Dying to Call You by Elaine Viets

4 Stars

On the run from her ex-husband and once lush life, Helen has found herself working as a telemarketer. Selling septic tank cleaner may not be a fancy life, but it pays her bills...in cash, which is what Helen needs.
One night Helen hears what she thinks is a murder on the phone. The police dismiss her claims and she sets out on her own to uncover the truth. Helen soon gets in over her head. Will she discover who was murdered and why?

This is the 3rd in the Dead-End Job cozy mystery series. It was a fun read.

2017 New to Me Challenge

http://theherdpresents.blogspot.com/2016/12/2017-New-To-Me-Sign-Up.html

1 - Spilled Milk by KL Randis - new author
2 - Here Today, Gone Tamale by Rebecca Adler - New Author/New Series
3 - What She Left Behind by Ellen Wiseman - New Author
4 - We Were Liars by E. Lockhart - New Author
5 - When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead - New Author
6- Clammed Up by Barbara Ross - New Author / New Series
7-Finding Jake by Bryan Reardon  New Author
8 - With Malice by Eileen Cook - New Author
9 - Holding Up the Universe by Jennifer Niven - New Author
10
11
12

The Botox Diaries by Kaplan/Schnurnberger - 3 Stars

Jess and Lucy are best friends facing their 40's and midlife crises. Much to Jess's disappointment, Lucy announces that she's got a lover and Jess is worried Lucy's husband, Dan, will find out. But Jess soon finds herself in the middle of her own love predicament when her sexy, French ex-husband shows back up in her life.

The cover describes the book as an "entertaining look at two women's midlife adventures". While there were adventures, I didn't find the book that entertaining and was skimming over the ending just to finish. I found that Lucy's character was self-centered and flat. Jess was slightly better, but over all the book fell flat for me.

2017 Craving for Cozies Challenge

Craving for Cozies

Peckish, 1-10 Cozy mysteries

1 - Here Today, Gone Tamale by Rebecca Adler

2 - Peach Cobbler Murder by Joanne Fluke 

3 - Clammed Up by Barbara Ross

4 - Cherry Cheesecake Murder by Joanne Fluke 

5

2017 Alphabet Soup Challenge

2017 Alphabet Soup Challenge


A - All Together Dead by Charlaine Harris
B - Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore
C - Clammed Up by Barbara Ross
D
E
F - Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich
G
H - Here Today, Gone Tamale by Rebecca Adler
I - I Was Here by Gayle Forman
J
K
L - Lean Mean Thirteen by Janet Evanovich
M
N
O - The Outliers by Kimberly McCreight
P - Peach Cobbler Murder by Joanne Fluke
Q
R - Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly
S - Spilled Milk by KL Randis
T
U
V
W - What She Left Behind by Ellen Wiseman
X
Y
Z

Twenty Wishes by Debbie Macomber - 5 Stars

Anne Marie is a 38 year old childless widow who is looking to find happiness again. She owns a bookstore on Blossom Street, but feels this isn't enough. On Valentine's Day, her and her other widowed friends get together and decide to make a list of 20 wishes. One of Anne Marie's wishes was to do something good for someone else, so she volunteers to be a Lunch Buddy for an 8 year old girl named Ellen. What she doesn't know is that Ellen will change her life in ways she hadn't even imagined.

The story also follows her friends Barbie and Lillie and their wishes.

Another warm fuzzy by Macomber. This was the 5th in the Blossom Street series , but could also be read as a stand alone. I really enjoyed this one and it made me smile at the end.  :)