November Reading List - Part 1

Yay !! I've finished 100 books this year with a month to spare!! Let's see how far I go on December !!

Good reading this month too. I still have so much books to read though! Barely made a dent in my TBR pile and books are piling up again!! I haven't even finished with twilight yet.

03. Jasmine Moon Murder ( Tea Shop Mysteries 5) by Laura Childs Rating: B

"Indigo Tea Shop owner Theodosia Browning is catering a Charleston benefit, a "Ghost Crawl" through Jasmine Cemetery. But the organizer, Dr. Davis, won't get to enjoy the festivities: during the Crawl's theatrical number, he drops dead. It looks like foul play-but how could such an upstanding citizen have enemies?
With a nose for trouble, Theodosia starts stirring things up with her own investigation to find the do-badder. But before long, chasing down the culprit gets her in hot water up to her neck."

book 5 in Laura Childs Tea shop mysteries takes us back to the Indigo Tea shop with Theodosia and the gang. I always love their camaraderie and team dynamics. Honestly, I don't know if it was just me but Jory kind of came out very needy here. Relationship based on gratitude and all that. I don't really see any developement in their relationship and we're well in book 5 already. Where's the passion hehe in a genteel kind of way. Come on, Theodosia shows more affection to Earl Grey than Jory. The book was a good read though.  That connection came out of nowhere. I look forward to the next book in the series.

02. Chamomile Mourning ( Tea Shop Mysteries 6) by Laura Childs Rating B

"At Charleston's Spoleto festival, tea shop owner Theodosia Browning is far from festive when the Poet's Tea is forced indoors by rain. But rain proves to be the least of her problems after a local auction house owner plummets from a balcony to his death-and it looks like someone helped him over the edge.
With a full kettle of suspects, Theodosia investigates and uncovers a criminal enterprise of art forgery, fraud--and murder--that leads her into the murky swamps of the South Carolina Lowcountry. Now, she's hot on the heels of a criminal who plans on showing her just how dangerous it is to stick her sensitive nose where it doesn't belong."

I have to admit that I'm starting to get an idea of how Childs chooses her killer, it's the least likely new character that ha sabsolutely no connection to the deceased or has no apparant motive. Like in this book, I kinda guessed who was the murderer just not the who. The confrontation was more exciting than normal though but a cozy is a cozy. We say goodbye to Jory here. I know he's all happy about his opportunity and all that but to suddenly turn insensitive when he supposedly is in tune with Theodosia in the other books that it's too comfortable.

01. Blood Orange Brewing ( Tea Shop Mysteries 7) by Laura Childs B-

"Social darling Delaine Dish is throwing a lavish Candlelight Concert to raise funds to restore a run-down Victorian home-and Theodosia Browning is more than happy to help out with tea and tasty treats from the Indigo Tea Shop.
Unfortunately, the unveiling of Theo's opulent spread proves to be far from grand after retired CEO and beloved politico Duke Wilkes falls to the floor with a jagged piece of metal protruding from his neck. When the Widow Wilkes begs Theo to apply her sleuthing skills, she can't refuse. But her investigation opens up a simmering pot of shady politics and personal payback, and Theo soon finds herself in a situation stickier than any jam she's ever served."

Wow the crime here was as far and you can get, poor birds. I like how Childs incorporated an issue here but at the same time I thought that the mystery wasn't as thought out as it should be. Theodosia spents 3/4 of the books going nowhere and then when the incident with Earl Grey came about, which I didn't get why there was a need for that to happen, barrels off foolishly. Delaine is still annoying as ever. We are also introduced to a new love interest for Theodosia but I see the same pattern developing as with Jory. I hope Childs would spend some time to develope tehir relationship too

01. Dragonwell Dead ( Tea Shop Mysteries 8) by Laura Childs rating B+

"It's springtime in Charleston and just about every species of South Carolina's flora is in full and glorious bloom at the Spring Plantation Ramble. Once a year, the upper crust open their sprawling gardens to the public, the site of flower shows, rare plant auctions, and a contagious spring fever. Although Theodosia Browning barely knows a Phalinopsis from a Bog Rose, she still enjoys the Ramble, especially since she can pour tea and promote her Indigo Tea Shop-and her latest concoction, Dragonwell Sweet Tea."

I admit that I did like this better than the previous one, this one came out smoother. The murder and the consequencial events that happened were very sad. I really felt for the poor widow. The motive came out more plausible despite all the other BIG suspect signs pointed to the other characters. Sadly there's not so much mention of Parker and Theodosia this time, except for the whole canoe thing. After reading this book, I eagerly await the next book in the series.