Debbie's Reading Corner: 2024

Wednesday, December 11, 2024

Booked for Murder Book Review

Booked For Murder

An Old Juniper Bookshop Mystery

By: P.J.Nelson

Publish Date: December 10, 2024

Publisher: St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books

Mystery and Thrillers

I would like to thank both NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read and review this book.

Book Review:

This is the first book in a new cozy mystery series. This takes place in a little town in Georgia. Madeline is back home after the death of her aunt. She arrives to claim the bookshop that her aunt has left her. On the first night back the old gazebo in the back yard is on fire. After she calls 911 and they take care of the fire she gets a nasty call telling her to leave town or worse will happen. As her time in her old town goes on she is relearning things about a small town and nothing is secret. She is able to befriend a young college who helps her out in the store. One night the girl asks to stay over because she is having issue with her college roommate, Madeline agrees. The following morning Madeline awakes to smoke and her front door is on fire and the young girl is the middle of it. Madeline pulls the girl free and then finds out that the girl is dead from a stab wound to the stomach. Why is she dead and who did it? Several people think she was murdered by mistake and that Madeline had been the intended target. Madeline isn't thrilled with the police officer in charge because she used to babysit him so goes out on her own with the help of a couple of friends to find out who the killer is. Madeline finds out a couple of things that surprises her and makes her rethink if she ever knew how people really work. I did enjoy the friendships in this book and the way the bookshop was set up. I didn't figure out who the killer was until the end, but I did guess who set the gazebo on fire. I enjoyed the book and will pick up the rest of the series when they become available.

Tuesday, November 26, 2024

Madrigals and Mayhem Book Review

Madrigals and Mayhem

By: Elizabeth Penney

Publish Date: November 26, 2024

Publisher: St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books

Mystery and Thriller

I would like to thank both St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book.

Book Review:

I really enjoyed this book and gave it 4 stars. This is around Christmas time in the United Kingdom.

Molly sees that the toy store is reopening for the holidays. She meets the new owned who happens to be the granddaughter of the previous owner. The previous owner has passed away a few months earlier. Molly sees a dollhouse in the window display that has drawn her attention. Charlotte the new owner offers to show her the dollhouse. When they get into the store, they notice that Charlottes stepcousin is in the break room very sick. That is concerning because he isn't supposed to be there because he didn't inherit the business, and the door was locked when Charlotte left the night before. Molly finds out more than she bargained for with the whole situation. She tries to help her new friend and things just go further than she can figure out.

I really like the friendships and family in this story line. I also like how it is placed during the holiday season.

Sunday, November 17, 2024

All's Fair in Love and Treachery Book Review

All's Fair in Love and Treachery

AQ Mystery

By: Celeste Connally

Publish Date: November 12, 2024

Publisher: St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books

Historical Fiction/Mystery and Thrillers

I would like to thank both NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read and review this book

Book Review:

This is the second book in a series. I didn't realize it until I started reading it. With that being said the author did a pretty good job with some back story and you are able to figure what happened in the first book. I did give this book 3 stars. It was a little slow throughout and I didn't want to pick it up. Once I did pick it up, I found that the reading went well. This book takes place in England and is about Earls and Royals. There is a band a rebels who want to take down the royals so they can have a democracy and have more of a say it what happens to them. Petra is asked to look into a death that happened at the girl's orphanage. She is also dealing with the knowledge that her current fling may have killed her intended. I enjoyed the friendships in this book and how no matter what they back each other up. They need to work fast to get the rebels before they attack the Prince. I enjoyed the adventures and the friendships.

Wednesday, November 13, 2024

November Book of the Month Picks

These are the books that I chose for the month of November from the book of the month club. Sorry the picture isn't that great. I will have a better of them individually when I give the synopsis. If you would like to try Book of the Month here is my link. https://www.mybotm.com/0cxpwrpoiqlivn29.

I really enjoy the choices for the most part and you can't bet the price. Now onto the books. As usual I will be using Good Reads for the synopsis.

Someone in the Attic By: Andrea Mara

You thought you were home alone.

Anya is enjoying a relaxing bath when she hears a noise coming from the ceiling. Through the open bathroom door, she sees the attic hatch swing down, and a masked figure drops to the floor. Thirty seconds later, Anya is dead.

You're not afraid of being alone in the dark. You're afraid you're not alone.

Across town, Anya's old school friend, Julia, sees an online video of a masked figure climbing out of an attic. She suddenly realizes why the footage is eerily familiar: it was filmed inside her house in a luxury gated community, designed to keep intruders out.

And now your worst fears are coming true.

Why would a stranger target Julia? Unless of course, it's not a stranger at all.

Phantasma By: Kaylie Smith

When Ophelia and her sister discovers their mother brutally murdered, there is no time to grieve: Ophelia has inherited both her powerful death-driven magic and enormous debt on their home. Circumstances go from dire to deadly, however, when Ophelia’s sister decides to pay off the loan by entering Phantasma—a competition where most contestants don’t make it out alive and the winner is granted a single wish.

The only way to save her sister is to compete. But Phantasma is a cursed manor, with twisting corridors and lavish ballrooms, and filled with enticing demons and fatal temptations. Ophelia will need to face nine floors of challenges to win... if her fears don’t overtake her first.

When a charming, arrogant stranger claims he can protect and guide Ophelia, she knows she shouldn’t trust him. While Blackwell may not seem dangerous, appearances can be deceptive. But with her sister’s life on the line, Ophelia can’t afford to turn him away. She just needs to ignore the overwhelming, dark attraction drawing them closer and closer together.

Because in Phantasma, the only thing deadlier than losing the game is losing your heart.

The Road of Bones By: Demi Winters

A woman on the run. A crew of Viking mercenaries. A forbidden romance. And the secret which threatens them all.

Silla Nordvig is running for her life.

The queen of Íseldur has sent warriors to bring Silla to Sunnavík, where death awaits her. When her father is killed, his last words set Silla on a perilous quest: travel the treacherous Road of Bones–a thousand-mile stretch haunted by warbands, creatures of darkness, and a mysterious murderer–and go to Kopa, where a shield-house awaits her.

After barely surviving the first stretch of road, a desperate Silla sneaks into a supply wagon belonging to the notorious Bloodaxe Crew. To make it to Kopa, she must win over Axe Eyes, the brooding leader of the Crew, while avoiding the Wolf, his distractingly handsome right-hand man. But the queen’s ruthless assassin has other plans and hunts Silla obsessively.

Will Silla make it safely to Kopa? Or will she fall prey to the perils of the Road of Bones?

Let me know if you have read any of these books. I am planning on getting to the first two books this month. Let's see if that will happen.

Until next time. keep reading.

Friday, November 8, 2024

A Slay Ride Together With You Book Review

A Slay Ride Together With You

By: Vicki Delany

Publish Date: September 24, 2024

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Literary Fiction/ Mystery and Thriller

#ASlayRideTogetherWithYou#NetGalley

I would like to thank both NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read and review this book.

Book Review:

This is book 7 in the series The Year-Round Christmas. I haven't read all the books in this series, and you really don't have too to get the understanding of this book. I really enjoy in the family and friendship in this book. The small town vie also works well in this story. I gave this book 4 stars.

In this book Merry's best friend is getting married. Just before the wedding Vicky, Merry's friend, and Mark buy an old house with an interesting history. Things start happening at the home and this has both Mark and Vicky a little worried. Then one night they find a body on the property. The body is none other than Jim Cole who was causing them problems about the home. The home that both Vicky and Mark used to belong to the Cole family and Jim wanted the home even though the owner wanted it sold on her death. Mark is being investigated for the murder,but did he do it. The town is up in the air on what to do and who actually did it. You will have to read the book to find out. I didn't guess it and usually I can figure it out.

Monday, November 4, 2024

The Spanish Diplomat's Secret Book Review

The Spanish Diplomat's Secret

A Mystery

By: Nev March

Publish Date: September 12,2023

Publisher: St. Martin's Press/Minotaur Books

Historical Fiction/Mystery and Thriller

I would like to thank both NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for allowing me to read and review this book.

Book Review:

I really enjoyed this book. I gave it 4 stars. it is the third book in the series. The thing about this book is that you don't have to the other two books before this one, but you will miss out if you do. In this story they are on the way to England to meet up with her brother. They are on a ship and Jim is seasick. Diana has been a little distant from Jim and he can't figure out why. On this trip they meet up with some pretty interesting characters. There is a murder of a Spanish Diplomat and Jim is assigned to figure out who the killer is. There is a woman who jumps off the ship and another woman who is missing. Can he figure it out before they dock in Liverpool. There is a lot of events that take place and a lot of red herrings. just love how the author writes about Jim and Diana's relationship. They are close and truly love one another. I like how he includes her in the investigation and takes her view on things.