Double Shot by Diane Mott Davidson

Cocktails for Three by Madeleine Wickham

From Publishers Weekly
Maggie, Roxanne and Candice, the heroines of Wickham's latest Brit romp, are three successful women in their early 30s working in the editorial office of the Londoner, a magazine enjoying a circulation renaissance. They meet on the first of every month at the Manhattan Bar, a posh lounge that caters to clientele sporting Prada bags. There, Wickham serves up a healthy dose of good-natured witticisms mixed with biting retorts as the trio bonds over adultery, pregnancy jitters and guilt. Freelancer Roxanne secretly dates an unknown referred to by the women as Mr. Married while jet-setting to Cypress and other foreign locales on a regular basis. Meanwhile, Maggie's stuck at home in the country on pregnancy leave from her position as editor. It is kindhearted reporter Candice, however, who is in for serious trouble. When she recognizes a waitress at the Manhattan Bar as Heather Trelawney, whose family was ruined by Candice's father, Candice decides to make amends. When Heather applies for a job as editorial assistant at the magazine, Candice supplies her with a writing sample of her own, landing her a job over 300 other applicants. Not heeding her friends' advice to leave well enough alone, Candice continues to extend herself beyond normal bounds of generosity and is surprised to discover in the end she's been duped and betrayed by Heather. In a predictable climax, Wickham delivers a nicely sewn up ending with each of the character's problems resolved, although none all that happily. Readers desiring a chatty, neatly told tale will be delighted by the author's deft handling of character development and drama.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Book 29 for 2007
Book 1 for October
Finished book on 10/6/07
Rating: 3 stars

It was on ok book. Not bad enough to stop reading it, just enough to keep me reading but not enough to keep me totally enthralled. I had a connection with the mother in the story but even that wasnt a great reason to keep reading. This is one that I don't think I would recommend to anyone else but who knows someone probably loved it.

Up next is Double Shot.

Bubbles Unbound by Sarah Strohmeyer

From Publishers Weekly
Meet Bubbles Yablonsky, beautician-reporter-sleuth and blazing star of Strohmeyer's entertaining, establishment-bashing debut as a mystery writer. Like the mills that gird the book's seen-better-days steel town of Lehigh, Pa., the city is itself a seething cauldron. Battle lines are sharply drawn between the haves and have-nots. Bubbles is hell-bent on getting even with the overlords, especially her former husband, a heel who has gone over to the other side. Opportunity knocks when Bubbles incriminates a wealthy socialite in a brutal murder and then uncovers a murky past, where corpses are littered around the accused's steel-magnate husband. The going is never easy, as Bubbles faces more perils than Pauline: falling off a bridge in the arms of a potential suicide; dodging drive-by gunmen and car bombers; being handcuffed and fitted for cement boots; and always searching for a better way to display her cleavage. Armed with her certificate from Two Guys Community College, abetted by a quirky array of social castoffs and fueled by Doritos, Velveeta and Diet Pepsi, Bubbles overcomes every obstacle on her way to shaking the foundations of the corporate world and, in the process, leaving more than a few wrinkles in her ex's tailored Brooks Brothers suits. Hop in the Camaro and buckle up: Bubbles is behind the wheel, and a wild ride awaits. Agent, Heather Schroder at ICM.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Book 29 for 2007
Book 7 for September
Finished book on 9/25/07
Rating: 5 stars

Great Book!!!! Laugh out loud funny, A great and quick read. Loved it!! Would definatley recommend to anyone. This series is a must read. Can't wait to read the next one!!!!!!

Up next is Cocktails for three.

Full House by Janet Evanovich

From Publishers Weekly
Originally published in 1989 under the pen name Steffie Hall, Evanovich's comic romantic suspense novel Full House reappears here in what the author calls a "bigger and better" form. Wealthy newspaper owner and horseman Nick Kaharchek meets divorced mom Billie Pearce when she makes polo lessons at his stables part of her summer self-improvement program. Though she's hopeless at polo, Billie is so cute that Nick begins to invent excuses to spend time with her. First, he takes care of her when a horse steps on her foot; then, he arranges for his nutty cousin Deedee, a self-absorbed airhead, to board with Billie while her kids are away. As if that isn't enough, Billie must also contend with a bomb-setting teenager, professional wrestlers, an outbreak of spiders and threats from a mysterious intruder. Evanovich acknowledges in a note to readers that her plotting has gotten more intricate since this book was first written (she's right), but her attempt to rework a formulaic '80s love story for the new millennium doesn't come off. The outcome of the artificial romance between Nick and Billie is obvious from the start, as is the identity of the intruder. Instead, the book's focus is on the slapstick comedy provided by the cast of wacky, though mostly loveable, eccentrics. (Sept.) Forecast: Thanks to Evanovich's sterling reputation and substantial fan base, sales won't falter much, but this trussed-up tale may fall flat for both her mystery-loving fans and readers seeking a truly contemporary romance.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Book 28 for 2007
Book 2 for September
Finished book on 9/18/07
Rating: 4 stars

Good book. Kinda similar to the stephanie plum series but not as good. i will def. try the rest in the series. Some great laugh out loud moments in this book.

Up next is Bubbles Unbound by Sarah Strohmeyer

Key of Knowledge by Nora Roberts

From Publishers Weekly Following hot on the heels of the first installment in Roberts's Key trilogy, this second book (following Key of Light) continues the story of three contemporary female friends chosen to free the souls of ancient demigoddesses called the Daughters of Glass. This time, the heroine is Dana Steele, a librarian who is sure that the key she's seeking lies in a book. As she begins her search, Dana renovates Indulgence, the gallery-cum-salon-cum-bookstore she is opening with her friends Malory Price and Zoe McCourt. She also spends sometimes passionate, sometimes vexing time with Jordan Hawke, the thriller writer who broke her heart years earlier when he abandoned her and their small Pennsylvania town of Pleasant Valley to seek fame in New York. Dana slowly realizes that the love they once felt for each other has not died-and that Jordan's writing is inextricably entwined with her supernatural quest. In the end, Jordan must join with Dana to fight the spells of the sorcerer Kane and fulfill the terms of her quest. Despite lots of special effects, Kane isn't powerful enough to create much suspense, and Dana is a surprisingly inefficient detective for one so bright. But Roberts's zesty characterizations and fresh, energetic style succeed in drawing readers into this far-fetched tale. Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Book 28 for 2007
Book 1 for September
Finished book on 9/16/07
Rating: 5 stars

Great series. However this book wasn't as good as the first. I hope the last book is better. A total must read tho. The main character in this book is one that you want to smack around a little in a couple of the of the points in the books.

Up next is Full House by Janet Evanovich

204 Rosewood Lane by Debbie Macomber

From Publishers Weekly Life goes on in the small coastal town of Cedar Cove, Wash., as real life does everywhere with small dramas and personal epiphanies in this sedate slice-of-life drama. The last time readers visited Cedar Cove in Macomber's 16 Lighthouse Road, family court judge Olivia Lockhart had refused to grant a divorce to a young couple trying to come to terms with the loss of their infant daughter. This time around, Olivia has problems of her own; her ex-husband wants her back, which makes her on-again, off-again relationship with newspaper editor Jack Griffin even rockier. Elsewhere around town, Olivia's daughter finally follows her heart and marries her high school sweetheart instead of the troublemaking older man she'd been dating; Zach and Rose Cox find their marriage falling apart when Rosie begins neglecting her family for volunteer work; and Maryellen Sherman, the manager of the local art gallery, becomes pregnant after a brief affair with an artist. Despite all these goings-on, the book's main focus is librarian Grace Sherman, whose husband of 35 years is still missing after disappearing six months earlier. The first few chapters, in which Macomber reacquaints readers with the town and its occupants, may feel sluggish to those familiar with the series, but this smooth yet simplistic offering will claim the reader's attention once the introductions are over. (Sept.) Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Book 27 for 2007
Book 4 for August
Started book on 8/20/7
Finished book on 8/30/07
Rating: 5 stars

This is a cute series but i recommend you read the books close together as the books rely heavily upon the last one. The characters are great and very loveable. Makes you feel like you live there in cedar cove with them. A great light read with some mystery and romance intermingled together for a delightful entertaining read.

Up next is Key of Knowledge by Nora Roberts

Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joane Fluke

From Publishers Weekly
Following her successful debut, 2000's Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, Fluke brings back amateur sleuth and Lake Eden, Minn., bakery owner Hannah Swensen for another delicious adventure. Hannah has the honor of serving as head judge of the first annual Hartland Flour Dessert Bake-off, which she anticipates will be good advertising for her already popular bakery, The Cookie Jar. Then one of the judges, high school basketball coach Boyd Watson, is found dead, face down in Hannah's strawberry shortcake, and suspicion falls on Watson's abused wife, Danielle. Determined to prove Danielle's innocence, Hannah ignores the warnings of romantic interest Mike Kingston, the supervisor of detectives at the Winnetka County sheriff's station, not to get involved. Tempting descriptions of meals served at the local establishments, mouth-watering recipes and a warm family of characters ward off the vividly depicted bitter chill of a Minnesota winter. While the other characters tend to be stereotypical, Hannah is a believable, down-to-earth protagonist who can't function without her morning coffee, justifies her passion for chocolate as a biological need for endorphins and deals with a matchmaking mother and a needy sister with understanding and humor. Add the ingredients of a cleverly crafted mystery and a realistic portrayal of smalltown life, and you have a superior cozy sure to leave readers satisfied... but hungry for more.

Book 26 for 2007
Book 3 for August
Started book on 8/09/7
Finished book on 8/20/07

I wish i could have read more quicker but things were crazy with school starting this week. This was a great book. I so had the murderer picked out about 2/3 of the way through but that didnt stop the books from being a page turner whenever i got an extra minute to read. A great cozy and the recipes sounded devine :)

Up next is 204 Rosewood Lane by Debbie Macomber

The Nanny Diaries by by Emma Mclaughlin and Nicola Kraus

From Amazon.com:
The Nanny Diaries is an absolutely addictive peek into the utterly weird world of child rearing in the upper reaches of Manhattan's social strata. Cowritten by two former nannies, Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus, the novel follows the adventures of the aptly named Nan as she negotiates the Byzantine byways of working for Mrs. X, a Park Avenue mommy. Nan's 4-year-old charge, the hilariously named Grayer (his pals include Josephina, Christabelle, Brandford, and Darwin) is a genuinely good sort. He can't help it if his mom has scheduled him for every activity known to the Upper East Side, including ice skating, French lessons, and a Mommy and Me group largely attended by nannies. What makes the book so impossible to put down is the suspense of finding out what the unbelievably inconsiderate Mrs. X will demand of Nan next. One pictures the two authors having the last hearty laugh on their former employers.


Book 25 for 2007
Book 2 for August
Started book on 8/06/7
Finished book on 8/08/07


Such a good book!! Was superbly written by two former nannies. Follows Nan (yes the nanny's name is Nanny) lol. I thought the book was hilarious and so so true as to the life of a 4 year old. The end is sad but funny at the same time. Great book, a must read.

Up next is Strawberry Shortcake Murder by Joanne Fluke

Cat and Mouse by James Patterson

Back of the Book:
A murderer named Gary Soneji patiently waits in the basement of Alex Cross's home in Washington. He has come to kill Cross and his family. That's just the beginning of the greatest page-turner in years. Two mind-numbing killers- one operating up and down the east coast of America, one in Europe- believe Cross is their only worthy opponent. They dare to ask the ultimate question: Is Alex Cross about to die? You won't putCat & Mouse down until the question is answered.

Book 24 for 2007
Book 1 for August
Started book on 7/24/07
Finished book on 8/05/07

What a great book!!! Definite page turner!!!
I had the killer picked out tho before it was told in the book.
However it didnt spoil it tho. Another great book in the Alex Cross series.

Up next is The Nannie Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

From Amazon.com
Readers beware. The brilliant, breathtaking conclusion to J.K. Rowling's spellbinding series is not for the faint of heart--such revelations, battles, and betrayals await in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows that no fan will make it to the end unscathed. Luckily, Rowling has prepped loyal readers for the end of her series by doling out increasingly dark and dangerous tales of magic and mystery, shot through with lessons about honor and contempt, love and loss, and right and wrong. Fear not, you will find no spoilers in our review--to tell the plot would ruin the journey, and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is an odyssey the likes of which Rowling's fans have not yet seen, and are not likely to forget. But we would be remiss if we did not offer one small suggestion before you embark on your final adventure with Harry--bring plenty of tissues.

The heart of Book 7 is a hero's mission--not just in Harry's quest for the Horcruxes, but in his journey from boy to man--and Harry faces more danger than that found in all six books combined, from the direct threat of the Death Eaters and you-know-who, to the subtle perils of losing faith in himself. Attentive readers would do well to remember Dumbledore's warning about making the choice between "what is right and what is easy," and know that Rowling applies the same difficult principle to the conclusion of her series. While fans will find the answers to hotly speculated questions about Dumbledore, Snape, and you-know-who, it is a testament to Rowling's skill as a storyteller that even the most astute and careful reader will be taken by surprise.

A spectacular finish to a phenomenal series, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a bittersweet read for fans. The journey is hard, filled with events both tragic and triumphant, the battlefield littered with the bodies of the dearest and despised, but the final chapter is as brilliant and blinding as a phoenix's flame, and fans and skeptics alike will emerge from the confines of the story with full but heavy hearts, giddy and grateful for the experience. --Daphne Durham

What a great end to a wonderful series. I was suprised my some of the items in there. Why a couple things happen in there is still a question for me. And kinda a letdown for me in the ending but i great read. Lots go on in the book, definatley worth a reread at some point. A must read for any Harry Poter fan!!!!!!!

Chopping Spree by Diane Mott Davidson

Chopping Spree
By
Diane Mott Davidson

from the sleeve of the book:

For Colorado caterer Goldy Schulz, business isn't just booming -- it's skyrocketing. But as her friend Marla is constantly warning her, "Success can kill you." Goldy knows she needs to lsow down before she breaks down, and she vows she'll do it -- right after her next booking: a coctail party for the Westside Mall's Elite Shoppers Club.

It's the event of the shopping season: the Princess Without a Pricetag party for the wealthy shopaholics who drop at least a thousand dollars a week at the mall. Goldy has been hired by charming mall manager Barry Dean to cater the jewel-encrusted affair. But she has hardly begin setting up when she finds herself in the path of a truck that has no intention of stopping until both she and Barry are crushed beneath it.

Muddied, bruised, embarrassed, but determined to do her job, Goldy manages to get the party started on time with the help of her trusted assistants Julian Teller and Liz Fury. But with the outbreak of an ugly marital spat among the guests, the behavior of Barry's flighty young girlfriend, and Barry's own strange actions after the truck incident, the event is -- by Goldy's standards -- a catastrophe. ANd it's about to get worse. When she goes to pick up her check, she finds and old friend lying dead in a pile of sale shoes -- stabbed with one of Goldy's new knives. Hours later, Julian is the prime suspect in the murder.

To prove Julian's innocence, Goldy must catch the real killer. But to do that, she will have to figure out why the victim was carrying a powerful narcotic. And why was a private investigator called in shortly before the murder? Was the killer connected to a mall renovation project -- or the eviction of a disgruntled tenant? Or was the villain the odd lover out in a violent love triangle?

Between whipping up Sweethearts' Swedish Meatballs, Quiche Me Quick, and Diamond Lovers' Hot Crab Dip, and digging up clues, Goldy knows this is going to be one tough case to crack. And her gourmet sleuth's instinct tells her that the final course will be a real killer.

This was another good one by Davidson, however it wasnt as quick of a read as the others in the series. It wasnt as captivation. However a good read, I would definatley recommend this book and series to others that love mysteries.

Up next (which I have already started is Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows)

Key of Light By Nora Roberts

The #1 best selling author of Dance Upon the Air, Heaven and Earth and Face the Fire delivers the first in a sexy new trilogy featuring Celtic gods, mythological keys and magical romance.


United by divine intervention, modern beauties Malory, Dana and Zoe are summoned by gods Rowena and Pitte to find three extraordinary keys that together will break an evil spell. Each key represents beauty, truth or courage, and the ladies will receive handsome rewards for their services. Malory, with her exceptional knowledge of art, is chose to go first. She exuberantly begins her quest with help from her new friends... and Dana's brother Flynn.


A gorgeous journalist, Flynn's immediately attracted to Malory and launches a seductive pursuit. Finding Flynn and his searing kisses wildly desirous, Mallory falls hard for him ... but love wasn't part of her plan - particularly when she has only 28 days to complete her quest. But when an evil presence plagues Malory's dreams, she has to embraec Flynn's love... or risk succumbing to the drakness.


Such a great book. When I first started reading it I wasn't so sure but every page took you deeper into the story. A definate page tuner. A must read. Nora Roberts has done it again with this book, cant wait to start the next one in this series.

Cozy Mystery Challenge

OK visited this blog and decided to join in the fun.
I have been reading like a bandit latley and figured this would help dwindle down my tbr pile.
I would love to finish a couple series that i have started as well as read some more
a lovely friend of mine, im naming no names who know who you are, has sent me a huge list of books that i now HAVE to read. thanks a lot lol

Im going to try to read at least 20 of the books below for the challenge :)

Joanne Fluke:
Strawberry Shortcake Murder
Blueberry Muffin Murder
Lemon Meringue Murder
Fudge Cupcake Murder
Sugar Cookie Murder
Peach Cobbler Murder
Cherry Cheesecake Murder
Key Lime Pie Murder

Carolyn Hart Death on Demand Series:
Death on Demand
Design for Murder
Something Wicked
Honeymoon with Murder
A Little Class on Murder
Deadly Valentine
The Christie Caper
Southern Ghost
Mint Julep Murder
Yankee Doodle Dead
White Elephant Dead
Sugar Plum Dead
April Fool Dead
Engaged to Die
Murder Walks the Plank
Death of the Party
Dead Days of Summer
Death Walked In

Sue Grafton:
D is for Deadbeat
E is for Evidence
F is for Fugitive
G is for Gumshoe
H is for Homicide
I is for Innocent
J is for Judgement
K is for Killer
L is for Lawless
M is for Malice
N is for Noose
O is for Outlaw
P is for Peril
Q is for Quarry
R is for Richocet
S is for Silence
T is for Tresspass

JoAnna Carl The Chocoholic Mystery Series:
The Chocolate Cat Caper
The Chocolate Bear Burglary
The Chocolate Frog Frame-Up
The Chocolate Puppy Puzzle
The Chocolate Mouse Trap
The Chocolate Bridal Bash
The Chocolate Jewel Case

Sammi Carter Candy Shop Mystery Series:
Candy Apple Dead
Chocolate Dipped Death
Peppermint Twisted

ok thats the list for now may edit it later depending on what i find lol. the hard part of this is going to be not reading them before sept.