Claws for Alarm By: Cate Conte

I love Maddie and how she does what's right even when she knows she shouldn't get involved! A fantastic money raising venture lands in Maddie's lap, along with two movie stars, and a corpse.  Too many suspects have Maddie and and the rest of her family (birth and work) running in circles, but she and Grandpa Leo manage to apprehend the real culprit and save a rare cat in the process.  Wonderful characters, great small town, and intricately plotted.  

Purring Around the Christmas Tree By: Liz Mugavero

This was the last book I needed to read to complete this series, and I obviously read it out of order, but I'm so glad I finally got it!  Stan and the McGee clan are in a terrible pickle at the holidays in this tightly plotted cozy.  Nothing and no one are what they seem: a dead Santa; two missing men; a ruined Grand Opening; international intrigue and family. Happy Holidays!! 

 

The Vanishing Cherry Blossom Bookshop By: Takuya Asakura/Translated By: Yuka Maeno

A sweet and touching look at the power of books to bridge time and heal wounds and help us move forward.  Simply charming.

The Treacherous Teddy By: John J. Lamb

The last in this delightful series, is rife with devious characters, Brad's bad puns, and a lot of heart.  Brad, Ash, Tina and the rest of the characters face too many prime suspects in the death of a local farmer.  Any one of them could have done it, and with ample reason, but the fun of this series is watching the actual police work being done to solve the crime.  The wonderful descriptions of the teddy bears are always fantastic!  I so wish this series had continued.

The Clockwork Teddy By: John J. Lamb

A trip back to California for a deposition finds Brad and Ashleigh visiting their daughter, participating in an outdoor teddy show and getting embroiled in corporate espionage. Isn't retirement fun?!

The Crafty Teddy By: John J. Lamb

The third installment of this delightful series, has the Lyon's being burgled, a spate of counterfeited teddy's, a corpse, and some Japanese gangsters.  Cuz, doesn't every cozy, have Japanese gangsters! Yet, Lamb makes it all work in this edge of your seat mystery with a gasp inducing twist!

The False-Hearted Teddy By: John J. Lamb

The second book in this wonderful series, doesn't pull any punches!  The impetus for several of the shenanigans are morally and ethically reprehensible acts perpetrated by very unsympathetic characters. Despite this Lamb manages to infuse the story with charm, warmth and much needed humor.  The more I read and in this case, re-read, the more I realize that I am very similar to Brad-frighteningly so! This series is such a delight!

The Mournful Teddy By: John J. Lamb

A hard-boiled cozy is the best way to describe this debut cozy centered in the world of artisan teddy bears. A former SFPD homicide investigator retires with his wife to her childhood, Shenandoah Valley home where they make artisan teddy bears. Sweet, charming, wonderfully funny and a hint of the grittiness of a hard boiled PI novel. It's been twenty year since I first read this, and I'm glad I'm giving this this series a re-read...it just brings a smile to me face.

 

A Dark History: Kings & Queens of England By: Brenda Ralph Lewis

This was a re-read of this salacious look at the royals of England from 1066 to the early 2000's.  I'm honestly shocked that England ever managed to become a huge empire, or that it survived its royals at all!  Granted this book is specifically about all the nasty bits, there were obviously good works done, but Wow. These people are fucked up!

Tuck By: Stephen R. Lawhead

A re-read of the third and final installment of the King Raven series.  Narrated by that amiable, frumpy but tougher than he looks, Friar, we get an emotional and satisfying conclusion to this fascinating story.  Setting the legend of Robin Hood in 12th century Wales, allowed Lawhead to give an all encompassing history of the time, the people, the politics, the economics, the weaponry and the heart of the Welsh people.  All of this is is brilliantly wrapped within a familiar story.  A wonderful series!