Home » Posts tagged 'Sedona'
Tag Archives: Sedona
Reading Between the Lies–murder in Sedona
Reading Between the Lies
by Lynn Cahoon
There are a lot of characters in Reading Between the Lies, but the protagonist is Rarity Cole, a cancer survivor who quit her high pressure job to found The Next Chapter, a bookstore in Sedona, Arizona. She tries to make the most out of every day, and she treats her friends, her customers, and her employees with respect. Her boyfriend is Archer who owns a hiking and touring business.
This novel finds Rarity and the book club of amateur sleuths that meet with her on Tuesdays trying to prove Archer innocent of a murder and then determine the actual perpetrator of the crime. The investigation is clouded by other offenses committed in Sedona around the same time as well as the relationships of various characters.
Although Killer, Rarity’s Yorkie, is her almost constant companion, he doesn’t play an essential role in the story, but his inclusion is fun. A touching side plot is the developing relationship of Terrence, Rarity’s neighbor, and Shirley, who works part time at the bookshop and is known as “Sedona’s grandmother.” Shirley’s husband has dementia and doesn’t even recognize her, but Shirley is committed to their marriage.
The setting is a big part of the book with an emphasis on “certified” vortexes. A large corporation buys up some land with claims there is a vortex at its heart. They open an art gallery and pursue their plans for a time share. What role will this resort community play in Sedona and does it hold a motivation for murder?
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: 1. #4 in the Survivors’ Book Club Mystery Series. I think it might be enjoyed better if you don’t jump into this series in the middle, but the author is meticulous about introducing previous characters as they appear in this book.
2. This book includes a recipe for quiche written in a folksy style.
Publication: August 6, 2024—Kensington
Memorable Lines:
“Once you stare death in the face, other problems don’t seem so dire.”
“The Next Chapter is a judgment-free zone. I don’t care what you read as long as you use a bookmark. Now, that’s the sign of a real monster, not what you wear or who you date.”
“I do like playing with investigations but if it was my job? I think I’d be depressed. I hate the fact that people would hurt other people for any reason.”
Death in the Romance Aisle–cozy mystery in a bookstore setting
Death in the Romance Aisle
by Lynn Cahoon
As a cancer survivor, Lynn Cahoon, made an unusual decision with her Survivors’ Book Club Mystery Series. Her protagonist Rarity is also a cancer survivor who leaves her corporate, big city life behind to open a small town book store which she names The Next Chapter. Within that context she starts a book club for cancer survivors. The goal is not to read books about cancer, but to bond with others who have experienced similar journeys. They mainly read mysteries and have a subgroup formed to informally investigate local murders that affect them in some way. In Death in the Romance Aisle, the murder victim is a new part-time employee at the bookstore.
Cahoon’s excellent writing skills are on display throughout Death in the Romance Aisle. There is tension related to the murder investigation especially when Rarity becomes a target. The characters are interesting with many of them becoming for Rarity the family she never had as they form bonds, support each other, and exhibit the dependability necessary to keep Rarity safe and the bookstore operating. Cahoon also includes romance threads. Rarity is dating Archer who owns a hiking tour service in Sedona, Arizona, and their relationship matures as they adapt to each other’s work needs. Rarity’s best friend is Sam who is dating the local police detective Drew. When Sam’s brother Marcus becomes a suspect, there is discord in Sam and Drew’s relationship. There are many other suspects, however, and thus the murder investigation and this book’s plot is involved. Cahoon also demonstrates her talents by including humor and friction among friends. Lastly, one of the characters is Killer, a little Yorkie that Rarity adopted when its owner died. He goes with her to work and is much loved by everyone. I just love his name.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: 1. #3 in the Survivors’ Book Club Mystery Series, but could be read as a standalone.
2. It includes a recipe for Marbled Pumpkin and Chocolate Brownies that sounds delicious.
3. I enjoyed watching Rarity’s thinking as she develops ideas for improving her bookstore. She is very open to the ideas and suggestions of others, but she evaluates them carefully. Also, she always has notebooks at hand—one for the murder investigations and another for to-do lists and reminders.
Publication: September 9, 2023—Kensington (Lyrical Press)
Memorable Lines:
“We don’t want to have a killer running around free. It’s not a good draw for the town festivals.” Malia laughed spitting out her coffee. She wiped it up with the arm of her hoodie.
The one thing she’d learned after having cancer was that tomorrow wasn’t promised to anyone. And if you had a dream, you needed to fight for it. She was living her dream. Good or bad, she’d jumped. And her life was better for taking the chance. A lot better. Not just in her career, but in her life. She had a community here. And no one was going to rip that apart.
“That woman is a ball of energy. She sucks all the energy from the room, then shoots it back out at people, covered in pink and red donut sprinkles. She light up the entire store when she’s here.”
Secrets in the Stacks–supporting friends
Secrets in the Stacks
by Lynn Cahoon
The Survivor’s Book Club is for women who are currently undergoing or have finished treatment for breast cancer. It was founded by Rarity, a local bookstore owner and cancer survivor. The group does not actually read books about cancer, but their background gives them an unspoken bond and perspective. When one of the club members discovers her grandmother murdered in their home, the group shifts into high gear to support their friend, clear her of suspicion, and help discover the real murderer.
As is usual with a Lynn Cahoon book, Secrets in the Stacks has an intricate plot, great characters, and a lot of surprises. Cahoon actually discovered cozy mysteries when she was going through breast cancer treatments herself and realized that writing is what she really wanted to do. She has been very successful with several popular series to her credit, but this is the first one that draws on her experiences with cancer treatment and survival.
Rarity is supported by a group of friends who are Sedona, Arizona, locals. She is close friends with Drew, a detective, but the romantic interest in the story is Archer, an athletic man who leads group hikes in the surrounding area. Rarity has her dog Killer, a Pomeranian, with her almost constantly. As the boss, she can even take her well-trained dog, who has a great instinct about people, to work with her.
The murdered grandmother was well-loved in the community, but no one seemed to know anything about her life before she and her teenaged son moved to Sedona. The group decides that something from her past could be a motivation for the crime. The deeper they delve, the more complications arise.
The ending is dramatic, action-packed, and surprising. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: 1. #2 in the Survivors’ Book Club Mystery Series, but could be read as a standalone as Cahoon provides any background information needed.
2. Sedona is often associated with new-age beliefs so there are several references to tarot cards as well as one to crystals and sending out good wishes through the universe. Some of the characters believe in the “mystical part” of the tarot card reading and others don’t. As a Christian, I avoid the occult, but there are few enough references and enough skepticism on the part of the characters that I am able to read this book. It is not a predominant theme.
3. Includes a recipe for Hamburger Stew.
Publication: November 1, 2022—Kensington Books (Lyrical Press)
Memorable Lines:
“…running my own business is harder than I thought it would be. Every time I think I see a light at the end of the tunnel, it turns out to be a train.”
She’d worked out her negative feelings about what Shirley had said without confronting the woman. Sometimes you just needed to realize it was you and not them.
The book club was more than just a bunch of women reading books. Or even poking their noses into an investigation, or now, two. They were there for each other.
The Tuesday Night Survivors’ Club–a new bookshop
The Tuesday Night Survivors’ Club
by Lynn Cahoon
If anyone could write a cozy mystery about a book club formed to gather and support breast cancer survivors, it would be Lynn Cahoon. As survivors these women share a background that leaves some things unspoken, but understood. They are not choosing books about breast cancer, however. They select a mystery for their first read, but soon find themselves involved in a real-life murder mystery.
In The Tuesday Night Survivors’ Club, the founder of the club is Rarity who owns the new bookstore that sponsors the group. She has left her stressful, big city job for the slower pace of being her own boss in Sedona, AZ. Her best friend is Sam who owns a crystal shop and makes jewelry. There are two romantic interests: Drew, a detective, and Archer, a lawyer turned hiking guide.
The murder of one of the group members turns them all into amateur sleuths investigating potential suspects and ferreting out motivations. Not everyone is who they seem to be. Rarity also finds the original, limited membership concept for the club expanding as others pitch in to help with the investigation. I thought I had figured out the murderer from a clue mentioned early on, but I was wrong. The investigation turns dangerous and the ending is a surprise. I can’t wait for the next book in this new series.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Rating: 5/5
Category: Mystery
Notes: #1 in the Survivors’ Book Club Mystery Series
Publication: June 14, 2022—Kensington
Memorable Lines:
Action was rewarded. Worrying never did anyone any favors.
Welcome to the sisterhood. The cost of joining was just living through a disease that tried to kill you. And you had to wear pink for the rest of your life. (A rule that Rarity ignored since she hated pink.)
“There have been times in my life when I questioned whether Edith and I were ‘meant to be.’ Whether or not she was my soul mate. But I always come back to the fact that our lives together are what we make of them. Don’t hold out for a fantasy when real life is more rewarding.”
education pathways 