More August Titles!

Here are the Berkley Releases for August 2012:

A SPOONFUL OF MURDER A Soup Lover's Mystery by Connie Archer. ISBN: 978-0-425-25147-8.
This is a first in a new series release. When Lucky Jamieson inherits her parent's soup shop, By The Spoonful, she realizes she has let a lot of important things slide from her life. She vows to make some big decisions but before she can, an icy blonde tourist is found frozen to death behind the soup shop. And Lucky is shocked when her soup chef, Sage DuBois, is taken into custody. Lucky realizes it is up to her to find out the real dish of what happened.

A nice new series that involves old regrets with making amends. Lucky is a kind hearted sleuth who charms all of those around her. This is a smooth flowing story with a solid story line, likeable characters and a strong future. The soup recipes are a total bonus!

Reviewed by: Kathy Fisher
Rating: 3.0


BRUJA BROUHAHA A Mind for Murder Mystery by Rochelle Staab. ISBN: 978-0-425-25149-2. Practical psychologist Liz Cooper and Occult Professor Nick Garfield may make an odd couple, but things get even strangers when they try to solve a mystery and protect themselves from a hex placed by a Santeria witch.
This story brings about the tragedy of losing a loved one too soon and what it can bring out in others. It is a winding tale with romance, wit, supernaturalness, and friendship mixed up together. It is well written and interesting with a hint of sadness that I did not expect.

Reviewed by :Kathy Fisher
Rating: 3.0


WHEN THE COOKIE CRUMBLES A Cookie Cutter Shop Mystery by Virginia Lowell. ISBN: 978-0-425-25148-5.

Olivia Greyson owns The Gingerbread House. It is a quaint shop that specializes in all things cookie and her best friend Maddie helps her. Chatterley Height's 250th birthday celebration is approaching and Olivia and Maddie are working hard to finish a model of the famous Chatterley Mansion. When Paine Chatterley, who was thought to be dead, shows up to claim his father's house, the celebration is halted. Then Paine is found dead in the bathrub and secrets of the Chatterley family begin to surface.

Olivia and Maddie are characters you would love to have as best friends. The smells of cookie making drift off the pages and bring comfort to the reader while they are reading about horrible deaths. The setting is picturesque, the story line easy to follow, and the ending brings a bit of a surprise. Overall, a facinating read.

Reviewed by: Kathy Fisher
Rating: 4.0



SOUR APPLES An Orchard Mystery by Sheila Connolly. ISBN: 978-0-425-25150-8.
Apple orchard owner Meg Corey is finally feeling settled into her new life in Granford. She has friends, a new guy, but then her old coworker Lauren Converse comes barreling into town helping with a congressional campaign for a former hometown guy. But Meg doesn't have time to figure out what is going on because her neighbor, dairy farmer Joyce Truesdell, is found dead supposedly by a kick from one of her own cows. When an autopsy proves this is not the case, Meg is even more troubled and needs to find out what really happened before something happens to her.

This series is enjoyable from the first page to the end. The characters mesh well, the story line flows, and the descriptions make you feel like you are right there as a part of the story. Meg is a strong woman heroine figure and will not back down. Each book in this series is a solid read and full of surprises. You cannot go wrong with this one!

Reviewed by: Kathy Fisher
Rating: 4.0


DEATH OF A SCHOOLGIRL The Jane Eyre Chronicles by Joanna Campbell Slan. ISBN: 978-0-425-24774-7.
Jane can't help but be concerned when a letter arrives from Adele Varns, Rochester's ward, currently at boarding school, when it has a cryptic help me message written on it. Leaving her young son and invalid husband, Jane heads into London to ensure yougn Adele's safety. From the beginning the trip is doomed. Jane is robbed and beaten, no one believes that she is the wife of a gentleman, and the discovery that a classmate of Adele's is dead with no one's regard about puts her over the edge. Taking advantage of the situation, Jane poses as a missing instructor and soon uncovers some unsavory secrets that puts her own life in danger.

In typical Jane Eyre fashion, this book is full of historican connotations, super sleuthing, and ingenious ways to get around the ways of the time for women. Each twist builds upon the last until the story line explodes with the finale. This story line will take you back in time where few women had backbones to do what Jane does. It leaves you cheering on the sideline!

Reviewed by: Kathy Fisher
Rating: 4.0


A BREW TO KILL A Coffeehouse Mystery by Cleo Coyle. ISBN: 978-0-425-24787-7.
The Village Blend's Muffin Muse coffee truck is all the rage. But a fatal hit and run followed by a mysterious death at a food truck catered wedding give Clare a clue that something bittersweet is brewing. Then she opens a bag of imported coffee beans and finds ten pounds of rocks. The kind that will earn you a jail sentence and she realizes her ex husband and business partner is in over his head. To clear this up, Clare will have to get herself out of some hot water.

This is a yummy book that includes coffee cake and muffin recipes. If that doesn't reel you in, then you can be rest assured the story is a keeper. Clare is a strong character that tries to please everyone but ends up in the deepest of water. Still, she is able to keep herself afloat and solves the craziest of crimes. This is a witty, fun, delicious read.

Reviewed by: Kathy Fisher
Rating: 3.0