December Cloak and Dagger Link-up

December Cloak and Dagger Link-up

by CarolNo Comments
Happy December! Here in Ohio, it's been cold and we've had a little bit of snow on the ground the past couple of days. I'm sometimes a seasonal reader, so expect my links this month to involve Christmas and winter mysteries/thrillers. Okay, I actually started reading Christmas books at the beginning of November. What about you, is your tbr list affected by the time of year? Leave your December links below or in the comments. Also, the link up for next year's challenge will be posted today. I hope everyone will join in again. You are invited to the Inlinkz link party! Click here to enter ...
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Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen by Vicki Delany

Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen by Vicki Delany

by Carol1 Comment
Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen is a fun cozy mystery set in the quirky town of Rudolph, New York. I love Rudolph, where it’s Christmas all year round. Rudolph is a tourist town and it's December, the time of year when they have the most visitors and make the most money. But then a poisoned cookie kills a journalist who was doing a feature on the town. Was the journalist the target or is someone trying to ruin Christmas? It’s up to shop owner Merry Wilkinson to figure it all out, to keep her best friend Vicky, the baker of the cookie, out of jail and save Rudolph's reputation. While Merry is smart and resourceful, she gets some help from the locals, who are all charming. And her family is fabulous, from her Santa Claus dad to her former opera singer mom. Everyone in town, except for the killer, pulls together to salvage what they can of Christmas and the tourist...
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Christmas at Snowflake Lodge by C.P. Ward

Christmas at Snowflake Lodge by C.P. Ward

by Carol2 Comments
Can I please go to Snowflake Lodge for Christmas? It's a magical place with decorations and hot chocolate and the nicest staff. There's skiing and ice skating and sleigh rides pulled by real reindeer. Jessica is there to work - she's a plumber, and to keep an eye on her grandfather. She's also escaping from her terrible renter/roommate. Honestly, I wanted to escape from Doreen too. I didn't enjoy the scenes with Doreen and her friends. She was a really awful person and I don't understand why Jessica put up with any of it. Once Jessica decides to take the job at Snowflake Lodge, the book becomes a fun read. Grandpa is a great character, funny and adventurous, and maybe a bit of a skirt chaser. Jessica's love interest, James, is sexy and sweet. Christmas at Snowflake Lodge is part romance and part family reunion, and almost everyone gets a happy ending. ...
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The Man With a Load of Mischief by Martha Grimes

The Man With a Load of Mischief by Martha Grimes

by CarolNo Comments
The Man with a Load of Mischief is the first in the Richard Jury series. The only reason I picked it up was that it takes place at Christmas, but I'm glad I did. I'm not sure how I missed this series before. I will definitely read more - I might actually be listening to the 2nd as I'm typing this. The book takes place around 1981 - no cell phones, no internet, no tiny cameras. This is the type of mystery where our detective has to watch for clues, talk to people, not rely on technology. Our detective from Scotland Yard is Richard Jury, intelligent, patient, kind. Our sidekick is Melrose Plant, rich, clever, sparkling green eyes. We see the story from their alternating points of view. We only know what they know, we only hear what they hear. The writing style is descriptive and full, without being overly detailed. The book certainly has serious moments, but Plant...
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Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge

Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge

by CarolNo Comments
The Christmas Spirit Reading Challenge started yesterday Monday, November 22, even if my own Christmas reading started a couple of weeks ago. Thanks to Michelle at Christmas Spirit and Seasons of Reading for hosting. Details: challenge will run from Monday, November 22, 2021 through January 6, 2022 (Twelfth Night or Epiphany).cross over with other challenges is totally permitted AND encouraged!These must be Christmas novels, books about Christmas lore, a book of Christmas short stories or poems, books about Christmas crafts, and a children’s Christmas books level! I’m aiming for the Christmas Tree level, which is 5 or 6 books. Books Finished: Christmas at Snowflake Lodge by C.P. Ward ...
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The Christmas Night Murder by Lee Harris

The Christmas Night Murder by Lee Harris

by CarolNo Comments
It's Christmas and Christine, a former nun, is visiting the convent she lived in until she married. A priest she studied under is coming for a visit from his new parish in Wyoming and everyone is looking forward to seeing him again. The priest never arrives and Christine is brought in to search for him. The book touches on convent life, which I found interesting. It's an insulated community where secrets can be kept. It also deals with abuse in the Catholic Church, but the way it was approached seemed surprisingly outdated. Yes, this book takes place in the early 90s but still. Christine is a good character. She's persistent and honest and loyal. Her husband, Jack, a police sergeant, gives her some help, but she does most of the investigating on her own. I'm not quite sure how she manages to get all the answers and access she does, but people always seem to talk to amateur detectives. I listened to...
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