23. High Heels are Murder by Elaine Viets

This is he second installment in the Mystery Shopper series featuring Josie Marcus, my favorite sleuth shopper. This one started out with what I thought was a steamy scene from Josie's high school days but turned out to be her present reality. Josh and her seem to be getting hot and heavy...we will see where this goes. In this story, Josie is to mystery shop a shoe store where a very slimy salesman named Mel seems to be a little too interested in women's feet if you know what I mean. Unfortunately for Mel he gets fired and then permanently silenced. I do enjoy the fact that the nosy neighbor is snubbed in this one. A great read that makes me want to continue to see how the next assignment goes.

22. Homicide in Hardcover by Kate Carlisle

This is the first book in the Bibliophile series and I cannot wait for the next one. Unfortunately I read faster than she writes and this book was released this year so I am sure I will have at least 6 months to wait. This story was intriguing from the very beginning. Brooklyn, a book restorer, is put in charge of Faust by Goethe. Of course this book is said to carry a curse but she does not believe it at all. From the description of the Covington library I absolutely want to go there, but of course it is fiction so it will remain a place in my mind. A handsome British detective also plays into the plot and boy is he a catch. After Brooklyn's mentor Abraham is viciously murdered in the splendid library with the Faust found in his jacket with his arms wrapped around it, she is determined to find out who has done this. But will she be able to find out who done it before she becomes another victim?

Definitely a 5/5

21. Cherry Cheesecake Murder by Joanne Fluke

It's Hannah Swensen again!! This follows after the proposal in Peach Cobbler and I wanted to know what happened. I loved this one because a new love interest entered the picture. Boy did Mike & Norman have a fit of jealously! Main street became the scene of a Hollywood movie and murder. The prop gun apparently was not a prop after all and Hannah has to figure out who did it.

20. Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

OMG this was such an amazing read. This book is a young adult novel but it was absolutely captivating. I really enjoyed her Gregor series and this one did not disappoint me at all. This story reminds me of Shirley Jackson's 'The Lottery' in context. Katniss is such a wonderful main character and the relationship between her Pietra is a nice one to follow. I hope it continues in the next one. The next book comes out September 1st and I cannot wait. I am hoping for a midnight release party!

19. Photo Finished by Laura Childs

This is the 2nd installment in the scrapbook mystery series by Laura Childs. I have enver read her tea series but I am sure that it is just as good. I love the characters in this series especially Shamus. I sure hope that Carmela and him end up back together although Glory Meechum is such a bear of a sister-in-law. This story takes us into the celebrations of New Orleans and the art museum world. Apparentl;y there is not only painting forgery that goes all but a whole lot more. I enjoyed this one and cannot wait to pick up the next one.