A Few Good Books

While I haven't posted about any books in a while, I have been reading.  That being said, this could be a little long...consider yourself warned.  To start, I read to Cozy Christian Mysteries by Lori Copeland.  A Case of Bad Taste and  A Case of Crooked Letters, the first two books of her Morning Shade Mystery series were both enjoyable reads.  It's an older series, the first book was published in 2003.  Maude Diamond is a struggling writer intent on publishing a book that makes it to the best seller list at least once in her writing career.  After her husband passes away unexpectedly, her mother-in-law, Stella moves in with her; not long after that, her daughter who's husband also passed away unexpectedly follows suite.  In A Case of Bad Taste, homes in the small community mysteriously are being broken into, but instead of stealing anything, the burglar organizes and makes over various rooms.  Stella, who's in her 80's, I think, takes it upon herself to help in solving the mystery.  In A Case of Crooked Letters, it seems like a number of people in the community decide independently that the answer to their money problems is the pyramid letter scheme.  This one was funnier than the first one, probably because I already knew their personalities and could picture their antics in my mind.  Namely Stella, that lady is a hoot!  I'm looking forward to reading the third one that a friend is bringing me to read next. 

I'm trying to warm up to my Kindle, so I thought I'd read a normal book and then an electronic book.  It's working out that I'm reading two and then bringing out my Kindle, but I am getting more comfortable with it.  In fact, I read the next one really quickly; it didn't hurt that it was only 160 pages either! 

Unwrapping Christmas was also by Lori Copeland...I think December was her month.  I'm glad I read this one when I did.  Rose is an overachiever and determined to have the perfect Christmas in addition to everything else that she does in a day.  It didn't take long to figure out that she's the woman that never says 'no' to anyone and really believes that she's doing the right thing by doing everything for everyone.  She's the one that everyone thinks has it all together, but in fact is unraveling at the seams and doesn't even know it.  It wasn't until she was unexpectedly stopped rather quickly and unable to do anything that she realized just how much she wasn't making a difference.  Unwrapping Christmas was a charming, whimsical story reminding me of the real importance of the season and to be honest with myself about what I'm actually capable of.  Did you know that kids actually do get tired of pizza?! 

The most recent one, I finished today and it was one I was most looking forward to.  Chapter & Hearse by Lorna Barrett is the fourth book in her Booktown Mystery series.  Loved it!!  As usual, the Tricia found herself playing Nancy Drew trying to figure out who murdered one of the booksellers who's shop was across the street from hers.  Looking forward to the next one.  She also has another series under the name Lorraine Bartlett called Victoria Square Mysteries; the first one A Crafty Killing is coming out next month. 

Happy Reading!

Mandy