Review: Brownies And Broomsticks By Bailey Cates

Series: A Magical Bakery Mystery Book #1
Mass Market Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Signet; Original edition
Release Date: May 1, 2012
ISBN-10: 0451236637
Genres: Cozy Mystery

Book Description:
Katie Lightfoot's tired of loafing around as the assistant manager of an Ohio bakery. So when her aunt Lucy and uncle Ben open a bakery in Savannah's quaint downtown district and ask Katie to join them, she enthusiastically agrees.

While working at the Honeybee Bakery—named after Lucy's cat—Katie notices that her aunt is adding mysterious herbs to her recipes. Turns out these herbal enhancements aren't just tasty—Aunt Lucy is a witch and her recipes are actually spells!

When a curmudgeonly customer is murdered outside the Honeybee Bakery, Uncle Ben becomes the prime suspect. With the help of handsome journalist Steve Dawes, charming firefighter Declan McCarthy, and a few spells, Katie and Aunt Lucy stir up some toil and trouble to clear Ben's name and find the real killer..

My Review:
With endearing characters and a well-developed plot, this debut novel in Bailey Cate's new Magical Bakery Mystery series is sure to delight cozy mystery fans! Katie Lightfoot has spent her entire life feeling as though she never truly belonged....anywhere. Following a break-up and a need for a fresh start, Katie leaves behind her bakery job in Akron, Ohio to join her aunt and uncle in a Savannah, Georgia where they establish the Honeybee Bakery. Just as Katie begins to feel a sense of belonging not only is a town's prominent figure murdered outside the Honeybee prior to its grand opening, but also Katie's Aunt proceeds to explain that Katie is a descendent of a long line of witches...really? With assistance from her Aunt's "Book Club" members, Katie sets out to uncover the true identity of the murderer and clear her Uncle of any further suspicion. Filled with twists and turns, and a wide array of possible suspects, Brownies and Broomsticks, was such a fun read! The characters were very well-developed and I just love the Book Club members, particularly Mimsy and her array of colors! And, the unpredictability of the plot itself kept me reading in anticipation of the next page. Very well done and I easily give this a FIVE! I'm now looking forward to reading the second book in this new series, Bewitched, Bothered, and Biscotti.

Review: Farm Fresh Murder By Paige Shelton

Series:  A Farmer's Market Mystery Book #1
Length:  304 pages
Publisher:  Berkley; First Edition edition
Publication Date: April 6, 2010
ISBN-10 0425233871
Genre: Cozy Mystery

Book Description:
First in the Farmer's Market Mystery Series.

Becca Robins leads a simple life, making jams and preserves on her very own farm. But when there's a murder in her quaint little town, she puts herself in the line of fire to defend her friend's innocence-and goes from making jam to being in one.

My Review:
Life at Bailey's Farmer's Market is about to change when a local peach grower is found murdered and one of the old-timers tops the list of suspects.  But local berry farmer and jam maker, Becca Robinson is convinced that her friend and market mentor, Abner, may be a cranky old man at times and a bit secretive, but he is no murderer.  Filled with captivating characters and plenty of red herrings throughout, this first installment of the Farmer's Market Mystery series is simply a very enjoyable read!  I absolutely love the setting and concept for this series, and of course the inclusion of recipes makes for a sweet added bonus.  Paige Shelton has created an outstanding cozy mystery with so many twists and turns that I was left guessing until the very end.  Becca's character is very well-developed and although a bit tenacious and bold, she comes across the pages as very real... and very likable.  Of course, as an avid jam maker and home canning enthusiast myself, I may be a bit biased but I found this to be a perfect summer read...a country setting, farmers, fresh fruits and vegetables, canning recipes, and of course a murder..what more could you ask for?  Certainly one of the best cozy mysteries that I have read yet and I can't wait to read the next installment in this wonderfully fresh series and once again meet up with the farmers at Bailey's.  FIVE stars.

Review: Buried In A Bog By Shelia Connolly

Series: A County Cork Mystery (Book 1)
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: February 5, 2013
ISBN-10: 0425251896
Genre: Cozy Mystery

Book Description:
National bestselling and Agatha Award-nominated author Sheila Connolly introduces a brand-new series set in a small village in County Cork, Ireland, where buried secrets are about to rise to the surface...

Honoring the wish of her late grandmother, Maura Donovan visits the small Irish village where her Gran was born—though she never expected to get bogged down in a murder mystery. Nor had she planned to take a job in one of the local pubs, but she finds herself excited to get to know the people who knew her Gran.

In the pub, she’s swamped with drink orders as everyone in town gathers to talk about the recent discovery of a nearly one-hundred-year-old body in a nearby bog. When Maura realizes she may know something about the dead man—and that the body’s connected to another, more recent, death—she fears she’s about to become mired in a homicide investigation. After she discovers the death is connected to another from almost a century earlier, Maura has a sinking feeling she may really be getting in over her head...

Review: 
In this debut to her new series, Connolly has captured the essence of Ireland's countryside with her attention to detail and culture. And, her cast of heart-warming characters are sure to charm any reader! As Maura Donavan struggles with her own grief of losing her grandmother and fulfilling her final wish, she suddenly finds herself in the small Irish village of Leap suddenly surrounded by people who are genuinely concerned for her well-being. But who would want to harm Maura Donavan? Could her encounter with danger be related to the two recently discovered deaths since her arrival? Filled with unpredictable suspense and plenty of red-herrings throughout, Connolly had me reading well into the late evening hours. I simply fell in love with the elderly characters, Bridget and Billy, with their Irish tales and wisdom of the old days. I sincerely hope these two will play a role in future books in this series. Very well written and one that I would recommend to fans of cozy mysteries...Four stars!