My Nails and My Book Review - Death on Tap by Ellie Alexander

**NetGalley**

Title: Death on Tap

Series: Sloan Krause Mystery #1

Author: Ellie Alexander

Goodreads Summary: When Sloan Krause walks in on her husband, Mac, screwing the barmaid, she gives him the boot. Sloan has spent her life in Leavenworth, Washington becoming an expert in brewing craft beer, and she doesn’t have time to be held back by her soon-to-be ex-husband. She decides to strike out on her own, breaking away from the Krause family brewery, and goes to work for Nitro, the hip new nano-brewery in the Bavarian-themed town. Nitro’s owner, brewmaster Garrett Strong, has the brew-world abuzz with his newest recipe, “Pucker-Up IPA.” This place is the new cool place in town, and Mac can’t help but be green with envy at their success.

But just as Sloan is settling in to her new gig, she finds one of Nitro’s competitors dead in the fermenting tub, clutching the secret recipe for the IPA. When Mac, is arrested, Sloan knows that her ex might be a cheater, but a murderer? No way. Danger is brewing in Beervaria and suddenly Sloan is on the case.

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

The mystery was great, but there was too much information on beer and not enough plot. It caused the pacing of the book to drag in parts, and I found myself wanting to skip parts to get back to the mystery. I did love the setting. It sounds like a fun and quirky town.

My Manicure: I borrowed a manicure from the book for today's look. I used Sinful Colors Black on Black, Zoya Renee and Zoya Pippa. The German flag was freehanded, which was trickier than I expected. Straight lines on a curved surface are hard!

~Kelly 

My Nails and My Book Review - Dial Meow for Murder by Bethany Blake

**NetGalley**

Title: Dial Meow For Murder

Series: Lucky Paws Petsitting Mystery #2

Author: Bethany Blake

Goodreads Summary: Even an experienced pet sitter like Daphne Templeton can be fooled by animal behavior: how can an adorably tiny fuzz ball named Tinkleston be capable of sudden flying leaps with cat claws bared? But human behavior remains even more mysterious, especially when Tinkleston's owner is murdered on the night of a gala fundraiser for Fur-ever Friends Pet Rescue.

Accompanied by her unflappable basset hound, Socrates, Daphne plans to take charge of Tinks the Terror and leave the crime-solving to handsome detective Jonathan Black. But while luring the prickly Persian out of hiding, she uncovers clues that might take suspicion off her own mother. Maeve Templeton already has a reputation as a killer--in real estate. How far would she go to bag Sylvan Creek's most coveted property, the Flynt Mansion?

To expose the truth, Daphne finds herself donning a deranged clown costume on an autumnal adventure that might just be crazy enough to work--if it doesn't get her killed.

Includes recipes for homemade pet treats! 

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

I really enjoyed the mystery, but there was too much relationship drama for me to fully enjoy the book. There were some great twists throughout the book, and the reveal surprised me. Daphne also surprised me with her decisions at the end. I'm looking forward to seeing more of Daphne and Socrates.

My Manicure: Since fall is finally here, and this book is set during fall, I had to do a nice fall color mani. I started out with Zoya Renee, then put blobs of Zoya Arizona and Pippa on and dabbed plastic wrap on it for a random, abstract look. After it dried, I topped it with Zoya Satin top coat.

~Kelly 

My Nails and My Book Review - Purring Around the Christmas Tree by Liz Mugavero

**NetGalley**

Title: Purring Around the Christmas Tree

Series: Pawsitively Organic Mystery #6

Author: Liz Mugavero

Goodreads Summary: In the New England town of Frog's Ledge, the Holiday Light Festival is a Christmas tradition. Killing Santa is not. To bring joy back to the season, organic pet patisserie owner Kristan "Stan" Connor will have to find another Santa before it's too late . . . 
To the townspeople's delight, the annual lighting of the tree is a spectacular success. Unfortunately, Santa pulled up in his sleigh, DOA. At first Stan is sure it's Seamus, her boyfriend's uncle, inside the red suit. But the victim turns out to be an employee from the town's Christmas tree farm. Rumor has it the deceased was a mean drunk with a soft spot for feral cats. Stan has no idea why he was dressed as St. Nick--or why he's dead.
Meanwhile, Seamus, a jolly Irishman who comes to America every December to visit his pub-owner nephew, is nowhere to be found. Could he just be off on a Boston bar crawl? Or is something more sinister under the tree? Seamus was supposed to be dressing up and posing for pet pictures with Santa at the shop, but the dogs and cats might have to find another lap to curl up in if Stan doesn't solve two mysteries soon. Or murder might be the only thing under the mistletoe this holiday . . .
Includes Gourmet Pet Food Recipes! 

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

Well that started fast. There was a lot going on, which made it a little hard to follow towards the end. But it was fast paced and fun to read. I really enjoyed Frog Ledge at Christmastime, and I loved seeing Stan achieving her dreams.

My Manicure: Another day, another Christmas mani. I started out with a base of Zoya Elphie, a gorgeous textured green. I stamped my "A Very Merry Christmas" trees with Winstonia Jingle All the Way and Bundle Monster So Metal.

~Kelly 

My Nails and My Book Review - Yuletide Homicide by Jennifer David Hesse

**NetGalley**

Title: Yuletide Homicide

Series: Wiccan Wheel Mystery #3

Author: Jennifer David Hesse

Goodreads Summary: It's Christmas in Edindale, Illinois, and family law attorney Keli Milanni is preparing to celebrate the Wiccan holiday Yuletide, a celebration of rebirth. But this Yuletide someone else is focused on dying . . .

After years of practicing in secret, Keli has come out as a Wiccan to her boyfriend, and she feels like this Yuletide she's the one who's being reborn. But the Solstice is the longest night of the year, and Keli is about to stumble on a mystery so dangerous, she'll be lucky to make it to morning.

Paired with her unbearably stuffy colleague Crenshaw Davenport III, Keli goes undercover at a real estate company owned by mayoral candidate Edgar Harrison. An old friend of Keli's boss, Harrison, is being blackmailed, and it's up to her to find the culprit. But the morning after the company holiday party, Harrison is found dead underneath the hotel Christmas tree. The police rule the death an accident, but Keli knows better--and she'll risk her own rebirth to nab a missing killer.

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

I really enjoyed this book. I love how wonderful Keli's friends are. The mystery was great, and it had some nice twists to it. My only complaint is that Keli made some very amateur mistakes, and since this is book three I feel she should have known better.

My Manicure: For this manicure, I wanted something that fit with the season. I didn't want it to lean too Christmasy, so I chose an elegant tree for my stamping. The base is KBShimmer Spruce Things Up. This is the perfect tree base. The tree was done with Winstonia Jingle All The Way and OPI Love.Angel.Music.Baby.

~Kelly 

My Nails and My Book Review - Death by Eggnog by Alex Erickson

**NetGalley**

Title: Death by Eggnog

Series: Bookstore Cafe Mystery #5

Author: Alex Erickson

Goodreads Summary: Krissy Hancock is staying in her adopted hometown of Pine Hills, Ohio, for Christmas this year--and she even has a whole week off from her combination bookstore-cafe. But a killer is about to dampen her spirits . . . 
Unfortunately, Krissy's been roped into filling in for a sick elf in the local holiday musical extravaganza. With a demanding director, backstage gossip, and two men in fierce competition for the starring role, it isn't all sweetness and Christmas lights. Then a murder puts a stop to the production, and Krissy is faced with a pageant of suspects. 
Could her ex-boyfriend, a fellow elf, really be the culprit as the police are claiming? Or will the actor playing Santa be trading his red suit for an orange jumpsuit? When her behind-the-scenes investigation starts getting dangerous, the only thing Krissy really wants is to make it to Christmas dinner alive. But first she'll have to finish wrapping up this case . . .

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

I loved this book until it revealed the motive. It just felt weak to me. The mystery itself was great, and so was the reveal - it was just the motive that left me unsatisfied with the ending. I do wish that Krissy's dad had made an appearance since Christmas in a cozy typically involves family.

My Manicure: I went for a simple Christmas themed mani today. I started out with Revlon Emerald City, then topped it with my custom Dollish Polish Wreck the Halls. The polish is based on our fear of what two lab puppies could do at Christmas if we put a tree up (it has a green base for the tree and multicolor shreds for shattered ornaments). I stamped the ornaments with Bundle Monster H03 and So Metal.

~Kelly 

My Nails and My Book Review - Ax to Grind by Tonya Kappes

**NetGalley**

Title: Ax to Grind

Series: Kenni Lowry #3

Author: Tonya Kappes

Goodreads Summary: Southerners keep their secrets swept under the rug, but what happens when that rug goes up for sale?

Bestselling author Berlye Stone, the most famous citizen to ever come out of Cottonwood, Kentucky, has died and put all her worldly possessions up for auction, but not without leaving one more manuscript behind. A hidden tell-all about Cottonwood that’s got more gossip than a ladies’ luncheon.

When Beryle’s assistant turns up with an ax in her back and the only witness is in a coma, Sheriff Kenni Lowry reckons someone in town will do anything to keep the manuscript from seeing the light of day. Her poppa’s ghost returns to help piece together the life of the Beryle he once knew, but his memory’s a little foggy, and any misstep could cause them a world of trouble. With the help of Deputy Finn Vincent, can Kenni sort through the secrets buried in Beryle’s books, or will this be her final chapter?

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

Oh my gosh that was amazing! I did not see that coming at all. I really enjoyed seeing some of Kenni's day to day sheriff duties, including keeping her mother's campaigning under control. The mystery was awesome, and I loved how Poppa had a personal connection to the case.

My Manicure: Since a big part of the plot is a tell all book, I went for a book theme. I also went a little out of my comfort zone by making it a very subtle and understated look. I started out with Zoya April topped with ILNP The Magician. I love this color combination. The stamping was done with MJ JR-2 and Bundle Monster Bam! White.

~Kelly 

My Nails and My Book Review - Murder, Magic, and What We Wore by Kelly Jones

**NetGalley**

Title: Murder, Magic, and What We Wore

Series: N/A

Author: Kelly Jones

Goodreads Summary: The year is 1818, the city is London, and 16-year-old Annis Whitworth has just learned that her father is dead and all his money is missing. And so, of course, she decides to become a spy.

Annis always suspected that her father was himself a spy, and following in his footsteps to unmask his killer makes perfect sense. Alas, it does not make sense to England’s current spymasters—not even when Annis reveals that she has the rare magical ability to sew glamours: garments that can disguise the wearer completely.

Well, if the spies are too pigheaded to take on a young woman of quality, then Annis will take them on. And so she crafts a new double life for herself. Miss Annis Whitworth will appear to live a quiet life in a country cottage with her aunt, and Annis-in-disguise as Madame Martine, glamour artist, will open a magical dressmaking shop. That way she can earn a living, maintain her social standing, and, in her spare time, follow the coded clues her father left behind and unmask his killer.

It can’t be any harder than navigating the London social season, can it? 

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

This was so cute and fun! I honestly could not put it down. The mystery was interesting, but the one clue they had completely gave it away. The characters were wonderful, but at times it felt like Annis was overshadowed by the other characters. I absolutely adored the setting, and I loved the addition of magic.

My Manicure: For this mani, I wanted to go for a sort of magical feel. I started out with Zoya Belinda topped with Baroness X Doomfire. Then I stamped the "magic threads" with Winstonia Expressionism and KBShimmer PT Young Thing.

~Kelly