Anna St. James is the owner and landlady of Moon River Boarding House. In the early mornings, she enjoys a walk with her dog Huck and stops to capture the scenic landscape and nature's beauty with her watercolors. Opinions are mixed about the anticipated arrival of Nathaniel Smith, a new boarder, and the first mysterious impressions he creates raise concerns. It's only one puzzle for Anna to solve as a pirate reenactment turns to realism.

I loved the introduction to life on Frostfall Island. show more The setting of Frostfall Island is picturesque: an island off the east coast with views of the Atlantic Ocean from all sides of the island and the necessity of a ferry ride on the SS Salty Bottom to the mainland. The provision of a map at the beginning of the novel enhances the reader's experience. The diverse backgrounds of the characters are a delight. Anna is a woman you'd love to know in real life with a multitude of talents, from artist to landlady to chef to sleuth. I had a suspicion about Nathaniel Smith, and until it was verified, I loved the pace and build to reveal his background and reason for becoming a boarder away from the mainland.

The author's descriptive writing was a joy to read, creating vivid imagery or feelings that you've felt but couldn't have described so perfectly and therefore appreciated even more. A few favorites:

Anna’s favorite time of day for enjoying time as a watercolor artist outdoors "…I preferred to catch nature just before it went from inconspicuous to glorious. It was like spotting and admiring a movie star long before anyone else noticed their potential."
Friend Molly why she doesn’t care about a few wrinkles or a little chin sagging… "Each new line or sag is another year that I got through this wonderful adventure called life."
Anna’s thoughts on a restless night… "They were noisy, active and jumpy as a bunch of toddlers in a bounce house."

I highly recommend a visit to Frostfall Island. show less

Mar 14, 2024

Courtagonist 58 reviews

Founders' Day Fiasco: Paranormal Cozy Mystery (Firefly Junction Cozy Mystery Book 13) by London Lovett

London Lovett is an auto-buy author for me. She has a way of making the worlds she builds so cozy and the characters so relatable. Sunni is trying to figure out what she wants in life. With the inn almost done and the prospect of having strangers in her house along with her ghost friend, she is thinking twice about leaving her dream job for something new and different.

After an unexpected turn of events Sunni finds herself in the running to be lead report, again, and is given the Founder's show more Day Parade event to write about. Little did she know that while the floats look amazing on the street hold more than a little drama and even a dead body.

Sunni is really becoming herself in this one and I love the idea that she is really trying to be true to what she wants in life. I really loved this new installment of Firefly Junction and can't wait for the next. show less

Aug 15, 2022

Vesper1931 4,814 reviews

Murder on Lot B (Starfire Cozy Mystery #1) by London Lovett

1923 Los Angeles. Poppy and Jasper Stafford of the Starfire Detective Agency are hired by Anna Colton. To investigate the death of her stuntman brother Roger 'Rowdy' James. A death the police have declared an accident.
Jasper was a bit of an annoying character, and Poppy really should dress for the occasion especially when partaking in an illegal activity.
Overall an enjoyable cozy historical mystery.

Jul 29, 2021

thedenathome 111 reviews

Marigolds and Murder (Port Danby Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) by London Lovett

Lacey Pinkerton, a florist newly arrived in Port Danby, has an extraordinary nose, a "million dollar" nose. Why? It is extremely sensitive and so can discern fragrances better than virtually everyone else on earth. But, it also brings some difficulties with it: she can become overwhelmed by either very strong odours or huge numbers of scents coming at her quickly. (Seems a little strange that she would choose to become a florist, but at least flowers smell nice.) As a Cozy Mystery, there is show more always an element of romance as well as a mystery of some sort. In this case her next door neighbour and a police detective. What will she do? Oh, the mystery is not that, of course. One of her neighbours is found lying in her pumpkin patch with her head inside a smashed pumpkin, her potential prize winning biggest pumpkin which is now destroyed.
So what happened? It is actually more interesting (to me, at least) to see how her nose plays a part in the solution. Lovett has created a quirky town with some fun characters with individual traits to carry on the plot. Well written, interesting, but sort of pedestrian at the same time.
I would call it pleasant beach reading. show less

Jun 13, 20232 other reviews

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