Debbie's Reading Corner: March 2026

Sunday, March 15, 2026

Cats, Carats and Killers Book Review

Cats, Carats and Killers

By: TC LoTempio

Book 4 of Urban Tails Pet Shop Mysteries

Publish Date: March 19, 2024

Publisher: Beyond the Page Publishing

Mystery and Thrillers

#CatsCaratsandKillers#NetGalley

I would like to thank both NetGalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for allowing me to read and review this book. Sorry it took me so long to do so. All opinions are my own.

Book Review:

I really enjoyed this book and gave it 4 stars. This book was a fast read at only 184 pages.

In this book they are doing a fund raiser for the local animal shelter. Shells mom was able to get the help from a friend who appraises antiques. The customer donates money to the shelter and then can get their item appraised. Someone has dropped off a jewelry box to get appraised since she just picked it up an estate sale. This jewelry box causes some hype because it seems like everyone wants it and is willing to pay top dollar for it. The owner wont sale until it is appraised.

Go back ten years to a jewelry heist in the small town. The jewels have never been recovered. Does this jewelry box have something to do with it since now everyone seems to have an interest in it. You will have to read the book to find out.

I really enjoy these cozy mysteries because you get involved with everyone in the story. They become to you as you read each book. I love the friendships in this book and even the mother daughter relationship.

Tuesday, March 10, 2026

Hafsa's Way Book Review

Hafsa's Way

By: Aisha Saeed

Publish Date: March 10, 2026

Publisher: Penguin Young Readers Group/Nancy Paulsen Books

Children's Fiction/Middle Grade

#HafsasWay#NetGalley

I would like to thank both Penguin Young Readers and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

Book Review:

Not only is the cover beautiful but so is the story. I gave this book 5 stars. Near the end of the story, I was in tears. This book is about a young girl who wants to become a doctor in a culture that thinks girls/woman are second class. This young lady fights for everything she has accomplished. This time she has help from her brother-in-law and older sister.

Hafsa wants to become a doctor when she gets older and she has learned about a summer program that will be a great advantage. She had to apply which she did secretly and was surprised to find out that she was accepted into the program. The only problem is she hasn't even mentioned this to her parents.

When she finally tells her dad his answer is no and takes the letter and nothing is said about it anymore. then she realizes he hasn't even told her mother, and she goes looking for the letter to show her mom and her mom supports her father. A few days later her sister and brother-in-law come for a short visit and Hafsa brings it up and has support from them. The brother-in-law even will pay for the program, and she can stay with them. This her parents cannot refuse because it would be impolite to her sister and her husband.

On her first day of the program Hafsa realizes that the medical program isn't until next year and she is going to a program about climate issues. She ends up still staying and learning a lot. The teacher feels a little sorry for her and gives her a laptop that has the recording from the year before medical program that Hafsa can listen to.

Hafsa learns more about her sister's new life and is concern that she has given up on her dream to help the mother-in-law with a Galla event that will bring money into the hospital that her husband works at. Hafsa has a lot to learn and understand and gets into a fight with her sister and then realizes that it isn't always what you see.

Hafsa also is understanding what the climate can do the area you live in and the effects it has the animals around you. She finds herself drawn to an elephant in a ran down zoo. This elephant has a great effect on her, and she finds herself wanting to help it.

Can she figure things out for herself and this elephant?

This book has a wonderful family element to it and the support of a teacher, and one friend can be a start.

Thursday, March 5, 2026

The Baby Dragon Bookshop Book Review

The Baby Dragon Bookshop

By: A.T. Qureshi

Book 3 of Baby Dragon Series

Publish Date: February 3, 2026

Publisher: Harper 360/Avon

General Fiction (Adult)/ Romance/Sci-Fi and Fantasy

#TheBabyDragonBookshop#NetGalley

<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/9a41056d7201c045d3f9e5c161f9569494687ae1" width="80" height="80" alt="Professional Reader" title="Professional Reader"/

I would like to thank both Harper 360/Avon and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. All opinions are my own.

Book Review:

I enjoyed this book and gave it 3 stars. It dragged for me in the middle and I just wanted it to get to the end and the results of the contest.

In this book two different coffee bean roaster companies are vying for an investment from a well-known person. Since they don't want to work together the investor has given them 6 weeks to work up a proposal and she will pick the best one. The two companies' owner do know each other, and they aren't friendly towards each other due to a past history.

The owner of the dragon roaster company is Emmy, and the owner of the other roaster company is Luke. They are forced to work in the same office at the bookshop where the new coffee shop will be to work on their proposals. Unknown to each other they both have feelings for each other, but Emmy is adamant about keeping her feelings hidden and to do what needs to be done to get this investment for her to expand her company. Luke on the other hand wants to have a relationship but he also needs this investment to keep his business running.

As the weeks go on they are learning things about themselves and each other. Luke is caring and helpful and Emmy is a control freak and learning maybe she has to relax and enjoy life more. This is hard because she is the oldest in the family and even her mom thinks she needs to be there for everyone when mom can't be.

What happens between Luke and Emmy? Who gets the investment? You will have to read the book to find out.

What I like about the book is the friendship that is being developed between the two.

Tuesday, March 3, 2026

A Smoking Bun Book Review

A Smoking Bun

A Bakeshop Mystery

By: Ellie Alexander

Publish Date: February 20, 2024

Publisher: St. Martin's Press/St. Martin's Paperback

Mystery and Thrillers

#ASmokingBun#NetGalley

I would like to thank both St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for allowing me to read and review this book. Sorry it took me so long. All opinions are my own.

Book Review:

I gave this book 4 stars. It is book 18 in the series. I have read several of the books in this series and you don't have to read them in order but if you want to follow along with the lives of the main character then you should start with book one. Otherwise, the author does a good job with letting you know what has happened.

In this book it is wintertime and Carlos' son has been staying with them for the year. It is just before the new year, and Carlos' ex and her new family have come for a visit. Everyone is getting along which is great and they are having a great time. During one of the events, the downhill dummy race, something happens. Someone is killed and the police need to figure out who did it and why. The person who was killed wasn't well liked and that causes to have too many suspects. The main one is a friend and of course Jules needs to look into things. Things are found out about the lodge which can cause it close which isn't good for the small town. Can Jules figure out who the killer is before they come after her.

What I also like about these kinds of books is the support of the family and friends.