REVIEW: To Kill a Mocking Girl by Harper Kincaid

Title: To Kill a Mocking Girl (Bookbinding Mystery, #1)
Author: Harper Kincaid
Narrator: Renee Dorian
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Publication Date: July 2020
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: The first cozy mystery in a series full of Southern charm—starring bookish sleuth Quinn Caine and her quirky sidekicks: a lock-picking nun and her dog, Ruff Barker Ginsburg.

In small-town Virginia, bookbinder Quinn finds herself in a major bind when she’s blamed for the murder of her ex’s fiancée . . .

Quinn Victoria Caine is back in her quirky town of Vienna, Virginia, starting her new life as a bookbinder in her family-owned, charm-for-days bookshop, Prose and Scones. With her trusty German Shephard, RBG—‘Ruff Barker’ Ginsburg—by her side, what can go wrong? Okay, sure, bumping into her ex, Scott, or her former high school nemesis, Tricia, is a drag. It certainly doesn’t help that they have acquired the new hobby of shoving their recent engagement in her face every chance they get. But that doesn’t mean Quinn wanted to find Tricia dead in the road. So why does half the town think she may have done it?

Quinn is determined to find Tricia’s killer, even if it means partnering with her cousin-turned-nun, Sister Daria, and Detective Aiden Harrington, her older brother’s ‘too-movie-star-handsome-for-his-own good’ best friend. They believe she’s innocent, but of course that doesn't influence the police, who peg her as their prime suspect. Or at least until she’s poisoned.

But there is no way Quinn is going to stop now. Vienna is her town and—for better or worse—Tricia was one of their own. Someone may have killed the mocking girl, but no one’s going to stop the notorious QVC.

My Thoughts: Give me a cozy mystery with a bookish setting, an animal sidekick, and plenty of charm, and I’m already clearing space on my reading list. This first installment of the Bookbinding Mystery series delivers all three. Quinn works as a bookbinder in her parents’ bookshop, repairing damaged books and giving them a fresh start. I only wish we’d spent more time on her craft—apparently, even fictional book repairs can leave me wanting another chapter. Her German Shepherd, Ruff Barker Ginsburg, has a prominent supporting role and a name that deserves a round of a-paws. I loved the nod to the late Supreme Court justice, too. Rounding out the appeal is Vienna, Virginia, where the small-town charm comes through in the close-knit community. Everyone knows you and cares about you—which is lovely, right up until everyone has an opinion about whether you committed murder.

When Quinn finds her ex-boyfriend’s fiancée dead, suspicion lands squarely on her. Finding the body is bad enough; having a romantic connection to the groom-to-be and a high school rivalry with the victim certainly doesn’t improve the optics. For some townspeople, that’s practically a case closed. Quinn and her nun-in-training cousin, Daria, set out to clear her name, but the real killer has plans of their own—and Quinn is on the list.

I really enjoyed watching this mystery unfold, and I’m eager to see what Quinn and Daria get into next. With these two, I suspect a quiet afternoon is asking a bit much.

My Final Verdict: If you love cozy mysteries with bookish settings, small-town charm, and animal sidekicks with personality, I’d happily recommend this one. I enjoyed the mystery and only wished for a little more bookbinding—Quinn and Daria already have me looking forward to their next adventure.

Thank you to the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: Charlotte Redbird, Ghost Coach by Sharon Buchbinder

Title: Charlotte Redbird, Ghost Coach (Cat’s Paw Cove, #10)
Author: Sharon Buchbinder
Publisher: Author Collective 20
Publication Date: June 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance / Fantasy
Buy the Book: Amazon | Audible

Description: Driven out of Chicago by a spiteful heiress, life coach Charly Redbird is ready for a change. She moves to Florida to be closer to her family and vows to be more selective about future clients.

With the help of Dylan Graham, a hunky real estate agent, Charly finds a perfect home across the street from a cemetery. When he shows up with a plant and two tiny balls of fluff as a housewarming present, Charly thinks she might be smitten with more than the kittens.

A new client appears at her door and asks for Charly's help, but the woman happens to be a permanent resident of the cemetery. Can Charly convince the restless spirit to move to another neighborhood—or will she take on a new role: Life Coach for the Dead?

My Thoughts: Originally published in an anthology, Charlotte Redbird, Ghost Coach is part of the Cat’s Paw Cove series, written by several contributing authors. This installment was my first encounter with Sharon Buchbinder’s work. I’m usually a stickler for reading a series in order—skipping ahead feels mildly criminal—but I read this one as a standalone and followed along with ease.

I liked Charlotte. Her side hustle betting on the ponies might raise a few eyebrows, but her integrity won me over. When one of Chicago’s elite expects her to compromise her professional ethics, Charlotte stands her ground. Unfortunately, her would-be client takes rejection with all the grace of a cat in a bathtub and has Charlotte blacklisted from future referrals. Charlotte packs up and heads to Florida to be closer to her grandmother, whose retirement home appears to have more cats than vacancies.

Series regulars will know that this retirement home houses quite the supernatural lineup: trolls, gods, goddesses, witches, dragons, genies, and brownies. The cats serve as guardians, making the feline takeover rather more purposeful than it first appears. Charlotte, meanwhile, has missed the magical memo—including the fact that her grandmother has abilities Charlotte has inherited. She catches on quickly after meeting a woman in the cemetery who turns out to be both her home’s previous owner and a ghost. Apparently, even the dead could use a life coach. The job title may need some work.

I enjoyed the story, especially the sweet romance between Charlotte and Dylan and the exploration of Charlotte’s heritage and her ghostly client. Still, while this visit to Cat’s Paw Cove was pleasant, it didn’t leave me eager to book a return trip. For me, this works best as a standalone.

My Final Verdict: Sweet romance, a spirited heroine, and ghostly business made Cat’s Paw Cove a fun stop, but not a series I’m eager to continue. I’m content to leave the interesting characters of Cat's Paw Cove in good company and enjoy this as a standalone.

Thank you to the publisher, Author Collective 20, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: #Toots by Linh Le James

Title: #Toots (#Toots, #1)
Author: Linh Le James
Publisher: Linh Le James
Publication Date: January 2019
Genre: Women’s Fiction

Description: A British romantic comedy built on white lies, pink elephants and grey areas.

LONDON: Four sisters swipe left on everything they hate, one cocktail at a time.

Louise dreams of an exotic lifestyle, miles away from Hackney. Nick comes along. Famous, fit, funny and filthy rich. Louise will stop at nothing to seduce him. Louise will fake it till she makes it. All the way to the ka-ching bling ring. But the little white lies soon snowball into a mountain Louise’s Louboutins can’t climb.

Jess juggles work, two babies, a cheating husband and nannies from hell.

Carla goes on a bender and wakes up next to her young assistant. Freddie.

Emily is getting over her cheating ex by throwing herself into the dating scene.

When work, dating and proposals all go wrong, the four sisters’ friendship is their only lifeline.

My Thoughts: Though no longer in print, this book delivered hours of laugh-out-loud fun. It was my first taste of the author’s work, and now I’m hoping this book and the rest of the series make a comeback. A comedy this entertaining deserves more than an out-of-print disappearing act.

The story follows four sisters—Louise, Jess, Carla and Emily—as they navigate life and chase their happily ever afters, with plenty of comic detours along the way. I loved hearing from all four women; their distinct perspectives made it easy to get to know their personalities. Emily’s roommate, Lola, was another highlight. Her approach to life and leaving toxic men behind had me laughing until the tears rolled down my face.

These sisters may share a family tree, but each is firmly out on her own branch. Their contrasting personalities and outlooks kept me entertained, and I loved watching their different approaches to life play out. I’m eager to read the next book in the series and so happy I have a copy in my TBR.

My Final Verdict: Four sisters, four distinct personalities and enough laughter to give my tear ducts a workout—#Toots was a thoroughly enjoyable introduction to the author’s work. I’d recommend it to readers who enjoy witty stories about sisterhood and the messy pursuit of happily ever after. If you can track down a copy, grab it. As for me, the sequel is already in my TBR, and these sisters have earned a return visit.

Thank you to the author, Linh Le James, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.

REVIEW: Always the Bridesmaid by Whitney Lyles

Title: Always the Bridesmaid (Cate Padgett #1)
Author: Whitney Lyles
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: February 2004
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN

Description: What do you do after you walk down the aisle in four weddings in a few months-none of them your own? What's left after you've donned the must-have-not dresses of the season, forked over your cash, and fake-smiled your way through countless photos? After you've dealt with the smashed guest, the smooshed cake, the dashed hopes, and the missed bouquets? That's what Cate Padgett is starting to wonder, as she embarks on stint after stint on the sidelines, watching friends swap bar-hopping for baby-naming...while her own love life goes nowhere fast. But is Cate unwilling to settle down-or just unwilling to settle? And can anyone really judge her if they haven't walked in her dyed-to-match shoes?

Wild, witty, and full of weddings to cry over, Always the Bridesmaid is an endearingly romantic comedy about standing out in the crowd even when everyone's wearing the same celery-green dress...and daring to make every day The Happiest Day of Your Life.

My Thoughts: In Always the Bridesmaid, new-to-me author Whitney Lyles introduces Cate Padgett, a teacher and budding photographer whose résumé could easily include “professional bridesmaid.” After several weddings in as many months, she’s an expert at walking down the aisle—just never toward her own groom. She and her boyfriend, Paul, have been dating for nearly a year, yet neither the “L” word nor a conversation about their future has made an appearance. His cavalier attitude grated on me: Cate seemed less like his partner and more like an optional accessory. Thankfully, she isn’t a pushover. I loved watching her speak her mind and make it clear that a relationship requires more than simply keeping her on the guest list.

During one of her bridesmaid stints, Cate discovers that the caterer is Ethan, an old friend from high school who would happily trade the friend zone for something more. As they reconnect, Ethan shows her what being treated with care actually looks like—a refreshing change from Paul’s approach. I appreciated her reluctance to send mixed signals, but I suspected her certainty was more self-protection than a settled verdict. After Paul, letting someone in probably feels about as sensible as catching a bouquet with a warning label.

I enjoyed the parade of weddings, especially the Halloween celebration where costumes replace the usual wedding finery. That’s one way to make a bridesmaid outfit worth wearing again. This book has been buried in my to-be-read mountain for decades, and now I’m kicking myself for leaving it there so long. It’s the first in a three-book series, which should be read in order—so apparently my reading pile has just acquired two more guests.

Overall, this was a thoroughly fun read with characters I loved—Paul being the conspicuous exception. Weddings are meant to be joyful, but the planning can serve up enough chaos to rival the reception’s open bar. Lyles captures that hilarity beautifully, making Cate’s trips down the aisle entertaining even when they aren’t the trips she hoped for.

My Final Verdict: I happily RSVP “yes” to this funny, charming romance. Between Cate’s backbone, Ethan’s thoughtfulness, and the wedding chaos, there’s plenty to love—Paul can sit at the table nearest the exit. If you enjoy romantic comedies with heart and a heroine who refuses to settle, move Always the Bridesmaid up your reading pile. Mine waited decades for its turn; don’t make yours catch that same bouquet.

REVIEW: Invincible by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Title: Invincible (Chronicles of Nick #2)
Author: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Narrator: Holter Graham
Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin
Publication Date: March 2012
Genre: Fantasy / Teen-Young Adult
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Nick Gautier's day just keeps getting better and better. Yeah, he survived the zombie attacks, only to wake up and find himself enslaved to a world of shapeshifters and demons out to claim his soul.

His new principal thinks he's even more of a hoodlum than the last one, his coach is trying to recruit him to things he can't even mention and the girl he's not seeing, but is, has secrets that terrify him.

But more than that, he's being groomed by the darkest of powers and if he doesn't learn how to raise the dead by the end of the week, he will become one of them...

My Thoughts: Invincible is the second installment in Sherrilyn Kenyon’s eight-book Chronicles of Nick series, a spinoff of her Dark-Hunter series. If you’re new to the Dark-Hunter world, I recommend starting there for the backstory and familiar faces—this supernatural crowd does not come with name tags. If you already know that world and want to see how Nick got tangled up in it, this series delivers. Nick is every bit as feisty, snarky, and smart-mouthed as I hoped. I love that about him: his quick wit helps him think on his feet, even when his mouth might be better off taking a day off.

Kenyon’s detailed world-building continues to impress me, and it carries over beautifully into this series. Nick’s world is nightmare fuel, complete with demons, shapeshifters, zombies, and otherworldly beings whose intentions range from questionable to potentially murderous. Apparently, surviving high school wasn’t enough of a challenge. Nick also has magical abilities of his own that haven’t been fully explored yet, and I’m eager to see what he can do—and what trouble comes with it.

I thoroughly enjoyed this installment. Nick barely has time to process surviving a zombie attack before becoming a target for people he should be able to trust. Nothing says “welcome back to school” like betrayal with a side of mortal danger. And here I thought high school was bad enough without anyone actively trying to kill you.

My Final Verdict: Invincible delivers a nightmare-worthy world and a hero whose mouth clearly missed the survival briefing. I thoroughly enjoyed Nick’s mix of quick wit and supernatural trouble, and I’m eager to see where his emerging abilities take him next. Recommended for Dark-Hunter fans who want more of Nick—and readers who like their fantasy with a generous helping of sarcasm. High school is rough, but Nick makes detention look like a spa day.

REVIEW: And Then There Were Crumbs by Eve Calder

Title: And Then There Were Crumbs (A Cookie House Mystery #1)
Author: Eve Calder
Narrator: Christa Lewis
Publisher: Brilliance Audio
Publication Date: July 2019
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: She’s a talented pastry chef - with a secret recipe for solving crimes…

WELCOME TO THE COOKIE HOUSE
Kate McGuire’s life was sweet in Manhattan before she lost her restaurant job and fiancé both. But sometimes that’s just the way the cookie crumbles, and soon she finds herself starting from scratch in the island town of Coral Cay, Florida. It has everything she’s looking for: sunny beaches, friendly locals, and a Help Wanted sign in the bakery shop window.

Once she convinces the shop’s crusty owner Sam Hepplewhite to hire her, Kate can’t tie on her apron fast enough. Little does she know that trouble, like warm dough, is on the rise. . .

WHERE CRIMINALS GET THEIR JUST DESSERTS
Stewart Lord is a real estate developer with a taste for a different type of dough: the green kind. He knows that he could make a killing by purchasing the Cookie House from Sam, who flat-out refuses to sell. But when Stewart turns up the heat on Sam - then turns up dead after eating a fresh batch of Sam’s cinnamon rolls - all eyes focus on the town’s beloved bakery. When the police arrest Sam for murder, Kate must somehow prove that her curmudgeonly boss is innocent.

Enlisting the help of a team of lovable locals, Kate sets out to catch the real culprit with his hand in the cookie jar…before someone else gets burned.

My Thoughts: And Then There Were Crumbs, by new-to-me author Eve Calder, introduces pastry chef Kate McGuire as she trades Manhattan for Florida. She lands a job at the aptly named Cookie House, only to discover that her new boss, Sam, has no interest in selling pastries. Kate sees the job as a temporary stop while she pursues her dream position at one of the resorts.

When a real estate developer dies after eating one of Sam’s cinnamon rolls, Sam is immediately arrested. He has an obvious motive: the developer had been pressuring him to sell the bakery. With no one else available to keep the business running, Kate teams up with her new friend Maxi, the local florist, to manage the bakery and uncover the truth behind the deadly cinnamon roll.

I was charmed by Coral Cay, the bakery, and the characters—especially Oliver, the stray dog the whole town seems to claim as its own. Kate’s knack for guessing someone’s favorite cookie just by looking at them was another delightful touch.

I listened to the audiobook and thoroughly enjoyed Christa Lewis’s narration. Her portrayal of Maxi, particularly her Cuban accent, brought warmth and humor to the story and captured Maxi’s feisty personality beautifully. The culprit’s identity was a genuine surprise—I didn’t see it coming.

With three books in the series at the time of this review, I recommend reading them in order to fully appreciate Kate’s backstory. I hope there will be more to come.

My Final Verdict: And Then There Were Crumbs is a charming cozy mystery with an inviting small-town setting, lovable characters, and a culprit who genuinely surprised me. Oliver and Kate’s cookie-guessing knack were delightful highlights, while Christa Lewis’s warm, lively narration made the audiobook especially enjoyable. I recommend this series starter to cozy mystery fans, particularly those who enjoy a bakery setting, and I look forward to spending more time in Coral Cay.

REVIEW: Ghosting: A Love Story by Tash Skilton

Title: Ghosting: A Love Story
Author: Tash Skilton
Narrator: Johnny Heller, Neil Shah, Cindy Kay, Catherine Ho
Publisher: Kensington Books
Publication Date: May 2020
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Buy the Book: Amazon | BN | Audible

Description: Online Dating Ghostwriting Rules to Live by:

· Do not present a “perfect” image. No one will trust it. Nor should they.

· Think of your quirks—such as cosplaying B-movies from the 1980s—as a “Future Honesty.” Save these as a reward only for those who prove worthy.

· Never remind the client you’re their voice. Once you’ve attracted a good match, let the client take over ASAP.

Dumped by his fiancée, not only is Miles couch-surfing across New York City, but downsizing has forced him to set up shop at a local café. Also, he no longer believes in love. Not a good look in his line of work…helping people find love as a ghostwriter for a failing dating site.

Zoey’s eccentric L.A. boss sent her packing to New York to “grow.” But beneath her chill Cali demeanor, Zoey’s anxiety makes her terrified to venture beyond the café across the street into the big city…

Finding themselves competing for space at Café Crudité, the only thing Miles and Zoey think they share is their daily battle for last day-old biscotti and a mutual dislike of each other. They don’t know they’re both writers, creating “authentic” profiles for rival online dating services. They think they have absolutely nothing in common. . . . until they meet anonymously online while pretending to be their clients and sparks fly.

As they become more deeply connected online, their mistaken identities get more complicated when their clients experience a dating disaster IRL. Once they find out their lives have crossed in more ways than one, will their online connection be the real thing—or vanish into the ether?

My Thoughts: Fans of You’ve Got Mail will enjoy this book’s familiar charm: a Manhattan setting and two people who click online but clash in person. Zoey and Miles work as ghostwriters for competing dating agencies, helping clients create profiles, make initial contact, exchange messages, and arrange dates.

I did wonder how this arrangement would work outside the story. Wouldn’t a potential match notice differences between the person they had been chatting with online and the one sitting across from them at dinner?

I liked Zoey and Miles, especially their daily competition for the best table at the café where they spend so much time. Their contrasting relationships with New York add to the dynamic: Zoey is new to the Big Apple and struggling to adjust, while Miles knows the city like the back of his hand. Neither realizes who the other is online, which makes their in-person rivalry all the more charming.

I enjoy the online dating trope, and this book did not disappoint. I was eager to see how things would unfold once Zoey and Miles discovered each other’s identities. The supporting characters added to the fun.

My Final Verdict: Ghosting: A Love Story is a charming romance with likable leads, a fun café rivalry, and an online connection that kept me eager for the big reveal. Although I questioned how dating ghostwriting would work in real life, I enjoyed the story and its supporting cast. I recommend it to fans of You’ve Got Mail and readers who enjoy online dating romances with a mistaken-identity twist.

Thank you to the publisher, Kensington Books, who provided an advance reader copy of this book via NetGalley.