The Cocoa Conspiracy by Andrea Penrose

Overview:

Lady Arianna Hadley, now the Countess of Saybrook, is settling into married life with her new husband. To celebrate his birthday, she finds the perfect gift: a rare volume of botanical engravings on Theobroma cacao--or chocolate. But she is forced to fight off a stranger who tries to steal it away.

Arianna and Saybrook forget about the incident until they attend a gathering on a country estate, where her assailant reappears and turns out to be a Russian diplomat. Events grow more ominous when Arianna discovers sensitive government documents hidden in the book's binding--documents that suggest someone Saybrook and she hold dear is a traitor to King and country.

Murder. Treason. Money. Power. Once again, Arianna and Saybrook are drawn into a world of intrigue. To unmask the real villain, they journey to the Peace Congress in Vienna, where amid the seductive pomp and pageantry of Europe's royalty they must root out a cunning conspiracy--armed only with their wits and their expertise in chocolate . . .

My Review:

This is the second installment of the Lady Arianna Regency Mystery series and while it took me quite a while to get my hands on it, it was definitely worth the wait.

Arianna is browsing in a bookstore for a birthday gift for her husband, Saybrook, and has just picked up a rare book of engravings on chocolate when a stranger tries to take it from her by force.  Arianna prevails and buys the book but soon discovers a secret hidden within that could bring down the entire British Empire if it fell into the wrong hands.  

Arianna and Saybrook are sent to a house party to gather information and Arianna finds herself face to face with the stranger who had attacked her in London who turns out to be a Russian diplomat.  When the book is nearly stolen again and Saybrook is shot at by an unknown assassin, the pair are sure that Renard - the mysterious puppet master they encountered in the previous book, and are quickly sent to Vienna to a peace conference to try and unmask him and prevent a World War. 

This book is full of historical details and I love that.  I also love the setting from the country estate in England to the glittering ball rooms of Vienna.  Penrose is able to draw the readers in to this wonderful world and when you're done with the story, it's almost disappointing to be back in reality.  

The characters are well fleshed out and though we mostly get the story from Arianna's eyes, we also get to see just enough of Saybrook's side to gain a deeper understanding of both of their inner demons and the struggle both are having in trying to figure out their new marriage.

At the beginning of each chapter, we get a chocolate recipe and I have every intention of typing them up and putting them in a binder so I can start trying them because they look fantastic!  

Overall, I really love this series.  As of now, it is just a trilogy but according to the author's website, there is a novella and she is supposed to be making an announcement on another full length novel in this series.  I really hope she continues this series because it is one of my favorites!

A Ghostly Light by Juliet Blackwell

Overview:

Dangerous tides ahead...
 
When her friend Alicia hires Turner Construction to renovate a historic lighthouse in the San Francisco Bay, Mel Turner can’t wait to get her hands dirty. Alicia plans to transform the island property into a welcoming inn, and while Mel has never attempted a project so ambitious—or so tall—before, she’s definitely up for the challenge.
 
But trouble soon arises when Alicia’s abusive ex-husband shows up to threaten both her and Mel, and later turns up dead at the base of the lighthouse stairs. With no other suspects in sight, things start looking choppy for Alicia. Now, if Mel wants to clear her friend’s name, she’ll need the help of the lighthouse’s resident ghosts to shine a light on the real culprit...

My Review:

This is the 7th book in the Haunted Home Renovation series by Juliet Blackwell.  I really like this series because many of the characters we have met in the previous books show up in subsequent books - not just the main characters and I enjoy that.  It makes this world feel real and not just a series of unfortunate events tied together by Mel and her closest friends and family.  I like that she revisits the other renovations that she has done and that some of the characters actually provide clues - even minor ones - for the current mystery.  That is unique to most other series by different authors and it's a refreshing change.  

I also enjoyed the setting of this story.  Lighthouses are a favorite of mine and they have such an air of mystery and romance about them that is irresistible.  

All that being said, I felt this book was a little rushed.  There didn't seem to be a definitive end to the ghost (i.e. he didn't "cross over") so I'm guessing he may show up in another book but it still left me feeling like that part was unfinished.  I also didn't like the secondary story line because the timing of the events are really rushed.  I don't want to say specifically what they are because I don't want to give away any spoilers but I am having a hard time with the pacing.

I really like the secondary characters in the series like Mel's dad and their business partner Stan, as well as her best friend Luz and would love to see them more fleshed out and taking a greater role in the stories.  I enjoy their presence and want to see them take center stage a little more often.

Overall, this is a quick, easy read that I really enjoyed.  The characters are fun and multi-dimensional and the details of home renovation are interesting.  I have a love of old architecture and am passionate about saving old houses so I can relate to this series, though I think I like Blackwell's Witchcraft series better.

If you're looking for a good cozy series, pick this one up! 

Becoming Supernatural by Dr. Joe Dispenza

Overview:

The author of the New York Times bestseller You Are the Placebo, as well as Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself and Evolve Your Brain, draws on research conducted at his advanced workshops since 2012 to explore how common people are doing the uncommon to transform themselves and their lives. Becoming Supernatural marries some of the most profound scientific information with ancient wisdom to show how people like you and me can experience a more mystical life.

Readers will learn that we are, quite literally supernatural by nature if given the proper knowledge and instruction, and when we learn how to apply that information through various meditations, we should experience a greater expression of our creative abilities; that we have the capacity to tune in to frequencies beyond our material world and receive more orderly coherent streams of consciousness and energy; that we can intentionally change our brain chemistry to initiate profoundly mystical transcendental experiences; and how, if we do this enough times, we can develop the skill of creating a more efficient, balanced, healthy body, a more unlimited mind, and greater access to the realms of spiritual truth.

My Review:

I have been reading books on mindfulness, meditation and self-improvement for several years now and am always looking for the next book that will take my learning to the next level and this book definitely does that.  

Dr. Dispenza has several other books out, though I have only read Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself.  I loved that book so much that I have actually read it at least 5 times, if not 6, so when I saw that he had released a new book, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it and it certainly did not disappoint.

In this book, he builds on the concepts from his other books and includes stories of students from his advanced workshops, as well as actual brain scans of participants so the reader can see the changes.  He leads us through meditations that help release blocked energy and backs his claims with scientific evidence - not just anecdotal.  

There is a lot of quantum physics but he breaks it down in a way that is understandable even to the most unscientific.  That being said, it is still some pretty heavy-duty stuff and I would advise reading it slowly.

I enjoyed the different meditations he included at the end of many chapters, as well as the actual scans of the changes in students' brains before, during, and after the advanced workshops.  Including this gives the reader concrete evidence that what Dr. Dispenza is teaching actually works.  Buddhist monks and many other ancient cultures have known this for centuries but somewhere along the way, we've forgotten or dismissed the idea that thoughts alone can change your health.  Though scientist know that everything in the universe is made up of energy, they've always been dismissive of the notion that humans can control their energy and change things, not only in their own bodies but in the universe as well.  

The one concept Dr. Dispenza just keeps pounding home throughout this book is that "Where you place your attention is where you place your energy."  I couldn't agree more and as I keep repeating this to myself, I find that I am more cognizant of my thoughts and careful of where and on what they are dwelling.  I tend to focus on the negative and after reading this book, I have been trying very hard to change that.  It's a long process but with practice, I think I will start to see big changes.

I loved this book and can't recommend it highly enough.  If you are looking for ways to change your thinking to be happier, healthier, and more creative, this is the book for you.  If you haven't read anything like this before, I would suggest picking up Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself first, then diving into this one.  

Have you read any other books in this category?  If so, let me know in the comments what you recommend I pick up next!

Paradox Bound by Peter Clines

**This book was sent to me for review.  I was not paid for this review and all opinions are my own.**

Overview:

Nothing ever changes in Sanders. The town’s still got a video store, for god’s sake. 
 
So why doesn’t Eli Teague want to leave? 
 
Not that he’d ever admit it, but maybe he’s been waiting—waiting for the traveler to come back. The one who’s roared into his life twice before, pausing just long enough to drop tantalizing clues before disappearing in a cloud of gunfire and a squeal of tires. The one who’s a walking anachronism, with her tricorne hat, flintlock rifle, and steampunked Model-A Ford. 
 
The one who’s being pursued by…something. 
 
So when the mysterious traveler finally reappears, Eli’s determined that this time, he’s going to get some answers. But his hunt soon yields far more than he bargained for, plunging him headlong into a dizzying world full of competing factions and figures straight out of legend. 

My Review:

Normally, this isn't the type of book I would read.  I generally prefer historical murder mysteries but the synopsis of Paradox Bound captured my attention and I couldn't put it down once I picked it up.

It is a time travel book but not in the typical cliched way because the characters aren't actually travelling through time - rather they travel through history (in a Ford Model A no less) and I found this to be refreshing and unique.  

The characters are well thought-out and engaging and I found myself eagerly riding along with them on their journey.  Again, this was refreshing as many of the recent books I've read have left me severely disappointed in the flat, on-dimensional characters.  Eli and Harry were fully fleshed out and real and I love that. 

Eli lives in a small town called Sanders where nothing ever happens and though he probably doesn't know it, he is looking for adventure.  I grew up like that in town exactly like Sanders so I can totally relate to Eli and that is what I look for in a good book - characters that I can relate to and feel real.

The plot is also unique and fun.  I won't say more than that so as to not give away any spoilers but trust me when I say it was good.

If you're looking for a good, fun, unique read, pick this one up - even if it's not your typical genre.  It's worth it. 

A Room with a Brew by Joyce Tremel

Overview:

Disaster is on tap in this all-new mystery from the author of Tangled Up in Brew.

It's Oktoberfest in Pittsburgh, and brewpub owner Maxine "Max" O'Hara is prepping for a busy month at the Allegheny Brew House. To create the perfect atmosphere for the boozy celebration, Max hires an oompah band. But when one of the members from the band turns up dead, it's up to Max to solve the murder before the festivities are ruined. 

Adding to the brewing trouble, Candy, Max's friend, is acting suspicious... Secrets from her past are fermenting under the surface, and Max must uncover the truth to prove her friend's innocence. To make matters worse, Jake's snooty ex-fiancée shows up in town for an art gallery opening, and she'll be nothing but a barrel of trouble for Max.

My Review:

A Room with a Brew is the third installment of the Brewing Trouble Mystery series.  In this episode, Max is preparing her pub, The Allegheny Brew House, for an Oktoberfest celebration and has hired an oompah band.  Unfortunately, one of the members ends up dead and it's up to Max and her friends to figure out what happened before Candy, who is acting very suspicious, gets accused of murder. In addition, Max learns that her parents' new neighbors have opened up an art gallery and guess who happens to show up at the grand opening?  None other than Jake's ex-fiancee Victoria and she is every bit as mean as Jake described her.  We are also introduced to another character named Tommy whom I liked very much and hope he makes a return in other books in this series.

The main plot centers around art and a Vermeer painting so it was extremely easy to figure out what was going on really early in the book, even though it took forever to get to the actual murder.  That seems to be the trend these days in all mystery books and it is starting to annoy.  That aside, I enjoy the setting of this series, but maybe that's because I grew up not far from Pittsburgh and am a huge Steelers fan.  Though I don't carry it to extremes like Candy, I do own a Terrible Towel, slippers, and a blanket so I can totally relate to Candy.  I also like that it centers around a brew pub which is unique in the cozy world.  Another thing I really like about this series is that there was never a "love triangle".  I don't mind if the characters take a book or three to finally become an item but too many cozies have the love triangle and it is beyond cliche at this point.

Speaking of characters, I think the characters are in this series are a little flat, even though we are now three books in.  I don't expect to know everything about all of them right away but I want more details to make them seem more real.  If you read my post about characterization, you'll know that in order for me to really get lost in a book, I need the characters to feel like my actual friends and while I think Kristie, Daisy, Nicole, and Elmer are interesting, they come across as two-dimensional and fake.  I also thought that Victoria was very over-done with her snootiness and condescension.  It would have been better and much more effective to have her be a little more subtle in her jabs towards Max and Jake. 

Continuing on with characters, Max is just a smidge too arrogant for my tastes.  I'm not sure why that is - maybe because she thinks she knows better than anyone else in matters of detective work and doesn't want to listen to anyone else.  And because I always feel like I'm being lectured when it comes to the brewing aspect of things, almost as if her tastes in brewing are the only right ones.  Maybe I'm being too nit-picky, though, and I don't mean to be.  

None of the things mentioned above are egregious enough to cause me to stop reading the series because I think each book gets just a bit better and I am interested in the characters enough to hope that the author keeps fleshing them out.  

⭐⭐⭐ out of 5.

Gettin' Cozy in Here

Today I want to talk a bit about cozy mysteries.  It's a genre that, while it isn't new, has really gained steam in the last few years and the picture above shows just a few of the ones in my collection. 

Like everything else, the cozy mystery certainly has changed A LOT over the years.  Think of where the genre's popularity (arguably) began with Agatha Christie's Miss Marple being a busy body in her little village nearly a century ago to where we are today with magical cats, ghost detectives, witches, and even chefs and bakery owners.  I don't think there is a single culinary dish or dessert that hasn't been used in a title in some way.

My question is this:  Is the cozy genre over-saturated with the same old themes?  It seems like all the ones I read in 2017 were mediocre at best and there wasn't a single new idea in the bunch.  How many times can we read about a bakery owner or chef solving one murder after another?  How many cats or witches or ghosts are enough?  All you really have to do is change the character names and locations and it's the same old story because the general plot and theme remains the same.  The only real exception to that is the Brewing Trouble Mystery series by Joyce Tremel.  I have really enjoyed this series but take that with a grain of salt.  I grew up not far from Pittsburgh where this series takes place so I am a little biased in that regard - plus I think that the premise is unique in that it is set in a Brewpub. 

Don't get me wrong - I do enjoy a good cozy but my first passion will always be historical mysteries.  Unfortunately, there aren't many of those on the market these days but I'll leave that topic for another day. 

In any event, what is your take on the Cozy genre?  Do you think there are too many of the same thing or not enough?  What unique ideas would you like to see or are you totally in love with cats and cookies?

Let me know in the comments what your thoughts are.  I am also open to suggestions for what to read so let me know what your favorite book or series is.

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