Saturday, November 16, 2013

The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom

The Kitchen House is disturbing, amazing, enlightening, and depressing all at the same time and I highly recommend it to anyone who reads or listens to books.  Think The Help characters before emancipation. 

Told through the eyes of Belle and Lavinia, it spans twenty years.  

In 1791 Lavinia arrives from Ireland, both of her parents died during the crossing and seven year old Lavinia becomes an indentured servant to the ship's Captain, a man who also owns a plantation and slaves.  The Captain seems oblivious to how the slaves are treated by the cruel overseer, as his only contact is with the kitchen slaves.  

Lavinia is given into the care of Belle and Mamma Mae, but Lavinia lives with Belle.  Belle, although born a slave, is also the daughter of the Captain.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Every Trick in the Book by Lucy Arlington

Every Trick in the Book is the second installment in the Novel Idea cozy mystery series.  In this outing, the Novel Idea Literary Agency is sponsoring a festival where fledgling writers can meet with the agents to pitch books and attend seminars to learn what it takes to be a successful author. 

On the first morning of the festival, Lila Wilkins (our mystery solver and main character) meets Melissa Blume, an editor from New York, who could be Lila's twin.  When Melissa is murdered, Lila sets out to find out what happened. 

The first installment in this series is not as entertaining as the first book, Buried in a Book, but it was entertaining and I am liking the minor characters.  Although the murderer is known to the reader early on in the book, the reason why will keep you guessing especially after a second woman is killed.   I look forward to the next installment. 


Friday, November 8, 2013

A Potion to Die For by Heather Blake

I'm just a little envious of Heather's Blake real life friends, because she must be a real kick to hang around.  I mean anyone who can make up characters like Carly Bell Hartwell, her over-the-top quirky family, hunky ex-fiance' cop, and her married to the town minister best friend, must be able to find the fun no matter what the circumstances. 

Carly is the owner of a magic potion shop in Hitching Post, Alabama.  When Carly find a local lawyer dead on the floor of her shop, clutching one of her potion bottles, she goes from being a popular town healer to suspect number one in the minds of the town folk.  As she works her way through all the clues and suspects, she finds that she may not be over the broken engagement and that Dylan may be back in town to take up where they left off. 

Heather Blake (aka Heather Webber) is one of my favorite cozy mystery writers.  I'm pretty sure I've read all her books; starting with Nina Quinn, landscaper extraordinaire (admittedly my favorite), Lucy Valentine, matchmaker and finder of lost objects (and people), and Darcy Merriweather, with her newly discovered talent of wishcrafting.  They are all well written and you just never know who the culprit is until Heather is wrapping up the story.   

The Magic Potion Mysteries are definitely going on my TBR list and if you like cozies, you're going to love Heather.