Saturday, November 27, 2010

Reviews To Share

Thanksgiving is over for most and thoughts are turning to Christmas which is less than a month away.

My family is celebrating Thanksgiving today so I’ll be away from blogdom all day. But I want to share my thoughts on two mysteries that would make great gifts for Christmas (or anytime).

Tomorrow author Lian Dolan will be here talking about her latest release, HELEN OF PASADENA. Now my book thoughts.

THE LIES THAT BIND by Kate Carlisle

Brooklyn Wainwright is a master when it comes to rare books and antiquities. She’s in San Francisco to teach a class on bookbinding at Bay Area Book Arts (BABA).

The director of BABA is Layla Fontaine and she’s a major pain. She hires another teacher who is a former classmate Brooklyn dislikes. Despite all the problems, Brooklyn decides to continue teaching her class.

Apparently Brooklyn isn’t the only one unhappy. The new teacher is assaulted and Layla is found murdered. Brooklyn can’t help but get involved in the search for the killer. It seems Layla’s past is connected to hunky Derek Stone, who Brooklyn would like to know better.

The interesting characters, along with the twists and turns of the plot will keep readers glued to the book from the first page. THE LIES THAT BIND is the third installment in the Bibliophile series, but is a stand alone book. Readers are given glimpses of the previous books in the series but not left in the dark if they haven’t read the other books yet.

Readers will also get a look at bookbinding. A glossary of bookbinding terms is included, along with a sneak peek at the next installment in the Bibliophile series, MURDER UNDER COVER.

This is a fun and action packed read.

Author Kate Carlisle’s website is www.katecarlisle.com

The Lies That Bind by Kate Carlisle A Bibliophile Mystery, Obsidian, @2010, ISBN: 978-0-451-23169-7, Paperback, 304 pages


FTC Full Disclosure - I won a ARC copy of this book from the author. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

THE PUMPKIN MUFFIN MURDER by Livia J. Washburn

It’s Thanksgiving time in the small town of Weatherford, Texas, and residents will soon be attending the first Harvest Festival.

Baker extraordinaire Phyllis Newsome is busy playing with her grandson, Bobby, and preparing her special pumpkin cheesecake muffins for the festival. Phyllis hopes to win the baking contest since her biggest competitor, Carolyn, is judging the contest instead of competing in it.

Getting ready for the festival, Phyllis and Carolyn discover one of the scarecrow decorations is really a dead body. It’s the body of festival organizer Logan Powell. A fight between Powell and his wife, Dana, leads authorities to arrest Dana, who is Carolyn’s best friend. Phyllis goes into action to prove Dana isn’t the killer.

THE PUMPKIN MUFFIN MURDER is the fifth installment in the Fresh Baked Mystery series, but it is a stand alone book. An added bonus is the delicious recipes included in the back of the book.

This is a delightful cozy murder mystery. A quick read that flows well.

The Pumpkin Muffin Murder by Livia J. Washburn, A Fresh-Baked Mystery, Obsidian, @2010, ISBN: 978-0-451-23132-1 Paperback, 304 pages


FTC Full Disclosure - This book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review.

18 comments:

  1. I'll have to check out the Fresh Baked Mystery series. Sounds interesting. Cute cover and I like recipes.

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  2. I hope you and your family have a great Thanksgiving celebration!

    The book aspect to The Lies That Bind interests me--I love books.

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  3. Today's cozies look great as usual! I am looking forward to tomorrow, I just reserved Helen at the library. I don't catch any of the radio stuff, but I did read a Satellite Sisters book that was good.

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  4. ha ha ... THE PUMPKIN MUFFIN MURDER sounds delightful :)

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  5. Mason - I hope you are enjoying a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend with your family. Thanks for the book recommendations :-). One of the things I love about crime fiction is that it's such a varied genre. There really is something to suit just about anyone's taste, and your two recommendations are likely to be people-pleasers :-).

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  6. ooh la la, hunky Derek Stone! And Pumpkin muffin? Sounds like a perfect mystery to me~ :D Thanks, Mason! Happy Thanksgiving~

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  7. Happy Thanksgiving to you, Mason! Hope y'all share a wonderful meal together.

    These are both books that I'm looking forward to reading! Thanks for spotlighting these. :)

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  8. Ohh, I like the sound and background of the first book. I'll be looking for that one.

    Have a great family day, today!!

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  9. Enjoy your extra day of Thanksgiving! I like the cover art for the first book.

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  10. The book about the pumpkin muffin mystery sounds like a good cozy mystery. I'll have to keep that one in mind.

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  11. You have made me curious to read Kate Carlisle´s books so I have added the first bookbinder mystery to my Christmas wish list.

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  12. These both look like winners! I love a good cozy mystery.

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  13. I enjoyed Lies that Bind and will have to check out the second book.

    Hope you're having a good day.

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  14. I love mysteries!! Thanks for the reviews.

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  15. Cool reviews! I'll look out for these, especially the Bibliophile series.

    Jai

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  16. Hi Mason .. they both sound fascinating - especially as they're educative around a mystery .. I'd love to read the bookbinding one: The Lies that Bind .. while the pumpkin murder - with added recipes .. will always entice ..

    Great thoughts .. when can I stop blogging and read???!!!

    Enjoy the weekend .. Hilary

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  17. Mmm. Pumpkin Muffins.

    Sounds like two good reads, Mason, Thanks for the reviews.

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  18. These both look like such fun! :)

    Hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!

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I'd love to hear your thoughts on today's post. Thanks for dropping by.