Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge discussion

I'm in for Snoop Level - 6 books. I haven't read a cozy in a while and I miss it! I just started Sink Trap by Christy Evans and have the second, Lead-Pipe Cinch all ready. It looks like a fun series. I used to work with my Dad doing all sorts of repairs - plumbing was my least favorite. I can't wait to see what trouble Georgiana Neverall gets into!

Thanks Yvonne for putting this challenge together again.

I'm glad you learned very useful stuff from your Dad. Mine did garage things and lawn-mowing with my middle brother but I didn't get into the sewing bug with my Mom. I could watch a meal process and figure out how to cook it, like the time I surprised them with breakfast in bed. You might like Juliet Blackwell's heritage home renovation series.

Oooh, a home renovation series? I love the sound of that! I'll check that out for sure. I love E.J. Copperman's Haunted Guest House series. Have you read any of them?

And I still haven't figured out how to cook - even with a recipe!

So nice to meet new people. I'm Carolyn. I'm no gourmet but recipes are easy to follow. We're vegetarian gardeners. I tend to be good at things I've seen done a long time; like my parents' very REPEATED meals: God bless them both! Juliet Blackwell, Nancy Atherton (both paranormal), Kates Carlisle and Kingsbury are my favourite living authors.

Nothing beats Juliet's witch series but the first of her haunted renovation ones was alright. I said the same of E.J. Copperman but first novels take time to dig into, right? I'm due to read both of their second novels and am positively yearning for Juliet's two most recent witch ones! http://cmriedel.wordpress.com/etherea...

Hi Carolyn, nice to meet you! My writer's group met at the library tonight - so I got 'Aunt Dimity's Death' right away and can't wait to read it. (Nothing like instant gratification.) Thanks for the tip!

(And by the way, I'm a vegan and I wish I had more room to grow some of my own food. That is awesome.)

I loved 'Night of the Living Deed' right off the bat. Something about it just grabbed me from the get go.

I'll search for Juliet Blackwell - the series sounds like a lot of fun.

Thanks, again!

Since introducing one another, I see you're a published author (my goal) and an animal rights sister? Taking my paranormal book suggestions and loving the same stuff? I don't know how I could like you any better. "If it has a soul, you don't put it in a bowl"! Hahaha! I hope you continue finding me sweet because you've walked into my "There aren't enough decent paranormal novels for grown-ups" speech. Here it goes.

Of the very few properly paranormal themes (not 'supernatural' vampires/ werewolves / zombies); a sad percentage swing to YA. I'm a young and gorgeous 41 but nonetheless, don't want to read about highschool musical, "Glee" type scenarios: "I have my period the day of the prom and don't want to tell my parents I'm in love with a vampire". That was an exaggeration - I hope.

I'm beseeching the right outlet: an author! The remaining percentage of properly paranormal, non-YA novels is squandered by crushing the ambiance with humour. I was impressed with EJ Copperman's wit but sighed in disappointment because her ghosts are bitchy, matter-of-fact, and there is absolutely no sense of AWE: which you want with a ghost novel. I wouldn't care if, as discussed above, they weren't already in a direly short supply.

I'm thrilled you brought home Nancy Atherton. I wrote to her personally to thank her for another void she fills: the fact that mystery needn't have anything to do with a crime. I'll spare *that* soap box. My ultimate? Atmospheric paranormal with a 35+ heroine: neither married, nor a Mother, nor a divorcée, nor a nun. The entire plot would be about mystery itself: hidden passageways, lands or buildings, deciphered codes or riddles or clues, ancient artifacts, family secrets. Like "Alfred Hitchcock & The Three Investigators", "The Hardy Boys", "Nancy Drew": for adults, with the paranormal. Maybe I oughta write it. Q;-)=

Hmmm...I never thought about it like that but I think you're right. The pool isn't all that big. (I still like E.J. Copperman, though, and Maxie does grow on you!)

I loved Nancy Drew and am still searching for the adult version. Sometimes, I just give up and read them again.

The one thing that limits my cozy pool is the love triangles. Pick one! Or better yet - don't even have one at all and just get on with the mystery! I love character heavy mysteries and love the ones with slightly demented families. (Delightfully demented, not criminally demented.) The love triangle stuff gets in the way of the story. I love amateur sleuths.

And yes, write them! So many authors say they wrote something because they wanted to read it and couldn't find it! I haven't published any paranormal but I have one fleshed out and I think it's good but, I might be biased :)

Write it and tell me when you have - I'd love to read it!

I hope my forthright, descriptive approach gave you a laugh. I do like humour and EJ, Nancy, Kate Carlisle (non-paranormal) are exceptionally good at it. They all showcase protagonists of a decent age and I'm nodding at your remarks above. With YA, we balk at the needless axel of romance. Many, many of the pre-1991 youth stories are awesome regardless of demographics.

Does the aura improve in EJ's subsequent titles? What I tried to express previously is that if I weren't frustrated with humour tacked onto what few adult ghosts literature has; I did like EJ right away myself. She's over 30 and not bitterly divorced. I did laugh out loud and see her ghostly Dad is going to be a hoot. But in lieu of the paranormal, my beloved gothic mysteries fulfill the ethereal aura I seek. Your titles look like good adult mysteries, bolder than cozies. If there are paperbacks I would see about them.

Do you know "Alfred Hitchchock & The Three Investigators"? Long story short, the outrageously popular series (short of having Hardy/Drew marketing) was created by a writer who had worked with Alfred Hitchcock: Robert A. Arthur, who died a few years after. He sought permission to use Alfred's name, as a figure to whom the three boys report; knowing he didn't otherwise compete with Hardy/Drew.

His series is EXCEEDINGLY BETTER and although the boys' are a few years younger, at least at first; something about the whole thing is more mature. Perhaps because they were written in the 1960s-1980s, when I borrowed them from my school library. Because I didn't own them, it's a fun search to find copies now. Robert's daughter and underground fans are working to get them rereleased. They're that good.

I love talking about this kind of stuff!

I love humor and will overlook a lot of things in a story if I'm laughing. (My own books are filled with humor but I try to work it in seamlessly as opposed to it feeling tacked on.) There's one of EJ's books that, when you get to the end, you REALLY have to let it go. I didn't like it - can't remember which one and I don't want to spoil anything. I didn't particularly care for it. The rest of the series' books is great, at least I think so. I really enjoy them and can't wait for the next one to come out. Like I said, Maxie gets better and better. When I first read them, I wished he would flesh her out a bit more and he does slowly, naturally. (I do have a paperback for my novel. I think of my stories as cozies in the sense there's no graphic scenes, of violence or sex and there's no swearing.)

I don't know the Alfred Hitchcock book you mentioned. I'll have to see if I can find it - I'm so curious now!

Have you read Alice Kimberly's ghost series? I liked it but could only read a few at a time...not sure why. I think it didn't have enough humor for me but they were pretty good.

Good morning Chicago! You appear to have about six novels, or are the others short stories? I'm at the fledgling research and learning stage. I expect the draft I started will mostly be re-written but that's all right. I have sensed how to make a larger impact and feel it will flow better with first-person narrating. An appalling, peace-leeching neighbour's dog, now gone (praise the Lord), eliminated early concentration. A year of exploring authors, reviewing what I love or dislike, has done tremendous good. I'll re-start with new eyes.

Robert A. Arthur's "The Three Investigators" is a whole, long-running series! It's best not to look him up by name because he passed away after the first several. They become listed by various authors, including a woman; not using a pseudonym like Carolyn Keene / Franklin W. Dixon. The first is "The Secret Of Terror Castle" and I'm stubbornly seeking them in order. There's a thrift store a few towns away that has them for 25c, when they are to be found!

Yes, EJ's humour is a selling point and if you aren't into her already, you would revel in Kate Carlisle just as much. Like Adam Sandler movies, she keeps bringing her cast of characters into them: her parents from the Earthy commune in which she was raised (San Francisco wine country) and her best friend. I've found other characters pointlessly regurgitated by authors but Kate Carlisle makes you glad they're there.

Yes indeed, I own Alice Kimberly's too short series (I have no interest in the coffee one) and don't mind that it's more serious. Due to the drought of more suspenseful paranormal that we chatted about last night. Thank you for contributing to paper still being published. :)

Welcome to the challenge, Jenny. Nice to have you here.

I have many of the series mentioned in your posts in my TBR. Someday I hope to eventually read them. LOL

Isn't that the way, Yvonne, for we collectors? I could do a whole post, naming the authors I own in abundance but am unsure when I'll open. However it's a blessing. I don't buy into the 'wrongful doing' stance many use in these challenges, in regards to taking advantage of new purchases. It's a wonderful thing, so long as we keep on reading.

Carolyn - I love paperbacks! I read ebooks but I'll always have shelves filled with paperbacks. There's something awesome and irreplaceable about bookshelves.

Yvonne - thank you!

I've got so many books to read and read them completely out of 'obtaining-them-order' and have no problem with it. What a terrible place the world would be if we ran out of stuff to read - I'll never run out and never get through my list and wouldn't have it any other way!

A nice moment to see these newest comments from you and Yvonne. On another group, someone is going on and on about how buying new books is 'naughty' and they ought to make a group of people who promise not to buy a thing until the year is out, or until they finish their pile; which clearly cannot come near mind. I haven't counted but it has to be 2000-3000, all physical except William Shatner's autobiography, which I think will be hilarious to hear as an audiobook! The mission of groups like Mount TBR & Off The Shelf is to encourage you to read what you have; never to prohibit discovering anew.

It is a few pessimistic members who pop words like 'guilty' into it. I don't mean to make ado of a point that just needs to be rephrased. It's also possible that Kindle freebies differs from making sure you grab a softcover/hardcover deal when you find it! There is a list of titles I intend to buy and if I encounter them cheaply, I'd be a fool not to snap them up (or tomes I may not have considered). Like you, order depends on mood or reading challenge I'm fulfilling.

Yes, you have my thanks for being an author who still produces hardcopy books. I own my own greeting card collection. I'm no longer releasing new ones but proudly boast 85 creations (small scale, sold from home) since launching in 2006. It was my way of getting some of my writing published, while paired with my own photographs of our cats and landscape. People know better than to send e-cards to me!

William Shatner has an autobiography? How did I not know this?! (Note to self: add that to my list)

I think it's great you do greeting cards - and I never tire of seeing cats in any form. I have a file of greeting cards (physical, of course) ready for birthdays, congrats, thanks yous...anything that'll come up in a year. I just bought a new little batch last month. Love 'em. There's something special about getting a non-bill envelope - whether in the mailbox or handed to you.

Cool!

Can you picture it in his voice? I had to ask for it that way - I'm Canadian anyway. Are you a Trekkie as well? At the same time Senator Sarah Palin had her book, they both went on "The Conan O'Brien Show" or something like that. They each read a hilarious-sounding section from one another's book.

It hasn't worked out that I've done anything more with my manufacturer and I didn't make money at it. The dollar stores (mine are nice 5x7 at $4) were too competitive and craft sales were too much set-up work for $4 each sale. I could strike it up anew despite no longer living in the city where my manufacturer is. A decent deal was hard to find. But I have copies of all of them.

Sometimes, if people are keen on bartering, I will buy one artist's work with my cards. Mail is important to me too and it made sense that I would create cards. Like I said, I became published with those verses, years before I had an idea for a book. Oh! While I was doing it, I fulfilled a missing niche in the market too. I created a whole knew category that is neither blank, nor season-specified. :) I disliked wearing the salesperson hat, or else perhaps I could have made billions. Hahahaha.

I definitely agree with that!

Hi, I was just reading through your posts and thought you might enjoy the home repair series by Jennie Bentley. I have found them to be very enjoyable.

To what does Yvonne agree? :) Kristine, are they paranormal? The crux of the conversation is a drought of great paranormal ADULT novels. But a well done or fun mystery is cool too. I've heard of Jennie Bentley.

Oops. I think I missed that. No, they are not paranormal though one of the books has the characters believing there are ghosts.

Glad you warned me. I enjoy a great number of non paranormal titles; the good Lord knows there aren't enough of them, (non-YA!) hence our discussion. If there's one thing I can't abide, it's a title or synopsis that PRETENDS to be paranormal but goes "PSYCHE!" in the end! False advertising I say.

C. wrote: "To what does Yvonne agree? :) Kristine, are they paranormal? The crux of the conversation is a drought of great paranormal ADULT novels. But a well done or fun mystery is cool too. I've heard ..."

LOL - I agreed with your post about being collectors and continuing to buy new books :)

I listened to Shatner's book on audio and it was great. I loved hearing it in his own voice.

I have Jennie Bentley's books in my TBR. They look good.

Kristine - that series sounds great! I'll have to check it out, for sure. Thanks!

Finished 'Sink Trap' and tomorrow I'll start 'Aunt Dimity's Death'. (Thanks again for the suggestion, Carolyn.)

One down, five to go...

I recently found the fourth book grasping for a compelling mystery but this is a cast of characters you love to see no matter what they're doing. Also the adventures in the first three got 5 stars from me.

I am only on page 27 and i LOVE it! I am so sucked in! I don't even care if it's mystery - I have to know what's going on and how she handles it!!

I know! Nancy Atherton's tagline, her first sentence crunched fandom of a series that's still going. So what if #4 was weaker than others in terms of an important outcome. The mystery of the first three are real mysteries (without crimes) and you sure do care how Lori handles them.

The first is so special! About HERSELF and her parents. To realize something of fantasy was real after all? It's an adventure that would drop any of our jaws open. I recall it through you! :)

I love the Aunt Dimmity series and have read them all but the last one out.

I've long grown the habit to savour a favourite author. I grew up with gothic mysteries, whose 1960-1980s authors might be dead before my time. Nancy is alive and continuing her masterpieces but saving the best writers for a treat, is remaining with me! Volume V will be poured over later this year. Carolyn
(All paranormal is welcome at my challenge, "Ethereal"). http://cmriedel.wordpress.com/etherea...