Wednesday, March 25, 2015

LEMON PIES AND LITTLE WHITE LIES by Ellery Adams
DEMISE IN DENIM by Duffy Brown
GRAVE ON GRAND AVENUE by Naomi Hirahara
DARK CHOCOLATE DEMISE by Jenn McKinlay

LEMON PIES AND LITTLE WHITE LIES
Book 4 in the Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery series
by
Ellery Adams


From the New York Times bestselling author of the Books by the Bay series and the Book Retreat mysteries--Includes pie recipes!

After Pecan Pies and Homicides comes another tangy slice of life—and death—in a charmed, and charming, small town...

 

Ella Mae LeFaye’s Charmed Pie Shoppe has become a phenomenon beyond her wildest dreams, providing the enchanted town of Havenwood, Georgia, with spellbinding desserts and magical pies. Her personal life is also heating up as she takes on the responsibilities of leadership within her magical community. In fact, the only thing weighing her down is the fact that handsome Hugh Dylan won’t return her calls…
 
Still, when Havenwood is rocked by a series of mysterious deaths, Ella Mae must put romantic longings aside—especially when she realizes that the mystical symbols left at each crime scene are dangerously personal. Now she will have to whip up all her supernatural skills to uncover a killer out to settle an ancient score—before the murderer devastates everything Ella Mae is determined to protect.

MY REVIEW


Author Ellery Adams casts a magical spell with this fourth installment of her Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery series!

It’s always charming to spend time with Ella Mae and her family. You never know what’s going to happen next. That sure held true for what I believe to be the best book so far in this sensational series!

Things really heated up in this sweet mystery and I’m not just talking pies! With more than just one unexplained death, LEMON PIES AND LITTLE WHITE LIES had my head spinning and my heart racing as I devoured this delectable story.

Trust me when I tell you, this book will not leave a sour taste, but will delight all of your senses!

And don’t forget to check out the amazing pie recipes that are included! 

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DEMISE IN DENIM
Book 4 in the Consignment Shop Mystery series
by
Duffy Brown


It’s springtime in Savannah, Georgia, in the newest Consignment Shop Mystery from the national bestselling author of Pearls and Poison. The azaleas and magnolias are in bloom—and Walker Boone is on the run. . . 

When Reagan Summerside turned the first floor of her old Victorian home into a consignment shop, she never imagined she’d be harboring a fugitive in her attic. But after a dead man is found in a bathtub and local lawyer Walker Boone is accused of doing the dirty deed, she suddenly has a new houseguest.

Having the lawyer who took her to the cleaners in her divorce settlement—and who has been getting under her skin ever since—in close proximity is enough to drive Reagan to distraction. For the sake of her sanity—and Walker’s freedom—they need to put their heads together to find out who is trying to get the lawyer out of the picture.

MY REVIEW


Note: DEMISE IN DENIM picks up where the eBook DEAD MAN WALKER leaves off. It would be a good idea to read that story before this one, but not one hundred percent necessary.

This book started out running, and the action and laughs never slowed down. There were more twists and turns in this story than on a rollercoaster. Many times while reading, I was sure I knew who the killer was, only to doubt myself and change my mind. It was a shock when I read who the culprit was, because of course, I was wrong. ;-) Even the very last sentence threw a major surprise my way!

The characters in the series are delightful! Set in Savannah, Georgia, author Duffy Brown knows how to write the sassier side of the south. With hysterical lines like, “Well, buy me a hound dog and call me Elvis”, Ms. Brown will have you talking with a southern accent before you finish the book.

If you enjoy a great mystery, love to laugh, and a can’t resist adorable dog (his name is Bruce Willis!), DEMIS IN DENIM is the book for you!

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GRAVE ON GRAND AVENUE
Book 2 in the Officer Ellie Rush Mystery series
by
Naomi Hirahara


LAPD bicycle cop—and aspiring homicide detective—Ellie Rush is back on patrol in the newest mystery from the award-winning author of Murder on Bamboo Lane.
 
Ellie stops for a friendly chat with gardener Eduardo Fuentes while patrolling one of Los Angeles’s premier concert halls. A few minutes later she’s shocked to discover him lying at the bottom of a staircase, clinging to life and whispering something indecipherable. Nearby, the father of Xu, a Chinese superstar classical musician, claims Fuentes was knocked down while attempting to steal his son’s multimillion-dollar cello—a story Ellie has trouble believing.
 
Meanwhile Ellie has issues of her own to deal with—like the curious theft of her car, a 1969 Pontiac Skylark. But after the gardener takes his last breath and Xu mysteriously disappears, it’s clear to Ellie she must act quickly before someone else falls silent.

MY REVIEW


Note: For those who follow my reviews, you know ninety-nine percent of what I review are cozy mysteries. This mystery is not a cozy. It’s somewhere between a cozy and a bit grittier crime fiction. But I feel it will appeal to all mystery readers.

Ms. Hirahara has written a gripping story in this second book of her Officer Ellie Rush Mystery series.

Her characters are intense and multilayered. One such character being the series lead, Ellie. She’s a good cop, and can be tough when times call for it. Her softer side shows in the loss of her car, The Green Mile, when it is stolen.

There are many twists and turns leading up to the “I didn’t see that coming” ending. And I really didn’t! I like it when a book shocks me.

Naomi Hirahara is an excellent author and a great voice in the mystery genre. I look forward to what the next book in this series has to offer. 

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DARK CHOCOLATE DEMISE
Book 7 in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series
by
Jenn McKinlay


The New York Times bestselling Cupcake Bakery Mysteries bake up sweet surprises, but as the series continues, Mel and Angie are in for a fresh batch of trouble…

Scottsdale, Arizona, may not be the liveliest place on earth, but it’s never been as dead as this. Hundreds of fans have gathered together for the first annual Old Town Zombie Walk, and Mel, Angie, and the Fairy Tale Cupcake crew are donning their best undead attire to sell some horror-themed desserts to the hungry hordes.

But the fun turns to fright when Mel finds a real dead body in a prop casket outside of the bakery’s truck—and the corpse looks alarmingly like a zombie of their own. Knowing that Joe, Angie’s brother and Mel’s former flame, has been working on a dangerous mob case, Mel worries that the murder is a hit gone wrong and that someone near and dear was the real target. To keep any of her friends from winding up six feet under, Mel will do whatever it takes to find a killer—no matter how scary things get...

MY REVIEW


Whenever a new book in the Cupcake Bakery Mystery series comes out, I drop everything I’m doing to read it. And with this seventh book in the series, it was once again worth it!

DARK CHOCOLATE DEMISE is a yummy addition to this delicious series. Author Jenn McKenlay knows how to draw a reader in and keep them entertained. From the first line until the very last sentence, I was transfixed.

The characters in this series continue to delight me. The way they interact with one another is so very real. I know I would feel right at home with this group of people.

I love the way in which the victim in this story was found was so unique. Already in a casket. Too fun! And I never suspected who the killer was. It was a real shock when the reveal came!

Fans of Jenn McKinlay are sure to eat up this tasty installment to a wonderful series.

Remember to check out the awesome cupcake recipes at the back of the book! 

Pre-order these great titles now for 
Tuesday, April 7!

As always, please leave a comment and 
let me know what you think!

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15 comments:

  1. All of these books are soooooo enticing. I just have to realize that I cannot possibly get them all but always feel that I will let Amazon down if I don't order them all. haha.
    I have got to order Demise in Denim and Dark Chocolate Demise for sure. Two with the word Demise in the title has to be a signal that I need to get them, right?? Shhh, don't tell my husband. Thanks. :)
    Great blog post Lisa; you do such a great job filling us in on all of our wished for books.
    Thank you.
    Cynthia

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    1. Cynthia, Aren't they wonderful! And of course...How can you not buy books that both have Demise in their titles? And thank you for your kind words. YOu always make me smile! :-)

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  2. All of these sound wonderful! Thank you!

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    1. Don't they? And I have more to come. April is a great cozy mystery month!

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  3. Can't wait for April 7th to get here! I've pre-ordered three of the four :)

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    1. Great to hear you pre-ordered! That really helps the authors a lot.

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  4. Thanks so much for the wonderful review, Lisa! Your're the BEST!!!

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  5. Thanks for the terrific review. LIsa! I truly appreciate it. So glad you had fun in Savannah with Reagan, and Walker and Bruce Willis. You sure made my day.
    Hugs, Duffy

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    1. Aw, you're welcome, Duffy! I had a blast! I'll be talking with a southern twang for weeks! :-)

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  6. Such a hard decision on which I can buy first.

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  7. Thanks, Lisa! I always look forward to the first Tuesday, of each month!

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    1. Hi Pat. I know. It's like Christmas and your birthday all rolled into one once a month! But now they have releases on the last Tuesday too, so fun twice a month!

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  8. Thanks for the reviews! I know three out of the four are on my TBR list but now I must add the fourth. Thanks much!

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