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Tam Sesto

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So much fun.

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 02-24-24

If your a cat lover, you will love this latest edition into the Magical Mystery Book Club.

I’ve definitely adapted to the AI voice, and it didn’t distract me from the story at all as I listened to the audiobook.

The story is full of loveable characters, a whimsical plot, and an unexpected King that the author smoothly wraps around you like a warm blanket. The opening reveals a surprising plot twist. So smart of the author to keep Mollie as a ghost since she can literally be the “fly on the wall” for the book club group. The ending was a clever twist, and truly worked with the story of the book.

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Great chemistry with the characters.

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 02-05-24

Listening to the audiobook just made this wonderful, fantasy book shine more. Read via AI, there is a bit of an adjustment period. Once you become use to the rhythm and tone, you find yourself noticing nothing but the wonderful words that draw you into the book.

The merry band of misfits are back. This time, the new addition is Valeria who is excited about joining the magical mystery book club after she hears how it works. The author is the best at creating normal characters with idiosyncrasies that work so well within the story of the story. A perfect example is Moonbeam; a simple hippy, who doesn’t hesitate to defend her beliefs.

The plot was entertaining with some unexpected surprises as the mystery crew attempts to help the ghostly crew of a sunken pirate ship. There is plenty of merry making along with the darkness of unexpected deaths. As the crew attempts to solve the mystery, they are taken along on a treasure hunt that has some surprises of it’s own. The author lets out a few hints regarding Frank, the talking cat, who has some secrets of his own. The setting was at a beach side community, and I loved how all the characters were excited about it.

The thing I love the most about the author’s style of writing is that it feels like your sitting at the librarian’s feet and listening to the best story. Her words never fail to transport you to the best world, magical or not.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions are my own.

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This series stays fresh book after book.

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 02-03-24

Listening to the audiobook just made this wonderful, fantasy book shine more. Read via AI, there is a bit of an adjustment period. Once you become use to the rhythm and tone, you find yourself noticing nothing but the wonderful words that draw you into the book.

The Magical Mystery Book Club series is one of the best cozy mystery series I have read. The newest addition to the series, Bakeries and Buffoonery by Elizabeth Pantley doesn’t disappoint. This time the gang head to a town named Frosting for a cake contest that is taken very seriously by the townspeople. So seriously, someone is killing off someone every year.

Paige and Aunt Glo, plus the usual gang, are all excited about joining a book that is about cake. It’s a paranormal so Frank can speak and be heard. Mollie, the latest addition to the series discovers a few tricks of her own in this story. And one of their own, is actually quite good at baking and seems to fit right in with this town. I was quite surprised about the killer. Ms. Pantley camouflaged the clues well.

The author has kept the series fresh and intriguing. New main characters come and go so you never know what’s waiting for the reader. Plus, you never know where the next adventure is going to take you. I eagerly await the next installment as I wish I could find myself in one of Ms. Pantley’ s books.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions expressed are
my own.

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A wonderful surprise awaits the reader within the pages of the mystery.

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 01-31-24

Listening to the audiobook just made this wonderful, fantasy book shine more. I admit, when I first started listening I wasn’t sure about the narrator, the voice seemed to lack warmth. As the book went on, I adjusted to the rhythm and tone and found myself enjoying the book immensely.

This time around the gang enters the book, The Mystery of Mollie’s Disappearance, which is a western set in Bandana, AZ. New member, Dr. Papadopoulos (Atticus), joins the gang amid his research of extraterrestrial energy.

A wonderful surprise awaits the reader within the pages of the mystery. There are many humorous moments throughout the story as Zell and Frank live up to their characters. The character of Molly was lovable and a bit of a rascal. As you read the book, you become so caught up in the Wild West with it’s open spaces, dirt roads, outhouses, saloon, and church socials that it’s like a movie unfolding before your eyes.

My favorite part to this book was the book within a book. As the mystery was unfolding, the author started explaining how the book club and the books work. Lots of information about being an author, how writing a book, plus the edits go, and about the writing industry itself.

There was a surprising twist with the murder case and the ending was unexpected, clever and frustrating as now the reader has to wait for the next book. The author stepped up her game with this book. I love, love this series.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions expressed are
my own.

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You can’t go wrong finding yourself in a book with a vampire.

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 01-29-24

Listening to the audiobook just made this wonderful, fantasy book shine more. I admit, when I first started listening I wasn’t sure about the narrator, the voice seemed to lack warmth. As the book went on, I adjusted to the rhythm and tone and found myself enjoying the book immensely.

The second book in the series did not disappoint. A new member joins the book club as they find themselves inside a paranormal book and taking a cruise. It was interesting to do a paranormal plot as the club had to think outside the box to solve the mystery. I loved that Frank, the cat, was able to speak and be heard in this book by everyone. The new character, Million, was a great foil for Zell as they learned about each other. One of my favorite things about this series is how the characters of the book club all contribute some type of skill or plan for solving the murder. They are a misfit group, but have quickly become family. The plot was fun and interesting, and I love the way friendship is always a focus in the author’s books. She makes it very easy for the reader to feel as if they are part of the world they are reading.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions expressed are
my own.

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A refreshing take on the cozy mystery.

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
4 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 01-28-24

Shifting and Shenanigans: Magical Mystery Book Club (Book 1), has Paige and her Aunt Glo inheriting an inn that has a magical library that requires them to solve the mysteries in the books.

Listening to the audiobook just made this wonderful, fantasy book shine more. I admit, when I first started listening I wasn’t sure about the narrator, the voice seemed to lack warmth. As the book went on, I adjusted to the rhythm and tone and found myself enjoying the book immensely.

I absolutely loved this book. The characters are a mish-mash of sweetness, goofiness, young, old, and a talking cat. The kind of group, as a reader, you wish you could join. Zell was my favorite character, a feisty old lady who loved adventure.

The plot was refreshing and so much fun. I mean, who wouldn’t want to live in a cozy mystery book and solve the mystery. There were rules both in real life and in the book that helped to make things connect together. As the group of characters learned how to deal with all the changes happening within their lives, true friendships started to develop along with humor on and off.

The author knows how to tell a story. I’ve read other books by her, and I’m never disappointed in the excellent writing. You can see how much she really enjoys entertaining her readers with this book. I’m hooked, and I can’t wait for more.

My review is voluntary and all comments and opinions expressed are
my own.

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Basic first book of a series.

Overall
3 out of 5 stars
Performance
1 out of 5 stars
Story
3 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 01-05-24

Murder on Liberty Bay - Audio Book

Things I enjoyed about this book include Lily’s (protagonist) daughter who is an investigative reporter and quite funny in her own right, and Detective Miller who was charming and genuine. The plot was basic but still easy to listen too. The author camouflaged the killer quite well. I really enjoyed the references to different food dishes which all had descriptions that made it easy to visualize.

Things I didn’t like about the book was the narrator. He wasn’t able to inject warmth into the characters, which I think is the reason why, I never really connected to Lily. When he read the woman character’s dialogue, I cringed. On the other hand, he did a really good job with the character of Detective Miller.

Overall, not a bad mystery for book one of a series, but I would seriously rethink the narrator for this series going forward.

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Fun cozy mystery but connecting to the the narrator was difficult.

Overall
4 out of 5 stars
Performance
3 out of 5 stars
Story
4 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 07-11-23

The protagonist, Garnet Stone, was an immediate likable and feisty character and perfect to be the lead in this book. Along with her roommate, Megan, she sets out to solve the mystery of her bosses demise. You would have to say it’s in her blood since her grandpa is the former towns sheriff and her father is a detective in another town.

The plot was cozy mystery typical. I did love how her family was law enforcement; it was unusual, and I loved it. I think the author was clever in regards to the murderer. I can’t tell you why I think she was clever as you would know immediately who the killer was. A hint of a romance between Garnet and Levi had a Shop Around the Corner/You’ve Got Mail vibe which I enjoyed.

The authors style of writing was a simple, easy passage into the world of the Messy Bookshop Mysteries.

I listened to the audio book, and I have mixed feelings about the narrator. For the most part she was ok, but I did have a hard time connecting with her. I think it was the voice changes that put me off. They just didn’t seem to work.

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Like going home for the holidays

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 06-23-23

Lyndsay is a courageous protagonist and her granny is a feisty senior citizen who enjoys herself and has no turn off button. The rest of the characters fit nicely within the storyline.

The plot was simple, but entertaining. The way the murder occurred was unique and unexpected. The close family atmosphere comes through, loud and clear, throughout the story, and it’s this feeling that makes the story so satisfactory. I really liked the hints of romance for Lyndsay and hope that keeps evolving with future books.

The author is very descriptive with her writing. You can not only picture the bakery easily, but the smells, hit you as well. The story flowed well with wonderful moments of humor, friendship, and family. Recipes are included in the book, which is always a bonus for any cozy mystery reader.

The narrator was excellent. She knew exactly how to bring Lindsay and her family straight to the readers heart.

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Making murder from a craft activity.

Overall
5 out of 5 stars
Performance
5 out of 5 stars
Story
5 out of 5 stars

Reviewed: 04-27-23

I listened to the audio book for this story and loved it. The reader, Alexandra Bitton-Bailey has made the characters her own since she’s been reading the series. Her voices for Anastasia’s mother and her MIL crack me up; spot on.

The main character, Anastasia, is a fantastic character in the world of cozy mysteries. She’s realistic, has mother and MIL issues, she’s trying to raise two boys on her own, deal with a BIL she’s not fond of and recently, she has added a boyfriend to the mix. Zach, the boyfriend is a calming and loving influence on Anastasia. Her mother and MIL fight like cats and dogs and they are totally hilarious as they degrade and battle each other.

Anastasia’s publishing group CEO’s girlfriend is murdered, and he hires her to find out who killed her. In the process, he has Tino, guarding/helping her solve the murder. An interesting mystery made fun by having Anastasia’s mother getting married for the fifth time though she has actually been engaged six times. We learn more about Ira (brother in law) in this book. He has obnoxious, spoiled children and something seems off to Anastasia about him. The solution to the murder was not a surprise, but different scenarios involving that solution caught me completely off guard.

The main thing I like about Ms. Winston’s writing is that Anastasia is so relatable. There are moments of humor and real life scenarios through out the book. She’s fabulous at making murder from a craft activity.

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