Book list 2016
62. To Catch a Cook by Joanne Pence
pb, mystery, 309 pages, not keeping
It's an Angie Amalfi mystery. One would think a series with 'cook' in the titles and a heroine who's a gourmet chef would feature cooking as a main part of the story; other than a description of two dishes Angie cooked for her boyfriend (both recipes at the back of the book, not sprinkled throughout the text, thank goodness) and a couple of funny incidents in which she is creating video restaurant reviews, there's not a whole lot of food featured. Her boyfriend is Homicide Inspector Paavo Smith. These two have possibly the least chemistry and their relationship didn't work for me at all. Having said that, this would make an excellent 90 minute - 2 hour murder mystery, and I'd watch the heck out of it before I'd ever read anything in this series again. They could cast a couple who were compatible on screen. Paavo's mother abandoned him when he was four, leaving him with an antique brooch. He gave it to Angie. It broke and she took it to get repaired. The jeweller is murdered, the brooch missing and then there's some attempted murders and other murders, and it's all linked back to Paavo's parents. (3/6)
63. Twist and Shout Murder by Rosemary Martin
pb, mystery, 287 pages, not keeping
It's a 'Murder A-go-go' mystery, set in the 60s, with good catholic girl Bebe Bennett as the sleuth. If you can stand a lot of description of 60s fashions - i.e. everything the characters wear - then this is the book for you. Bebe's boss Bradley, with whom she is in unrequited love, has a new job at the Ryan Modelling Agency. Model Suzie is strangled with a Pucci scarf, a gift from Bradley. He's the number one suspect and Bebe is determined to prove him innocent. I liked it better than the previous book, although it's a toss up who is more annoying - Bebe or Angie. No chemistry between Bradley and Bebe and she can't see it. (3/6)
64. Inherited by Marianne Shock
Loveswept #172, 181 pages, not keeping
Tricia is the only daughter of elderly parents, whose mother died giving birth to her. Her father is an old, cold man, full of secrets. Chase Colby inherits the farm next door. He's got issues with his father (a nasty piece of goods, as it turns out). As you can probably guess, Tricia doesn't get the farm in her dad's will, Chase does, although she does get the house. Luckily for all concerned, Tricia and Chase eventually sort out their differences, come to terms with their respective pasts, fall in love and live happily ever after! (possibly what her father intended!) (3/6)
2016 Totals
books read: 64
Pages: 14,931
Rereads: 14 (or 15)
Keeping: 20
Challenge books: Alphabetical collection - 4
Books out: 215
Books in: 201 (new Harry Potter, and I think 4 others - I got a bit muddled here; calling it 5)
pb, mystery, 309 pages, not keeping
It's an Angie Amalfi mystery. One would think a series with 'cook' in the titles and a heroine who's a gourmet chef would feature cooking as a main part of the story; other than a description of two dishes Angie cooked for her boyfriend (both recipes at the back of the book, not sprinkled throughout the text, thank goodness) and a couple of funny incidents in which she is creating video restaurant reviews, there's not a whole lot of food featured. Her boyfriend is Homicide Inspector Paavo Smith. These two have possibly the least chemistry and their relationship didn't work for me at all. Having said that, this would make an excellent 90 minute - 2 hour murder mystery, and I'd watch the heck out of it before I'd ever read anything in this series again. They could cast a couple who were compatible on screen. Paavo's mother abandoned him when he was four, leaving him with an antique brooch. He gave it to Angie. It broke and she took it to get repaired. The jeweller is murdered, the brooch missing and then there's some attempted murders and other murders, and it's all linked back to Paavo's parents. (3/6)
63. Twist and Shout Murder by Rosemary Martin
pb, mystery, 287 pages, not keeping
It's a 'Murder A-go-go' mystery, set in the 60s, with good catholic girl Bebe Bennett as the sleuth. If you can stand a lot of description of 60s fashions - i.e. everything the characters wear - then this is the book for you. Bebe's boss Bradley, with whom she is in unrequited love, has a new job at the Ryan Modelling Agency. Model Suzie is strangled with a Pucci scarf, a gift from Bradley. He's the number one suspect and Bebe is determined to prove him innocent. I liked it better than the previous book, although it's a toss up who is more annoying - Bebe or Angie. No chemistry between Bradley and Bebe and she can't see it. (3/6)
64. Inherited by Marianne Shock
Loveswept #172, 181 pages, not keeping
Tricia is the only daughter of elderly parents, whose mother died giving birth to her. Her father is an old, cold man, full of secrets. Chase Colby inherits the farm next door. He's got issues with his father (a nasty piece of goods, as it turns out). As you can probably guess, Tricia doesn't get the farm in her dad's will, Chase does, although she does get the house. Luckily for all concerned, Tricia and Chase eventually sort out their differences, come to terms with their respective pasts, fall in love and live happily ever after! (possibly what her father intended!) (3/6)
2016 Totals
books read: 64
Pages: 14,931
Rereads: 14 (or 15)
Keeping: 20
Challenge books: Alphabetical collection - 4
Books out: 215
Books in: 201 (new Harry Potter, and I think 4 others - I got a bit muddled here; calling it 5)