Last Month of the Year Cozy TBR 2020

I'm having one of those things called a READING SLUMP.  At least I think I am.  See the thing is I really don't have a reason to believe so. I've done enough reading (if there's a such thing).  ONE: I knocked down three non-fiction books last month.  TWO: I read two of Robert Jordan's massive The Wheel of Time books back-to-back (if you don't know the patience that takes... then chileeeee...).  THREE: Your boy got a Playstation 5 and would willingly like to take part in enjoying its usage after a successful 66 books reading year.  So, yeah.  Why try to make myself read anything if I don't quite "feel" like it?  Sure, lately I've been forcibly flip-flopping between several books, while slaying demon's on the PS5.  So maybe I should just chill out on the reading, right?  I'm good to go on that. Am I?

Yet, my day/hours/minutes/LIFE isn't complete without a book on deck!  I can be between books for a day or two before I'm upset!  And flipping-flopping to find something to match my mood ain't cutting it.  I did the non-fiction thing.  I did the epic fantasy thing.  I dabbled into the sci-fi thing.  What wasn't clicking with my mood? Meanwhile, the weather is getting icy.  The nights are long.  The heater is running. And I got my daily black tea coming. Then I realized I forgot about my cozies!  That has to be the issue.  It's that time of the year and I haven't pulled out my cozy mystery titles.  That, my friend, is my current issue. At least I'm certain.

And since I've been reading strictly (well mostly so) from my shelves, I've decided to once again put myself a Last Month of the Year Cozy Mystery TBR.

So here's what I've got...!

Wish my tail luck!

Black Cozy Author Esme Addison's Interview with Author Ellie Alexander

 

CHOP IT UP: The Black Tower by P. D. James

A Special Video Blog Exclusive: "Build Your Investigator" TAG

What's up those who've managed to read this. I'm doing something a little unusual here in two or three ways. First: I've created a TAG video. Two: This video was suppose to be up in March as my last #MarchMysteryMadness video. The lag has to do with me deciding to take some time to be "still" in regards to this virus business ripping up the world. And to spend a little time off BookTube to focus on just life (or preparation in this case) and family matters. I hope everyone is doing okay during this time. Stay safe and keep your prayers up! As for the TAG questions: 1. Name Your Investigator 2. How would your investigator get involved with his/her first crime/case? 3. What's your investigator's appearance like? 4. What's your investigator's financial status and goals like? 5. What's your investigator's background like? 6. What's your investigator's talents, skills and values? 7. What's your investigator's personality like?

#MarchMysteryMadness TBR Slayer-FAH-cation ~ 2nd Half

CHOP IT UP: Where There's a Witch by Madelyn Alt

#MarchMysteryMadness TBR Slayer-FAH-cation ~ 1st Half

CHOP IT UP: Scene of the Climb by Kate Dyer-Seeley

CHOP IT UP: Crime & Poetry by Amanda Flower

{FauxCast} CHOP IT UP: Mrs. Morris and the Ghost by Traci Wilton

FOLLOW IT UP: Buried Bones by Carolyn Haines

FOLLOW IT UP: Framed in Lace by Monica Ferris

Crime and Poetry Detour ~ MAKE IT MAKE SENSE

THIS IS THE BOOK...

THESE ARE A FEW OF THE STRANGE MOMENTS...

Wellllll, she did discover the body.  She did see the scarf wrapped around the body's neck.  I mean... AFTER ALL.  Like, what the hell did she think?  The thought that the guy strangled himself really crossed her mind?

3 Popular Cozies I'm (ADORE) FOLLOWING-UP (eoty TBR)

FOLLOW IT UP ~ Shades of Earl Grey by Laura Childs

"Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning is finally invited to a social event that she doesn’t have to cater—but there’s more than champagne bubbling… 

Theo is mingling with the cream of Charleston society at the engagement soiree of the season. But as they eagerly await the dazzling young couple’s arrival—the groom meets with a freak accident. The exquisite wedding ring—a family heirloom from the crown of Marie Antoinette—is mysteriously missing.

Theodosia suspects that trouble is brewing. But when she goes to the authorities, they treat her like she’s been reading tea leaves—and that’s the surest way to put Theodosia’s kettle on the boil…"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

There is a bit of disappointment in writing this post. Why? Well, I found the third book in Laura Childs’ Tea Shop Mystery series, Shades of Earl Grey, uneventful and "gray". Earlier this year I did a video describing how I adored the series. I especially adored Childs’ red-headed amateur sleuth and tea shop owner, Theodosia Browning. Theodosia came across as the quiet type of character. She seemed reserved and soft-spoken. While standing as a determined type of character. I could see myself getting attached to her, as well as her murder mystery excursions down the road. You see, I gravitate towards the cozy sleuth who harbors a bold and witty and coy personality. Theodosia was the opposite, but she was cool. I adored my time with her within the first two books of the series.

Then came the third book, Shades of Earl Grey. Afterwards, my enthusiasm for Theodosia “regressed” a bit.

THE NOT-SO MURDER MYSTERY

But first things first–the actual story/murder mystery. So Shades of Earl Grey does contain a murder. And it's no doubt a murder of the wrong-place-wrong-time variety. Yet the book isn't about said death, per se. Instead the story orbits around the jewel-stealing, heist-plotting contrivances of a small-town cat burglar. This left some of the suspecting characters, as well as his or her various failings in connection to the victim, elsewhere. The need to care about the majority of the story seemed removed to me, as the focus wasn't on the victim (as in the dead one and not the victims of burglary, of course). This lacking may or may not be part of my eventual disillusionment with Theodosia from this entry. Either way these events need notice.

So back to my original point about Theodosia herself…

Well, I Guess...

Bookmarked for Death.  Book #2 in Lorna Barrett's Booktown Mystery book.  

Well, the main character, Tricia Myles, STILL hates her older sister Angelica.  To the point where she has to fight the urge to punch the poor woman...  LOL.

Last-Month-of-the-Year COZIES TBR!

I'm just going to drop this here.  No details.  No explanation.  Other than I've slowed down reading from September to November, and am ready for some major end-of-the-year cozies.  Particularly those series I started last year and am now ready for the follow-ups.

Let's Buy Some Newly Released Mystery Books!

Judge Me When I'm Wrong (A Charlie Mack Motown Mystery) by Cheryl A. Head

"When a guilt-ridden client has an unexpected change of heart, the Mack team’s careful preparation for his grand jury testimony is blown to smithereens. Now, Charlie and Gil must pull out all the stops to defend him from his new enemies and the estrangement of his father. Meanwhile, Charlie reports for jury duty and unwittingly begins to unravel a disturbing plan to alter the outcome of a crime lord’s conspiracy trial. Before she knows it, Charlie’s dangerous meddling lands a bull’s-eye squarely on the intersection of her personal and professional lives, putting all that she holds dear in jeopardy."

Motherless Child (An R. J. Franklin Mystery Book 2) by V. M. Burns

"When John Paul Rollins is murdered during his niece’s wedding reception, Detective RJ Franklin quickly realizes this case is going to be anything but routine. The list of people who wanted him dead includes just about everyone he’s ever known including the bride and groom. Can RJ put his personal feelings behind him and catch a killer?"

Bookmarked for Murder (Mystery Bookshop #5) VM Burns

"Amateur sleuth Samantha Washington’s shopping trip to Chicago takes a deadly detour when a man is murdered on her bus . . .

CHOP IT UP: Peril & Prayer by Olivia Matthews (Sister Lou Cozy Mystery #2)

3 Mystery Book Romances I'm LOVING