Calling all Chocoholics

The Chocolate Cupid Killings
by JoAnna Carl                                                             

genre: cozy mystery
series:  A Chocoholic Mystery
pages:  230
rating: ***

This is book 2 in my attempt at the Goodreads mini challenge for October.  The category was something sweet for Diabetes Awareness Month.  I must admit I am shocked that a mystery centred around chocolate has missed me.  I am a total chocoholic.  I love everything about chocolate.  It comes from a bean therefor it must be good for you.  So when I found the series I knew I had to read it.

The Chocolate Cupid Killings is about Lee and her Aunt Nettie, who owns an expensive chocolate shop.  Nettie has gotten herself into helping a woman in the battered women's underground railroad.  True to cozy fashion, everything, or everybody, is not what it seems.  Dead bodies start popping up, secrets start growing with in the family.  Lee must solve the crime and the identity of the mystery woman.

This was the first book by JoAnna Carl I had read.  I really enjoyed the story and the plot.  The characters were interesting, but not amazing.  I cared about what happened to them, but I don't know if I cared about who lived or died.   I did feel like the writing didn't flow as smoothly in some places, not that I'm an expert.   I really enjoyed the chocolate facts sprinkled throughout the book. 

All in all it was a good read.  I will read one more book in the series to see if I like it better.

I Won?! So cool!

I can't believe my little bitty blog won an award.  That is so cool.  Toni over at One Chocolate Box awarded me with the Versatile Blogger Award.  How cool is that.
I do so love awards.  Thank you Toni!

Here are the rules:
1.  Thank and link the blogger who nominated you. (Be sure to check out Toni's blog.)
2.  Share 7 random facts about yourself. (frightening!)
3.  Spread the love.  Pass the award on to 5 other bloggers.  Contact them and let them know.

Short and simple.

Here are my 7 Random Facts:
1.  I pretend that I am Mrs. Claus every year by turning my kitchen into a cookie shop.  I end up baking cookies for anybody who will eat them.
2.  I want to visit Middle Earth.
3.  I have a crush on Spock.  (Don't tell my husband he doesn't know.)
4.  I have more books on my side table than I can possibly read in the time allotted by the library.  (I've also paid for the new library with all of my late fees.)
5.  I dream of being able to fly, yet I am terribly afraid of heights.
6.  I am an art quilter.
7.  I just myself another small silver Christmas tree.  I had to this one was taller and came with lights!

I searched high and low for bloggers to nominate (I didn't know if they had to be book bloggers or not)

Here are the nominated, Check them out they are all cool:
1.  A Sea of Books
2.  Bonnie's Books
3.  Wren's Thoughts
4.  Book'd Out
5.  Straight from the Writer's Mouth

Congratulations all.  Good luck to all on their blogs. 

_caren

Agatha Raisin strikes agian...

There Goes the Bride

by M.C. Beaton

Genre: cozy mystery

Series:  Agatha Raisin

Pages:  277

Rating: ****

   There Goes the Bride is the 20th book (gasp) in the Agatha Raisin Mystery Series.  I picked this book to go along with the mini challenge at Goodreads.  This is the second Agatha Raisin book I have read.

   Before I get into the review, let's give a synopsis of the book.  Agatha finds herself invited to her ex-husbands wedding, to a much younger woman.  Before the bride makes it up the aisle she is murdered.  Of course Agatha has to solve the crime, bringing her own life close to danger...more than once.

   Let me set the record straight.  I love British mysteries.  I spent many hours this summer watching more than a few on DVD this summer.  I love to read them as well.  That stated I must also admit, I was not thrilled about the first Agatha Raisin book that I read, wasn't planning on another.  I was thrilled to change my mind after reading this book.

   If you haven't read an Agatha book let me warn you, she is feisty.  She smokes, she is vain, jealous, and very competitive.  She also seems to have a bad habit for falling for the wrong man.  My guilty pleasure is her iconic curse, which I won't print here (family friendly blog).  Agatha is smart, the books are well written, and the characters are interesting.

   The unusual thing about these books is, the mystery is not solved quickly.  A lot of cozies tidy up the mystery quickly...unrealistically quickly.  Beaton's books cover months and Agatha and her team work on the case, get sidetracked or stalled, and then find a new clue which leads to the solving of the case.  It's not neat, the sleuths get into plenty of trouble.  Which also make it seem more real.

   If you are looking for a lonely (sometimes), chain smoking, and loud sleuth give Agatha Raisin a try.  She is a breath of fresh air.

- Caren

Yippee!!!

I have just entered my very first writing contest.  I'm so excited, I don't know if want to jump for joy or throw up!

Just wanted to share,
Caren

Book Blogger Hop

I am joining the Book Blogger Hop!  It looks like so much fun.  If you are interested go to Crazy for Books (here)

http://crazy-for-books.com/2011/10/book-blogger-hop-1014-1017.html

There rules are simple

1.  Must be a book blogger (I am)

2.  Must link back to the primary link (I did)

For October 14-17

Answer this question:  What is your favorite Spooky book?

I must be honest.  I don't do spooky.  I have nightmares :(

BUT... when I was younger I did discover Edgar Allen Poe.  Don't laugh.  If you haven't read Edgar in awhile (or ever) try it.  My favorite is the Tell Tale Heart.  That beating heart freaks me out every time.  Murders in the Rue Morgue is another freaky favorite.  Ole' Edgar was brilliant in his word choice and flow(?)  Anyway, he sweeps you up and locks you into the story.  They are so bizarre and frightening.

So join in the fun at the Book Blogger Hop

Sweet, Little Book

Giovanni's Light
by Phyllis Theroux

genre:  fiction
pages: 114
rating: ***1/2

Sometimes you want to read a little book.  Something light, I usually tend to head for the small Christmas gift books.  That's what led me to Giovanni's Light.  I didn't read the blurb on the cover.  I could tell it was about Christmas and figured it would be a nice, easy read.  I write.

Giovanni's Light, is about a small town named Ryland Falls.  The town is in the process of getting ready for Christmas when a massive snowfall blankets the town.  This put all normal activity on hold, and forces people to stay inside.  Obviously, things no longer go as planned.

It is a sweet little book, a little sappy at the end.  But I really enjoyed it.  I don't want to give too much away.  The people in town are set in their ways, and do not see what they truly have.  The snowstorm makes them pause and notice what they have forgotten.  Each person learns something and in turn receives a "gift".  It's all very Norman Rockwell.

This is a great book to give at Christmas in a stocking for an avid reader.  It would also be a good book to read around the Christmas Season.

-Caren

I'm in Love.....

Those of you who have been reading my rants know I have taken a break from reading mysteries.  A difficult break.  I have started several books and set them aside before reaching chapter 2.  Thankfully that streak has ended!

Dolci di Love
By Sarah-Kate Lynch

Genre: chick-lit, fiction
Pages: 309
Rating:  ****1/2
Favorite quote: " Their absence had just sapped the pant-peeing happiness right out of her."

   I love this book.  I stayed up late last night to finish it.  This morning I struggled with the rating.  It was not a literary masterpiece in the ranks of JRR Tolkien, but it was a wonderful book.  One I would gladly run out and buy to read again.  (A rarity for me, I am a library girl.)  So what is it about?
   It is a tale of love, broken hearts, forgiveness, and widows.  To make it even better it is set in Tuscany.  Lily is married to Daniel.  They have a problem that has caused them to grow apart, sort of.  Daniel travels to Italy a lot.  There he has another family. Lily finds out about it and flies to Tuscany to confront him.  Things don't work out as she plans.  Telling anymore would just take all the fun out of the book.

   I love this book for many reasons.  One being is the language is funny.  Lynch weaves in Italian words with phrases like pant-peeing happiness and tipsy tourism (which by the way sounds fun).  She takes a story that could be very heavy and sad, and makes it bittersweet (yes), but also very funny.  Like life things don not always go as planned.  Events and people get in our way, sometimes that is for the best.

   The star(s) of this book is Violetta, Luciana, and the other members of the Secret League of Widowed Darners.  A group of very old widows trying to mend the brokenhearted.  I have realized I love a book with old ladies.  They are smart, witty, and have a wealth of experience to share.  Not to mention they add comic relief, especially here.  I'm pretty sure this group of ladies could form a coup if they so chose.

   Dolci di Love, has a cast of well formed characters, great writing, and a heart tugging story.  I loved every inch of this book.  Grab a copy now and read it.

- Caren