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.

Pages: 320 (book) or 8 hours and 23 minutes (audiobook)

Publisher: Berkley (book)/Dreamscape Media LLC (audiobook)

Published: December 2014

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Source: Hoopla via Public Library

As Suzanne is getting her hair dyed she smells smoke. At first, she thought a customer in the salon hair was on fire but she quickly realizes that the County Services building next door was on fire. She soon learns that the fire was intentionally set and a friend of Petra’s was killed. Can Suzanne find the arsonist before she becomes scorched?

Overall, I enjoyed book six of the Cackleberry Club. My biggest issue was with Petra. She was very unlikable. She was bossy and grouchy. It could have been because her friend was murdered or maybe I am just now noticing her bossiness.

It was interesting to learn the history behind scorched eggs and to learn in current times we call them scotch eggs. I have never had one and the next time we go to our local Irish restaurant I will have to try one.

Scorched Eggs is a solid addition to the series with a beautiful surprise at the end.

Pages: 273

Publisher: Berkley

Published: November 2012

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Source: Paperback from Personal Library

Winter has its grip on Kindred and the Cackleberry Club is focusing on the annual Fire and Ice Festival. That is until Suzanne finds the local banker beheaded behind the cafe. Can the Cackleberry Club solve the murder before they find themselves on ice?

I am finding myself getting hooked on this series. I can’t wait to see what Suzanne, Petra, and Toni are up to. The beheading of the local banker threw me for a loop as I believe it is the first time I’ve read about a beheading in a cozy. There was very little gore but it made for interesting reading.

Stake and Eggs was a fast-paced read that kept my interest. There was plenty of red-herrings to keep me guessing. Along the way there plenty of laughs when it comes to Toni’s husband Junior. As frustrating as he can be he brings some good laughs.

I highly recommend this series to fans of culinary cozy mysteries. Recipes are included.