new genres?

So I have thought I would always just stick with cozy mysteries= it is what I know and love, but since getting my Kindle I have really opened my eyes to new genres- I still love my cozies but I am now reading everything from Cozy, YA, Paranormal, Chick Lit, erotica etc- so I want this blog to be more well rounded.
I wanted to take more time and focus on my blog more- I am at a place now with work and life that I think it can be done-
Look for reviews, and I hope to have a weekly giveaway- I will be putting together a giveaway for new followers- maybe an Amazon gc?? I am thinking about what to do- and how to get more followers- I have read some great blogs and have tried to take what I like from each one to make a great blog

Night of the living Deed Ej Cooperman

Welcome to the first Haunted Guest House mystery-the getaway every reader can afford.

Newly divorced Alison Kerby wants a second chance for herself and her nine-year-old daughter. She's returned to her hometown on the Jersey Shore to transform a Victorian fixer-upper into a charming-and profitable-guest house. One small problem: the house is haunted, and the two ghosts insist Alison must find out who killed them.


This is a great start to a new series, I loved the location down on the Jersey Shore- even better with no Snooki!
Fast moving books with great characters, the book keeps you guessing till the end as to who done it- A nice mix of a great cozy mixed with a little paranormal makes for a great read.
I cant wait to read the next installment and see where the series takes Alison and her daughter and ghost roomates!

4/5 cozy stars

Jen Lancaster My Fair Lazy

Ok- so I know this isnt a cozy, but I love love her!

here is a summary of the book-After embarrassing herself in front of her idol Candace Bushnell, popular memoirist Lancaster (Such a Pretty Fat, Bitter is the New Black) decides she needs more in her life than reality TV and hamburgers; to that end, she sets out on an Eliza Doolittle-esque project of cultural self-improvement to expand her knowledge of art, fine dining, and all the attendant trappings of "high class" life. Lancaster's latest will no doubt appeal to fans of her blog and her other books, but readers unfamiliar with her strident manner will have to get past her abrasive, initially judgmental façade; she puts on a proud display of her ignorance that can be off-putting, especially when couched in her excessively scattered writing style. Though she's unquestionably funny and comfortable in her own skin, for all the joking self-regard there's little actual exploration, and the analysis of what she does find doesn't go far beyond a sassy thumbs-up or thumbs-down.


I love this book- this is my favorite of all her books so far. I find that I can really relate to her, around the same age, married, have animals, addicted to reality tv... but I cant rock the pearls the way that she can.
I enjoyed taking this journey with her, I felt as if I was there tasting new food, listening to new music and putting my self out there. I have decided to follow in her foot steps and get a little culture myself!
You will laugh out loud in many places and feel for Jen as she tries to make her way through new ideas, food, books,culture.
If you are looking for a fun read, with stories that will at times make you sad, most times make you laugh ( I got yelled at for reading the book and work and was told to shush) but at the end you feel like you have learned something, and had a hell of good laugh and time getting there!

5 ******* stars- cant wait for your next book!

Where have I been?

I have been really busy with life and work- at the time that I started this blog I was a work at home mom and had a ton of time for reading and posting, since then, I have worked outside the home- but am still a huge reader and still love to blog- but who has the time? I will make the time as I have missed it!

Mayhem-Miniature-Mystery

Gerry’s crafts are small-scale, but her to-do list is anything but. Add murder to that—with one of her students as a suspect—and you have one hectic holiday. Time to shrink this mystery down to size.

Do you ever have a series that you just want to love and can't? This is it for me, I was so excited when I heard about this series, I read the first one and wasnt blown away, I thought that being a new series it needed time to work out its kinks- but I have the same problems with this book.

The thoughts seem scattered, when Gerri is talking about what she needs to do, the timelines dont match up, doesnt seem to be much continuity in the book

I dont like the characters, I cant stand Gerri's friend Linda- in the first book she was so nasty to her and in one scene here she hangs up on Gerri- why be friends with that person??

Maddie- Gerri's grandaughter- another huge annoyance! I like kids but she is way over the top with wanting to eat sweets all the time and getting mad that Gerri wont share every last murder detail with her

Gerri- ok even Gerri can be annoying, I hate that she brings up that she is a retired English teacher and in her mind she corrects people all the time- just a pet peeve

2/5 cozy stars

Old Maid's Puzzle Terri Thayer

I love this author, I read her first book- wild goose chase about a woman who inherits her mom's quilt store and loved it. I loved reading about someone who was new to quilting and that makes me like the character of Dewey even more, she doesn't profess to love quilting, or at times even like it, but she does try and it adds to her character.
This book starts with Dewey having a huge sale at the quilt shop and of course during the week she needs to get ready- a dead body shows up in her alley. This dead body ties into more then one other character. This was a fast read and makes me wanting to read more, I know Terri has a new series coming out- stamped out- which I cannot wait to read.
I will add one more thing I love about this series, this series relates to me as a 35 year old woman, Dewey has a boyfriend and gasp, she enjoys sex with him, too many cozy mysteries these days have their sleuth being Mother Theresa as far as having a man in their life, I think they do a disservice to their readers, as most women that read them, do have relationships and many want their sleuth to have some sort of romance as well.
5/5 cozy stars

Death By Cashmere -Sally Goldenbaum

I have tried to read some of this author's other books and just couldn't get into them, I felt there was too many characters and couldn't hold my attention.
I picked this book up and I was hooked, not only is this cozy great for any mystery knitting lover, but any foodie as well. My mouth watered as I read about the meals that they would prepare so they could knit and talk about the murder and discuss suspects.
For being an Arizona girl, I really felt like I was on the East Coast reading this book, the author made you feel at home there and tempted you with a great mystery, great knitting info and great food description
I am going to go back and try her other books. I know that at times I may not be able to get into a book, but after reading this great book, I have to go back and read the rest!
5/5 cozy stars