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readerme269's review against another edition
3.0
this was a 3.5 star for me..
Enjoyed the characters in this book. It was a little slow moving and seemed overboard on some details.. But overall not too bad and I will give it a try again when book 2 is available :)
tlcollier1's review against another edition
4.0
A charming cozy mystery indeed. This series takes place in Michigan, in a fictional town that seems so real I was intent on visiting. Being from Michigan myself, I know that the author has taken great care in describing very accurately what it is like to live in a quaint town in our fair state. Oh, and there is a mystery to solve as well!
pumpkin_am's review against another edition
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
suedonymous's review against another edition
4.0
This rating is for its genre. I had just finished a fairly intense book and was bogged down in another when I decided it had to be time for a cozy mystery. Well, this is very true to its genre and quite well written. There was pretty respectable character development I don't often see in mysteries. Also, the lead was not a ditherer and she didn't jump into a predictable romance. So it was a fun read. Not super challenging but sure enjoyable. I'll be sure to read the next in the series!
shemeladyv's review against another edition
3.0
While I LOVE a cozy mystery, this one just didn’t deliver like most of the others. To be fair, I listened to the audiobook and found the narrator a bit boring. I was looking forward to hearing more about the vintage items and maybe a bit more cooking, perhaps some recipes, but this didn’t deliver on any of those expectations.
On a positive note, Michigan is my hometown. It was great to hear of places that reminded me of home.
I won’t be returning to this series.
On a positive note, Michigan is my hometown. It was great to hear of places that reminded me of home.
I won’t be returning to this series.
book_concierge's review against another edition
2.0
2.5**
From the book jacket: When vintage cookware and cookbook collector Jaymie Leighton spies an original 1920s Hoosier-brand kitchen cabinet at an estate auction, it’s love at first sight. Despite the protests of her sister, Rebecca, that the nineteenth-century house they share is already too cluttered with Jaymie’s junk, she successfully outbids the other buyers and takes home her Hoosier. But that night on the summer porch where she’s left the Hoosier to be cleaned up, a man is murdered – struck on the head with the steel meat grinder that is part of the cabinet.
My reactions
True confession, I picked this up solely because I needed a cover image of “something broken” and this fit the bill.
I liked the basic premise of this new cozy series, including the small-town setting, the interplay between the sisters, and the cast of (potentially) recurring colorful characters. I even like her little three-legged dog, Hopalong. But Jaymie herself just irritated me. They way she went about doing her own investigation and the obviously ill-advised choices she made and dangerous chances she took just had me shaking my head.
Still, it was a fast, entertaining read, and I’d be willing to read another in the series.
From the book jacket: When vintage cookware and cookbook collector Jaymie Leighton spies an original 1920s Hoosier-brand kitchen cabinet at an estate auction, it’s love at first sight. Despite the protests of her sister, Rebecca, that the nineteenth-century house they share is already too cluttered with Jaymie’s junk, she successfully outbids the other buyers and takes home her Hoosier. But that night on the summer porch where she’s left the Hoosier to be cleaned up, a man is murdered – struck on the head with the steel meat grinder that is part of the cabinet.
My reactions
True confession, I picked this up solely because I needed a cover image of “something broken” and this fit the bill.
I liked the basic premise of this new cozy series, including the small-town setting, the interplay between the sisters, and the cast of (potentially) recurring colorful characters. I even like her little three-legged dog, Hopalong. But Jaymie herself just irritated me. They way she went about doing her own investigation and the obviously ill-advised choices she made and dangerous chances she took just had me shaking my head.
Still, it was a fast, entertaining read, and I’d be willing to read another in the series.
melanietalksbooks's review against another edition
1.0
I was between one star or five stars through the entire book. It was a book so bad that it was amazing! You know, like Manos the Hands of Fate. I could not stop laughing at "summer porch" and "Hoosier." I mean, if I were trying to pick up a mystery I would NOT get this book. I believe that much like The Mummy from Universal's dark universe, the author decided to start a universe rather than write a good book. She included too many characters. The plot was filled with unnecessary details. This is not even mentioning the fact that the main character wants to live in the colonial times, when women were considered property. She has no job and that is super sad. Rather than having a strong female, the main character spent six months wondering why the guy she was dating left her. Maybe it was because she has no job, uses "summer porch" and "hoosier" too much, asks too many questions, or because she is a hoarder. I'm probably going to read the next book, mostly because at one point I was laughing so hard at the stupidity of this book that I had tears in my eyes from laughing so hard. I will definitely borrow it from the library because there is now way in hades I'm paying for this book.
rynflynn12's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
rebelbelle13's review against another edition
4.0
I had a lot of fun with this cozy mystery. You have to remember while reading these to not take the story or the characters too seriously. They aren't supposed to be the next great American classic. They are meant to be fast, fun, entertaining reads. There are a few minor sticking points, as there always seem to be with these- Jaymie isn't the smartest main character, she second guesses herself, asks way too many questions and hides important information from police. That being said, she's also quite brave, independent, stands up for what she wants and believes in, and is always quick to help out her neighbors and friends. She's also strong and resilient in getting over her boyfriend, Joel walking out on her.
The other reason I hesitate to rate this cozy a 5 star is it seems to lack editing. There's way too many mentions of the names 'summer porch' and 'Hoosier' and the fact that Canada is a ferry ride away. We get it, Hamilton. You only need to say those things a few times, not every other page. That aside, I loved all of the mention of vintage kitchen implements and recipes. My mother had a huge collection of these things while I was growing up, so I was familiar with everything Jaymie mentioned in the book. It was like a warm hug from the past.
The mystery was engaging and interesting, and I didn't have it figured out until the reveal. I don't like the fact that it seems that Jaymie is headed for a love triangle- so perhaps I won't be reading the next one in this series.
All in all, it was satisfying and fun.
The other reason I hesitate to rate this cozy a 5 star is it seems to lack editing. There's way too many mentions of the names 'summer porch' and 'Hoosier' and the fact that Canada is a ferry ride away. We get it, Hamilton. You only need to say those things a few times, not every other page. That aside, I loved all of the mention of vintage kitchen implements and recipes. My mother had a huge collection of these things while I was growing up, so I was familiar with everything Jaymie mentioned in the book. It was like a warm hug from the past.
The mystery was engaging and interesting, and I didn't have it figured out until the reveal. I don't like the fact that it seems that Jaymie is headed for a love triangle- so perhaps I won't be reading the next one in this series.
All in all, it was satisfying and fun.