Mysteria Lane (Mysteria #2) by MaryJanice Davidson, P.C. Cast, Gena Showalter, Susan Grant

Mysteria Lane by MaryJanice Davidson

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Return to a town of bewitching seduction and sensual demons. There’s a spellbinding witch of love who wants to make one man hers; a vegan having trouble adapting to vampirism; Satan’s emissary, who is looking for steady work in Colorado; and angelic triplets feeling a wee touch of the devil.

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A nice set of 4 stories set in Mysteria, a town created for the supernatural. It has been a while since I read the first book in this series, so I really did not remember any of the characters that were in this book but the concept was still there. As with the first book, the story by MaryJanice Davidson was the worst. Very disjointed with little to no plot and a couple of different story lines that really did not mesh well. The other 3 stories in the book were fun, quick reads. The story by PC Cast was a 'sweet' romance while the story by Gena Showalter was a 'hot' romance. Susan Grant's story was a little more out there, but still an enjoyable read. Overall the book does not have anything that is going to be memorable over the long haul, but was a fun bit of quick entertainment.



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Murder Boogies with Elvis (Southern Sisters Mystery #8) by Anne George

Murder Boogies with Elvis by Anne George

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Southern sisters Mary Alice and Patricia Anne are enjoying their golden years, and these days are better than most. They're spending time with their grandchildren. They're planning Mary Alice's fourth wedding. And they're still having fun solving mysteries, too. So when an Elvis impersonator takes a fatal dive into the band at a local benefit, Mary Alice and Patricia Anne don't need any coaxing to put on their blue suede shoes and set out in search of a killer -- whose next target could be the Southern sisters themselves
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Loved this last book in the Southern Sisters Mystery series. I will miss reading about these wonderful sisters and their bumbling adventures. Nice ending to a wonderful, fun, witty series. I am sad that there will be no more murder mysteries for Mary Alice and Patricia Anne to stumble upon. Like the way that this one wrapped up and left us with some very happy endings for a wonderful group of characters.



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Murder Carries a Torch (Southern Sisters Mystery #7) by Anne George

Murder Carries a Torch by Anne George

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The Southern sisters' cousin Pukey Lukey is in a terrible state. His wife, Virginia, has run off with a housepainting preacher. And that's just the start of his trouble. Because before Patricia Anne and Mary Alice can help Pukey Lukey find his beloved Virginia, they'll discover that all is not heavenly in the Church of Jesus Is Our Life and Heaven Hereafter, where the faithful are into snake-handling, the holy men are engaged in a venomous war, and a killer has left Pukey with a huge lump on his head -- and a dead redhead by his side.

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Another enjoyable read in the Southern Sisters Mystery series. While this one is not as good as the books in the beginning of the series, it is still a lot of fun to ride along with Mouse and Sister as they bumble their way through murder mystery after murder mystery. I am looking forward to seeing what happens with the family in the next book since I know that it is the last in the series. Gonna miss these two characters and their families when I am done.



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Murder Shoots the Bull (Southern Sisters Mystery, #6) by Anne George

Murder Shoots the Bull by Anne George

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Patricia Anne would swear that either she or her sister Mary Alice were switched at birth, except they were both born at home.Flashy, flirtatious Mary Alice is one foot taller, twice the body weight of Patricia Anne, and three times as likely to do something completely off the wall. But now Mary Alice's impulsive behavior has land them both in the Birmingham jail!

It all begins with a call from their good friend Mitzi Phizer, who's starting an investment club — kind of a Beardstown Ladies group. Patricia Anne is willing to make a small, conservative investment in a thriving chain of HMOs; Mary Alice is hot to trot to put her money on Viagra. But before the club idea gets off the ground, the sisters spot Mitzi's supposedly faithful husband in a chummy little huddle with a redhead — and the next thing they know, Arthur is accused of murdering the mystery woman. Nothing about the whole sordid story fits the kind, gently Arthur, and Patricia Anne is doing her best to console her good friends. But when their house catches on fire, and Arthur is shot in a place that won't allow him to even sit down at his own murder trial, the sisters know they have to stand up for the poor fellow. And that means checking out everyone — from low-down cads to highbrow bank presidents — to find a no good gun-toting arsonist who believes big money is to kill for.

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Another fun read in the Southern Sisters Mystery series. I did not enjoy this one quite as much as the previous books in the series though. The characters involved in the actual mystery and their relationships were hard to follow and the ending was a little too thrown together for me. I still enjoyed the relationship between Mary Alice and Patricia Anne and will be finishing up the series soon.



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Creepin' by L.A. Banks, Monica Jackson, Donna Hill, J. M. Jeffries, Janice Sims

Creepin' by L.A. Banks

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Welcome to a world of werewolves, vampires, demons and mere mortals, where, in the name of revenge, five women are about to live out their wildest fantasies—even if it means crossing over to that other side…
Five of today's most provocative authors invite you into a realm beyond the limits of your sensual imagination, where anything can happen—and does. In these stories of bloodlust and payback, of scorching desire and otherworldly fantasies come true, you'll encounter five women who thought they had it all, until a betrayal takes them on a feverish journey to the dark edge of vengeance. Fueled by lust and deception, these women are going to let their voracious appetites guide them as they take justice into their own hands.…


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Did not care at all for 'The Heat of the Night' by Donna Hill. Totally without plot and was nothing more than a continuing sexual encounter that was too far fetched to even enjoy. The other 2 stories -- 'Payback is a Bitch' by LA Banks & 'Vamped' by Monica Jackson were okay reads, though I feel that 'Vamped' had too 'miraculous' of an ending.
Without question the best 2 stories in the book were the last two-- 'Balancing the Scales' by JM Jeffries and 'Avenging Angel' by Janice Sims with 'Avenging Angel' winning in a landslide.
I enjoyed the Jeffries story. It had a good plot and storyline. Nice finish and definitely made me want to look into more books by these talented authors.
But I have to say that I loved Janice Sims' story. It read like a novel and the minute that I finished I rushed to her website to see if there were any more books about the Nephilim. Sadly I did not see any but I really hope that this author plans to take this storyline further. I can see an entire series evolve from this story. Wonderful read!!!



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Murder Gets A Life (Southern Sisters Mystery #5) by Anne George

Murder Gets A Life by Anne George

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In the breezy, very funny Murder Gets a Life, the fifth Southern Sisters mystery from Alabama writer Anne George, petite, married Patricia Ann and her thrice-widowed amazon of a sister discover that murder's a family affair, thanks to Mary Alice's new in-laws. There's a corpse with a hog-butchering knife stuck in his chest, but plot's hardly the point in a story chock-full of engaging characters and knowing humor. When Patricia Ann wonders if the murder victim was married, Mary Alice says, "Probably, his clothes matched."


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Love this series. I enjoy the writing style of the author. The relationship between the flamboyant Mary Alice and her laid back sister Patricia Anne is wonderful and the things that they manage to stumble into are always a treat to read about.



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Notoriously Neat (Grime Solvers Mystery #3) by Suzanne Price

Notoriously Neat by Suzanne Price
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Murder is so unsanitary...

Professional cleaner Sky Taylor and her potential new beau— the town’s police chief—are on their first dinner date when they’re interrupted by a stampede of household pets running through the restaurant. Someone’s murdered Dr. Gail Pilsner, Pigeon Cove’s hugely popular veterinarian, releasing all the critters boarded at her clinic.

Then when one of the singers in a vocal group, the La Dee Das, is murdered, Sky must uncover the link between the veterinarian and the songbirds—before a killer finishes cleaning house.

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Very much enjoying this series. I really like Sky, the main character and I like the fact that the mystery is only a small part of the whole book. I really look forward to more in this series. Have to see what the author has in store for us on this series.


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Dirty Deeds (Grime Solvers Mystery #2) by Suzanne Price

Dirty Deeds by Suzanne Price
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Includes cleaning tips!

Between her newspaper column and her cleaning clients, cleaning wiz Sky Taylor is on her way to a stable, self-sufficient life. All she needs now is a contract to clean City Hall. What she doesn’t need is another messy murder investigation. What does she get? Both.

The body of Kyle Fipps, real estate developer and wannabe actor, is the untidiest remnant of the Art Association’s annual holiday bash. With his pack of scheming enemies, and a smattering of even less trustworthy friends, it’s very likely he was murdered. But when the investigation leads straight to City Hall, will Sky be the next one getting swept under the rug?

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Definitely enjoying this series. I like the characters a lot and while the mysteries are interesting, the story line covers much more. Looking forward to more in this series.


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Perfect Reading Challenge for me this year -- 2012 Cruisin' thru the Cozies Reading Challenge

Looks like another perfect reading challenge for me this year as I have already finished one cozy and am a good way through my second. I also realized when listing some of the series that I would like to read this year @ BookObsessed.com that a major portion of them are cozies. So here we go!

Sponsored by Socrates' Book Review Blog

Runs from January 1, 2012 -- December 31, 2012

Signup and rules

I have chosen Level 3 Super Sleuth -- Read 13 or more books

If you would like to follow my progress you can go HERE.

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz

A Tale Dark and Grimm by Adam Gidwitz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In this mischievous and utterly original debut, Hansel and Gretel walk out of their own story and into eight other classic Grimm-inspired tales. As readers follow the siblings through a forest brimming with menacing foes, they learn the true story behind (and beyond) the bread crumbs, edible houses, and outwitted witches.

Fairy tales have never been more irreverent or subversive as Hansel and Gretel learn to take charge of their destinies and become the clever architects of their own happily ever after.

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My 11 year old daughter bought this book at the school book fair and brought it home. She wanted me to read it with her so we have been reading it together over the last couple weeks. I have to say that I totally enjoyed the book, as an adult who loves to read horror novels, but I was a bit concerned that it was not quite appropriate for my 11 year old. This is quite a dark and graphic book, even though it is written in a humorous, Lemony Snicket style, with the author breaking into the story with comments, advice, etc. There is no question that is was written to be a humorous recounting of a collection of fairy tales, but I think that it is important that you are sure your child is able to understand that it is all just make believe. That being said, I would recommend it to any and all adult fans of horror, fairy tales and humorous wit.


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Another Challenge for 2012 -- Book Chick City's Horror & Urban Fantasy Reading Challenge 2012

So I have decided to jump start my resolution to read more in 2012 by joining some Reading Challenges. Since I have always been a huge fan or Horror and thus have jumped on the Urban Fantasy bandwagon this challenge is right up my alley!! Looking forward to digging out some of my horror novels that have been gathering dust on the bookshelves as well as finding some really good Urban Fantasy (not to be confused with Paranormal Romance) to read this year!! 

I have decided to go for the 24 novel level.

To follow my progress check HERE

Timeline: Jan. 1, 2012 - Dec. 31, 2012

Rules: To read TWENTY FOUR (24) or FORTY EIGHT (48)

 horror & urban fantasy novels in 2012

For more details or to sign up click HERE

Scene of The Grime (Grime Solvers Mystery #1) by Suzanne Price

Scene of The Grime by Suzanne Price
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In her mid-30s and recently widowed, Sky Taylor left the big city for Pigeon Cove, a hamlet off the Massachusetts coast. Sky is re-adapting to single life-with a newspaper column and her knack for creative cleaning increasingly in demand. Then she discovers a patron of the Millwood Inn permanently checked-out. Now Sky's juggling the police chief's questions with advances from the newest-and handsomest-crime reporter in town. But if she wants to clear her name, she has some scouring to do.

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A nice start to the New Year. This cozy mystery is the first of a series. I enjoyed it. I like the main character and the story line stayed interesting. Definitely looking forward to the next in the series to see where it goes next.


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New Year, New Challenges, New Goals

I had an awful year for reading in 2011 so I have decided that for 2012 I am going to attempt to focus more on reading. Reading more of the books that I already have and organize my library. The first step I am going to take is to join a wonderful challenge that a book buddy of mine discovered. I have signed up for Mt. Vancouver - read 25 books from your tbr pile in the hopes that I can increase that level as the year goes by.
You can view my progress here.

The Mount TBR Challenge is hosted by My Reader's Block and will run from Jan. 1 - Dec. 31 2012. Sign up and rules