Book Review: MURDER IN FIRST POSITION - An On Pointe Mystery Book 1 by Lori Robbins

About the Book 

Ballerina Leah Siderova knows the career of a professional dancer is short. But rarely is it as brief as that of her rival, Arianna Bonneville, whose rise to stardom ends when she is stabbed in the back. 

New York City police detective Jonah Sobol fixes upon Leah as the prime suspect. After all, she was the one who found the body, she had the most to gain from Arianna’s death, and it was her name Arianna whispered, just before she died. 

Leah is desperate to clear her name, and she begins her own investigation, collaborating with her best friend and her ballet coach. As the three dancers sort through backstage intrigues, attempted blackmail, and a tangle of romantic liaisons, the noose around Leah’s neck grows tighter. 

Ballet, with its merciless discipline, is all Leah has ever known. Is that enough to keep her one step ahead of the police — and the killer? 

Review 

For Leah, her best friend, and her ballet coach are the only people on her side. Even the choreographer she helped and mentored turns on her. Certainly the detective isn't on her side. She's good at ballet, but sleuthing is a new adventure.

This was an engaging mystery with an unexpected twist at the end. The characters are well developed and the pace is steady. The reader has a good sense of Leah's mindset, her fears, and her feelings of having been betrayed. Well done. 

This is the first of four books. I'll be adding the rest, if only to see if maybe Leah discovers Jonah Sobol might not be as bad as she thought. 

Amazon 

The On Pointe Series

Murder in First Position

Murder in Second Position

Murder in Third Position

Murder in Fourth Position

About the Author 

Lori Robbins is the author of the On Pointe and Master Class mystery series. She won the Indie Award for Best Mystery and the Silver Falchion for Best Cozy Mystery. Short stories include “Leading Ladies” which was cited in the 2022 Best American Mystery and Suspense anthology. She also is a contributor to The Secret Ingredient: A Mystery Writers Cookbook. 

A former dancer, Lori performed with a number of modern dance and classical ballet companies and now writes full time. 

Lori’s experiences as a professional dancer, English teacher, writer, and mother of six have made her an expert in the homicidal impulses everyday life inspires.

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Book Review: SPOOKY SWEET: A Sweet’s Sweets Bakery Mystery (Samantha Sweet Magical Cozy Mysteries Book 11) by Connie Shelton

About the Book

Now that Samantha Sweet has a contract to provide her special handmade chocolates for the wealthy jet-set clients of Book It Travel, Sweet’s Sweets bakery is taking on a whole new dimension. Only problem, Sam isn’t ready. It’s almost Halloween, her pastry shop is bursting at the seams and she needs extra employees but there is no place to put them. 

Right before the witching day, she comes upon a large Victorian house she can adapt for the business, and it seems her problem is solved. But is it? The mysterious, spooky noises at night are way more than the normal creaks and groans of an old building. Something else is going on and Sam suspects it may be related to her husband’s newest case, investigating where an abandoned duffle bag crammed full of cash came from. 

Beau is dealing with a greedy reward-seeker, a robbery with no leads, and a waif who appears and vanishes. Sam’s mystery has her watching for ghosts and working almost around the clock. Is she relying on magic?—well, occasionally. 

Review

Sam's bakery is a hit and so are her chocolates, in part due to some special spices provided by the mysterious Bobul who appears out of nowhere. Along with her magical box, she's able to keep to the schedule but she needs more space and more help. She finds the space and hires some helpers and Bobul shows up. Only there's something off about the Victorian House. Even the magic box seems to feel it. And then there's the money that was stolen, the woman shot in the robbery, and part of that money found in the bakery. 

Shelton weaved the two mysteries together, with well-developed characters and her own brand of magic. Bobul adds his own piece of the puzzle. This was a delightful cozy mystery, well-written, and well-paced. Although it is the 11th in the series, it is easily read as a stand-alone mystery. There are 18 in the series.

AMAZON 

SAMANTHA SWEET MAGICAL COZY MYSTERIES

About the Author 

Connie Shelton's novels have sold nearly two million copies in more than 115 countries worldwide. In addition to her three cozy mystery series, she has written three non-fiction books and two children's books. She was also a contributor to Chicken Soup for the Writer's Soul. 

She's known for a light touch when it comes to sex and violence in her stories, but is much more lavish with food and chocolate. Besides writing the Charlie Parker and Samantha Sweet mysteries, Connie is an award-winning essayist. Her work has been published in both small and major anthologies, including Chicken Soup For the Writer's Soul, and her short stories have won several prizes. 

She has also been a commercial hot air balloon pilot and holds the women's world altitude record for size AX-4 balloons. She has been featured in Who's Who and The World Who's Who of Women. She and her husband live in northern New Mexico with their two dogs, Daisy and Missy, who became stars of their own series of children's books.

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Book Review: A CORPSE AMONG THE CAROLERS (A Food Blogger Mystery) by Debra Sennefelder

A Corpse Among the Carolers (A Food Blogger Mystery) 

Cozy Mystery 7th in Series 

Setting – Connecticut 

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Beyond the Page Publishing (November 12, 2024)

Paperback ‏ : ‎ 226 pages 

Hope Early is fully immersed in the spirit of the Christmas season, until the sounds of joyful carolers are silenced by the words “Ho-ho-homicide” . . . 

Food blogger Hope Early always gets a hearty holiday laugh from knowing that the weeks leading up to Christmas are as frantic as they are festive. But in spite of everything she has to do, the one thing she always has time for is the annual Jingle Bell Stroll, a night when the community gathers to sing their hearts out and enjoy each other’s company. This year’s caroling feels especially heartwarming, until the final note lands with a thud when Hope finds the body of the man who’d volunteered to play Santa, a

knife plunged into his back. 

With virtually the whole town present at the caroling, the list of suspects seems endless. It doesn’t take long, though, for both Hope and the police to turn a sharp eye on the victim’s bitter and vindictive ex-wife, along with his new wife, who may have been after his money. Then Hope unearths a clue that suggests the dead man may have been hiding a sordid past and connections to unseemly characters. But as she closes in on the killer, they’re determined to wring her neck before she can ring in the new year . . . 

Includes tasty and toasty holiday recipes! 

Book Review 

Hope has high hopes of a family night with Ethan and his two daughters. As she's running around getting all the details perfect, she overhears snippets of conversation that give her pause. Nothing prepares her for the murder of the town's Santa. 

Both Ethan and the acting sheriff caution her not to investigate. Only she (and they) know she'll see what she can come up, along with her sister, Claire, Jane, and Drew. A few close calls strain the relationship between Hope and Ethan, not to mention her friends telling her to be careful. Each fact or picture Hope comes up with takes her in unexpected directions. 

The characters are likable or not depending on their role and it's no clear until the end who the killer is. The plot moves along nicely. This was a fun Christmas read and I certainly wouldn't turn down any of the goodies Hope brings with her to ease her questioning. This is the seventh book in the series but can easily be read as a stand-alone. 

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way. 

About Devra Sennefelder 

Debra Sennefelder is the acclaimed author of charming and suspenseful cozy mysteries set in small towns filled with intriguing characters and delightful pets. Based in Connecticut, Debra shares her home with her family and a lovable, slightly spoiled Shih Tzu. Her passion for mystery fiction, particularly cozy mysteries, inspires her to create engaging stories that blend crime-solving with delicious recipes and stylish fashion. She is the author of the Food Blogger Mystery series, the Resale Boutique Mystery series, and the Cookie Shop Mystery series. 

When she’s not plotting her next whodunit, you’ll find her baking sweet treats or indulging in a good book. When she’s not reading, she enjoys cooking and baking and as a former food blogger, she is constantly taking photographs of her food. Yeah, she’s that person. Born and raised in New York City, where she majored in her hobby of fashion buying, she now lives and writes in Connecticut with her writing companion, Connie. 

She can be reached at Debra@DebraSennefelder.com 

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VETERAN'S DAY 11/11.2024

 

Each year, in the United States, we celebrate Veteran's Day - one of the few holidays that is not moved to a Monday, but always is on November 11th. Why? 

Originally called Armistice Day, it marks the anniversary of the end of World War I, when the armistice between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. In 1938, it became a federal holiday, and in 1954, the name was changed to Veterans Day to honor all veterans, not just those from World War I.  

THANK YOU TO ALL THE VETERANS WHO HAVE SERVED TO PROTECT OUR FREEDOM

I have a special place in my heart for those who served in WWII - my father (POW) and one uncle (KIA). Sometines called the "Greatest Generation" there are a lot of books and movies about the men who served. I only highlighted two here:

Ever the Patriot: Recollections of Vincent J. Riccio, World War II Veteran and POW (Candace Riccio Salem)  

 

Review excerpt: "A good story of a patriotic member of America's 'greatest generation.' The story is taken from the veteran's own words as recorded and transcribed by his loving family members. As an Air Force veteran of the Cold War I appreciated the story of this man's service and sacrifice for our country. A feel good read that made me proud."

A Wing and a Prayer: The "Bloody 100th" Bomb Group of the US Eighth Air Force in Action Over Europe in World War II by Harry N. Crosby

“A compelling account of the air war against Germany” written by the navigator portrayed by Anthony Boyle in Apple TV’s Masters of the Air (Publishers Weekly).

"Masters of the Air" was produced for Apple TV based on Crosby's book (click on the picture for a link to the trailer). Well worth the watch...

There are many more biographies, memoirs, and historical fiction related to WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Afghanistan.... Again thank you to the veterans who served and kept us the Land of the Free and Home of the Brave.

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Showcase: MRS. ODBODDY AND THE CONNIVING CANDIDATE (A WWII tale of political shenanigans and snookery) by Elaine Faber

Even as WWII wages across the Pacific, election time has come to Newbury. Mrs. Odboddy has had enough of the city council making it difficult for women to gain licenses to start businesses, even in their own homes. Agnes decides to run for the vacant city council seat. That’s when the trouble starts, first when someone breaks into her house, opens the pipes, and floods her kitchen. Katherine and her colored friend are attacked in a race-related assault, and the local church is vandalized.

 Were all these disasters intended to discourage Agnes from continuing her campaign? That’s when an official accusation of theft is filed against her by her political opponent, Horace Faggenbacher, owner of The Flying Red Horse gas station. 

To make matters worse, Katherine’s ex-fiance is back in town declaring his undying love, attempting to convince her to marry him. With each disaster that affects the family, Dr. Dew-Right somehow manages to lend such helpful assistance that Katherine is prevented from kicking him to the curb. But, when anonymous claims against Agnes result in the state’s plans to take away their beloved ward, Mattie, Agnes knows she’s up against a conniving opponent who will stop at nothing to prevent her winning the election. 

How can she prevail against such sinister attacks when her family is at risk? Is winning an election really worth it? On the other hand, how can she allow this conniving candidate’s assaults against her reputation and family force her out of the race? Join Agnes in her journey against overwhelming odds as she attempts to win an election that could help bring about more equitable decisions to the Newbury citizens, to the women in town, and the colored community. 

AMAZON

The Mrs. Odboddy Series

Mrs. Odboddy Hometown Patriot

Mrs. Odboddy Undercover Courier 

Mrs. Odboddy and Then There was a Tiger

Mrs. Odboddy's Desparate Doings

Mrs. Odboddy and the Conniving Candidate

About the Author

Elaine Faber's short stories are published in magazines and multiple anthologies. She is an active member of Sisters in Crime, Elk Grove Wrters Guild, and Northern California Publishers and Authors. 

The Mrs. Odboddy mysteries are set in Northern CA during WWII, a humorous historical fiction both informative and funny. Mrs. Odboddy - Hometown Patriot is the first in Elaine's WWII humorous mystery series. Mrs. Odboddy fights the war from the home front, seeing conspiracies and spies around every corner. When Mrs. Roosevelt comes to town to attend a funeral, Agnes's fears become a reality and she must prove she is, indeed a hometown patriot. 

All books are reader friendly without explicit sex, extreme violence or profanity. Elaine's short stories are published in 21 anthologies over the past 7-8 years. Elaine lives in Elk Grove, CA, with her husband. They currently share their home with two house cats.

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Book Review: TAKE THE WHEEL (Previously published as BLIND BAKE : Maddie Baker #1) by Denise Grover Swank

About the Book

Maddie Baker just wants to make ends meet. She gave up her school librarian career to return to her hometown and take care of her elderly aunt. So when she starts making Uber runs to supplement her barista job, she never dreamt she’d not only drop a man off to his murder but be labeled a person of interest in his death. 

Detective Noah Langley is looking for a fresh start in a city with a lower crime rate and a fraction of the population of Memphis. It’s just what he needs to recover from a nightmare that left him severely injured and his teenage mentee dead. The first murder since he’s arrived in Cockamamie is a chance to prove to his boss and himself he should be there. 

Noah doesn’t have many leads, but the few he has all tie back to one person: Maddie Baker. She doesn’t seem the type, but the last time he presumed someone was innocent he nearly died. Has Noah lost his instincts? Because if he can’t trust his gut, it might be time to turn in his badge. 

Review 

Maddie Baker returns to her old home town, not so naive and less trusting. Only her elderly aunt needs help. Maddie juggles multiple jobs and ends up a suspect in a murder - wrong place, wrong time. But she's determined and begins to collect clues on her own, to prove her innocence. 

The new detective, Noah, in town moved from the city to a small town, not expecting to have to deal with a homicide right off. He also has his own baggage. Maddie and Noah get off on the wrong foot, but as the story progresses, there are definite signs of a romance brewing. 

This is the first in the Maddie Baker series, and a good start to a series. The main characters are well-developed and the small town and its culture are described. As with other works by this author, this is a well-written cozy mystery, with a steady pace, and unexpected surprises. Even with the murder solved, there's still more to come with Maddie (and perhaps Noah) and more mysteries to solve. This is the first of three books in the series.

AMAZON

About the Author 

Denise Grover Swank is a New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal best-selling author who writes mystery and romance. She lives in Lee's Summit, Missouri, a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. She's a single mother to six kids and four dogs. She spends her free time binging Netflix, drinking wine, and reading. Not necessarily in that order.

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