~Book Review~ Espresso Shot

Who and What: Espresso Shot by Cleo Coyle; Hardcover Edition; ISBN 978-0425-22177-8 *This is book seven in the Coffeehouse Mystery Series*

What it's about: Coffeehouse manager Clare Cosi has been hired to create a gourmet coffee and dessert bar for her ex-husband's wedding. But her main problem is bridezilla Breanne Summour. When people close to Breanne begin to suffer fatal accidents, it's Clare who may get burned. (goodreads)


What I thought: I really liked this book. A little longer than a typical cozy but it never dragged. There were a lot of little twists that kept it interesting and maybe it's because I've never read this author before but I didn't know who the bad guy was until it was revealed. That always makes the book more fun in my opinion. I don't think starting late in the series made a difference, the author supplied some background so you would know who was who. 


Would I recommend this book: Yes - sit down and enjoy...


Where I got it: The Library


Challenges this book counts towards: 100 Books in a Year; 2011 Support Your Local Library Challenge; Book 3 in my June Goodreads Mini Challenge


~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

~Book Review~ Ghost at Work

who and what: Ghost at Work by Carolyn Hart; Hardcover Edition; ISBN 978-0-06-087436-0; Book 1 in the Baily Ruth Series

what it's about: Bailey Ruth Raeburn has always been great at solving mysteries. Why should a little thing like her death change anything? In fact, being dead gives her more of an opportunity to be on top of events. Bailey Ruth is delighted that her unique position as a ghost makes it possible for her to lend a helping hand, sometimes seen and sometimes not. And if anybody needs a little help, it's Kathleen, the pastor's wife. There's a dead man on her porch, and once the body is discovered, the pastor is sure to become a suspect. 
 

Uncharitable people might call it meddling, but Bailey Ruth knows Kathleen needs her help! As a member of Heaven's Department of Good Intentions, Bailey Ruth goes back to earth to extricate Kathleen from a dire situation. If Bailey Ruth has to bend a few rules to help Kathleen save her family, Wiggins, her fussbudget supervisor, will make sure it all turns out right in the end. (goodreads)

what I thought: Oh my goodness - I really did not like this book. I never felt any connection to the characters at all. I thought the idea was very good, and I read one of Carolyn Hart's 'Death on Demand' series and enjoyed it very much but I just couldn't get into this one. I wish I could put my finger on exactly why I didn't enjoy it, but I think it was just a little bit of everything. At least I finished it *whew* but I won't be reading any more in this series.

where I got it: Let's all say it together "The Library"

challenges this counts towards: 2011 Support Your Local Library Challenge; 100 Books in a Year Challenge

Goodreads June mini challenge 2/5 

~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown

June Mini Challenge

I know, you all are thinking "Stop already with the challenges!" but I couldn't help myself, this one seems like so much fun.

I belong to the Cozy Mysteries group on Goodreads. I mostly lurk and get tips on great cozies from the members. I do that with blogs too. So, what made me decide to actually participate in something? Well, like I said it seemed like fun.

The challenge is uncommon holidays in June and you read a book that matches that odd holiday. It's all readers choice and since I have a stack of library books screaming at me I was able to pick most of my choices from that stack. Sort of like killing two birds with one stone.

So here are the holidays and the books I've chosen:

June 1st - Flip a Coin Day - choose two books and flip a coin to see which one you'll read. I had Icing Ivy and Yankee Doodle Dead next on my stack - Yankee Doodle Dead by Carolyn Hart won the toss.

June 8th - Best Friends Day - pick a book off one your Goodreads friends shelf. I picked Espresso Shot by Cleo Coyle from Jess McC's shelf. She is a bloggy friend and fellow military wife. Her blog is Just a Geek Named Jess - you should check it out. I have this one already checked out from the library too.

June 8th - Name Your Poison Day - Choose a book that has 'poison' in the title or mentioned in the book. I didn't have one these from the library so I chose Sweet Poison by Ellen Hart. I downloaded it to my Kobo.

June 18th - National Splurge Day - Read the most recent mystery book you bought. Since I buy mine in groups I got to pick from the last group I bought and chose Devil's Food Cake Murder by Joanne Fluke.

June 28th - Paul Bunyan Day - Read a book that's 400 or more pages (because Paul Bunyan was huge) or that has a blue cover in honor of Babe, the big blue ox. I went the blue cover route and picked it from my library stack - Ghost at Work by Carolyn Hart.

Other than choosing my own books (which was a blast) you can read them in any order - as long as you read them in June. I already finished Yankee Doodle Dead and I've started Sweet Poison. Also, it lets me focus on a different challenge for the month instead of the ones I have on my challenge page. A little mini break because that 100 Books in a Year Challenge is making me all stressed out!

~ Anyone who says they have only one life to live must not know how to read a book. ~ Author Unknown