My Nails and My Book Review - Doom with a View by Kate Kingsbury

**NetGalley**

Title: Doom with a View

Series: Merry Ghost Inn #2

Author: Kate Kingsbury

Goodreads Summary: With the arrival of six senior reading group members at the Merry Ghost Inn, the long-awaited Grand Opening week has finally begun for Melanie West and her grandmother, Liza. All is well with the Oregon coast-side B&B until Melanie's dog, Max, finds the dead body of one of their guests. Everyone at the inn immediately falls under suspicion, including the innkeepers themselves. Melanie and Liza are not sure who they can trust, and the idea of cohabitating with a murderer is enough to send chills down anyone's spine. To make matters worse, the curmudgeonly town detective wants them to steer clear of the investigation, but doesn't seem too inspired to solve the case in a timely fashion himself. To clear their own names and to avoid the blight on the inn's reputation that yet another dead body will bring, Melanie and Liza dive headlong into the murder investigation. With a little help from their chuckling ghost, Melanie and Liza dodge the detective, tip-toe around their suspicious guests, and still serve up delicious Bed & Breakfast meals on time in Kate Kingsbury's delightful second Merry Ghost Inn mystery, Doom with a View. 

My Review: **I voluntarily read this ARC**

Oh my gosh, the ghost parts had me laughing so much. Orville definitely has a great sense of humor. I loved the mystery. It was very well written with a great ending.

My Manicure: Today's manicure is loosely based on the cover of book one - Dead and Breakfast. I wanted it to look a little more like a real sunset, so I picked darker colors than the cover used. I started out by painting my nails with Zoya Blair. After that dried, I put Zoya Blair and Zoya Giada on a makeup wedge and sponged on a gradient. I'm honestly amazed at how this turned out and completely in love with it.

~Kelly 

My Nails and My Book Review - Body on Baker Street by Vicki Delany

**NetGalley**

Title: Body on Baker Street

Series: Sherlock Holmes Bookshop Mystery #2

Author: Vicki Delany

Goodreads Summary: Gemma Doyle and Jayne Wilson are busy managing the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop and Emporium on Baker Street and adjoining Mrs. Hudson's Tea Room in anticipation of the store's upcoming book signing with the illustrious Renalta Van Markoff, author of the controversial Hudson and Holmes mystery series. But during the author Q&A session, dedicated Sherlockian Donald Morris verbally attacks Renalta and her series for disgracing Sherlock's legacy, only to be publicly humiliated when the author triumphantly lashes back and gains the upper hand. That is until Renalta collapses on the table--dead. Donald insists he didn't do it and pleads to his friends to clear his name. Fortunately, Gemma and Jayne have no shortage of suspects between author's bullied personal assistant, her frustrated publicist, the hapless publisher, a handsome rare book dealer, an obsessively rabid fan, and a world of other Sherlock enthusiasts with strong objections to Renalta's depiction of the Great Detective. It's up to the shrewd sleuthing duo to eliminate the impossible and deduce the truth before the West London police arrest an innocent man in Body on Baker Street, the second Sherlock Homes Bookshop mystery perfect for fans of Miranda James and Kate Carlisle.

My Review: **I voluntarily read this ARC**

I enjoyed this a lot more than the first book. Gemma was still obnoxious, but she seemed a little more aware of her attitude this time, and Jane was quick to scold her. The mystery was great, with some awesome twists. The reveal was surprising and very fitting for a Holmes inspired series.

My Manicure: For this manicure, I was inspired by poison. I started out with a base of ILNP Interstellar. I love how shifty and mysterious this polish is. Then I stamped the skull and crossbones with Shany 02 and Bundle Monster So Metal.

~Kelly 

My Nails and My Book Review - Asking For Truffle by Dorothy St. James

**NetGalley**

Title: Asking For Truffle

Series: Southern Chocolate Shop Mystery #1

Author: Dorothy St. James

Goodreads Summary: When Charity Penn receives a letter saying she won a trip to Camellia Beach, South Carolina complete with free cooking lessons at the town's seaside chocolate shop, The Chocolate Box, she's immediately skeptical. She never entered any contest. Her former prep school friend offers to look into the phony prize--only to end up drowned in a vat of chocolate. Struck with guilt, Penn heads to the southern beach town to investigate why he was killed. But as wary as she is of the locals, she finds herself lured into their eccentric vibe, letting her defenses melt away and even learning the art of crafting delicious chocolates. That is, until delight turns bittersweet as she steps straight into the midst of a deadly plot to destroy the seaside town. Now, only Penn's quick thinking and a mysterious cask of rare chocolate can save the town she's learning to love. Rich and decadent, Asking for Truffle, the first in a new cozy series by Dorothy St. James, is sure to be a delectable read for fans of JoAnna Carl and Joanne Fluke.

My Review: **I voluntarily read this ARC**

I tried really, really hard to love this book. The premise was great, but it failed to live up to its potential. My biggest issue was that the murderer was so obvious from fairly early on, which left me frustrated at the main character for the majority of the book. My other issue is the that main character was annoying. She was so naive, yet she kept insisting she had learned from her mistakes - as she made the exact same mistakes she claimed she had learned from. There were some enjoyable characters, and a wonderful heartwarming scene towards the end.

My Manicure: Chocolate! I really need more browns for chocolate manicures. I have on four different shades of brown and it is impossible to tell. I started out with Finger Paints Sketch-y. After that dried, I put blobs of Philly Loves Lacquer 2AM Coffee Run, Zoya Debbie, and Zoya Cinnamon on my nails and smooshed and dabbed with plastic wrap to give it a marbled look.

~Kelly 

My Nails and My Book Review - Cat Got Your Secrets by Julie Chase

**NetGalley**

Title: Cat Got Your Secrets

Series: Kitty Couture Mystery #3

Author: Julie Chase

Goodreads Summary: Lacy Marie Crocker has settled into a comfortable groove back home in New Orleans, and with Valentine's Day right around the corner, she's busier than ever running a thriving pet boutique, helping her mother organize the upcoming National Pet Pageant, and untangling her complicated love life. But when delivering a king-sized order of dreidel-shaped doggy biscuits for a Saint Berdoodle's bark-mitzvah, Lacy stumbles into yet another murder scene--and the last person to see the victim alive was her own father. It's up to Lacy to clear her dad's name from the suspect list before Detective Jack Oliver has to cage him for good. But just when she starts pawing at the truth, she receives a threatening letter from a mysterious blackmailer bent on silencing her with her own secrets. And Lacy's not the only one with bones in her closet. Time's running out in this deadly cat-and-mouse game in Cat Got Your Secrets, the delightfully funny third novel in Julie Chase's Kitty Couture mystery series, perfect for "all those feline fanciers who love to read Rita Mae Brown"

My Review: **I voluntarily read this ARC**

Wow! That was unexpected (in a good way). I always love when a mystery is personal, and this one definitely is. Lacy has her hands full trying to prove her father's innocence, keep her mom happy, and run her business. The story was a lot of fun and had some great humor, but the love triangle is getting a bit boring.

My Manicure: Since the book takes place near Valentine's Day, I chose a classic red and hearts look.  I started with a base of Zoya Renee. This is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. Then I stamped some adorable hearts with Bundle Monster 620 and Babe Magnet.

~Kelly 

My Nails and My Book Review - A Tale of Two Kitties by Sofie Kelly

**NetGalley**

Title: A Tale of Two Kitties

Series: Magical Cats Mystery #9

Author: Sofie Kelly

Goodreads Summary: In this charming mystery from the bestselling author of Paws and Effect, two magical cats have powers of detection that prove indispensable to librarian Kathleen Paulson…

With a well-placed paw on a keyboard or a pointed stare, Kathleen’s two cats, Hercules and Owen, have helped her to solve cases in the past—so she has learned to trust their instincts. But she will need to rely on them more than ever when a twenty-year-old scandal leads to murder…

The arrival of the Janes brothers has the little town of Mayville Heights buzzing. Everyone of a certain age remembers when Victor had an affair with Leo’s wife, who then died in a car accident.

Now it seems the brothers are trying to reconcile, until Kathleen finds Leo dead. The police set their sights on Leo’s son and Kathleen’s good friend Simon, who doesn’t have much of an alibi. To prove her friend innocent, Kathleen will have to dig deep into the town's history—and into her sardine cracker supply, because Owen and Hercules don't work for free... 

My Review: **I voluntarily read this ARC**

I absolutely love the small town Minnesota setting. I also love how Owen and Hercules have actual distinct personalities. The mystery was great but slightly predictable. The way the past and present were woven together to tell the story was wonderful and made it feel more realistic.

My Manicure: I kept it simple today with a nice library themed manicure. I started out with ILNP Aria. I'm pleasantly surprised at how well my phone camera picked up the holo. Then I stamped using MJ JR-2 and Bundle Monster Bam! White.

~Kelly 

My Nails and My Book Review - Dead in the Water by Denise Swanson

**NetGalley**

Title: Dead in the Water

Series: Welcome Back to Scumble River #1

Author: Denise Swanson

Goodreads Summary: A twister, a kidnapping, and a murder--oh my! Scumble River may never be the same.

For school psychologist Skye Denison, there's certainly no place like home. When a violent tornado devastates her small hometown of Scumble River, she can't see how the community will ever recover--especially since town councilman Zeke Lyons appears to have perished in the twister.

But things get even worse for Skye when her police chief husband, Wally, disappears in the midst of investigating Zeke's death, and evidence arises pointing to foul play. Did Zeke really die in the storm, or was he murdered? And could Wally be next on the criminal's hit list?

My Review: **I voluntarily reviewed this ARC**

That was a whirlwind of emotions. Before I start my review, I have to share a quick, bizarre coincidence. When I started reading this book, I only made it a couple chapters in before bedtime. Well, I woke up the next morning to a tornado warning! We were lucky and didn't get hit, but it was a bit weird when I remembered what I had read right before I fell asleep. OK, time for my review. I really enjoyed reading this book, although at times I forgot about the murder. The kidnapping plot was so well written that I was caught up in it and forgot about the murder for most of the book. I really loved how this book was written as both a start of a new series and a continuation of an old series. It is perfect for both old and new fans. 

My Manicure: One of the ongoing things in this book is Skye not wanting to know her baby's gender and her mom trying to find out. I decided to go with a gender reveal type gradient with a pinky purple for girl and blueish purple for boy. I put Bundle Monster Mercury Bassline and Monarch Dream onto a cosmetic sponge and dabbed it onto my nails until it made a nice gradient.

~Kelly 

My Nails and My Book Review - The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts by K.C. Tansley

**NetGalley**

Title: The Girl Who Ignored Ghosts

Series: The Unbelievable #1

Author: K.C. Tansley

Goodreads Summary: Kat Preston doesn’t believe in ghosts. Not because she’s never seen one, but because she saw one too many. Refusing to believe is the only way to protect herself from the ghost that tried to steal her life. Kat’s disbelief keeps her safe until her junior year at McTernan Academy, when a research project for an eccentric teacher takes her to a tiny, private island off the coast of Connecticut. 

The site of a grisly mystery, the Isle of Acacia is no place for a girl who ignores ghosts, but the ghosts leave Kat little choice. Accompanied by her research partner, Evan Kingsley, she investigates the disappearance of Cassie Mallory and Sebastian Radcliffe on their wedding night in 1886. Evan’s scientific approach to everything leaves Kat on her own to confront a host of unbelievables: ancestral curses, powerful spells, and her strange connection to the ghosts that haunt Castle Creighton.

But that’s all before Kat’s yanked through a magic portal and Evan follows her. When the two of them awaken 129 years in the past with their souls trapped inside the bodies of two wedding guests, everything changes. Together, Kat and Evan race to stop the wedding-night murders and find a way back to their own time—and their own bodies—before their souls slip away forever. 

My Review: **I voluntarily reviewed this ARC**

I was presently surprised by this book. Since the main character was a teen, I expected the typical YA drama, but the characters were surprisingly mature. The body sharing was interesting, but at times I was a little confused on who was controlling the body. The mystery was well written, and I loved the paranormal elements.

My Manicure: Two important plot items in this book are a sapphire ring and a ruby necklace, so I decided to combine them into one manicure. My sapphire base is Zoya Dream. For my ruby, I stamped using Bundle Monster P101 and Bundle Monster So Metal. I filled in the gem with KBShimmer Garnet while it was still on the stamper, then put Orly Bonder on my nail and stamped the image on after it got tacky.

~Kelly