Reading with Mrs. Leaf

Title: Murder is a Piece of Cake Author: VM Burns Publication: 6/27/2023  Genre: Cozy Mystery  Series: Baker Street Mysteries #2 Summary from the publisher :  With small town New Bison’s Spring Festival just around the corner, the pressure is on Maddy to continue her late great-aunt Octavia’s legacy. That means scoring the top prize and transforming Baby Cakes into Southwest Michigan’s must-visit bakery, even though her inexperience in the kitchen brings nightmares of humiliating tagged photos and scathing reviews. IThere’s another reason for lost beauty sleep. A second bakery is opening in town under the ownership of CJ Davenport, a shrewd investor with a reputation for sabotaging anyone who gets in his way. And savvy, flashy Maddy tops his list. It’s a sticky spot to be in—more so when Davenport turns up dead with a Baby Cakes’s knife stuck in his back. Maddy’s whole life just went from #thriving to barely surviving. Now, supported by the crafty Baker Street Irregulars ...

Today I am so excited to bring you an interview with Frank Anthony Polito, author of the quozy series Domestic Partners in Crime. This series has completely captured my heart, I pre-order each book as soon as I get a chance and recommend it to everyone. Thank you Frank for joining us today on my blog!  1. Can you give us a background of what your series is about?  Domestic Partners in Crime is a “qozy” (queer cozy) mystery series, featuring a gay millennial couple, Peter “PJ” Penwell and his real-life domestic partner John Paul “JP” Broadway. PJ is a bestselling mystery author and JP is a professional actor. After living together in Brooklyn, they move to Peter’s native Detroit, where they buy an historic house that they renovate as part of a hit TV home renovation show called...what else? Domestic Partners. Of course, someone always dies, and it’s up to PJ and JP to solve the mystery, since no one is ever murdered in the quaint little suburb of Pleasant Woods...until now. And...

3 years ago I jumped into the world of sharing my thoughts about books on Instagram and haven't looked back since. It's been quite the journey and I have loved every moment of it! My love of books has only grown over the years as I have learned more about my own reading habits, connected with other readers and authors and have had many opportunities come my way.  One of my goals for 2023 was to be more connected to the community as opposed to just sharing reviews. I wanted to have deeper conversations about the books I read,  the characters I love and to connect with other readers and authors. So far I’ve immersed myself into Bookclub chats, buddy reads and zoom calls. I’ve started interviewing authors & was even a guest on a podcast. Here are a few of the highlights from the last year:  Asking Kathleen a question about Crow Mary My very own Little Free Library! Hosting Leslie Budewitz in a Virtual Book club I was a guest on the Get Cozy Podcast in May I hosted an in ...

  Wish You Were Here by Jodi Picoult publishes tomorrow, 11/30/2021.  It’s March 2020 and Diana and her boyfriend Finn are set to take a trip to the Galapagos. Unfortunately Covid has hit the US and Finn, a physician in a NYC hospital, needs to stay and work so Diana goes on the trip alone. Once in the Galapagos though everything is closing due to the virus & she can’t make it home. She is taken in by a local family and begins a journey of self discovery. Or so it seems.  I loved the descriptions of the Galapagos, the story of self discovery & second chances. I was not expecting the twist in the second half of this book and am still not sure how I felt about it.  Personally, it’s still a little too soon to be reading about COVID, especially as we are still in the midst of it. I listened to this book on audiobook and really enjoyed the narration by Marin Ireland. Thank you Penguin Random House Audio for an advanced listener copy of this book through the Volume...

Title: Lake Mistletoe Author: Amber Kelly Publication: Today! 11/29/21 Genre: Romance  My Rating: Loved it! In short : Willa has inherited her grandmother’s Inn located in Lake Mistletoe, Idaho. She intends to fix it up & sell it after the holidays. Once getting to Idaho she re-connects with a childhood friend Keller who helps her fix up the place as they grow close.  From the publisher : Life in the fast lane is what I’ve been working toward for the last six years. My career was all planned out running one of the hottest hotels in Miami’s South Beach. That was until our playboy owner broke a few rules, and my perfect opportunity crumbled underneath my feet.   So here I am, headed to Lake Mistletoe, a quaint little valley town in Idaho of all places. My grandmother, and namesake, left her Inn to me, and I am now sentenced to the task of getting it prepared to sell at the end of this year's holiday season. My memories of this Christmas oasis have long since faded, but ...

Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours and @berkleypub for the #gifted copy of this new cozy mystery!  Title: Mimi Lee Cracks the Code Author: Jennifer Chow Publication: 11/30/2021 Genre: Cozy Mystery  My Rating:  ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Series Background: This is book 3 in the Sassy Cat Mystery series featuring pet groomer Mimi Lee and her cat Marshmallow.  In short: Mimi Lee, owner of Hollywoof, has been offered a getaway on Catalina Island for herself, Marshmallow and her boyfriend Josh. All sounds great until the vacation rentals last guest ends up dead with the owner, and Mimi Lee’s friend being a prime suspect.  What to expect: 🔎 A telepathic cat 🔎 Mimi Lee investigates the Murder on her own, convinced her friend is being wrongfully accused.  🔎 Great setting around LA and Catalina Island My thoughts: This was a great cozy mystery! I haven’t read the 1st two books but definitely plan to now that I’ve met these quirky, inviting characters. When you get down to the myst...

  ✨ Series Spotlight ✨ Bellamy Creek Series by Melanie Harlow Small town romances revolving around 4 swoon worth best friends and the women they fall in love with.  What to expect: ❤️ Each book is a standalone, however the characters intersect with each other throughout the series.  ❤️ Lots of steam and dirty talk.  ❤️ Wonderful world building from book to book with glimpses of people and settings from her Cloverleigh Farms series as well.  ❤️ Different trope for each book from opposites attract to brothers best friend to marriage of convenience to second chances.  ❤️ Tight friendships and old man baseball   I could go on and on about this series. This is a series you need to read and trust me, you will fall in love with this town and characters.  Have you read these books? What did you think? Which is your favorite?