Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge discussion

Fairly new to cozies and new to reading challenges! I'm trying a few different challenges, so I thought to be practical and go for Investigator. But there are so many great cozies. I'd really like make Super Sleuth! I haven't quite chosen this month's reads -- lots to choose from. I'll update soon!

This is fun. I'm so glad to have discovered this group. Happy Reading, Everyone!

Welcome to the challenge! I hope you read many great cozies!

Thank you. I wish you the same! And thanks so much for hosting. This is fun!

Hi Anastasia,
I am pretty new to cozies as well. My son works for a bookstore and tells me cozies have been very popular during the pandemic! They seem to be a nice mystery with charming characters. In other words, one can read these and still sleep at night! I am reading the Royal Spyness series. I am on #8 of 14 (?). Once I finish this series I may start the one based on crocheting.
Elaine

Hi Anastasia! I was new to this challenge last year, and I had lots of fun with it. It really motivated me to read a lot more! Good luck on your challenge, I hope you find many great reads this year. ☺️

Hi Anastasia, I'm happily addicted to cozy mysteries, I find them charming and a light read when I need to decompress after reading a gruesome mystery or non-fiction. I have read so many over the years and most I have enjoyed.
I'm doing a few other reading challenges this year too.

Elaine wrote: "Hi Anastasia,
I am pretty new to cozies as well. My son works for a bookstore and tells me cozies have been very popular during the pandemic! They seem to be a nice mystery with charming characters..."

Elaine the crocheting mysteries you mention is that the series by Betty Hechtman? If so I love the series.

Hi, Elaine. I agree with you. In the few cozies I've read to date, the characters are certainly charming. I'll have to check out Her Royal Spyness. Rhys Bowen is such a great writer. How long do you expect it will take you to finish the series?

You've made me really curious about "the one based on crocheting"!

Thank you for sharing your reads!

Do you go through books quickly?

Hi, Stefanie! Thanks so much for the good wishes! I think I'll be reading lots more, too. I am so excited about this challenge!

Hi, Deb,

I'm finding cozies to be wonderfully light and fun -- perfect for decompressing, as you say. I wish I would have discovered them sooner, but at least I'm enjoying them, now!

Do your other challenges have Goodreads groups? I'm doing Buzzwordathon here on Goodreads.

I did choose my first cozy for the challenge! This weekend I started listening to Marty Wingate's "The Red Book of Primrose House." It covers the career-based category. Pru, the main character, is a professional gardener from Dallas, TX working in England. I'm loving it!

Betty Hechtman, crochet. I am definitely looking this up!


Deb wrote: "Elaine wrote: "Hi Anastasia,
I am pretty new to cozies as well. My son works for a bookstore and tells me cozies have been very popular during the pandemic! They seem to be a nice mystery with char..."

I just finished reading my first cozy for this challenge, Charms and Chocolate Chips by Bailey Cates (A Magical Bakery Mystery), it's the 3rd book in the series and sadly a disappointment it felt as if chunks of the story were missing, I actually kept checking the page numbers to see if pages were missing. I attempted to read this book twice in November and thought I just wasn't up to reading a cozy so I put it aside till now and sure enough midway through the book it felt off. A friend gifted me the first 7 books in the series so I'm holding out hope the 4th gets back on track. Or maybe its just me.

I have been reading cozies for years and I love them. I also love regular mysteries and historical mysteries [those are so fun!]. I did this challenge for 2 years and then took a break [200 book in 2 years was A LOT] and decided to come back this year. I hope that you find lots of fun books to read and become a cozy addict like so many of us are!!!

Deb wrote: "I just finished reading my first cozy for this challenge, Charms and Chocolate Chips by Bailey Cates (A Magical Bakery Mystery), it's the 3rd book in the series and sadly a disappointment it felt a..."

I really dislike when books are like that - I have had several where I wondered what I had missed [turns out nothing, it was just really disjointed writing] and ended up disliking the book immensely. I hope your next read is much better!!

Dawn Michelle wrote: "I have been reading cozies for years and I love them. I also love regular mysteries and historical mysteries [those are so fun!]. I did this challenge for 2 years and then took a break [200 book in..."

Thank you, Dawn Michelle. I am fast becoming a cozy addict! :)

Deb wrote: "I just finished reading my first cozy for this challenge, Charms and Chocolate Chips by Bailey Cates (A Magical Bakery Mystery), it's the 3rd book in the series and sadly a disappointment it felt a..."

Hi, Deb. What a bummer! I do hope that you find the next book in the series better and that you will update!

I finished listening to The Red Book of Primrose House by Marty Wingate. I've posted a review, but here it is again, for ease of use. I would say it's a work/career-based cozy. In this case, gardening is the main character's job, not just a lovely hobby.

My Review:

I love this series. We have a Texas gardener, an English garden, romance, friendship, and mystery! Personally, I couldn't ask for anything more. Pru, the gardener and amateur sleuth, is from Dallas, but she has some English roots. She's a loveable character, as are her friends -- several of whom are suspected of murder. Every time I thought I was sure about the killer, the author planted another tiny seed of doubt or had me looking in another direction.

Pru has the dream job for many a serious gardener. She's Head Gardener on an English estate, hired to rebuild a derelict, historical garden. She lives in a refurbished cottage on the estate. Wonderful as it is -- and ahhh, the garden theme is lovely and true -- things are not so idyllic as they seem. The tension builds throughout the story, broken only by wonderful friendships and a little romance.

That brings me full circle. I must say that Erin Bennet does a great job narrating. She manages a gentle -- not overdone -- Texas accent for Pru, a variety of accents for the Brits, and she does a great job with male voices as well as female.

The Red Book of Primrose House kept me guessing, inspired my senses, and warmed my heart. Five stars!

Anastasia wrote: "I finished listening to The Red Book of Primrose House by Marty Wingate. I've posted a review, but here it is again, for ease of use. I would say it's a work/career-based cozy. In this case, garden..."

Good review. I'm glad you liked it. I've never read it.

Thank you, Katherine. I couldn't resist moving on to next in series. :)

Another Potting Shed mystery -- halfway through and loving it! It's such a cozy cozy! :)

Deb wrote: "Elaine wrote: "Hi Anastasia,
I am pretty new to cozies as well. My son works for a bookstore and tells me cozies have been very popular during the pandemic! They seem to be a nice mystery with char..."

Hi Anastasia,

I have a vision problem so I listen to books instead of reading them. I left the workforce a couple of years ago and challenged myself to listen to 50 books per year. I am on year three for that challenge .

I read on a wide variety of topics. I have begun to have two books going at the same time. A cozy mystery for fun and a more serious book to allow me to "broaden my horizon".

I don't like to sit around thus I listen to books when cleaning or walking. It may take me until May to finish the Royal highness series.

Can you recommend a good series?

Elaine

Hi, Elaine!

Do you care much for gardening? I have been enjoying Marty Wingate's Potting Shed series. I need to diversify if I'm going to meet my challenge, but I figure that it's early yet! The series isn't long, so I might go ahead a finish it first, as you are with your current series.

I like what you said about broadening your horizons. :) Same here! Well, I tend to read romance and, now, cozies -- the more, the better, with a little variety thrown in for that horizon thing! :)

How are you doing with your cozy challenge?

Hi Anastasia,

I am not a big gardener but we built a small greenhouse during year one of the pandemic! My husband just remarked that it would soon be time to start getting the seedlings ready! I will keep the gardening series in mind especially since it is a short one.

I believe I have read five of the Her Royal Spyness books this year. I am on #11 in the series there may be just a few more left to read. I like to read (listen) the cozies in order. On the other hand, Her Royal Spyness is the first series I have worked through in an orderly fashion.


Today I finished a book about Dolly Parton and he feminist perspective of her career. It was only four hours in the audio format. A good book but once I finished it I needed a cozie to relax.

Elaine

Elaine wrote: "Hi Anastasia,

I am not a big gardener but we built a small greenhouse during year one of the pandemic! My husband just remarked that it would soon be time to start getting the seedlings ready! I w..."

You have a greenhouse! To me, that is fabulous. I would love one, but we don't have enough space.

I always have an audiobook going! I just finished listening to small great things by Jodi Picoult and have committed to finishing Crime and Punishment. I don't mind if that last takes the whole year! I break up the stressful books with cozies and romances, which I enjoy very much.

I've listened to a few more cozies during the past few weeks. I liked Plantation Shudders by Ellen Byron. I'm not sure in which category I will place it just yet. I absolutely looooved Marty Wingate's Bluebonnet Betrayal.

And I'm currently listening to Cleo Coyle's Brewed Awakening. It's the latest book in her Coffeehouse Mysteries, but my first in the series to read. The characters are wonderful. I look forward to going back and starting with the first.

I'll be posting reviews. It's been a little hectic with the weather and all it wrought here in Texas. I've been very glad for the distraction and entertainment my cozies have provided.

Elaine wrote: "Hi Anastasia,

I am not a big gardener but we built a small greenhouse during year one of the pandemic! My husband just remarked that it would soon be time to start getting the seedlings ready! I w..."


Woah! Pride and Prejudice will be a challenge. I tried to listen to Dr. Zhivago (my favorite movie of all times) but I could only take an hour and changed books!

Great cozy! As of this review, it's next to last in the series, but the first one I've read. I can hardly wait to go back and start the series from the beginning. The characters are splendid -- loveable and funny -- and they have wonderful chemistry. I want to spend more time with these people.

The mystery is solid. The book is definitely a page-turner and you can practically smell the gourmet coffee while you read. Mmm.

I listened to Brewed Awakening. Rebecca Gibel does a great job with the narration. She captures the moods as well as the personalities of the characters.

Five stars!

Elaine wrote: "Elaine wrote: "Hi Anastasia,

I am not a big gardener but we built a small greenhouse during year one of the pandemic! My husband just remarked that it would soon be time to start getting the seedl..."

I understand completely about not reading something if it's not thoroughly enjoyable. There's not enough time to read all the books that we truly want to read even without feeling obliged to read classics (especially in genres we could not care less about).

Absolutely loved Cleo Coyle's "The Ghost and Mrs. McClure! What a fun and hilarious cozy! She's an amazing author. I listened to the audiobook. The narrators Caroline Shaffer and Traber Burns -- perfecto.

I love this series. I like that our sleuth is a little damaged, but working on it and that her son is perhaps not telling her everything....

Susy wrote: "I love this series. I like that our sleuth is a little damaged, but working on it and that her son is perhaps not telling her everything...."

YES! Suzy, thank you for this comment. Where her son is concerned, I was wondering if my inexperience with cozies was distracting me in a wrong direction. Now, I feel better and even more excited for the rest of the series!

Hi, Elaine! I just thought to let you know that I have started listening to Her Royal Spyness. I love it! Thank you for mentioning it.

Have you begun a new series?

Elaine wrote: "Hi Anastasia,
I am pretty new to cozies as well. My son works for a bookstore and tells me cozies have been very popular during the pandemic! They seem to be a nice mystery with charming characters..."

I've been enjoying Cleo Coyle's and H.Y. Hanna's mysteries the past few weeks. Our home is finally undergoing extensive renovation after it was damaged in Texas' "historic deep freeze". It's been very hectic, which is why I haven't been posting much. But wow -- what a welcome respite these lovely cozies have provided. I hope to write a few nice reviews soon and update my list. For now, I'm listening to Rhys Bowen's Her Royal Spyness and reading Witch Summer's Night Cream by H.Y. Hanna. Wonderfully relaxing!

I've listened to three of Rhys Bowen's Her Royal Spyness books this month (April).

Here's my review for the first book of the series, Her Royal Spyness:

What a fun, clever, well-constructed cozy! Of course, it is Rhys Bowen's writing, so that's not surprising. I had hesitated to begin the series, not particularly excited to read about a "royal" -- it just didn't sound cozy -- but Lady Georgiana is a wonderful character. Georgie to her friends, she is only half-royal. Not only is she a great-granddaughter to Queen Victoria, she is also flat broke and has an independent streak. The combination makes for a comedy of errors and plenty of unusual circumstances, some, of course, leading to murder.

The book, really, the whole series, gives us a glimpse of Britain's history in the 1930s. The supporting cast is absolutely funny and loveable -- her somewhat removed, but very glamorous actress mother, her socialite best friend, her cockney grandfather, and, of course, the delicious Darcy O'Mara.

I listened to the book with Audible. Katherine Kellgren does a brilliant job with all the voices. She has an amazing talent for accents.

Whatever the format, Her Royal Spyness is a fun and often hilarious escape. Highly recommended!

I just finished Crowned and Dangerous, #10 in Rhys Bowen's Royal Spyness series. I absolutely love it! It's my favorite in the series so far.

I'm going to force myself to try something new for my next cozy. I'm not sure what yet, but I will update!

Finally! I have a craft/hobby cozy under my belt! I listened to Crewel World by Monica Ferris. I found it slow at first and wasn't sure about the narrator. But I liked the characters enough to stick it out and I'm glad I did. The setting -- a needlecraft shop in Minnesota -- is new to me and I found it interesting. I was surprised by the ending, too.

If I had read the first book in this series first, I would not have read any others. As I actually read a later book, and liked the characters, when I did read the first, I was not put off by the main character.

Susy wrote: "If I had read the first book in this series first, I would not have read any others. As I actually read a later book, and liked the characters, when I did read the first, I was not put off by the m..."

I did find the main character hard to warm up to for most of the book, so I'm glad to know that the characters hold up as the series moves forward. Thank you!

Going through these quickly! I really enjoyed this one, although I still get impatient with the main character Gemma now and then. I decided to add this cozy to the Outside the U.S. category.

My Outside the US category was also filled by a Gemma. I read Murder is Afoot by Vicki Delany and while I like the story line and most of the other characters, sometimes I really don't like Gemma. She seems to have trouble with social cues/interactions, so maybe she is based on someone who is on the autism spectrum.

Hi, Susy! I did not realize that it's been so long since I updated my reading list! I laughed when I read about your Gemma! Have you read more of the series? Does she get better?

Susy wrote: "My Outside the US category was also filled by a Gemma. I read Murder is Afoot by Vicki Delany and while I like the story line and most of the other characters, sometimes I really don't like Gemma. ..."

Wow -- I can hardly believe I haven't posted since July! August was truly hectic, but I did manage to listen to lots of cozies. I recently finished reading Marty Wingate's "Murder is a Must" from her First Edition Library series. I love this series. I love her writing. I'm waiting for the next to come out on Audible. In the meantime, I'm listening to Bunburry Mysteries Episodes 4-6. What great cozies! Next up, maybe something by Judith Buckley, recommended by Dawn Michelle here in our 2021 challenge.

I finished! I was sooo worried about missing one crafty cozy, but there was a romance I read that involved knitting and a murder and voilá! No worries. But I deleted my Book Challenge page from my website only thinking of old year out, New Year in. Oh, ouf!

Doesn’t matter. I’ve so enjoyed the challenge, discovering wonderful books, authors, and readers! Thank you all for your reviews and suggestions. I’m looking forward to our 2022 challenge!

Happy New Year!

well done!!