeky dialogue between Abby and her best friend Kat. Or when it was used elsewhere. There is an overabundance of nicknames used. It felt over the top and after a while it was annoying. But that was probably the only part I wasn't a fan o...

  4/5 ⭐ The second installment in the Secret, Book & Scone Society features more book quotes, more baked goodies, and more murder. I hadn't planned on picking up the second one so soon but when my hold came for it I jumped on and ended up reading it all in one day. I enjoyed that while this is still clearly a cozy mystery there is enough grit and non-coziness about it that makes it feel different than the rest. It is a good middle ground between a traditional cozy and traditional mystery in my opinion. Nora and her friends are having an uneventful night when a mysterious young woman shows up at the bookshop. Rail thin and quiet as a mouse, the newcomer is not talking about what secrets she holds. With her arrival, a new appraisal store opens offering residents a way to make some quick cash but the difference in the business partner's personalities gives Nora a reason to pause. And of course, we get some more romantic tension built up between Jed and Nora. They finally get t...

4.5/5 ⭐ I never know what to expect from a cozy mystery. Which was the case for this one. A mysterious book store owner that knows how to help any problem with the right book. And in the bakery that makes scones particular to its customer and a spa, Miracle Springs is the perfect place to do some healing. As much as I love the idea of a cozy mystery, sometimes I find them repetitive and boring after a while. There are elements that can be found across the board in most cozy mysteries. The small town factor, the bookstore, b&b, or some self-owned business. Either seemingly normal backstory or one marked with tragedy. And then the murder. And yes, while all those elements were in this mystery too, it didn't feel boring or repetitive. Nora, the one with the tragic backstory, the one who likes to stay in the background and not get involved get's involved very quickly. Not from being nosy or too inquisitive but from a sense of justice and needed to make sure things are set right...