Egg Drop Dead by Laura Childs
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Halloween is approaching and Suzanne, Petra and Toni are planning a special event at the diner. When Suzanne goes to get her locally sourced cheese, she finds the farmer dead. She sees what looks like a moving scarecrow in the distance. Spooky happenings and mistreated horses set the three Cackleberry Club ladies to search for answers.
This mystery kept me second guessing myself as to who the killer was. The horses side-story was very sad, but Suzanne and Sam (view spoiler)[ managed to rescue the ones the shelter could not take. (hide spoiler)].
I'm looking forward to the next one.


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Hair Brained by Nancy J. Cohen
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another great Marla adventure. Her BFF Tally and her husband are in a bad car crash. He dies and she's in a comma. Marla is the designated caretaker for their baby, Luke. Between taking care of the baby, giving Brianna driving lessons, taking care of all of Tally's responsibilities and of course, investigating the crime, Marla barely has time to absorb what taking care of Luke means to her repressed maternal feelings. I had the killer in my suspect list, but there were twists to the story I didn't see coming. I love this series!


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A Crime of Poison by Nancy Haddock
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I had a hard time when I started the book, because this is the first one I've read in the series, and the Silver Six confused me. Once I got to know them (I had to write down their names and something about them), then the plot began to make sense. I liked the character of Nixy, her pets, and bf Eric and the small town setting.

The killer was on my suspect list, but I could not figure out why they killed until close to the reveal. I will be going back and reading the first books.


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Wonky: A Robotics Club Story by Darcy Pattison
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love the colors in this sweet friendship story picture book. Henry (a tortoise) meets Lincoln (an ostrich) on the first day of school at the Robotics club. Despite some misunderstandings, they have fun designing robots and soon find a common goal. I would strongly recommend this book for children interested in robotics and worried about going to a new school.


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The Last Chance Olive Ranch by Susan Wittig Albert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This story features a nail-biting, edge of your seat situation for most of the book. China is at a ranch preparing to give a workshop on olive oil, while McQuaid stays at home trying to trap an escaped convict that he put in jail. The story shifts POV from China to McQuaid as they are not able to be in touch. Very suspenseful.

This is one of my favorite series, even though is not as light as I usually read. I really like the interaction between China and Ruby, and I love the information she gives about plants. I'm going to have to start reading olive oil labels now!


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Mind Over Murder by Allison Kingsley


Read this for a challenge (read a new series/author). Clara leaves New York to go back to her small Maine town and starts working at her cousin's book store. When she walks into the backroom one day, she finds the owner of the store next door dead. With many enemies in town, the suspects in Ana's death are countless.

This book was a little simple, but it's the first of a new series, and a lot of time was spent meeting the locals. There are a lot of comments to things that happened to Clara in New York, and only partially explained. I hope that they expand on this in other books.

I will try to read the next one in the series.


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The Creature of the Pines by Adam Gidwitz
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Fun middle grade series for fans of fantasy creatures. The professor is a little intimidating at first, but it's all part of the fun. I wish it had gone a little bit more into first day at a new school, but hopefully it'll be covered in the series.


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The Basque Dragon by Adam Gidwitz
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved it! A lot of information about the Basque people, along with a cute Dragon story. This is quickly becoming my new favorite Middle grade series. The characters are fun, and the story moves along nicely, with just a tiny bit of suspended belief. Looking forward to the 3rd one!


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Potions and Pastries by Bailey Cates
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Declan and Katie are house hunting even though they have not set the date yet. A chance encounter with a fortune-teller, Orla, who used to be a client at Honeybee's, sets off a chain of events that have Katie worried. What did she mean by "sacrifice"? Before they get a chance to talk, Orla is killed in a car accident. Katie reads her own Tarot cards, but she gets the Tower, and her worries continue. Was Orla killed? Did her Irish-Traveler family and their costumes have anything to do with it? Or do they have magic more powerful than her hedgewitch/lightwitch ones?

I felt bad for Katie, who is really experiencing some chaos in her life. She loves Declan, but she also loves her home and does not want to move. If they get married, though, they really need more space. Then there's the prediction Orla made, and was she killed or was it just an accident?


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Death of a Neighborhood Scrooge by Laura Levine
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Jaine and Lance get a job house-sitting a Bel Air mansion on Christmas week. When the Scrooge-like neighbor gets murdered, Jaine is the prime suspect so she starts investigating in order to clear her name. Was it the ex-wife, who had to beg for her alimony check? Or the new wife who hates his miserly ways? Or the law student boarder who is in love with the wife? Too many people hated his guts. Meanwhile, Prozac the cat is bonding with another woman, since Jaine can't keep him at the house.
This series tends to be very funny, although I was annoyed at the Hispanic maid incorrect Spanish (one of my pet peeves.)

The ending was completely unexpected.


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This Old Homicide

This Old Homicide by Kate Carlisle
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was the first of this series that I read. I had watched some of the Hallmark movies, but it was a while ago and didn't remember much. I'm glad, because I didn't recall who the killer had turned out to be so the mystery was not spoiled.

I'm not a fan of home repair series, but this one did not go on and on about details so I was not bored. I liked the characters very well, and I hope the Eric vs. Mac does not turn into a Mike vs. Norman battle.

I will try to read more of the series, but after I tackle my TBR pile.


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