Pages: 312

Publisher: Kensington Books

Published: March 2018

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Source: Kindle Unlimited

Lucy finds herself unemployed and decides to spend a few weeks at home to decide what she wants to do. As soon as she enters her family’s restaurant her parents are pushing her stay, reconcile with her college boyfriend, and have babies. After sampling the restaurant’s hummus bar, the health inspector drops dead outside in the parking lot. Can Lucy figure out what happened before she is not the only family member unemployed?

This series has been on my TBR list since it was first released. I am so glad I finally read it. It was a fast-paced read full of energy. I loved how Lucy embraced her situation and ran with it. I was surprised by the murderer. I was sure it was someone else entirely. There is the beginning of a love triangle but I sure hope it doesn’t drag out. Both gentlemen have potential.

Whether you like hummus or not you will find your mouth watering. While in law school I ate a small Greek restaurant in Lansing several times a week because the food was good and lots of leftovers for those late-night study sessions so the descriptions of the food brought back good memories. It makes me want to find one here local in my hometown for some delicious stuffed grape leaves.

Pages: 377

Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks

Published: January 2021

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Source: Overdrive (Libby) via Public Library

What would you do to stay safe and survive one of the most horrific wars in history? Antonina, an Italian Jew, must follow her father’s wishes and leave Venice with her new “husband” for a life she has no clue how to live. We follow Nina and she learns how to survive.

Our Darkest Night was a powerful and moving read. I am a sucker for historical fiction especially ones set in World War 2. I finished this earlier this month and I am still thinking about everything Nina and Nico experienced. I am ashamed to admit I did not much about what the Italians experienced in World War 2. This book gave me an insight.

I suggest reading this with a box of tissues.

Triggers: Rape, Murder, Genocide, Physical Violence, Death of family

Pages: 624

Publisher: Avon

Published: April 1977

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Source: Paperback from Personal Library

An epic family saga set in the wilds of Australia from early 1900s to the late 1960s.

My mom tried to get me to read this book for many years. I remember when the TV miniseries came out and it was all the rage with her friends and coworkers. I finally sat down and read this book at a slower pace than I normally read a book. I wanted to drink it all in and let myself process the beauty of the landscape and the depth of family and forbidden love.

I would definitely say this is a book for the adult reader due to language and sexual content.

A worth while read.

Triggers: Sexual scenes, language, death of a parent, death of a sibling, death of a child

Time: 8 hours and 15 minutes

Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.

Published: 2011

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Source: Hoopla Digital via Public Library

What would you do to change your life? Would you help your sister achieve her dream of becoming a mom? Would you move to another state? These are all questions Sarah is asking herself when she finds a situation at work that has made her unemployed. What will Sarah decide?

If you follow my reviews, you know I am a huge fan of Katherine Center but with that being said Get Lucky is not a favorite of mine. I finished just because. I don’t know if it was the narrator or if Sarah was really as bratty as she sounded. Her character was very off-putting for me.

I would definitely recommend her other books before recommending this one.

Triggers: Sexual content, Suicide Attempt, Infertility

Pages: 212

Publisher: Berkley

Published: January 2011

Rating: 4 out of stars

Source: Paperback from Personal Library

Angie, Mel, and Tate are back just in time for Valentine’s Day. Love is in the air but not everything is chocolate and roses. Mel’s mother’s first date in years ends with her amour floating in the pool. Can the trio solve the murder before her mother spends time in jail?

I read the first book in this series a few years ago and always wanted to read more but other shiny new series waved their sparkly covers at me and off I went. I love the trio and the banter they have with each other. The movie references are spot on.

Buttercream Bump Off was just the book I needed. I found myself laughing many times. It was a fast-paced read that kept me turning pages long into the night.

I am now craving cupcakes and want to bake every recipe included.

Triggers: Murder, Death of a parent is mentioned, Unmarried sex alluded to

Pages: 5 hours 51 minutes

Publisher: Recorded Books Inc.

Published: September 2017

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Source: Hoopla Digital via Public Library

Allie spent the summer at a STEM camp and created an app that pairs users together by interests. While trying it out on her classmates she learns of a few glitches that create unkindness among the users. Can Allie fix it in time?

This was an enjoyable middle-grade book. Allie’s character was not always likable in that she could be a tad selfish but what middle schooler is not selfish at times?

Click’d is a good book to teach about the importance of being kind to one another especially on social media.

Pages: 304/7 hours 41 minutes

Publisher: Berkley/Dreamscape Media, LLC

Published: January 26, 2021

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Source: NetGalley/Hoopla Digital via Public Library

While taking dinner to Sam, Suzanne is the crossfire of a masked man stealing drugs from the hospital pharmacy. She manages to hit him with a thermos of chili but not before he kills one and injures another. Can the Cackleberry ladies figure out who is stealing pharmaceuticals before it is too late?

If you have been following my review you know I have binged most of this series in the past month. I really enjoy this series. Is it a favorite? No. Is it one I will keep coming back to? Yes. The recipes alone are worth it. I am not a big egg eater but these recipes, have made eating them interesting and fun.

I alternated between reading my copy from NetGalley and listening to the audiobook from Hoopla through my public library. The narrator has been the same and while she is good she is not my favorite. She makes Toni seem very dumb and Petra very mean. I don’t get that feeling as much if I read the characters. Maybe they really are like the narrator makes them sound and I am just more forgiving as I read.

Definitely a series for cozy mystery readers who like culinary cozies.

Triggers: murder, drugs

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Berkley, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

Pages: 355

Publisher: Dell

Published: January 2021

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Source: E-book via Overdrive via Public Library

It is Thursday, January 12, 1888, and the Dakota Territory and Nebraska are experiencing what they call a “warm” winter day. Every one leaves woolens at home for light coats and shawls. Enjoying a day to let everything breathe and air out. As the morning turns to afternoon an ominous dark cloud moves across the prairie bringing a dangerous blizzard with it. The prairie teachers have a decision to make: send the students home and pray they make it before it gets too bad or keep them at the school and pray they have enough fuel to heat the schoolhouse.

I first heard about this blizzard through the children’s I Survive series and became interested. When I realized Melanie Benjamin was releasing a book on the event I could not wait to request it from my local library. I was not disappointed. My interest was piqued from page one. I did not want to put the book down. The decision the prairie teachers had to make was not an easy one. A literal “between a rock and hard place” decision.

Benjamin did a great job in making you feel what each character was thinking, feeling, and experiencing. A must-read for historical fiction fans.

Triggers: Racism, Child Abuse, Child Slavery, Prostitution

Pages: 353

Publisher: Berkley

Published: September 2000

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Source: Paperback from Personal Library

In book 11, Eve is tracking down a cop killer. In the process, she learns more about her past. Will Eve Dallas find the killer or become the next cop killed?

This series keeps me coming back for more. I am so invested in learning more about Eve’s past. Plus I adore the romance between Eve and Roarke.

This book was a little eerie to read with the state of our country. Police corruption and killing of police. Politics aside it was a good read.

Triggers: Murder, Incest, Cursing, Prostitution

Pages: 300/8 hours 4 minutes

Publisher: Berkley/Dreamscape Media, LLC

Published: December 2018

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Source: Hoopla via Public Library

It’s Christmastime at the Cackleberry Club! Suzanne stumbles upon a murder during a rehearsal for A Christmas Carol. Can Suzanne find the killer before she gets iced?

I have enjoyed getting caught up on this series just in time for the release of book 9, Egg Shooters, on January 26, 2021.

I can’t say this is a favorite series but it is good and keeps me coming back for more. Book 8 did not seem to have the punch and pizazz as the other books did but it was still a 4 star read for me.