Dona's Book Blog

Thank you to the author David Rosenfelt, publishers Minotaur Books, and SMPInfluencers Program for an opportunity to read TWAS THE BITE BEFORE CHRISTMAS early. Thank you also to NetGalley for the digital widget. All views are mine. Three (or more) things I loved: 1. The different dogs (I believe there are 5?) have so much personality. They simply jump off the page. The orphan dogs tug on my heartstrings just as hard as if they were adorable missing twin children, begging for a meal and warm bed. The irascible Sebastian the bloodhound is my favorite.  2. The sass, wit, and sarcasm add so much richness! Quote loc. 1203 3. Andy Carpenter is my favorite detective because he is so sarcastic, and because, as a defense attorney, he is positioned to know the ins and outs of the law. I sometimes find the "quirky detective" a little hard to believe, but Andy is totally authentic and believable. Three (or less) things I didn't love: This section isn't only for cri...

Thank you to the author DK Coutant, publishers The Wild Rose Press Inc, and Henry Roi PR, for an advance audio copy of EVIL ALICE AND THE BORZOI. The is one of those cozy mysteries that surprised me a great deal. Honestly, I was drawn in by the cover. The last time I tried a cozy mystery with a dog on the cover, I absolutely loved it.  It took a little while for this one to really connect the dog on the cover, but I think it's clever. Additionally, Doucant paints a gorgeous, moody, decadent Hilo for the reader to prance around in. The cast is huge, but the characters have meat.   And besides that, the character work is excellent and I connected to Evil Alice, of all people. I mean-- how can she be evil if she's dead!? Well this book kept me guessing until the very end! A lot happens at the very end, in fact. I think Doucant saves a little too much for the denouement in this one.  So it's not perfect, but still a very entertaining mystery! Rating: 🐩🐩🐩🐩...

I found Kill Joy by Holly Jackson on the Libby app. Check for your local library on the app and read great books for free!📚 My sweet husband gave me Holly Jackson's GOOD GIRL'S GUIDE TO MURDER trilogy for Christmas last year, and while I have yet to read them (you could read this whether or not you've read the other books), I was in no way lacking to enjoy this charming little mystery short. In it, several college students gather in a mansion to act out a murder mystery a la the old 90's murder-with-your-meal dinner shows. Many dramatic gasps, plot reversals, and suspenseful hijinks ensue. I'm assuming these characters show up in the first book of the trilogy, which would be fine, because they are each genuinely likeable. The way the brothers fight constantly reminds me of me and my sisters. And I love the main character, Pip Fitz-Amobi (yeah, that name is amazing !), with her self-assuredness and keen judgment. I even love that Jackson decided to tell ...