Jasmine and Fire: A Bittersweet Year in Beirut by Salma Abdelnour

I don't normally read this type of book, but it sounded interesting.

Salma is a freelance writer who spent her early childhood in Beirut. Her family left Beirut because of the unstable political situation. Her parents wound up in Houston where Salma spent the remainder of her childhood and teen years. During that time she had an overwhelming sense of not belonging. Salma always wanted to go back and after spending several years in New York, made up her mind to take the plunge and live in Beirut for a year. Being a freelance writer it would be easy to work from her homeland.

The decision made she beings to prepare for her trip. Living arrangements are easy since her parents have kept there apartment all these years. Upon her arrival Salma begins to refamiliarize herself with her old neighbor hood.

I really enjoyed the poignant journey that Salma takes. Her struggles to fit in and to find the place that she can call home.

If Errands Could Kill (Minivan Mom Mystery #1) by Jim Bronyaur

Eve Bailey is a typical stay at home mom. She runs errands, cleans the house, does laundry and prepares meals for her husband and three kids. She goes about her business pretty content with her life. She is at the bank check on why a check might have bounced, when she notices one of the employees acting strange. Eve doesn't know Janet very well and is intrigued by her actions. For some reason Eve follows Janet as she leaves the bank. In fact she follows her out of the parking lot when she sees Janet open the door to her gas tank and then drive off.

Eve had no idea that she was about to witness a murder. The police have their theory, but Eve doesn't buy it. Eve innocently set about to figure out why Janet was killed and to make sure she isn't next.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was engaging and the characters were well developed. I liked the antagonism between Charlotte the town gossip and the other characters. It will be interesting to see what other situations Eve will get herself into if there are future books.

A Slice of Life by Margaret Lake

Coulter's restaurant has been apart of Grace's live since she was born. Her parents opened the place not to long before Grace was born. As long as she can remember Grace has been shy around people. She would do whatever she could so that people wouldn't notice her. She is now thirty-seven-years-old. The family restaurant is struggling and Grace thinks that a cookbook might revitalize the family business along with the other businesses in the area. Her idea is for a cookbook with submitted recipes including a bio of the person contributing.

Grace never dreamed that taking that first bus ride, going out of her comfort zone, would changer her live forever.

I loved, loved, loved this story. It is tender and sweet and made me cry. The story flows along taking you along for the ride. It wraps you in its pages so that you become invested in the characters. Beautifully written. I got this free and had no great expectations for it, but what a pleasant surprise.

The Last Word (A Books by the Bay Mystery #3) by Ellery Adams

Love this series, and there is a fourth one in the works. Yeah!!

Olivia is a busy lady these days. She is building a relationship with her half-brother and his family. Olivia is nervous about the upcoming birth of the new addition to the family. She is also rushing to make sure that the opening for her new restaurant will go off without a hitch. All of this while also trying to get her next chapter ready for the Bay Side Writers and figure out how she feels about Chief Rawlings. So there is no surprise that the arrival of Nick Plumley, Booker Prize winning author, arrival in Oyster Bay doesn't really get her too excited.

Nick Plumley seems overly interested in the house that Harris just bought, and when a secret hiding place reveals a painting by Heinrich Kamler. Olivia suspects that Nick somehow knew that there was something hidden in the house. Nick was well known because of the book he wrote about th former prisoner of war camp that was in New Bern. Heinrich Kamler was at the camp and was able to make some money with his paintings.

Olivia goes to show Nick the painting to get his reaction, but finds him dead on the floor of his rented house. Olivia and the Bay Side Writers group get involved with helping the Chief figure out who the guilty person is. If Olivia could see the future she might not have been so willing to help find the murderer.

A great third installment in the Books by the Bay mystery series. I am looking forward to the next installment with great expectation.

Get Fluffy (Pampered Pets Mystery #2) by Sparkle Abbey

This is the 2nd installment in the Pampered Pets series. I was surprised as I started reading that the main character was different in this book than the first. In the first the main person was Caro a pet therapist. In this book the main person is Melanie, Caro's cousin. Melanie have a running feud about a brooch. They keep stealing it from one another.

This book opens up where the last book ended at the Fur Ball. She is accosted at the ball by Tova who accuses Melanie of having fleas at her shop, The Bow Wow Boutique. While they are having there discussion. Mona, the self pronounced bell of the ball decided to get involved. Mona is not very likeable and does whatever she please regardless of how it will affect others. Fluffy is Mona's diva dog.

Several days after the ball Fluffy winds up at Mel's shop. After several unanswered calls to Mona, Melanie decides to drop fluffy off. When she arrives she follows Fluffy into the house only to discover that Mona is dead, struck by Fluffy's Emmy. What follows is Melanie's attempt to steer the police to another suspect, when they begin to focus on her best friend Darby. Melanie ignores police warnings and does her best to figure out who killed Mona.

I enjoyed this installment of the Pampered Pet series just as much as the first. The switch of sleuths threw me, but since Caro was still a character in the story. I love the underlying theme of the brooch. Great story!