At the rate I am enjoying these books I may have to start asking requests! Can you believe it, a library find that is NOT a Christian contemporary romance?? Well, a girl has to wander the stacks once in a while. 50% Off Murder by Josie Belle was a lucky find. The first in the “A Good Buy Girls Mystery” it had me in giggles and on the edge of my seat (though I have to admit I figured out the who did it JUST before the lady of the hour did… widow Maggie Gerber).

Maggie and her friends are frugal pros, for various reasons. In fact, at the end of the book are suggestions for thrifty living. Maggie is an empty nest widow who has moved in her niece and niece’s toddler son while said niece studies for school. Married to a police officer who died early in their marriage in the line of duty she is an independent lady with a feisty spirit. Enter old flame and new sheriff Sam Collins right in time for a local murder in of all places, the local library!

One of Maggie’s friends is arrested for the murder and the hunt is on to prove her innocence. I love the people in this book… there is the boy genius who works at the local ice cream place with multiple degrees, the classic mean girl (Summer) who is out to get Maggie, and a wonderful circle of supportive friends.

I really enjoyed this one. There is a hint of a future romance but neither party gave way to their interest. The mystery is intriguing and the hunt to figure out the culprit keeps you hanging. A bit of a longer read than the light romances I have seemed to amass lately, but all in all a classic cozy mystery for the frugal girl in all of us.

Sometimes you just log in on Amazon.com at the right time and get a limited time freebie worth reading. Confection Connection by Lizz Lund (with free recipes) is one of these. I snapped this one up for my Kindle in February. This is the third in her Mina Kitchen (yes that is the main character’s last name) Mysteries. I have not read the first or the second but found I was able to get to know the main character and the crazy and unusual friends and family members she surrounds herself with. 

I have to straight out that this book was more of a quirky light romance with a mild mystery attached. I figured out rather quickly WHO did the crime, though the why was interesting and a wee bit unexpected and the HOW not hard to figure out but entertaining all the same. 

Mina Kitchen WANTS to be a caterer but is in the middle of transitioning to that position and through out the book takes on a variety of hilarious and unusual jobs. In the mean time she is also doing little catering events for friends and family (and alwayss making too much of everything). She has unfinished business with a chef she helps out from time to time and a family who is there to support her. 

I don’t want to give away too much as it is a relatively simple mystery, but I did get some giggles out of this one. I found a lot of the characters around Mina Kitchen to be absolutely hilarious. Her ex Jewish mob neighbour, her friend who is wealthy and completely disconnected from the reality of having to DO anything… honestly I would say read it just for the characters, the story is an additional entertaining bonus! 

So if you want a light read do try Confection Connection. If I come across the early ones in my travels I will definitely read and review!! 

‘A rather timely cozy murder mystery as we have experienced our first canning this year with produce fresh from the garden. Mary Ellen Hughes’ The Pickled Piper is the first book in “A Pickled & Preserved Mystery” series. The main character in this story is Piper who owns her own pickle store. After breaking up with her fiance who has up and decided to travel the world himself, Piper moved to Cloverdale to follow her dream and live near her Aunt Judy and Uncle Frank.

The story begins with the start of the Cloverdale Fair where Piper has her own pickle stand complete with a giant barrel of homemade pickles. Everything seems to be going well until the following morning when Piper finds a local antique store owner dead… in her pickle barrel! With a cast of interesting small town people, some store owners, others friends this book has a wonderful flow to it.

Piper is a strong character with an interesting history. With a handsome Christmas tree farmer visiting occasionally and a murderer on the loose Piper balances pickling things (and suggesting some yummy and unusual items to do so with) with running her business and working to clear the name of her employee’s boyfriend. Nate, a newcomer to the town is a musician who had a run in with the deceased in the middle of the fair is only one of many who did not get along with the rather aggressive man.

This is a great light read. The romance is light, the mystery interesting and the main character a delight. To top it off, included in the back are two pickling recipes and some pickling tips! I would definitely suggest this first in a new series for any lover of cozy mysteries! I look forward to the next book!