Mysterious Saturday Review: Missing Dough

 * 6th Pizza Lovers Mystery*

Maddy's ex-husband comes into the pizza shop one day, looking for a fight. Maddy and Eleanor ask him to leave. Unfortunately the meet up with him again at the Founders Day Festival. After another incident - this time including their boyfriends, everyone walks away.

It's not long before Grant turns up dead. The Sheriff has a few questions for the four of them. As Maddy's boyfriend Bob argued with him and doesn't have a solid alibi, he immediately becomes the prime suspect. 

Maddy and Eleanor aren't about to let anything happen to Bob. Of course their going to work together to clear his name.

My Thoughts:  I really enjoy this small town series that always makes me crave pizza. I liked learning more about Maddy's past, even though it was sad. I love how the two sisters work together to help their friends and loved ones. As always, the victim had several enemies who wanted him dead. I love Art and can't wait to read more about his friendship with Eleanor. A fun addition to the series.

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

What's on My Hold's List (63)

My Librarian friend Jess from I Read to Relax came up with a great idea.  It's to highlight the books we read from the library. These are some of the books that are on hold  for me at the library.

Cozy Mystery edition:

Read It and Weep: Great cozy series...with a librarian solving mysteries.

Clammed Up: An inside source told me this one really good - plus who doesn't love Maine? First in a new series.

Missing Dough: A fun series about two sisters owning a pizza joint...and murder.

Mysterious Saturday Review: Killer Crust

*5th Pizza Lovers Mystery*

Eleanor and her sister have the opportunity to enter into a pizza contest. They could win $25,000, which they would use to fix up Slice of Delight. However, the contest is being held by an old acquaintance of Eleanor's. The last time Eleanor saw Luigi, he was trying to buy her pizza joint - right after the death of her husband. He didn't take no very well.

Still, Eleanor doesn't hesitate, she signs the paperwork, entering the contest. Now she and her sister are heading to the local hotel hosting the contest. Four pizza places compete for the top prize.

Soon, Eleanor learns that the contest is fixed. Animosity builds between the contests and she's not surprised to learn that Luigi's been murdered. He died in an area limited to hotel staff and the contestants, which place Eleanor and her sister in a unique position. They can cozy up to the contestants and figure out which one killed Luigi. Can they wrap up the contest and find the murdered before it's too late?

My Thoughts: I love the premise of this book - it blends the food reality TV shows with murder perfectly. It read like a crime show, very visual and keeping me glued to the book. I love the sister team and their quirks. They're funny, serious, sweet, and loyal. I love their closeness. I liked the difference in setting for this book, it allowed for a whole new set of characters along with some old favorites. 

Cover Thoughts: Fun
Source: Library

Book Character Outfit: Eleanor Swift

I'm in the middle of Killer Crust and loving it.

It might be why I'm craving pizza all of a sudden (not that I need an excuse, I adore pizza). Here's what I picture Eleanor wearing while she works at Slice of Delight - her pizza shop.

The pin will also go up on my Library Pinterest Board

Mysterious Saturday Review: Rest in Pizza

Eleanor's happy when she hears her friend will be opening up a bookstore in the square where she own Slice of Delight. She's more than happy to volunteer to help Cindy with the grand opening featuring superstar Chef Benet.

Eleanor doesn't realize what she's getting herself and her sister into. There's no match for Chef Benet's ego. Nothing suits him. He's talking of pulling out of the appearance all together. He heads for Eleanor's shop to think about the situation.

Maddie and Eleanor arrive at the shop to fetch him when they discover his body.  The list of suspects isn't big, but everyone has a reason to dislike the man.  Eleanor wonders why the man came to town in the first place. Could something from his past tie him to the town?

My Thoughts: I really enjoy reading this series for the sisterly bond, the romances of the sisters, and the descriptions of the pizza. I love the small town charm of this series - this is the 4th book in the series. The sisters have a tight bond, but still get on each other's nerves.  They support each other, laugh with each other, and admire each other.


Each sister has a boyfriend. Both the men come into the pizza restaurant from time to time. Maddie's boyfriend has something serious on his mind, a question she's not ready to answer.


The tight knit community rushes to help out in times of need. The owners of the shops, bakery, and restaurants all chat with each other as old friends. 


A charming addition to this delicious series.


Cover Thoughts: Great


Source: Inter-Library Load

Mysterious Saturday Review: Pizza to Die For

*third book in the series*

Eleanor owns a pizza joint. Her sister Maddie, a high school student, and a college boy all work for her. They can't believe their ears when they discover a rival pizza place opening just steps from their place. Eleanor and her crew go over to find out more information and their meeting with the new owner ends in a confrontation.

When the man turns up dead in his own building, the grand opening of the new pizza place is delayed. While Eleanor had motive, she had nothing to do with his death. Many people in town back her up, but there are some who stop coming to buy pizza.

With business shaky, Eleanor has no choice but to dig into the murder if she hopes to regain business.

My Thoughts: A fun mystery. I love the saucy sisters. I love the pizza descriptions. I once had a job at a pizza joint and it was my favorite job (in a non-library job world). I really loved the romantic storyline for Eleanor. All in all, this series is great entertainment and I'm looking forward to number four.

Fun Fact: Chris Cavender is a pseudonym used by Tim Myers - which is funny because there's a line in the book about craft books and publishers not buying them. It made me guess the author's identity. I LOVED his soap books.

Cover Thoughts: LOVE it! It makes me crave pizza

Source: Inter-Library Loan

Mysterious Saturday Review: Pepperoni Pizza Can be Murder

Eleanor can't seem to catch a break. While no one is trying to pin a murder on her - the body was found in her pizza joint.

Unfortunately, the body is the brother of Greg, who works in Eleanor's shop. Greg and Wade have been fighting over their inheritance from their grandparents. Greg, while a good guy, is the black sheep of the family. He comes into the shop one day after a meeting with his brother about signing the papers with a broken nose. He finally stood up to his brother's bullying and punched him.

The next day, his brother is dead and Greg's on the run. Eleanor knows he would never kill his brother. She just wants him to be safe. She sees him here and there, but each time the police are only minutes behind him.

Eleanor and her sister decide to dig into the murder as the police focus all their energy on Greg. Can they stir up a hornet's nest without provoking an attack and landing themselves in grave danger?

My Thoughts: I love this series (this is the 2nd) for the sister relationship, the pizza (I adore pizza), and the loyalty of their friends.

The Cover: I Love it, especially since the rolling pin IS the murder weapon

Source: ILL

Read the first chapter here