Review: Stowed Away

 

* Book 6 in the Maine Clambake Mystery series *

Julia and her family are getting ready for tourist season in Maine. When an old acquaintance arrives to help look at the family homestead, Julia isn't thrilled to see her old rival. But Wyatt is happy to see Julia. She invites Julia, Chris, and Quentin for dinner on her boyfriend's yacht. Her boyfriend is a reclusive billionaire who rarely shows his face.

After a pleasant dinner, the group goes their own way. But the next day, tragedy strikes. Wyatt calls Julia with the news that Geoffrey is dead - murdered. Quinten and Wyatt ask for Julia's help. She can't really say no, but she wishes she could. 

Instead, Julia pokes around Geoffrey's life and undercover that everything that glitters isn't gold...

My Thoughts: I adore this series - but fell behind reading it. I'm happy to be back. I love spending time in this small Maine town with great food, lots of friends, and of course murder. This book shared so much about the characters pasts. From Julia and her time in high school to Chris and his family to Quentin - who has been a closed book most of the time. It's nice to delve more into characters' lives. Of course the murder was entertaining and no, I didn't see the twist coming.  Another great addition to series.

Cover Thoughts: Charming

Source: Purchased while on vacation in Maine

Library Recommendation: A great cozy series for your library's collection

Upcoming Mysterious Saturday Review: Fogged Inn

* Book 4 in the Maine Clambake series *

Julia and Chris have their new adventure up and running - until one foggy night. A car crash blocks the street, keeping diners in their restaurant longer than normal. In the morning, Gus discovers a stranger in the walk in fridge - murdered.

Julia and Chris identify him as being in the restaurant last night. But they're not aware how he manged to get back inside or how he died.

Still the death effects their business and Julia can't help but look into the murder. She realizes that all the couples at the restaurant that night paid with a gift card. Could someone have wanted them all in the room at the same time?

Julia's not resting until she solves this murder and things go back to normal.

My Thoughts: I really love this series - it makes me long to visit Maine and to eat good food! I really like how things have evolved with Chris and Julia. I love their new adventure into the restaurant business.

I love how the story wove together between the past and the present. Those past summers sounded magical - great friends and lots of fun. But the horrors the group went through was really very sad.

I like how the fog rolls into town and everything seems a little quieter without the summer tourists. It's fun reading about a small town throughout the seasons. 

I'm quite looking forward to what happens next in Busman's Harbor...

Cover Thoughts: Cute
Source: ARC sent for review
Release Date: March 2016

Final Thoughts: A fantastic slice of life in Maine with great food and good friends - you can't go wrong with this cozy series!

Books I'm Dying to Read: December Edition

By now, the weather starts getting colder. The pellet stove comes on and I just want to read in front of it all winter. It's so warm. Plus I'm waiting for the first flakes of the year.  I'm also in the process of crafting a bunch for Christmas, so I don't get to read too much in December. But here's what I'm looking forward to reading.

Kids:

Showing Off: Book 3 in the Upside Down Magic series that's super cute!
Secret Life of Squirrels: The first book was tons of fun, can't wait to read this love story

YA:

Secret of a Heart Note: Matchmaking and love potions gone wrong
Take the Key and Lock Her Up: After the bombshell at the end of the last book, I"m anxious to read the end of the trilogy.
Everyday Magic: Curious about this sophomore book about Hollywood, fashion, and romance
Lock and Mori: After the ending of the first book, I'm so curious to see where this book leads and how the characters react.
Ever Hunted: This start if a fantasy sounds a little like Throne of Glass

Adult:

 
Dead Cold Brew: 16th book in this coffeehouse series has good news and of course - murder
Iced Under: A cold winter in Maine and a mysterious package procduing a long lost diamond necklace is the backdrop for the 5th book in this series.
Lady Claire is All That: The third book in the Canvendish series where the American attempt to fit in and for Claire, it's not that easy with her intelligence.

What books are you dying to read?

Mysterious Saturday Review: Boiled Over

* Maine Clambake series book 2 - Book 1 Review *

Julia Snowden wants to belong to Busman's Harbor. After leaving for college and then finding a job in New York City, she's always felt like an outsider when she returns home. Now that she's back living in Maine, she decides that something needs to be done. She joins the Founder's Day Committee.

The festival's off to a great start until a body's discovered in the clam bake oven.

One of Julia's workers was seen fleeing the scene. N one can find him. Julia was so desperate to hire someone, she failed to complete the proper background check. As a result, they know next to nothing about Cabe.

Julia refuses to believe that Cabe murdered someone. The more she digs into his background, the more questions arise. 

My Thoughts: The second book in the series doesn't disappoint. I love the setting - it's both beautiful and believable with the small town charm and also the gossip grapevine.  I like how there are lots of secrets and the town protects their own. Plus, everyone has an opinion about your life.  I love the food - you can almost smell the goodies; it makes my mouth water. I love the plot twists. I appreciate how Julia's trying to become part of the community. Mystery blends with the romance, making me anxious for the next book in the series.

Cover Thoughts: Charming
Source: my Library 

Mysterious Saturday Review: Musseled Out

* Book 3 in the Maine Clambake Mystery series *

Julia isn't sure which direction her life will take her - should she move back to New York now that the family business is back on her feet? Should she take an apartment for the winter?  She has big decisions to make and little time to make them.

The family business now has competition - until the man turns up dead. Sonny (Julia's brother-in-law) hasn't held back his opinions of the man. He's also not telling the truth about where he was on the day of the murder. Julia's sister asks her to look into the matter and Julia can't say no. She has no idea what she uncovers could backfire on her own personal life.

My Thoughts: I really love this series - for the small town Maine setting, the characters in town, and the food.

The small town is the perfect setting for this series - lots of gossip, lots of people who never moved away, and lots of tourists.

I love getting to know more of the townspeople - especially Gus and Mrs. Gus. I enjoy Julia's chats with Quentin - even though they don't often go the way she expects them to go.  I liked learning more about Sonny and Livvie, even though I felt really bad for them too. I liked learning more about Chris - from his past to his secrets.

The food in this series always makes me hungry from the clam bakes to the dishes cooked.  I'm impressed with Chris's talent.  I loved learning about Genevieve's chef story. I love the crowd and the moments in Gus's place. I love how food brings people together in this series. 

I really liked the ending and can't wait to see where it leads.  

Cover Thoughts: Lovely - simple and mouthwatering
Source: ARC sent for Review

Final Thoughts: A great mystery with plots twists, small town charm, and well rounded secondary characters. This series is a real treat!

Top Ten Tuesday: Titles

This week's topic is all about fun titles. I always think that cozies have the best titles - and most of them have to do with food. Here are a few of my favorites.

Top Ten Tuesday: Fall TBR List

This week's topic is one of my favorite - Biggest books in your TBR pile. And the season is fall. Fall for me is September thru November, but in the publishing world, they include December. So I will too. And there's no way I can limit myself to just 10. Also as usual, I'll separate them out by ages. And of course I'll be stalking everyone's lists, because one can never have too many books they want to read, right?

- meme from The Broke and the Bookish 

Kids:

Middle Grade:

Teen:

Adult: