Jacqueline Vick's Blog

I read a LOT of books in 2022. Most didn't make it to my Goodreads list because of time constraints. Or I forgot. Some books were written prior to 2022, but I just discovered them or got to them on my long waiting list. I'm starting out with a few, and I hope to come back with more reviews soon. However, these authors keep writing new books to read, so I might just review their latest.

There is something for everyone on my list. Historical suspense. Light Romance. Cozies. I hope you find someth...

Full Disclosure. I met author Kim Taylor Blakemore online a few years ago. She's the author that made me fall in love with Historical Suspense. I immediately joined her writers community, Novelitics, taking workshops that upped my writing game and meeting other supportive authors who let me know the writing journey does NOT have to be a solitary one. Did I mention Kim's books are fabulous? She has been a finalist for the Women's Fiction Association Star Award and a recipient of a Tucson Festiva...

I'm still slogging through the pile of books I've recently read. Dividing them by sub-genre seemed like a good idea, so today, I've got some cozies for you. I've notice a pattern. I find myself drawn to mysteries written in the 90s and earlier 21st century. If you want the book, click on the image to go to Amazon. Note that I use affiliate links to defray the cost of this website. (At no additional cost to you.)

The cover on Amazon is different than my cover. Don't let that fool you. It's the sam...

Usually, I'm a mystery kind of reader. Over the past year, I've stepped out of my box and discovered some delightful surprises.

You'll notice I gave a blurb on the back of this book. It was an honor, because I loved the it. At its heart, this book explores the meaning of family, especially fatherhood. When a twelve-year-old girl shows up at the home belonging to a group of bandmembers, her simple declaration that she's here to spend the summer with her father sets off an unexpected emotional jo...

I had to start somewhere. There are dozens of books glaring at me, waiting for their brief moment in the spotlight. So, I sorted them by categories and, no surprise, decided to start with mysteries featuring dogs.

If you're just getting started with my reviews, there's a reason they are called "brief". I don't delve into the plots, not much, but just give you my quick impression of the book. Is it fun? Memorable? Something I'd tell my best friend to read? On to the books.

It's not much of a spoi...

I read a lot of books. Many of them deserve a shout out. If I wrote the detailed reviews I'd like to, I'd never get my own writing done. So, here's my brief opinion of few of them. I hope you find time to read them all. They're worth it.

This book is pure farce. Author Jesse Q. Sutanto keeps raising the stakes, and it works beautifully because the situations develop organically from the characters. As readers learn about the Chinese/Indonesian culture and the influence it exerts on Meddelin, imp...

I've discovered so many great shows this year, especially crime shows, from all over the world. The first one I want to tell you about is Mr. and Mrs. Murder, which comes to us from Australia.

Charlie and Nicola Buchanan are crime scene cleaners with a nose for clues. It helps that Charlie has a memory that retains odd bits of information, which may or may not be true, while Nicola is ready to lick anything to determine if it's a drug or suspicious material. The couple is played perfectly by She...

I'm super pleased to have Ellen Byron visiting my blog today. When I finished the final Catering Hall mystery, I admit sadness creeped in. What would I read next? I should have known the prolific Ms. Byron would have another yummy book before long. In fact, she came up with a new series! I have a few questions for the author before I give you a mini review of her latest book, Bayou Book Thief, A Vintage Cookbook Mystery.

Welcome, Ellen.

Bon Vee, the family home out of which Ricki James-Diaz runs...

If I ever needed proof that laughter is necessary, it came this month.

First, my website's creator decided to up her game and change the template, which meant taking a course to learn how to reinvent the wheel. I passed. However, since I still needed a website, I opted for something simple through a company recommended by my friend, Kim. Strikingly. You can get it here.

The second giggle came directly from Mother Nature. I was in Arizona, researching for my Frankie Chandler series. I had an appoin...

I've had to redo my website and start from scratch, which means I've lost past posts. Argh! New posts will be coming soon. I promise. 

What kind of posts? Book reviews. Author interviews. Recipes that my characters might make. (And if you know Frankie, that might not be a good thing.) Musings on my current works in progress. Anything I think might entertainn you and, hopefully, make you chuckle.