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.

A Cereal Killer by is the first in the Sibyl Potts Cozy Mystery series by Morgana Best. Set in Australia, it is a rather intriguing and fun cozy mystery. There is a murder in the boarding house up the hill and Sibyl has the bad luck to walk into it.

I don’t know that unique characters really gives the full impression of the people the main character Sibyl is introduced to post divorce as she begins life in a new town in a different state of Australia. Mr. Buttons of the cucumber sandwiches and obsessive compulsive disorder… and Cressida Upthorpe her landlady, painter of some very unique, somewhat macabre paintings, theatrical to the core. Sibyl herself is interesting with her failed marriage and somewhat psychic abilities (as a child to see dead people and later to foretell the future, just not always when she would like to).

The story begins with a death, well after we learn more about Sibyl’s somewhat messy divorce from Andrew the stingy. Which ties in nicely to the murder by cyanide (the product of the mining company Andrew works for). And it all goes from there.

While I do not know too much about Australia I really did enjoy the descriptions of the area and the author is terrific at sharing terms that would be unknown to someone not native to the country. All in all a great mystery, no real romance in this volume and, while certainly a quick read it was highly enjoyable!

This Trash to Treasure Crafting Mystery by Rose Pressey is the first in a new series. Murder at Honeysuckle Hotel focuses on Raelynn Pendleton. A recent divorcee she is attempting to fit in in a small town full of seemingly small minds for the most part. Being divorced is definitely not seen with favour. Raelynn lives in a boarding house with one small room and works at the local equivalent of a grocery store. When she unexpectedly inherits a Victorian home with the death of a regular customer and somewhat friend. With a little TLC and some trash to treasure make overs (instructions included in the story!) she is well on her way to a home and a business… a hotel!

How else can a girl with little to no experience make a living and still manage to support such a large and potentially beautiful home? (be it ever so dated… for now). With a murder in the backyard, a cranky neighbour, a town against her and a hot sheriff in her sights, Murder at Honeysuckle Hotel has Raelynn hopping! There is romance, a cozy mystery and instructions on how you too can create treasures out of trash. Definitely a fun first in a series.

But here’s the minor criticisms… I do have to admit I would have loved a bit more storyline with the sheriff. I was confused about how at one point she met him WITH her ex but at another he says he lost her TO her ex BUT there is enough going on to keep my interest. Definitely not a town I would personally want to visit or live in when you figure in how instantly the town turned against anyone new… or remotely new for that matter.

The main character is off in fantasy world every time the sheriff walks in the room (which was not frequently enough for my liking within the storyline and relationship progression). The flavour of the author is there but this is definitely not my favourite first in a series of hers. So if you can’t quite get into this one do try her other books! Her author site is right HERE. Good luck!