Let's get MYSTERIOUS!

My reading tastes have been all over the map the last few months.  I definitely got into mysteries during this time, many of the cozy variety.  Here are my latest discoveries:

Mr. Churchill's Secretary
by Susan Elia MacNeal

Such an interesting time period and I loved that it was from a female perspective and one that is heavily involved in the war effort. There was lots of historical information from WWII which really helped to flesh out the story. I went in expecting that this was going to be another cozy mystery but was pleasantly surprised to discover that it was full of thrilling, intellectual, and well developed characters and plot points! Maggie Hope is a great heroine! I'm really looking forward to reading the next installment, Princess Elizabeth's Spy!

First Grave on the Right

by Darynda Jones

First in the Charley Davidson Series, the lead character is a PI by day and the Grim Reaper by night...and usually during the day too...ok, most of / all of the time.  Charley is a sassy and smart character and it's lots of fun to read about her adventures (more likely misadventures!).  For fans of Janet Evanovich, J.R. Ward, and Sherrilyn Kenyon! Mixes the right amount of mystery with paranormal romance.  I'm looking forward to reading the next few in the series.

Secondhand Spirits

by Juliet Blackwell

Another series first, this one from the Witchcraft Mysteries.  Lily Ivory has just moved to San Fran and decided it's time to set up roots somewhere and here is as good a place as any.  She has opened up a vintage clothing shop (expect lots of fun descriptions of amazing clothes) and is trying hard to balance her new working girl lifestyle with the one she is trying to keep a secret; she is a witch (a pretty powerful one at that).  When a client is murdered and children start disappearing, Lily is dragged into the case.  Naturally, there are 2 sexy men for readers and Lily to choose from; Aidan Rhodes, a powerful male witch, and Max Carmicheal, a 'mythbuster'.  Funny and spooky, a great series for holiday or beach reading!

On What Grounds

by Cleo Coyle

The first in Coyle's Coffeehouse Mystery series; full of lots of coffee, fun characters, and mysterious circumstances.  I liked that the main character, Clare Cosi (and how cute is her name?) is an older and wiser heroine then many series I've been reading of late.  Having a middle aged mother and divorcee really complemented the story and atmosphere created.

Notorious Nineteen

by Janet Evanovich

Oh Stephanie Plum, how I love you...Nothing beats curling up on the couch with the newest adventure of Stephanie, Lula, Morelli, Ranger, and more.  This one features Grandma Mazur going undercover at a nursing home.  Need I say more?

Curiosity Thrilled the Cat

by Sofie Kelly

My new favourite cozy mystery series.  I picked up this first in the Magical Cats Series at White Dwarf Books.  I picked it up and discovered

a) It featured cats.  Cats that look like my cats according to the cover image.

b) The cats are magical ! 

c) It takes place in a quaint small town

d) The main character is a librarian

I was sold!  This is a lovely series that is we written and full of feel good fun.  A must for cat lovers and cozy mystery fans.

I have since read book 2 (Sleight of Paw) and book 3 (Copycat Killing) and both are just as good as the first one!

More genres / reviews to come soon! :)

“They don't hang dukes, darling. He'd be let off by reason of insanity. Everyone knows the upper classes are batty.”

When I was down in Seattle with my mom this past December, I had the good fortune to visit a fabulous bookshop, the Seattle Mystery Bookshop!  If you get the chance to visit I do recommend it! Full of fantastic finds and knowledgable staff, it was just lovely! I plan on getting lost in there again on my next visit.

The best thing I took away from my visit was the complete (at the time) set of Rhys Bowen's Royal Spyness Mysteries.  One of my favourite authors, Lauren Willig, recommended this series awhile back on her blog and it had been on my to read list for some time.  Upon finding a complete autographed set of all 5 books (there has since been a 6th novel published) I knew we must be together and my lovely mom bought them for me as an early Christmas present.  Hurray!

I read all 5 books back to back and I loved them!  Here's the premise for the first novel, Her Royal Spyness:

Her ridiculously long name is Lady Victoria Georgiana Charlotte Eugenie, daughter to the Duke of Atholt and Rannoch. And she is flat broke. As the thirty-fourth in line for the throne, she has been taught only a few things, among them, the perfect curtsey. But when her brother cuts off her allowance, she leaves Scotland, and her fiancé Fish-Face, for London, where she has:

a) worked behind a cosmetics counter-and gotten sacked after five hours
b) started to fall for a quite unsuitable minor royal
c) made some money housekeeping (incognita, of course), and
d) been summoned by the Queen to spy on her playboy son.

Then an arrogant Frenchman, who wants her family's 800-year-old estate for himself, winds up dead in her bathtub. Now her most important job is to clear her very long family name

Such a fun read for mystery and historical fiction fans! Bowen has created a wonderful character with Georgie and I really enjoyed reading all of her adventures.  The latest novel is a holiday themed one (came out late 2012) and the next installment is due out August 2013.  You can bet that I'll be getting my hands on both of them.

Her Royal Sypness Series

0.5: Masked Ball at Broxley Manor (ebook) (2012)
1: Her Royal Spyness (2007)
2: A Royal Pain (2008)
3: Royal Flush (2009)
4: Royal Blood (2010)
5: Naughty in Nice (2011)
6: The Twelve Clues of Christmas (2012)
7: Heirs and Graces (2013)

I'm Back!

Oh my goodness! It has been awhile hasn't it?? Life seems to have flown by me and I just discovered that there hasn't been a new post since JANUARY 1ST! That's crazy!  Well let's get back on track shall we? As you can tell from my handy dandy Goodreads Reading Challenge Link, I've clearly been reading up a storm in the first 3 months of 2013! So look forward to new posts coming up asap!

Much Love :)