This cozy mystery starts out in New Orleans in the Winter Market with Carmela Bertrand and her friend Ava. While there a man, dies right in front of the ladies with a big fork sticking out of his neck. The man, Martin Lash is a food critic for an online website called Glutton for Punishment. Martin is a nasty little man who writes reviews of restaurants that do not put them in the best light. In fact, his reviews hurt the restaurants to the point of no having business and the future of these restaurants are pretty bleak. 

 

So who is the killer? There are numerous suspects, including a friend and previous beau of Carmela's, Quigg Brevard. Martin had written a scathing review of Quigg's restaurant. Carmela is asked by Quigg to use her investigative skills and find out who the killer is. Against the wishes of the man she is currently seeing, Detective Edgar Babcock, she does just that. She also puts herself in extreme danger as she starts digging around. Another man is murdered, is it the same killer or just a coincidence that this man is killed with a butcher knife? Who is the killer and what are his/her motives? Can Carmela stay out of danger?

 

Cozy mysteries are fun to read. I love a good crime thriller but once in a while reading a book where the violence and sex are toned down a bit is nice. Plus the fact that these type of stories are usually in a small community where everyone virtually knows everyone else and the main characters have some type of small business. This is the first book I have read by Laura Childs and I really enjoyed it. The descriptions of this New Orleans community makes the reader feel like they are right there. I found that the business that Carmela has, a scrapbooking store, to be quite interesting. I have never done any scrapbooking but it sounds like a fun hobby. I digress but again, I did enjoy the book, well written with a touch of humor. I may just read more by this author! 

 

"I received a free copy of this book and voluntarily chose to review"

Despite the Boom, Chica, Boom music in many adult films with a plumber or electrician knocks on the door, there are really not all that many heroes or heroines with these skilled trade professions in Romance Novels. Lots of handymen (another porn favorite) and contractors.

 

Here is a list of some very good reads with Heroes and Heroines that are all about water and power.

 

My lists are never in any particular order although a long time reader of this blog with know that Lock from the first book is my favorite hero ever.  

 

1. The Mane Squeeze: Pride Series # 4 by Shelly Laurenston Heroine is a Plumber 

 

Growing up on the tough Philly streets, Gwen O'Neill knows how to fend for herself. But what is she supposed to do with a nice, suburban Jersey boy who has a tendency to turn into a massive Grizzly? Despite his menacing growl and four-inch claws, Gwen finds Lachlan "Lock" MacRyrie cute and really sweet. He actually watches out for her, and unlike the rest of her out-of-control family, manages not to morbidly embarrass her. Too bad cats don't believe in forever.

 

At nearly seven feet tall, Lock is used to people responding to him in two ways: screaming or running away. Gwen--half lioness, half tigress, all kick-ass--does neither. She's sexy beyond belief and smart as hell, but she's so busy protecting her family and friends that she's forgetting about her own safety. Lock probably shouldn't get involved, but he can't simply walk away. Not when Gwen means absolutely everything to him.

 

2. The Bad Boy of Bluebonnet by Jessica Clare

 

Emily Allard-Smith enjoys running her tiny bed and breakfast in quiet Bluebonnet, Texas. The only problem? It’s haunted, and she’s got no one to call when things go bump in the night.

Enter Jericho Lozada. He’s tall, sexy, mohawked, and good with his hands. He’s also not scared of Em’s ghost. And just when Em decides that she needs a man in her life with lots and lots of tattoos…her ex shows up again.

Now Emily has to figure out if she wants to keep a hold on the ghosts of her past…or look into a future with Jericho. But does Jericho even want a future with her?

 

3. The Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society: A Novel by Darien Gee

 

At Madeline’s Tea Salon, the cozy hub of the Avalon community, local residents scrapbook their memories and make new ones. But across town, other Avalonians are struggling to free themselves of the past: Isabel Kidd is fixing up her ramshackle house while sorting through the complications of her late husband’s affair. Ava Catalina is mourning the love of her life and helping her young son grow up without his father. Local plumber Yvonne Tate is smart, beautiful, and new to Avalon, but finds that despite a decade of living life on her own terms, the past has a way of catching up—no matter where she goes. And Frances Latham, mother to a boisterous brood of boys, eagerly anticipates the arrival of a little girl from China—unprepared for the emotional roller coaster of foreign adoption.
 
Enter Bettie Shelton, the irascible founder of the Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society. Under Bettie’s guidance, even the most reluctant of Avalon’s residents come to terms with their past and make bold decisions about their future. But when the group receives unexpected news about their steadfast leader, they must pull together to create something truly memorable.
 
By turns humorous, wise, and deeply moving, The Avalon Ladies Scrapbooking Society is a luminous reminder that the things we hold most dear will last a lifetime.

 

4. Small-Town Dad (Love Inspired) by Jean C. Gordon Hero is an electrician. 

 

Small-town electrician Neal Hazard gave up his dreams years ago to raise his daughter. Now it's his turn to make those dreams a reality. But when his community college advisor turns out to be his high school prom date, he can't believe his eyes. Widowed Anne is more beautiful than he remembers, and completely wrapped up in her career. But when she suddenly becomes guardian to an orphaned toddler, it's Neal's turn to teach Anne a few things. Maybe together, they'll learn how priorities, parenthood and love truly fit together to create a family.

 

5. By the Book (Jamesville) by N.J. Walters

 

Amanda Barrington hopes Jamesville is the right place for her rare-book business—and her new life. The moving truck barely pulls away before both are off to a rousing start. It’s not her new customer that’s caught her attention, though. It’s the customer’s brother, Jonah Sutter.

From the moment cynical, ex-military Jonah sets eyes on Amanda, he burns for her like a house afire—which is what she’s going to have if she doesn’t get her house’s electrical system overhauled. He knows he’s not a forever kind of guy, but he’s more than willing to be her fix-it man. In more ways than one.

When unexpected danger threatens, Jonah finds himself dealing with more than just the desire to get Amanda into bed.

Protecting her means moving in, which exposes them both to a new danger—losing their hearts.

 

6. Single Wolf Female (Midnight Liaisons Book 4)  by Jessica Sims

 

Alice Savage needs an alpha – any alpha – to prevent her pack from being usurped by the lecherous Roscoe. As a last resort, she signs up for the Midnight Liaisons dating service, never expecting that she’d find the alpha she seeks. She certainly didn’t expect Jackson Wilder, a laid back, sexy-as-sin outsider who claims to be an alpha.

But Alice has a problem that most female wolf alphas don’t — she’s a virgin. And the female alpha of a wolf pack always belongs to a male alpha. Luckily for her, Jackson’s utterly gorgeous and willing to take things slow. But is he alpha enough to help her save her pack…or is he too easy-going to be the man she needs?

 

7. Better Off Without Him  by Dee Ernst

 

ona Berman has it all—a twenty-year marriage, a successful career as a romance novelist, and three teenage daughters. But when her husband, Brian, leaves her for someone younger, thinner, blonde, and French, she has to step back and take a good, long look at her life.

First, her career. She can’t continue to write about “Happily Ever After,” so she changes the heroine of her new book from a hot young thing to a forty-something woman who manages to find happiness without a man. Her agent isn’t too happy—the heroine is how old? She doesn’t get the guy in the end? How is that even possible?

 

But Mona is tough, and she’s got Anthony, her personal assistant, and a few good friends to cheer her on and keep the stiff martinis flowing. And Ben. Ben is her plumber, but not your average plumber. He’s smart enough to know that Brian was never good enough for her, and sexy enough to be cast as the romantic lead in quite a few of her books. The sound of his voice alone can send her imagination into full romantic overdrive.

 

Then she meets Mitch, who might be just the guy for her. And there’s still Ben, who’s managed to come to her rescue more than once. But—there’s a book to publish, a soon-to-be-ex-husband to deal with, and what has Aunt Lily done this time?

 

Can Mona work this all out? Can life imitate art, and can Mona write her own happy ending?

 

8. Too Friendly to Date by Nicole Helm

 

Okay, pretending her sexy boss is her boyfriend is more like a huge white lie. But electrician Leah Santino will take the risk. If her parents think she has someone, they won't go back to smothering her, and they can all be a family again. 

 

Problem is, Jacob McKnight isn't just her boss—he's her friend. And faking a relationship when the Santinos come to visit means those sparks she's always tried to ignore are hotter than ever. This thing between them is starting to feel real, but Leah has a very good reason to stay independent. Unless that's one lie that's outlived its purpose…

 

9. The Season for Love: by Shannon Stacey

 

Holiday Sparks
Chloe Burke thinks upgrading the electrical system of her childhood home while her parents are away would make the perfect Christmas gift. Fortunately, there's an electrician in town who can get the job done by the holidays. A little festive fun is just what she needs, but could their holiday fling turn out to be the real thing?

 

10. Driving Her Wild by Meg Maguire

 

Winning is good. Succumbing is even better… 

Evasion 

 

Recently retired pro MMA fighter Steph Healy is through having rough-and-tumble romps with sexy blue-collar dudes. Unfortunately, Wilinski's Fight Academy has hired an electrician with a body built to make a gal weep. And avoiding some full-body contact is taking all of Steph's self-control. 

 

Grapple 

 

Carpenter-turned-electrician Patrick Doherty is damn good with his hands. Sure, he's not what Steph is looking for—yet. But he's about to prove that she has seriously underestimated her opponent…. 

 

Submission 

 

The moment Patrick has her deliciously pinned, Steph knows she's in deep, deep trouble. Because this seemingly mild carpenter has the mastery to give her exactly what she needs…and this is one takedown she's willing to take lying down!

 

 

I would love to know your favorite plumber or electrician in Romance.

 

To vote for the best of the best, go to my Goodreads list: Water & Lights: Plumbers and Electricians in Romance.

 

 

Scrapbook Tips & Techniques by Crafts Media LLC
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


A few of the things I look for in a good craft book are:

Can you use the content long term or is it more trendy?
In general, when it comes to books, I'll take electronic or paperback; I'm not picky. But, when it comes to books about arts and crafts I want the actual book, in my hands, where I can keep going back to it. I've owned this book for a couple years now, and I am always pulling it off my shelf to look something up. All you have to do is update the paper and the notions and the finished page looks current, but still classic.


The cost to content ratio:
The fact that this comes from Creating Keepsakes makes purchasing it somewhat of no brainer (for me at least). Generally speaking, if I like a company's monthly magazines, I'm going to love their "idea books", and that holds true for this one. Getting 288 pages, full of USEFUL content, for around $17, you really couldn't ask for more. It covers the basics of many techniques, making it easy to experiment, so for the basic, not so tech-y scrap booker, this is perfect for you.


The book's focus:
This one covers just about everything. There are tips and tricks on paper quilting, printing on ribbon, and making interactive titles. While I should be using the chapter "From Chaos to Order" the most (I am ridiculously unorganized!!), the chapter I found most useful was "25 ways to include more photos". I'm constantly finding myself adapting my layouts to fit in these little hidden albums.


With over 700 tricks and techniques in it, this is the book version of a "jack of all trades". There's a little bit of something for everyone.

View all my reviews

Designed to Death was right up my alley.  A little humour, a little romance but mainly a lot of mystery.  Definitely in my favorite genre, American Cozy mysteries.

Faith works in her grandmothers' scrapbooking shop, Scrap This.  They have a special event planned with a local celebrity scrapper which turns into an all out brawl.  When one of the main participants turns up dead later that day, Faith needs to find out who the murderer is to save her grandmothers and their store from disaster, not to mention clearing her own name. Her involvement with the D.A. and the local homicide detective make her investigations even more interesting.

Designed to Death is set in a small town and that atmosphere really comes through. It's got a light  feel to it.  It emphasizes family relationship and friends in a positive way, something I appreciate after some of the books I've read lately. I know nothing about scrapbooking but that doesn't detract from the story.  I felt like I learned quite a bit about the subject through this book. This is the second in the series and I think it would have been better to read the first one first, but I still enjoyed this immensely and wouldn't hesitate to recommend this to anyone who likes an entertaining cozy mystery.

I received this through Netgalley and appreciated the opportunity to read and review it.

Audiobook Review Copy Provided By Publisher (Tantor Media)I’m really conflicted over my review for this book. I really enjoyed the premise behind the story and the story itself, but I really struggled with the writing style. There was something cozy about getting to know the citizens of Avalon, Illinois (although, I was kind of bummed to see that it wasn’t a real town because I wanted to pick up and move there). Darien Gee did a great job in developing her characters – I felt like I had grown up with them, that I was a citizen of the town.But at the same time, I really struggled with the writing style. Specifically, that it was written in this weird third person, present tense – and it felt awkward. My editor in my brain wanted me to go through with a red pen and either put it in first person, alternating POV or third person, past tense. My other issue was that at the same time, while I loved the wide variety of characters, a few times there were too many…I wish that she had stuck to the main women – there were a few cameos where someone was introduced and then nothing was ever mentioned about them again…it kind of felt disjointed and missing something. I would also caution that if you haven’t read Friendship Bread, that you might feel like you are missing something – I know that I haven’t and there were a few places where I was scratching my head.I also strugged a few places with the narration. I don’t know if its because I’ve been spoiled recently by multiple narrators in audiobooks, but I wanted more. This would have been, (IMHO) a great opportunity for a multiple narrator book – with each main character having a different person narrate it. My mind just wasn’t transiting well between the voice for Betty (a 70 year old woman) and Ava (a mid-20′s young woman) to Isabelle (early 40′s)…but I will admit that it could got better as the narration progressed – so maybe it was just a matter of re-accustoming my ears to a single narrator. It would probably also good that there were limited male voices and those that there were, were mostly cameos – there were no main male characters.Overall, I gave the writing/story 2 stars (mainly due to my struggles with the writing style used) and the narration 3 stars, so 2.5 stars overall. Which is kind of disappointing because I thought it had so much potential (maybe I had hyped it up to myself a bit too much…)