The Mark on the Door By: Franklin W. Dizon

A random submarine sighting sends the boys on a trek through the Baja jungle and an adventure worthy of the Aztec Gods.

Footprints Under The Window By: Franklin W. Dixon

Another fun, if slightly far fetched adventure with Frank and Joe Hardy.  This one finds the boys investigating luggage thefts, kidnappings, and an international spy ring all within a matter of days.  As far fetched as some plot points can be, this series is great fun!

Power Play By: Joseph Finder

A quiet, taut, psychological thriller! Written with Finder's usual attention to detail, Power Play moves from the boardroom to the wilds of a Canadian Island with ease. Who's to be trusted? Who's to be dismissed? Who's to survive? All of these questions, and more, aren't answered until the heart pounding ending. Another great read from Mr. Finder!

A Christmas Revelation By: Anne Perry

Anne Perry's Christmas Stories have been a Christmas tradition for me for the past 16 years.  Every year, my husband puts the latest one in my stocking, and it's always the first book I read after Christmas.  In Revelation we focus on Worm and Squeaky from the Pitt mysteries series, and their odd yet loving relationship as Worm sets out to help a lady (who may not need the help or be who she claims to be) and Squeaky tries to explain and give Worm his first Christmas.  These novels always focus on a supporting character from one of Perry's long running series' and always remind one of what Christmas should really be about, and why Perry is one the greatest writers of Victorian mysteries, ever!

Songs in Ordinary Time By: Mary McGarry Morris

Like an accident on the side of the highway, it was hard to turn away from this brutal story of a a family, a small Vermont town and a grifter.  Not a lot of happiness in this tome, but writing that pulls you in to this heart breaking, infuriating and moving story of Marie Fermoyle and the town of Atkinson, Vermont.  Ultimately, a glimmer of hope ends this slice of life, summer tale.

Top Ten Books I've Read in 2018!!!

MY TOP READS OF FROM 2018

It's that time of year folks: Time for the Top Ten Books I've Read in 2018!!!

#10:  Bright Air Black By: David Vann

A deliciously, dark and vivid take on the Medea myth, told from Medea's point of view. Not for the faint of heart, but a brilliantly written-and great food for thought!

#9:  The Girls of Murder City: Fame, Lust and the Beautiful Killers Who Inspired Chicago By: Douglas Barry

A simple told, yet riveting look at the female killers of the 20s in Chicago and the female reports who told their stories, leading up to one of them writing the play Chicago. Intricately researched and chock full of historical/social/economic/political/sexual context, a must read for history and/or true crime buffs or fans of the play/musical Chicago.

#8: The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend By: Katarina Bivald

Just a simple, and lovely story about a woman whose life is completely changed by a woman she's never met in another country and there connection is books. Nothing wrong with a "feel good" read, and this one of the best!

#7: The Weight of Ink By: Rachel Kadish

An exquisite, breath taking novel. A stunning trip through London during the 17th and 21st centuries, following the lives of two extraordinary women. One a woman way a head of her time, the other following her through the tunnels of time. I wanted to savor this read, as well as rush through it to get to it's heart wrenching and heartfelt ending. Simply amazing!

#6: Call Me By Your Name By: Andre Aciman

A gorgeously written coming of age tale, that will anger you, make you laugh, cry and break and warm your heart. The language in this story is nothing short of stunning!

#5: Dracul By: Dacre Stoker and JD Barker 

A brilliant horror tale, which explains the origins of Stoker's Dracula...but wait...is it actually real?! Based on Stoker's regional drafts of Dracula and family research, this is a read you won't soon forget. It's also a must that you read the author's note section at the back of the book-it's as fascinating as the story itself.

#4.5-Honorable Mentions:

I'm extremely blessed that I have met the Wicked Authors, and that they continue to send me ARCs of their fabulous Cozies, and so this year, as in previous, all the Wicked Cozy Authors, Julie Hennrikus, Barbara Ross, Sherry Harris, Edith M. Maxwell, Liz Mugavero and Jessie Crockett receive this years' Honorable Mention, for their books which will be now or in the next year! Thank you to an Uber-talented bunch of women who enable my reading addiction!

#4: Labyrinth of the Spirits By: Carlos Ruiz Zafron

Another installment in Zafron's fantastic Barcelona/Book series, that is not to be missed. The protagonist in this one is an extraordinary woman who has to be read to be believed. Lots of twists and turns and a great addition to this dark series!

#3: The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules By: Catharina Ingleman-Sunberg

Don't judge a book by it's cover...unless it's this one, because the title says it all. It's a delightful and uplifting and laugh out loud hilarious book about a little old lady (and her little old friends), who break all the rules, but the best of reasons. Just a wonderful escapist book...which thankfully is the beginning of a series!

#2: 84, Charing Cross Road By: Helene Hanff

One the most charming, funny and touching books I've ever read. A slim volume of letters between an acerbic writer in New York to a book store in London. Doesn't sound like much, but I defy you to read this and not be moved!

#1: A Gentleman in Moscow By: Amor Toules

A book that I just get giddy thinking about. A story that is at times infuriating, hilarious, heart-warming, tension filled, laugh out loud funny, and cheer inducing. And it is literally about a Gentleman (in ever sense of that word) in Moscow. I can't are enough about how lovely this book is and how everyone should get a copy and read it!

Deaths of Jocasta By: J.M. Redmann

A bizarre cross between a lesbian regency romance and mystery, and yet it works!  A lively bunch of characters entangled in way too much of each others' lives, and a lunatic sending threatening letters and bomb threats...and a good time was had by all!

The Complete Cartoons of the New Yorker Edited by: Robert Mannoff

Who couldn't love a ginormous book of New Yorker cartoons?  Included is a fascinating look at the origins of the New Yorker cartoons and bios sketches of some of the cartoonists.

The Gun Also Rises By: Sherry Harris - To be Published in January 2019

How can you not love Sarah Winston?!  The poor woman is just trying to put her life in order, enjoy her friends and her life in Ellington, and yet she's constantly getting tangled in dangerous messes. In The Gun Also Rises, owe find Sarah cataloguing books for a well do widow.  Next thing she knows, there are long lost manuscripts from Ernest Hemingway, a dead body and suspicion aplenty.  The action never stops, the plot lines keep twisting, but luckily this Gordian plot can be undone, and Sarah can relax...one can hope!  A must read when it's released in 2019!

The First Frost By: Ruby Loren

This prequel sets up Rob Frost beautiful-an accidental private detective on purpose.  You have to read it to know what that means, but it will be worth it.  Will now have to get the first full book in this series to see what happens with the mystery that is fabulously started in this tantalizing book!

The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus By: L. Frank Baum

A surprisingly deeply moving take on the legend of Santa Claus.  Harkening back to pagan mythology, a babe in the woods, adopted by a fairy learns he is of man, not of the fairies, and thus begins a journey that ultimately leads to his becoming Santa Claus.  Told in Baum's beautiful language, this story is lovingly rendered and will give you hope in humanity.  Something we could all use in the times in which we are currently living.

Murder Mansion By: M. K. Scott

I'm torn about this one.  One the one hand, it was very slow going, on the other hand it was intriguing enough that I really wanted to know what happened.  Donna Tollhouse is unlike any character I've read in a cozy, which I really liked, however, the development of the story was a little long for my taste and the mystery sort of took a back seat to Donna's personality and her desire to open an Inn.  Still, it was interesting and well written...all in all not a bad read.

The Last Time By: Sharon Haste

I LOVED THIS BOOK!!!!  A murder mystery, wrapped in a time travel story, wrapped in brilliance!  Extremely well written and plotted, this story will grab you form the first page and twist you around until the very last moment.  Once you think you've figured it out, you realize there is another layer to get through.  So creative!

Paid in Full By: Mark Newman

A quick and dirty tale of life, revenge, greed and murder.  Full of twists and turns and unpleasant people getting their comeuppances...and a good time was had by all...NOT! I really enjoyed Mr. Newman's style with this one.

Let's Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir By: Jenny Lawson

Having never heard of Jenny Lawson, I wasn't sure what to expect from this memoir, but I laughed my ass off while reading it!  Her humor is twisted, but after reading this book, it's easy to see that it's a necessity for her to get through her life.  Some very personal and tough subjects are covered by Ms. Lawson in recounting her life, and it's her unique outlook and her humor that pulls her through.  Reading this book, you'll laugh, you'll cry and you'll come back for more.

the 3rd installment in the Cat Cafe Mystery series By: Cate Conte

I am very thankful that I've been introduced to a lot of cozy authors and that they are gracious enough to let me read their manuscripts and ARCs.  This one will be the 3rd book in a series I adore.  I believe it is slated for publication some time in 2019.

Out of the Red By: David Bradwell

I'm not sue why this is considered the Anna Burgin series, because it doesn't focus solely on Anna, there are two other main characters that get equal time-but's that's neither here nor there...this is an intricately plotted thriller that moves.  Fascinating characters, numerous plots, and an ending that keeps you guessing and hanging.  Really fun read!