This is a Christmas in June read for me since it's the next installment & I want to get it done for some challenges. Actually rather fun to read aboutThis is a Christmas in June read for me since it's the next installment & I want to get it done for some challenges. Actually rather fun to read about the snow & cold while sitting in the sun! Meg has a houseful of guests (when doesn't she?), but this time it's a group of Canadian programmers working a joint project with Mutant Wizards. When the CEO is murdered in her backyard, there are lots of suspects & once again, it falls to Meg to solve the case. Along the way, there are cat rescues, bird-watching events, & ice skating parties, all with the signature humor we expect from a Meg novel....more
Super fun Christmas story in Caerphilly, Virginia with Meg & her crazy family & friends. The blue jays are loose in her house, along with a mean paintSuper fun Christmas story in Caerphilly, Virginia with Meg & her crazy family & friends. The blue jays are loose in her house, along with a mean painter & his meek assistant, various relatives, & lots of Pomeranian puppies. Oh, and some wombats from the zoo are hiding in her basement. When Meg finds the painter murdered in her library, can she find the killer & survive the holidays & a snowstorm?...more
I really enjoy this series as it's just fun & sometimes zany. It's the coziest of murder mysteries & as Meg coordinates the local Helping Hands projecI really enjoy this series as it's just fun & sometimes zany. It's the coziest of murder mysteries & as Meg coordinates the local Helping Hands projects for the townspeople at Christmastime, there are errant magpies irritating her grandfather, a hoarder in danger of his home falling apart, & various mean neighbors who need to learn about Christmas. Meantime, the twins are having a tough time coming up with the best presents for everyone on their list & Michael's annual one-man show must go on. It's pretty much life as usual in Caerphilly, Virginia....more
Still liking this series & going to read the last one, but this one was hard to read because of the editing. Apparently the last 2 in the series are sStill liking this series & going to read the last one, but this one was hard to read because of the editing. Apparently the last 2 in the series are self-published & the editing is atrocious. Sorry, but it was so bad, I kept getting distracted. Extra words, missing words, punctuation here, there, & everywhere. It was very frequent, as in every 3-4 pages. So Dae, Kevin, & gang were hard to follow as the archeological dig at Jake's wild horse rescue ranch unleashes demon horses & there's a death. As the main characters try to discover how to stop the ancient horse cult, an old friend who speaks to animals returns to town. ...more
Always a great time to visit Meg & company in Caerphilly, Virginia. Once again, it's Christmas time, but this year there's a giant snowstorm wreaking Always a great time to visit Meg & company in Caerphilly, Virginia. Once again, it's Christmas time, but this year there's a giant snowstorm wreaking havoc & causing everyone at Dr. Blake's Owl Fest conference to be stuck at the Caerphilly Inn. And there's a murderer on the loose as one of the more disagreeable conference attendees drops dead at the opening banquet. Fortunately, Deputy Horace Hollingsworth is also stranded at the Inn & his forensic expertise, with Meg's help, gets the investigation rolling. All sorts of interesting ornithologists become suspects until the real murderer is unmasked. Great fun....more
Another great entry in this relaxing & enjoyable cozy mystery series. Olive & Jasper's relationship is heating up, but she's determined to figure out Another great entry in this relaxing & enjoyable cozy mystery series. Olive & Jasper's relationship is heating up, but she's determined to figure out why he comes & goes so often & so secretly. After tailing him around London, she follows him to a country house where a snowstorm & a murder keeps them there for Christmas. They are engaging characters & the author's good research means there are many little historical tidbits to discover....more
I love to relax and read a light-hearted Meg Langslow novel. Yes, there's murder in town, but how it gets solved is always an interesting escapade invI love to relax and read a light-hearted Meg Langslow novel. Yes, there's murder in town, but how it gets solved is always an interesting escapade involving her zany friends & family. An infant is left in the manger during Meg's pageant rehearsal with a note saying her brother, Rob, is the father. This throws his engagement plans into disarray, causes Michael & Meg to become temporary foster parents, and sets the Shiffley clan off tracking a possibly innocent man to save him from the clutches of neighboring Clay County law enforcement. When lots of Caerphilly citizens & vehicles end up in Clay County, everyone turns to Meg to devise a plan to save them. It's a crazy plan full of Christmas spirit and lots of friends to the rescue....more
Another Christmas tale featuring Mariah Ellison, the redoubtable grandmother who had a change of heart in a previous Christmas tale and is trying to lAnother Christmas tale featuring Mariah Ellison, the redoubtable grandmother who had a change of heart in a previous Christmas tale and is trying to live up to her change. I liked her then & I liked her now as she tries to right a wrong from years ago using the knowledge she learned about herself. She confronted & conquered her past, and this story she helps other women do the same. It's a good story....more
As always with a Meg story, crazy things happen in her town. Caerphilly is hosting their annual Christmas extravaganza & her job as PA to the mayor puAs always with a Meg story, crazy things happen in her town. Caerphilly is hosting their annual Christmas extravaganza & her job as PA to the mayor puts her in the thick of things, trying to solve all the problems that arise. Add to that, the newly improved "A Christmas Carol" play that involves the whole family. Michael's annual one-man show brings plenty of stress each year, but now that he's made it a full-scale production with him directing & the twins in the cast, Meg is the all-around helper behind stage. The guest Scrooge is a piece of work who makes everyone's lives miserable, & when the Chief begins questioning him for a murder in town, will the show go on? Lots of crazy stuff & yes, there are finches. And cats. And puppies. And...........more
Thoroughly enjoyable re-telling of "The Christmas Carol", imagined as a company who yearly chooses a Scrooge to change. They do the whole Dickens bit Thoroughly enjoyable re-telling of "The Christmas Carol", imagined as a company who yearly chooses a Scrooge to change. They do the whole Dickens bit but using modern surveillance & special effects. But what happens to a Scrooge who doesn't choose to change their life? Meet Holly Chase, who scoffs & becomes the latest Ghost of Christmas Past, doomed to reset each morning as a 17-year-old with a zit & no life except the company. But this year things will go off the rails with the latest Scrooge & Holly will have to make some new choices. Very fun & clever....more
I really liked this latest in the series. It's a fun Christmas story as well as an interesting murder mystery. As usual, the author explains some thinI really liked this latest in the series. It's a fun Christmas story as well as an interesting murder mystery. As usual, the author explains some things about the characters, so you could pick it up to read it as a Christmas book & enjoy it without having read the series. But if you've been following along, then this is Georgie & Darcy's first Christmas & her wish to spend it throwing a house party & having a traditional Christmas is blown up by an invitation from Darcy's aunt who lives on Sandringham Estate & used to be a lady-in-waiting for the Queen. So a royal summons trumps Christmas at home. They are game & take along various others, but when strange accidents begin to happen, they turn to investigating. And that dreaded Mrs. Simpson shows up to aggravate Georgie, but gives her mum a chance to spar....more
Set at Christmas and containing information about the plant, holly, this novel includes a visit by McQuaid's crazy ex-wife, Sally, to Pecan Springs. SSet at Christmas and containing information about the plant, holly, this novel includes a visit by McQuaid's crazy ex-wife, Sally, to Pecan Springs. She comes bringing havoc in her wake, as usual, and embroils the family in a mystery that turns deadly. As Mike and China try to figure out what's going on, and more importantly, protect their son, Brian, they learn more than they want to know about Sally and her problems. Ruby Wilcox, China's business partner and friend, is on hand to assist in solving the crime and her intuition is crucial. A good story....more
I really liked this entry in the series and am excited for the last book in the series to be released. Mostly because I'd like to see the final resoluI really liked this entry in the series and am excited for the last book in the series to be released. Mostly because I'd like to see the final resolution of the cliffhanger ending of this book. Without giving any spoilers, it was a bit depressing for a Christmas book. But the search for the Revolutionary War treasure & finding out the truth of the murders of some spies was fun & consistent with the other stories in the series. There is a lot of character development in this series as the story of Melanie and her family is an important part of the whole story arc. Things go a bit sideways in this story, so I'm hoping all turns out well in the final volume....more
I borrowed the kindle edition from the library so I could continue the series. It's a cute cozy mystery that's just nice and fun. There's a sassy & saI borrowed the kindle edition from the library so I could continue the series. It's a cute cozy mystery that's just nice and fun. There's a sassy & savvy young heroine who's had a rough life but finding small-town life much more satisfying than she'd ever imagined. She has settled into her library job, gotten a hunky boyfriend, and making Christmas plans when her thieving father shows up and drags her into a jewel heist and then murder. She goes through all sorts of emotions and is briefly assisted by her ghost librarian friend, although she isn't in it as much as the first volume. Carrie has to deal with the legacy of her father's absences in her childhood while trying to solve the murders. It's a nice puzzle, and a nice brain candy read. ...more
So fun. These mysteries by Donna Andrews are cute, clever, & funny. It's always fun to head to Caerphilly, VA & check in with the zany goings-on in toSo fun. These mysteries by Donna Andrews are cute, clever, & funny. It's always fun to head to Caerphilly, VA & check in with the zany goings-on in town. This time a prankster is putting animals in the local churches & Meg is drafted to be the designated scheduler to get all the Christmas ecclesiastical events & rehearsals changed to alternate venues. She's good at this sort of thing, but who's doing it & why? And when things go south & a body is found along with a potentially dangerous fire as well, Meg needs to help Chief Burke find the culprit while juggling dueling mother Christmas dinners, finding animals for the town's live Nativity, & watching her husband's annual one-man performance of "A Christmas Carol". Oh, and taking care of the twins. Merry Christmas!...more
The first Elm Creek Quilts book in several years, the author says she wrote it for all the readers who have requested another visit to the Manor. It wThe first Elm Creek Quilts book in several years, the author says she wrote it for all the readers who have requested another visit to the Manor. It was fun to catch up with all the quilters as they prepare the Manor to host the annual boutique benefitting the food bank after the church that usually hosts it gets damaged. Each chapter focuses on a different quilter and as they prepare for their tasks at the boutique, some of their back stories get fleshed out more. So it was a really fun read and there were some very touching moments as well. Ready for another ECQ next year! (hope, hope)...more
This series is just really fun. The heroine is cute & fun, the banter is cute & fun, the characters are quirky & fun. It's just an enjoyable, light-heThis series is just really fun. The heroine is cute & fun, the banter is cute & fun, the characters are quirky & fun. It's just an enjoyable, light-hearted read with clues & atmosphere & period detail. And although there were a trail of bodies, there's not a lot of horrible gore. Georgie feels threatened & has a sense of danger lurking, but it's not gothic or dark. Just fun. I'm enjoying a binge of these books....more
The gals at the Cackleberry Club are drawn into solving another murder when Suzanne & Toni witness it from backstage at a rehearsal of the town's playThe gals at the Cackleberry Club are drawn into solving another murder when Suzanne & Toni witness it from backstage at a rehearsal of the town's play, "A Christmas Carol". Suzanne chases the killer offstage and is threatened by him/her, which makes her determined to solve the identity and also makes her a prime target. There are several suspects, some red herrings, and the fun of the goings-on at the restaurant....more
Not a classic murder mystery but a classic mystery with an unknown stranger showing up at the cottage and a bittersweet journey by Lori to find out hiNot a classic murder mystery but a classic mystery with an unknown stranger showing up at the cottage and a bittersweet journey by Lori to find out his story. His story turns out to be wide-ranging yet strangely close to home. As she learns his secrets, she gains a new understanding of the Christmas season and its importance in her life. Lovely story....more
Loading...
