Hello Fellow Readers and Writers–
I read a LOT of books, but mostly cozy mysteries. (Maybe that’s why I like writing them, as well.) Anyway, I thought you’d like to see what I’m currently reading, and how I like those cozy mysteries. Ready?
The first book is Death By Chocolate Lab, by Bethany Blake (Kensington Publishing Corp.). I believe Ms. Blake is a new writer, because she didn’t list any other books in the front of this one. The cover said it was the first in A Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery Series. The characters were interesting, but I never felt she dug deep enough into them. I didn’t feel for them, if you know what I mean. The story was okay, but you didn’t find out the connection between the antagonist and the victim until the very end. I felt she withheld information and that’s not playing fair with the reader. But the one thing that drove me crazy was the length of her chapters–many less than two pages long. As a writer, I may be over critical, but those are my opinions of the book. Hopefully future books in the series will be better.
Another Kensington offering is Amanda Flower‘s Amish Candy Shop Mysteries. I’d read her Assaulted Caramel, and now I’m onto Lethal Licorice. The characters are interesting, including a spotted pig named Jethro, and I like learning more about the Amish community. Ms. Flower also writes mysteries under the name Isabella Alan, although I haven’t read any of those yet.
One of my favorite authors (I’ve even met her a couple of times), is Jenn McKinlay. She recently released the tenth book in her Cupcake Bakery Mystery Series. It’s Wedding Cake Crumble, and it doesn’t disappoint. You really get a feel for her characters, and understand why they act the way they do. If you haven’t read any of these, start in the beginning with Sprinkle With Murder, and work your way up to #10. She also writes another series I love called Library Lover’s Mysteries. Ms. McKinlay is published by Berkley Prime Crime, and I think they have the best cozy mystery selection. Besides Jenn McKinlay, they also represent some of my other favorite authors–Ellery Adams, Christy Fifield, Daryl Wood Gerber, Sue Ann Jaffarian, Elizabeth Lee and Paige Shelton. Check out any of those authors for a good read.
So, until next time, Happy Reading and Writing to You All,
Jill-Ayn
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