Loving Lovina by Patricia Johns

Loving Lovina is the third and last book in the Infamous Amish trilogy. In my opinion I would read these books in order as books two and three build on the one before. This series is so much more than a romance series. It gets to heart of what and how outside influences affect their communities.

Lovina left her community in the middle of the night because she was having a hard time dealing with the fall out of her dad’s fraud charges. For a year no one knew where she was. Her fiancé had decided to move on and was engaged to another. When her dad is released he goes on a hunt to find and that he does.

The book is mainly told from the view of Lovina as she discovers who she is and who she wants to be.

This was an enjoyable series and one I would recommend to any reader who enjoys clean romance reads.

Dying for Devil’s Food by Jenn McKinlay

The Instagram song I chose is so appropriate because Joe loves calling Mel his cupcake! It makes me smile every time I read it. 🧁

This series keeps growing and growing on me. It has humor, love of family and friends, and trouble. Mel and Angie just can’t stay out of trouble and Uncle Stan always comes in clutch.

In Dying for Devil’s Food Mel, Angie, and Tate attend their 15th high school reunion. A simple trip to the restroom proves anything but simple. Mel finds her high school bully no longer able to bully. All fingers point to Mel but she knows it wasn’t her. Join the wild ride as the trio try to figure out the who and why.

This is the 11th book in the series and while you can read each as a standalone and jump right in with no problems why would you? Start from the beginning and learn all the fun quirks of the trio.

I thought I heard there were only going to be 16 books but recently Jenn mentioned she had an idea for a new one. Can we only hope for it to be true and not an early April Fools joke…

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins

4.5 stars

I loved this so much more than A Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. It brought back all the feelings from when I read The Hunger Games series years ago. Shall I read the series again? I just might.

Haymitch was a character I didn’t fully understand when reading The Hunger Games but this book makes you realize how sad his story really is and explains why he is the way he is. Fair warning, his time in the 50th annual Hunger Games will bring sadness and anger. It reiterates how nasty President Snow is to those beneath him.

I did listen to the audiobook a bit out of curiosity. It brings the parts of the book in verse come alive.

A Bell in the Garden by Sheri Richey

An enjoyable cozy mystery. A Bell in the Garden is book two of the Spicetown series and was as good as book one. A well developed mystery with entertaining characters. I love both Mayor Cora and Chief Conrad. They are the perfect complement to each other.

The book centers around a local nursery and tree farm Grand Opening. Just hours before everyone is expected to arrive the owner finds a skeleton buried where he is planting trees. Several residents have gone missing over the years but everything points to a particular individual. As the investigation continues, the ugly sides of residents are blooming rapidly.

The ending seemed a tad rushed but at the same time it felt like a real case. As civilians we don’t always get to see the how in regard to case conclusions.

I will continue this series.

The Preacher’s Daughter by Patricia Johns

Could you fall in love with an ex-con? Especially if he served time for a crime he didn’t willingly know he committed.

Elizabeth has been staying with an elderly woman and helping her around the house. The woman’s grandson has returned home upon his release. While he is deciding his future, Amish or English, Elizabeth is trying to decide the same. Will they or won’t they?

The Preacher’s Daughter is book two of The Infamous Amish trilogy but can easily be read as a standalone. This series has a more serious tone than Patricia Johns Love Inspired books. All of her books have been wonderful and enjoyable reads.

Glazed Murder by Jessica Beck

An interesting start to a new to me series. This book has been on my cozy mystery bookcase for a bit. I’m sure I picked it up because it had donuts on the cover. Who can resist a really yummy donut.

My cozy mystery bookcase bingo started last week and theme one was donuts. Perfect time to read Glazed Murder. It was good but not “oh my goodness I have to drop everything” good.

After divorcing her cheating husband Max, Suzanne opens a donut shop in town. One morning while prepping donuts a dead man is thrown from a car in front of her shop. As Suzanne tries new recipes she is also trying to solve the murder.

There are 59, yes you read that correctly, 59 books in this series. Will I read them all? Maybe not but I will give another one a try when I need a donut book for cozy mystery bookcase bingo started bingo.

The Preacher’s Son by Patricia Johns

The Preacher’s Son is a clean romance filled with heavy topics. It makes you realize the Amish young people face the same issues as non-Amish young people. It’s easy to see the Amish way of life through rose colored glasses.

Isaiah finds himself caring for his sisters after their father is arrested for fraud. Unfortunately one sister runs away because she can’t handle the talk and scrutiny from the community. Isaiah finds himself working for the local bookbinder which puts him in daily contact with his unrequited love.

Bethany spends her time helping her dad in the family bookbinding business and trying to overcome the humiliation of her fiancé leaving the community. She finds herself facing a life altering situation. Can she trust Isaiah with the secret and her future?

A Court of Wings and Ruin by Sarah J. Maas

This was my favorite of the three I’ve read. I was more engaged and invested in the story. At times I found it very hard to put down. I am still finding my way into romantasy. My logical brain wants to fight against the shape shifting.

Nesta is still my least favorite character. My heart breaks for Elain. I like Feyre but she can grate on my nerves at times.

If you haven’t already learned of the ACOTR reading background on YouTube look it up. It will change how you read the books. Adds an entire immersive reading experience.

The Ice House by Minette Walters

I read this last month but just now posting my review.

A good mystery but one you have to stay on your toes to keep every character straight. A few times I was confused on who was who.

I’ve heard good things about this author so I was a bit surprised at the clunkiness of the writing. I later learned this was the debut novel of the author. I will look into more works by this author.

My suggestion is to write the characters down with notes to keep them straight.

Death of a Kitchen Diva by Lee Hollis

This book was dangerous to read while my hubby slept beside me as I laughed so much. First published in 2011 there are many mentions and comparisons that some would find offensive nowadays. It was just the humor of that time. It is humor I grew up with and understand.

Single mom Hayley finds herself asking for a raise at her local newspaper job. In order to get that raise she must take over writing the food and spirits column from the retiring writer. Easy right? Not so fast, the other newspaper in town has its own food writer and she isn’t going down without a fight. Unfortunately Karen (how appropriately named) finds herself on the wrong side of a recipe and Hayley finds herself behind bars.

I will definitely be reading more of this series. Looks to be still going as the 17th book was published in 2024.