Summer Reading Challenge reads

Finally I am posting about the books I have read for the Summer Reading Challenge:

The Merlot Murders: A Wine Country Mystery by Ellen Crosby

From the website:

Someone wants to buy the 500 acre farm and vineyard located at the foothills of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains which has belonged to Lucie Montgomery’s family since colonial days. And they are apparently willing to commit murder to get it.

When Lucie’s father Leland dies under questionable circumstances, the vineyard passes to his three children. But Lucie, who has been living in France for several years, quickly discovers that her brother and sister can’t wait to nail up the “For Sale” sign while she is the lone holdout for reviving the ailing winery.

All too soon it’s clear she’s the new target of whoever wants her family’s land. With a growing list of suspects - including the new cut-rate vintner her father hired shortly before he died - Lucie must act quickly to uncover the identity of a killer who seems disturbingly close to home.

I liked this book. And, will read the next in the series, The Chardonnay Charade, when it comes out in August. Lots of people in this book and I did not guess who dunnit. I might have if I was not exhausted when I was reading it. But, I just enjoyed the book. I really liked Lucie and was aggravated at the way everyone underestimated her due to her disability and because she has been away for awhile. And, I want to live at the Vineyard. I loved all the descriptions of the house and grounds. A series to keep your eye on.

Next, I read Head Games by Thomas B. Cavanagh:

With two ex-wives, a fifteen-year-old daughter who hates him, and a brain tumor he calls Bob, retired police detective Mike Garrity doesn’t have a lot to live for. He’s resigned himself to spending his last months alone until an old colleague offers him a chance to go out with a bang, leave his daughter with an inheritance, and maybe even earn her respect. TJ, frontman of his daughter’s favorite boy band, has disappeared, putting at risk a world tour and millions in endorsements. TJ’s frantic manager hires Mike to locate his golden goose, but it isn’t long before Mike discovers other characters looking for TJ too. And once a headless corpse shows up, it’s clear that they’re not just after him for his autograph.

I did not like this one as much. Not enough to send back to the library unread. But, not enough to rave about it. The most interesting thing about his novel was the relationship Mike has with his brain tumor, Bob. I liked reading about that. The rest? Not so much.

Finally, we have Don of the Dead, by Casey Daniels:

…. Or was it? After she trips and hits her head on Gus’s tombstone, Pepper finds out that resting doesn’t always mean resting in peace. Gus is back, and the not-so-dearly-departed don makes it clear that he’s not going anywhere–not until Pepper finds out who really murdered him.

Can things get any more complicated? Well, there is the little matter of the sexy cop. Pepper is attracted to Quinn Harrison’s street-smarts and the fact that he looks terrific in everything from worn jeans to thousand-dollar suits. It helps that he carries a really big gun and he knows how to use it when danger threatens. Then there’s Dan Callahan, the adorable and slightly muddled research scientist who wants to study Pepper’s brain. He seems as innocent as a basket of puppies–until Pepper discovers that he has some secrets of his own……

THis was a fun read. Pepper is funny and determined. Quinn is HOT, Daniel is Hot and a mystery himself. And, the mystery surrounding how Gus died was clever and I did not figure it out. I will read the next books in the series: Dealing with the Dead and The Chick and the Dead.

I have sent more mysteries back to the library then I have read. If they are not catching me in the first few pages they go back home.