Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge discussion

I chose option B as I wanted to feel out different cozies and styles that peaked my interests.

1. Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers



Completed 02/10/2024
5/5

A very cute detective story with a lot of heartwarming side plots about found family and rekindling relationships. I also loved the character of Vera Wong!

Welcome to the challenge! I read the Vera Wong book and loved it!

Yvonne wrote: "Welcome to the challenge! I read the Vera Wong book and loved it!"

Thank you Yvonne!

2. Murder and Mamon



Completed 03/16/2024
4/5

I love the Tita Rosie's Kitchen series. I rated this a 4/5 because the series is one of those that you really have to read in order which can be a turn off to people who want to be able to pop in an read a book that seems interesting. Also none of the subsequent books have really enamored me quite as much as the first book Arsenic and Adobo. I do love the world building and the personality the author gives to the small town setting.

3. Board to Death


Completed 03/21/2023
3/5

This is the first book in a new series. It has a lot of Utah (specifically Salt Lake City & Mormonism) references and is board game shop based. I thought the progress and investigation was a bit slow and am not sure if I would read another book in this series. It was cool that this was LGBT+ friendly and the main protagonist was a gay divorcee with a love interest.

4. Dead and Gondola


Completed 03/23/2024
3/5

This is another first in a series book. It takes place in a Colorado ski hamlet town and revolves around a family of women who run a book shop. I liked the way the author writes and the mystery overall, however, I felt as though the plot was a little convoluted and the suspects kept coming out of left field again and again.

5. Death by Bubble Tea


Completed 04/05/2024
4/5

I liked this book a lot. The mystery was a little random but the relationship between the protagonist and her family was really great. Also loved how the story really shows how the protagonist struggles through her own personal problems as well.

6. Kneaded to Death


Completed on 04/19/2024
3/5

I thought this was a solid mystery. I kept getting distracted by the random descriptions of photos being taken by the protagonist and the bread making classes got a little too long and over descriptive to me. I would be down to continue reading this series though.

Thanks for the mini reviews. They help me decide whether or not to take a closer look at a book I'm not familiar with and/or TBR it.

Karen wrote: "Thanks for the mini reviews. They help me decide whether or not to take a closer look at a book I'm not familiar with and/or TBR it."

I'm glad I can help you with that!

7. Everyone in my Family has Killed Someone


Completed 07/02/2024
2/5

There is just a tonnnn going on. I also don't like the voice and mannerisms that that author wrote for the narrator/main character. Nothing against the book or the author, it just wasn't my cup of tea. Cool concept though.

8. Vinyl Resting Place


Completed 08/20/2024
4/5

Sorry there was such a big gap between 7 and 8, I fell into a little bit of a reading rut. Vinyl Resting Place was a great way for me to get out of it. It is the first book in the Record Shop Mystery by Olivia Blacke. I liked the pov of the main character and the mystery was a fun one to get try to solve as you read. I also really liked the three sister's relationship. However I was not particularly interested in the romance aspect of the main lead, but it doesn't take up too much of the book so it was not that detrimental overall.

9. A Fatal Groove


Completed on 08/21/2024
4/5

This is the second book in the Record Shop Mystery series. I liked the mystery in this book and liked how there was also hints at a past mystery that they were trying to solve as well. Just like with the first book, I wasn't the biggest fan of the love triangle with the main lead. Other than that it was a great read.

10. Cherry Pie or Die


Completed on 10/13/2024
1/5

I just found the premise of the book pretty uninteresting. I also couldn't personally get invested in the book or the mystery. That is not to say it was not a good book or well written, it just wasn't my taste. Also the book ends with a recipe which is always a plus.

11. Lethal Locket: Molly and Marmalade Cozy Mystery


Completed on 11/06/2024
1/5

It was a short book, but once again I found the premise of the book uninteresting. I really don't seem to care for antiques or stories that take place in antique stores. Again I have nothing against the author or the writing itself, it just wasn't my cup of tea.

12. The Good, The Bad, & The Aunties
The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties

Completed on 11/21/2024
2/5

It is the third and final book in the Aunties trilogy by Jesse Q. Sutanto. I like most of her work, but I didn't like any of the books in this trilogy quite as much as I loved the first one. It is always a fun time reading about all of the aunties antics but it just was difficult to get through for me this time.