CRIME AND POETRY by Amanda Flower

BLOOD ORANGE by Susan Wittig Albert

MURDER, SHE WROTE: DESIGN FOR MURDER 

by Jessica Fletcher, Donald Bain, & Renée Paley-Bain 

CRIME AND POETRY

Book 1 in the Magical Bookstore Mysteries 

by Amanda Flower

Rushing home to sit by her ailing grandmother’s bedside, Violet Waverly is shocked to find Grandma Daisy the picture of perfect health. Violet doesn’t need to read between the lines: her grandma wants Violet back home and working in her magical store, Charming Books. It’s where the perfect book tends to fly off the shelf and pick you...

Violet has every intention to hightail it back to Chicago, but then a dead man is discovered clutching a volume of Emily Dickinson’s poems from Grandma Daisy’s shop. The victim is Benedict Raisin, who recently put Grandma Daisy in his will, making her a prime suspect. Now, with the help of a tuxedo cat named Emerson, Violet will have to find a killer to keep Grandma from getting booked for good...

MY REVIEW

A very good start to an enchanting new para-cozy series.

I was very intrigued when I first heard about CRIME AND POETRY. I already know author Amanda Flower is a marvelous writer, but I was curious to see how she handled a cozy with a paranormal element. She did so most admirably.

The premise of a magical bookstore where the book picks the reader is a fascinating one. While interesting to read about, I think I’ll stick with bookstores where I chose the book, not the other way around. I dread thinking what book would pick me! ;-)

This first in the Magical Bookshop Mysteries is a well thought out story, with many plot elements, and a diverse, and entertaining group of characters. I was a bit bummed by the fact that a character I feel sure I would have adored turned out to be author Flower’s first victim. Yet it urged me to become even more invested in the story, and to see the killer brought to justice. 

Cozy fans, especially those who enjoy a paranormal twist, are going to want to add CRIME AND POETRY to your TBRs. And fans of Flower aka Isabella Alan are certainly in for a magical read.

Make sure to keep reading after the story for a sneak peek of MURDER, HANDCRAFTED, the newest in the Amish Quilt Shop Mysteries by Amanda Flower writing as Isabella Alan!

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BLOOD ORANGE

Book 24 on the China Bayles Mysteries 

by Susan Wittig Albert

In the newest China Bayles Mystery in the New York Times bestselling series, China comes to the aid of a nurse who ends up in the hospital...
 
It’s mid-April in Pecan Springs, and China is renting her guest cottage to Kelly Kaufman, who needs a temporary place to live as she contends with a very acrimonious divorce from her husband Rich. One nasty point of dispute is her part ownership of the Comanche Creek Brewing Company, which she is refusing to sell.
 
At the same time, as a nurse employed by a local hospice, Kelly has discovered instances of suspicious practices. Even more disturbing, she suspects that a patient was murdered. Kelly’s knowledge could be dangerous, and she wants to get guidance from China on what to do.
 
But on her way to China’s house, Kelly is forced off the road and critically injured, putting her in a medically induced coma. Now it’s up to China to determine who wanted her out of the picture. Was it her soon-to-be ex? His new lover—who happens to be the sister of China’s friend Ruby? Or someone connected with the corruption at the hospice?
 
China owes it to her friend to uncover the truth—but she may be putting her own life at risk...

MY REVIEW

After twenty-four stories, the new China Bayles Mystery is as fresh as the herbs mentioned throughout.

The first thing I know about a new China Bayles book is, I’m going to learn so many new things. Practically every chapter begins with information on different herbs, spices, and whatever each individual book is about. The second thing I know is, I’m in for an exciting, fast moving read. BLOOD ORANGE lives up to all of those expectations.

This book touched on so many subjects. The everyday running of China’s many businesses, the world of beer brewing, and even hospice care. Oh, and murder. Like it or not, murder does seem to be a business for China. While that may sound to be all over the place confusing, author Susan Wittig Albert blends is all flawlessly into an intricate, and entertaining mystery that will have fans and new readers alike enthralled.

Once you red BLOOD ORANGE, you’ll understand why this such a long running series. 

Don’t forget to check out the back of the book for some tasty recipes!

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MURDER, SHE WROTE:

DESIGN FOR MURDER

Book 45 in the Murder, She Wrote Mysteries

by Jessica Fletcher, Donald Bain, & Renée Paley-Bain

In the newest in the USA Today bestselling mystery series, Jessica Fletcher visits New York City during fashion week, only to discover someone has rather fatal designs...
 
Jessica is in Manhattan to attend the debut of a new designer. Formerly Sandy Black of Cabot Cove, the young man has reinvented himself as Xandr Ebon, and is introducing his evening wear collection to the public and—more important—to the industry’s powers-that-be: the stylists, the magazine editors, the buyers, and the wealthy clientele who can make or break him. At the show, the glitz and glamour are dazzling until a young model—a novice, taking her first walk down the runway—shockingly collapses and dies. Natural causes? Perhaps. But when another model is found dead, a famous cover girl and darling of the paparazzi, the fashion world gets nervous.
 
Two models. Two deaths. Their only connection? Xandr Ebon. Jessica’s crime-solving instincts are put to the test as she sorts through the egos, the conflicts of interest, the spiteful accusations, and the secrets, all the while keeping an amorous detective at arm’s length. But she’ll have to dig deep to uncover a killer. A designer’s career is on the line. And another model could perish in a New York minute.

MY REVIEW

High fashion murder meets its match with Jessica Fletcher!

I can only dream that some of my favorite cancelled TV shows had been blessed with a new breath of life in novels such as this series.

The Murder, She Wrote books were always to me a series my late mother enjoyed as much as the television show that spawned them, and books my older sister still looks forward to reading. Not having been a fan of the show due to a childhood fear of actress Angela Lansbury (Don’t ask), I saw no reason to read the books. Now having read several in the series, I can see why Murder She Wrote is still going strong.

MURDER, SHE WROTE: DESIGN FOR MURDER is another fascinating, well plotted book that I found difficult to put down. High fashion and murder go wonderfully together as the theme for this story. Throw the brains of Jessica Fletcher into the mix, and you have a fantastic mystery that you’ll be talking about with your friends.

So, to my Mom, sister, Mr. Bain, and most of all, Ms. Lansbury, I have been converted, and am now a Murder, She Wrote fan.

All three of these wonderful titles are available

April 5! 

Pre-order now!

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