Cozy Mysteries
The Usual Family Mayhem by Helenkay Dimon
Revenge is a dish best served cold—especially when it comes in the form of one of Grandma’s “special” pies. Get the best of family hijinks, girl power, and hilariously justifiable crime in the latest novel from award-winning author HelenKay Dimon.
Kasey Nottingham needs a splashy idea at her company where they find and develop the next big thing for investors—her job depends on it. Impulsively, she pitches Mags’ Desserts, a beloved small-town business run by her grandma Mags and live-in “best friend” Celia, two women who overcame deadbeat husbands and financial ruin to build a word-of-mouth clientele. Kasey expects her boss to say no. Instead, he sends her home to North Carolina to land the deal…and now she has a problem.
Mags and Celia aren’t interested, which isn’t a surprise, but something else is going on in their kitchen. Locked cabinets. Cryptic conversations. Unexpected notations on business records. The ladies have secrets and whatever they’re hiding is big. As reports of mysterious deaths of abusive men in the area surface—all in households that recently received a delivery from Mags’ Desserts—Kasey worries Gram and Celia have gone into the poison pie business.
As investors start circling, Kasey enlists Jackson Quaid, Celia’s nephew and Kasey’s long-time crush, as her reluctant investigation assistant. Jackson is practical. Kasey has a wild imagination. Together, they dodge Kasey’s boss and gather intel. And kiss. Lots of kissing, though probably not the best idea to start an unexpected romance. Doing it while keeping two feisty ladies from going to jail for knocking off bad husbands—even if those husbands deserve it—might be impossible…but Kasey never shied away from a challenge.
Age Rating
Adult
Rating
Favorite Quote
I don't have a specific quote but all I could hear was the song "Goodbye Earl" playing in my head while I was reading.
Personal Review: This book was by far one of my favorite Halloween novels. I laughed so much at the quirky characters and their amateur sleuthing skills.
Take the Honey and Run by Jennie Marts
The town is all abuzz when a murder occurs in Jennie Marts’ debut cozy mystery, perfect for fans of Jenn McKinlay and Amanda Flower.
As a successful mystery author, Bailey Briggs writes about murder, but nothing prepares her for actually discovering the dead body of the founder of her hometown of Humble Hills, Colorado. Bailey grew up at Honeybuzz Mountain Ranch and was raised by her beekeeping grandmother, Blossom Briggs, aka Granny Bee, and her two eccentric sisters, Aster and Marigold—which is why she drops everything to come home and help Granny Bee after a bad fall.
A broken foot doesn’t stop her grandmother from ruling The Hive, her granny’s book club, or continuing to prepare and package her bee-inspired products. But when Bailey's grandmother’s infamous "Honey I'm Home" hot spiced honey turns out to “bee” the murder weapon and her granny is now the prime suspect, Bailey has no choice but to use her fictional detective skills to help solve the murder and ‘smoke-out’ the real culprit.
With the help of Bailey’s witty bestie, a pair of meddling aunts, the feisty members of The Hive, and her computer-savvy daughter, this amateur sleuth is determined to solve the case. A malicious attack and an ominous threat reveal that someone wants Bailey to butt out of the investigation, but there’s no way she’s backing down. She must use her skills to uncover the truth and catch the clever culprit before her grandmother ends up bee-hind bars.
Age Rating
Adult
Rating
Favorite Quote
"The breeze on her face whispered only one word. Home"
Personal Review: Bee puns, childhood/second chance romance, and murder? Who could ask for more.
A Study in Charlotte by Brittany Cavallaro
The last thing Jamie Watson wants is a rugby scholarship to Sherringford, a Connecticut prep school just an hour away from his estranged father. But that’s not the only complication: Sherringford is also home to Charlotte Holmes, the famous detective’s great-great-great-granddaughter, who has inherited not only Sherlock’s genius but also his volatile temperament. From everything Jamie has heard about Charlotte, it seems safer to admire her from afar.
From the moment they meet, there’s a tense energy between them, and they seem more destined to be rivals than anything else. But when a Sherringford student dies under suspicious circumstances, ripped straight from the most terrifying of the Sherlock Holmes stories, Jamie can no longer afford to keep his distance. Jamie and Charlotte are being framed for murder, and only Charlotte can clear their names. But danger is mounting and nowhere is safe—and the only people they can trust are each other.
Age Rating
Young Adult
Rating
Favorite Quote
Personal Review: I loved this Sherlock Holmes retelling. It was hard to figure out the characterization of Jamie, but I loved how Charlotte was raised in a spy family.
Deadly to the Core by Joyce Tremel
Perfect for fans of Amanda Flower and Julie Anne Lindsey, when Kate Mulligan inherits her great uncle’s fruit orchard, she quickly realizes that apples aren’t the only thing that can have rotten cores.
After losing her husband in a terrible car crash, thirty-five-year-old Kate is left to pick up the pieces of her life alone. Although she has physically recovered, she worries her spirit never will. But when she learns that she has inherited a fruit orchard in a small town just outside Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, from her great uncle Stan, she takes this as an opportunity ripe for the picking. Kate knew immediately what to do to open a cider house. Her hopeful plans fall far from the tree when she finds the body of the orchard manager, Carl Randolph, leaving her to figure out who is at the core of this murder.
She had been in correspondence with Carl, who had agreed with her brilliant idea of opening a cider house. But not everyone is so quick to buy what she was selling—Uncle Stan’s lawyer, Robert Larabee, paints a less rosy financial outlook of the orchard’s past, present, and future.
Kate discovers that Carl had large, unexplained deposits to his bank account and it becomes clear that either he was blackmailing someone, or someone was paying him to keep quiet. Meanwhile, Kate and her neighbors receive offers to buy their property from a mysterious buyer. And there’s more than meets the eye with the neighboring orchard owner, Daniel Martinez, although Kate can’t quite put her finger on if it’s sweet or sour.
Will she be able to pick out the bad apple among the bunch before it’s too late?
Age Rating
Adult
Rating
Favorite Quote
Personal Review: This book was really interesting because I have previous experience working at an orchard. I've grown up knowing apples, so it was fun to read a book that had some of that information in it.
Killer Honeymoon by G.A. McKevett
Now that plus-sized P.I. Savannah Reid has finally walked down the aisle, she’s ready for a romantic island getaway with new husband Dirk Coulter. The trip is supposed to be a blissful week of rum drinks and sunshine—but finding a dead body on the beach can be a real killjoy. Welcome to the honeymoon from hell…
Savannah and Dirk were hoping for a little honeymoon excitement, but eye witnessing a cold blooded murder wasn’t exactly what they had in mind. To their surprise, the recently deceased is none other than Amelia Northrop, the popular L.A. anchorwoman whose super sexy looks landed her a super wealthy husband. Savannah’s no expert, but she’s pretty sure Amelia won’t be hosting tonight’s evening news; she’ll be the lead story.
When the local police make it clear that they don’t want Savannah’s help, she decides to do a little digging on her own—and what she discovers could blow the case wide open. It seems Amelia led a far more twisted life than her cheery on-screen persona suggested, and crossed more than a few powerful people along the way. The question is, who hated Amelia enough to shoot her dead in broad daylight? Savannah isn’t sure, but she suspects Amelia found out the hard way that fate has a way of settling old scores—and karma can be a girl’s worst enemy…
Age Rating
Adult
Rating
Favorite Quote
Personal Review: This is book eighteen in the series. While I haven't read every book in this series yet, I absolutely love it. The best part about this series is you don't necessarily have to read it in order for you to not be able to enjoy the southern charm and sass. I also love how diverse each character is.
Invisible by Pete Hautman
"You could say that my railroad, the Madham Line, is almost the most important thing in my life. Next to Andy Morrow, my best friend....I guess you could say that I'm not only disturbed, I'm obsessed.
" Lots of people think Doug Hanson is a freak -- he gets beat up after school and the girl of his dreams calls him a worm. Doug's only refuge is building elaborate model trains in his basement and hanging out with his best friend, Andy Morrow. Andy is nothing like Doug: He's a popular football star who could date any girl in school. Despite their differences, Doug and Andy talk about everything -- except what happened at the Tuttle place a few years back.
As Doug retreats deeper and deeper into his own world, long-buried secrets come to light -- and the more he tries to keep them invisible, the looser his grip on reality becomes. In this fierce, disturbing novel, Pete Hautman spins a poignant tale about inner demons, and how far one boy will go to control them.
Age Rating
Young Adult
Rating
Personal Review: This is a great book for anyone who loves the book "We Were Liars". The entire time I was reading this book I kept thinking that something bad was about to happen. This book had me on the edge of my seat the entire time.
Favorite Quote
Retellings
Pumpkin Pie by Katelyn Brawn
Happily ever after is possible. It's getting there that's hard. For no one is this more true than high school senior, Michelle "Elle" Conner. Elle is a simple, hard working girl from a small town in the middle of East Jesus Nowhere. Cast as a secondary character in her own life, Elle lives in the constant shadow of her annoying twin sisters. Her mother's cold shoulder coupled with her father's absence leaves Elle feeling isolated in her own home. Her one escape is waitressing at the local pie shop, Hap-PIE-ly Ever After. Despite her hardships, a surprising accident during senior year turns everything on its ear. Once upon a time she was nobody, but perhaps her fairytale is closer than she thinks.
Age Rating
Young Adult
Rating
Favorite Quote
“Love doesn’t come and go that easily, Beat. You need to believe you can lean on it, even when you have to lean really hard.”
Personal Review: This is the first book in a series that I am eagerly awaiting more of. Each book is based off of a fairytale and pie. I love how it's a modern take on a fairytale but adds more depth to the characters because of the real-world problems each character faces.
Daughters of Olympus by Hannah M. Lynn
A daughter pulled between two worlds and a mother willing to destroy both to protect her...
Gods and men wage their petty wars, but it is the women of spring who will have the last word...
Demeter did not always live in fear. Once, the goddess of spring loved the world and the humans who inhabited it. After a devastating assault, though, she becomes a shell of herself. Her only solace is her daughter, Persephone.
A balm to her mother's pain, Persephone grows among wildflowers, never leaving the sanctuary Demeter built for them. But she aches to explore the mortal world--to gain her own experiences. Naïve but determined, she secretly builds a life of her own under her mother's watchful gaze. But as she does so, she catches the eye of Hades, and is kidnapped...
Forced into a role she never wanted, Persephone learns that power suits her. In the land of the living, though, Demeter is willing to destroy the humans she once held dear--anything to protect her family. A mother who has lost everything and a daughter with more to gain than she ever realized, their story will irrevocably shape the world.
Age Rating
Adult
Rating
Favorite Quote
"Before she was Persephone, she was Core"
Personal Review: There are so many important women in Greek mythology who are often overlooked in favor of their male counterparts. This book explained the desperate fear of a mother who has been burned by the world and the desperation for freedom by a daughter who has never been given independence.
Fantasy
A Tempest of Tea by Haz
Why save the world when you can have tea? On the streets of White Roaring, Arthie Casimir is a criminal mastermind and collector of secrets. Her prestigious tearoom transforms into an illegal bloodhouse by dark, catering to the vampires feared by society. But when her establishment is threatened, Arthie is forced to strike an unlikely deal with an alluring adversary to save it—and she can’t do the job alone. Calling on some of the city's most skilled outcasts, Arthie hatches a plan to infiltrate the sinister, glittering vampire society known as the Athereum. But not everyone in her ragtag crew is on her side, and as the truth behind the heist unfolds, Arthie finds herself in the midst of a conspiracy that will threaten the world as she knows it. From the New York Times—bestselling author of We Hunt the Flame comes the first book in a hotly anticipated fantasy duology teeming with romance and revenge, led by an orphan girl willing to do whatever it takes to save her self-made kingdom. Dark, action-packed, and swoonworthy, this is Hafsah Faizal better than ever.
Age Rating
Young Adult
Rating
Favorite Quote
“He sighed but lifted his right hand and knocked the back of it against the back of hers, their knuckles rapping. "We were made for trouble, you and me.”
Personal Review: What do you get if you combine Six of Crows with vampires? You get this book. I found the plot to be slow at times but around halfway through I became addicted and finished this book in one sitting. I love the concept of a tea house turning into a bloodhouse by night. This book also left off on a cliffhanger so I can't wait to see what happens in the sequel. There is also a bunch of found family in this novel which is my favorite trope of all time!
Children Books
The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
Follow the story of naughty Peter Rabbit as he squeezes—predictably—under the gate into Mr. McGregor's garden and finds himself in all kinds of trouble! But how does Peter Rabbit get himself out of this tricky situation? Beatrix Potter's story about one mischievous but ultimately endearing little creature will tell us, accompanied by beautiful illustrations and timeless verses which have transcended generations.
Age Rating
Children age 3+
Rating
Favorite Quote
“Once upon a time there were four little Rabbits, and their names were-Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-Tail, and Peter.”
Personal Review: I always loved Peter Rabbit when I was a young kid. Now that I’m older, I enjoyed the story even more. The whimsical illustrations and humorous descriptions made this story unforgettable and meant to be remembered for generations. My only regret is that it’s not longer.
Redwall by Brian Jacques
Redwall Abbey, tranquil home to a community of peace-loving mice, is threatened by Cluny the Scourge savage bilge rat warlord and his battle-hardened horde. But the Redwall mice and their loyal woodland friends combine their courage and strength.
Age Rating
Age 8-12
Rating
Favorite Quote
“Even the strongest and bravest must sometimes weep. It shows they have a great heart, one that can feel compassion for others.”
Personal Review: This book is the first in a series with each book immersing you in the world of the forest critters who live in Redwall Abbey. I will say that while the age rating says for ages 8+ be warned there are graphic scenes of violence which may not be suited for some children. But overall, even as a high schooler I love how detailed this world is with different species having entirely different languages that the author created!
Holiday
Romantic Comedies
Wreck the Halls by Tessa Bailey
Melody Gallard may be the daughter of music royalty, but her world is far from glamorous. She spends her days restoring old books and avoiding the limelight (one awkward tabloid photo was enough, thanks). But when a producer offers her a lot of money to reunite her mother’s band on live tv, Mel begins to wonder if it’s time to rattle the cage, shake up her quiet life… and see him again. The only other person who could wrangle the rock and roll divas.
Beat Dawkins, the lead singer’s son, is Melody’s opposite—the camera loves him, he could charm the pants off anyone, and his mom is not a potential cult leader. Still, they might have been best friends if not for the legendary feud that broke up the band. When they met as teenagers, Mel felt an instant spark, but it’s nothing compared to the wild, intense attraction that builds as they embark on a madcap mission to convince their mothers to perform one last show.
While dealing with rock star shenanigans, a 24-hour film crew, brawling Santas, and mobs of adoring fans, Mel starts to step out of her comfort zone. With Beat by her side, cheering her on, she’s never felt so understood. But Christmas Eve is fast approaching, and a decades-old scandal is poised to wreck everything—the Steel Birds reunion, their relationships with their mothers, and their newfound love.
Age Rating
Adult
Rating
Favorite Quote
“Love doesn’t come and go that easily, Beat. You need to believe you can lean on it, even when you have to lean really hard.”
Personal Review: Beat and Melody have an easy chemistry that has be routing for them from page one. This book is cozy as well as brings you into the world of reality TV and the pressure of having a famous parent.
We'll Always Have Christmas by Jenny Hale
Christmas has always been a special time for Noelle Parker. Winter evenings spent with family and friends, drinking hot chocolate and eating cookies at her family’s cozy bakery have shaped her love for all things festive. But this year everything is changing...
The beloved bakery is facing closure and Noelle needs a miracle to save Christmas.
Determined to raise funds for the family business, Noelle sets about revamping the bakery while juggling a surprise new job, caring for the elderly and cantankerous William Harrington in his luxurious, sprawling mansion.
As Noelle melts the frostiness of the house with cake baking, snowball fights and glittering decorations, she helps William to reconnect with a romance that has spanned decades and unexpectedly finds herself falling for his grandson - the gorgeous but mysterious Alexander Harrington...
In the countdown to Christmas, can Noelle save the bakery, reunite a family and create some magical memories of her own along the way?
Age Rating
Adult
Rating
Favorite Quote
N/A
Personal Review: This book had the nostalgic Christmas magic from a Hallmark movie.
How My Neighbor Stole Christmas by Meghan Quinn
Every Kringle in Kringletown celebrated Christmas a lot.
But Cole Black on Whistler Lane, unfortunately, did not.
As his fellow citizens decorate their quaint town, brimming with carols and glad tidings, Cole wants nothing more than to hibernate the winter away. But his dreary plans are thwarted when his Christmas nemesis, Storee Taylor, moves in next door to care for her Aunt Cindy. Immediately, the new neighbor turns his life into a real nightmare before Christmas, especially when she decides to enter the town Christmas Kringle contest in honor of Cindy. And better yet, Storee is determined to win.
Over Cole's dead body, she will. With help from his friend Max, Cole decides to enter the competition as well, to beat Storee at her own game by pretending that this hometown grump's heart has grown three sizes this season and he's fallen for the girl next door. And unfortunately for Storee, she has to follow his lead to have a chance at the Christmas Kringle title.
But the competition isn't the only thing that heats up. Cole and Storee's fake relationship becomes very real, and before they know it, they're attempting to hide it from Aunt Cindy. Things get complicated, the competition gets tough, and all it takes is one single night for someone to steal it all…
Age Rating
Adult
Rating
Favorite Quote
“I still want to win, but, yeah, maybe I’ve softened. Maybe it isn’t about the competition as much as doing something I would never have thought to do a few months ago. Maybe it’s about growth. Maybe it’s about coming out of my shell and letting myself live again. Enjoy the season . . . and honor my parents.”
Personal Review: While the banter was funny from this book, I felt like it was a little drawn out. This book was written in the same style as the Grinch by Dr. Seuss which added to the humor of it.
Christmas in Bethel by Richard Paul Evans
Leigh Beth Stilton has never liked the holidays. After growing up in an unstable home, escaping an abusive marriage, and witnessing daily tragedies as an EMT, Leigh just can’t bring herself to care about Christmas cheer. In fact, she’s so convinced she’s not worth loving that one winter’s eve, she decides she can’t go on—until she comes across a book called Bethel and starts to read.
Leigh is unfamiliar with the author, J.D. Harper, but his words speak directly to her. She’s never felt so seen and understood, and this connection gives her the strength to carry on. She avidly reads every novel Harper has written, and when he comes to town for a book signing, she jumps at the opportunity to meet the writer who means so much to her.
In a twist of fate, Leigh runs into J.D. in a coffee shop, and the two immediately click. Before she knows it, she’s swept up in a whirlwind of fancy dinners, exciting travel, and the attention of the man whose work has been so meaningful to her. But she’s leery after a lifetime of pain and when she discovers that J.D. hasn’t been completely honest, her hopes are dashed. Can they find their way back to each other and can Leigh learn to trust her heart?
Age Rating
Adult
Rating
Favorite Quote
“What is it about this author’s books that would make you stand in that line?” I thought for a moment, then said, “It’s kind of personal.” “Books should be personal.”
Personal Review: This book was something different than what I normally read. While it was a Christmas novel, it wasn't very cozy because it dealt with some heavy traumas the characters went through such as abuse. These heavy topics made the story stick with me after I put it down.
Nantucket White Christmas by Pamela M. Kelley
Visit Nantucket's Beach Plum Cove Inn this Christmas for a feel-good holiday story from the author of the USA Today bestsellers, The Nantucket Inn and Nantucket Neighbors.
Born on Christmas, Angela Stark has always hated the holiday. Bad things always seem to happen and this year is no exception when she is fired and evicted on the first day of December.
She was living and working as a maid in San Francisco. Who will hire her at this time of year, especially if they learn why she was fired?
Her only family is Sam, an elderly, and quite vocal orange cat. Her only option is to stay temporarily with her best friend Jane, but she is extremely allergic to cats. It’s not ideal, but it doesn’t look like she has a choice, until a certified letter arrives that changes everything.
The next thing she knows, she and Sam are flying to Nantucket, a place they’ve never been before.
It’s meant to be a temporary visit. But then Angela meets the Hodges family and friends and begins to question where home really is.
Age Rating
Adult
Rating
Favorite Quote
The whole book is a good quote.
Personal Review: I cannot say enough about this novel. I didn't realize this was a part of a series, but I will definitely be reading the rest of the books in the series! Every character was well developed and made me want to read more about all of them. Or move to Nantucket.
Lovelight Farms by B.K. Borison
Two best friends fake date to reach their holiday happily ever after in this first romantic comedy in the Lovelight series.
A pasture of dead trees. A hostile takeover of the Santa barn by a family of raccoons. And shipments that have mysteriously gone missing. Lovelight Farms is not the magical winter wonderland of Stella Bloom’s dreams.
In an effort to save the Christmas tree farm she’s loved since she was a kid, Stella enters a contest with Instagram-famous influencer Evelyn St. James. With the added publicity and the $100,000 cash prize, Stella might just be able to save the farm from its financial woes. There’s just one problem. To make the farm seem like a romantic destination for the holidays, she lied on her application and said she owns Lovelight Farms with her boyfriend. Only…there is no boyfriend.
Enter best friend Luka Peters. He just stopped by for some hot chocolate and somehow got a farm and a serious girlfriend in the process. But fake dating his best friend might be the best Christmas present he’s ever received.
Age Rating
Adult
Rating
Favorite Quote
“I’m going to love her in all the quiet ways, the slow ways, the loud and obnoxious ways.”
Personal Review: This book was so good. I loved how Stella took a risk to open her own tree farm! The entire time I was silently yelling at Stella to accept help and realize that she doesn't need to do everything herself.
Romantic Comedies
The Long Game by Elena Armas
A disgraced soccer exec reluctantly enlists the help of a retired soccer star in coaching a children’s team in this smalltown love story in the vein of Ted Lasso and It Happened One Summer —from the New York Times bestselling author of The Spanish Love Deception.
Adalyn Reyes has spent years perfecting her daily routine: wake up at dawn, drive to the Miami Flames FC offices, try her hardest to leave a mark, go home, and repeat.
But her routine is disrupted when a video of her in an altercation with the team’s mascot goes viral. Rather than fire her, the team’s owner—who happens to be her father—sends Adalyn to middle-of-nowhere North Carolina, where she’s tasked with turning around the struggling local soccer team, the Green Warriors, as a way to redeem herself. Her plans crumble upon discovering that the players wear tutus to practice (impractical), keep pet goats (messy), and are terrified of Adalyn (counterproductive), and are nine-year-old kids.
To make things worse, also in town is Cameron Caldani, goalkeeping prodigy whose presence is somewhat of a mystery. Cam is the perfect candidate to help Adalyn, but after one very unfortunate first encounter involving a rooster, Cam’s leg, and Adalyn’s bumper, he’s also set on running her out of town. But banishment is not an option for Adalyn. Not again. Helping this ragtag children’s team is her road to redemption, and she is playing the long game. With or without Cam’s help.
Age Rating
Adult
Rating
Favorite Quote
“I didn’t ask you to come for me.”
“You never need to ask, love.”
Personal Review: Who doesn't love an enemies to lovers sports love story? Especially when there's sassy nine-year-old girls who show up to practice in tutus and misbehaving farm animals? There's nothing I don't love about this book!
