My Nails and My Book Review - Lord of the Pies by Nell Hampton

**NetGalley**

Title: Lord of the Pies

Series: Kensington Palace Chef Mystery #2

Author: Nell Hampton

Goodreads Summary: When Carrie Ann Cole bakes a lemon meringue pie to die for that actually kills someone, she must find out who the real killer is before her time at the Kensington Palace expires.The elegant Orangery at Kensington Palace is the perfect setting for the bridal shower of Carrie Ann Cole’s best friend’s sister. Personal chef to the royal family, Carrie Ann’s pie theme is naturally winning. But a waiter later keels over dead into the lemon meringue pie she leaves as a thank-you to the staff and Carrie Ann realizes that somebody slipped a mickey into that meringue.

Her floury fingerprints are all over that pie and the authorities suspect her distress is a cover-up for murder. Carrie Ann must set out to clear her name if she wants to stay at her dream job any longer. But all too soon, another body drops in the Orangery. This time, it’s the Orangery chef.

Murder won’t crimp her style, and as bodies pile up, Carrie Ann uncovers palace intrigue, London nightlife, and British pies scouring for the killer in Lord of the Pies, the witty follow-up to Nell Hampton’s Kale to the Queen.

My Review: **I voluntarily read this ARC**
A great addition to a wonderful series. Poor Carrie Ann just can't catch a break. Yet again she finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation. The mystery was very well written with great ending.

My Manicure: Rain, rain, go away.... Seriously, it has been raining and storming all day and I am so over it. Anyway, I went for a stormy skies look today. I started out with Zoya Saint for my sky. I probably could've gone even lighter to up the contrast. The clouds were stamped with Bundle Monster XL 156 and Storm Cloud.

~Kelly

My Nails and My Book Review - Lost Books and Old Bones by Paige Shelton

**NetGalley**

Title: Lost Books and Old Bones

Series: Scottish Bookshop Mystery #3

Author: Paige Shelton

Goodreads Summary: A delightful new mystery featuring bookseller and amateur sleuth Delaney Nichols, set in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Delaney Nichols, originally of Kansas but settling happily into her new life as a bookseller in Edinburgh, works at The Cracked Spine in the heart of town. She’s recently befriended a few medical school students after they came into the shop to sell some antique medical tomes. But when one of the students’ friends is found murdered outside in the alley, Delaney takes it upon herself to help bring the murderer to justice.

During her investigation, Delaney finds some old scalpels in the bookshop’s warehouse—she finds out that they belonged to a long-dead doctor, whose story might be connected to the present-day murder. It’s all Delaney can do to race to solve this crime before time runs out and she ends up in danger herself.

My Review: **I voluntarily read this ARC**
This is probably a series best read in order. I didn't fully connect with the characters because I missed the initial character building. The setting was beautiful. It had a slightly slower pace than I am used to, but it really helped build the story. I really enjoyed the history that was tied in with the plot. I actually ended up reading up on it after I finished the book. The reveal was a shock and very well written.

My Manicure: I was inspired by the Scotland setting. I started out with Zoya Merida since I always associate green with Scotland. The skull was stamped with Bundle Monster 211 and Bam! White.

~Kelly 

My Nails and My Book Review - Carbs & Cadavers by Ellery Adams

**NetGalley**

Title: Carbs & Cadavers

Series: Supper Club Mystery #1

Author: Ellery Adams

Goodreads Summary: Book One in the harrowing and heartwarming Supper Club Mystery series by New York Times bestselling author Ellery Adams!

Meet the Supper Club, a group of friends dead set on counting calories and catching killers . . .

After giving up his dream job and moving back home to the small town of Quincy’s Gap, English literature professor James Henry is tired of finding his happiness at the bottom of a bag of cheese doodles. In an effort to expand his social life and reduce his waistline, he joins a supper club for dieters who lovingly call themselves the Flab Five. He knows he and his new friends will have to watch what they eat, but he never expected to find murder on the menu.

Former high school football star Brinkley Myers was worshipped by fans and loathed by women. When he mysteriously drops dead in the local bakery, a young waitress at the town diner is suspected of foul play. Convinced she’s innocent, the Flab Five team up to weigh in on the investigation.

As the group begins to digest the clues and track down the real killer, they start to worry that they’ve bitten off more than they can chew, and it will take every ounce of willpower they have to keep losing weight without losing their lives . . .

Includes tempting recipes!

My Review: **I voluntarily read this ARC**
I had a little bit of trouble getting into the story in the beginning, but it I quickly started enjoying it and found it to be an interesting mystery. The characters were all unique, and I enjoyed watching James work on building new relationships.

My Manicure: Since Carbs & Cadavers is set during fall, I went with a pumpkin theme. I started with Zoya Dove for a nice neutral base. Then I stamped the pumpkins with Bundle Monster H06 and Cinnamon Sweets.

~Kelly

My Nails and My Book Review - Tart of Darkness by Denise Swanson

**NetGalley**

Title: Tart of Darkness

Series: Chef-to-Go Mystery #1

Author: Denise Swanson

Goodreads Summary: Right when Dani thinks she's hit a dead-end in her career, she unexpectedly inherits an enormous old house in a quaint college town. This gives her the perfect opportunity to pursue her true passion--cooking! So Dani opens Chef-to-Go, preparing delicious, ready-made meals for hungry students attending the nearby university, as well as providing personal chef services and catering events for the local community. To help support her new business, she opens her home to a few students, renting them rooms and becoming almost like a big sister figure in their lives.

But just as Dani is relishing her sweet new life, the friend of one of her boarders is murdered, and Dani becomes one of the primary suspects! She'll have to scramble to clear her name and save her business before the killer reappears--perhaps to silence the new chef forever.

My Review: **I voluntarily read this ARC**
A fun start to a new series. The setting is really interesting. I would love to see the house that Dani inherited. It sounds beautiful. The language is a little strong at times for a cozy, but not overly obscene or graphic. I really enjoyed the mystery, but I felt it fizzled at the end rather than going out with a bang.

My Manicure: Today I was inspired by Dani's classic red and white checkered bags. I started out with OPI I'm Not Really A Waitress. I always forget how pretty this red is. The check pattern was stamped with Bundle Monster XL 201 and Bam! White.

~Kelly

My Nails and My Book Review - Death by Dumpling by Vivien Chien

**NetGalley**

Title: Death by Dumpling

Series: Noodle Shop Mystery #1

Author: Vivien Chien

Goodreads Summary: Welcome to the Ho-Lee Noodle House, where the Chinese food is to die for. . .

The last place Lana Lee thought she would ever end up is back at her family’s restaurant. But after a brutal break-up and a dramatic workplace walk-out, she figures that a return to the Cleveland area to help wait tables is her best option for putting her life back together. Even if that means having to put up with her mother, who is dead-set on finding her a husband.

Lana’s love life soon becomes yesterday’s news once the restaurant’s property manager, Mr. Feng, turns up dead―after a delivery of shrimp dumplings from Ho-Lee. But how could this have happened when everyone on staff knew about Mr. Feng’s severe, life-threatening shellfish allergy? Now, with the whole restaurant under suspicion for murder and the local media in a feeding frenzy―to say nothing of the gorgeous police detective who keeps turning up for take-out―it’s up to Lana to find out who is behind Feng’s killer order. . . before her own number is up.

My Review: **I voluntarily read this ARC**
This was a really fun start to a new series. I really enjoyed the setting. The mystery was well written with some surprising reveals. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series.

My Manicure: Today's manicure is inspired by the Asian heritage that the main characters have. The noodle shop is described as having a traditional red, black, and gold color scheme, so I simplified it to black and gold, which also gives a really nice contrast. As usual, I started with Sinful Colors Black on Black. The lanterns were stamped with Bundle Monster H15 and Heart of Gold.

~Kelly

My Nails and My Book Review - Pressing the Issue by Daryl Wood Gerber

**NetGalley**

Title: Pressing the Issue

Series: Cookbook Nook Mystery #6

Author: Daryl Wood Gerber

Goodreads Summary: The Agatha Award–winning author of Grilling the Subject returns to the Cookbook Nook in Crystal Cove, where the annual Renaissance Fair serves up a helping of crafty courtiers, damsels in distress, and medieval murder . . .

As the annual Renaissance Fair comes to Crystal Cove, Jenna Hart’s Cookbook Nook is packed with tasty treats and all things medieval, while her pal Bailey is ready to swoon over her upcoming nuptials at a local vineyard. But when the two friends discover the body of the vineyard’s owner bludgeoned by a winepress, all their merriment fades, along with their hopes for a vintage year.

Which churlish varlet did the deed? Was it the victim’s errant brother, who stood to inherit the vineyards? Or the owner’s crestfallen ex-girlfriend? Mayhap it was the newly arrived comely wench, or her jealous husband. Fie on them all! Verily, Jenna can’t rest until justice is served, and she vows to track down the killer. But can she sniff out the truth before the villainous culprit strikes again?

Includes tantalizing recipes!

My Review: **I voluntarily read this ARC**
This is a series best read in order. I was able to follow along, but there were multiple references to previous events that possibly included minor spoilers. The setting was beautiful. The mystery was great with a really good ending. I had a lot of fun reading about the faire, and all the faire speak was an amusing addition.

My Manicure: Ah, Ren Fest. I haven't been to one in years, but it was always so much fun. My manicure today is sort of a loose interpretation of the renaissance era. I started out with Zoya Elphie. It has been so long since I've worn a Pixiedust that I forgot how pretty they can be. The stamping was done with Winstonia 215 and Bundle Monster So Metal.

~Kelly

My Nails and My Book Review - Who Moved My Goat Cheese? by Lynn Cahoon

**NetGalley**

Title: Who Moved My Goat Cheese?

Series: Farm-to-Fork Mystery #1

Author: Lynn Cahoon

Goodreads Summary: Angie Turner hopes her new farm-to-table restaurant can be a fresh start in her old hometown in rural Idaho. But when a goat dairy farmer is murdered, Angie must turn the tables on a bleating black sheep . . .  
With three weeks until opening night for their restaurant, the County Seat, Angie and her best friend and business partner Felicia are scrambling to line up local vendors—from the farmer's market to the goat dairy farm of Old Man Moss. Fortunately, the cantankerous Moss takes a shine to Angie, as does his kid goat Precious. So when Angie hears the bloodcurdling news of foul play at the dairy farm, she jumps in to mind the man's livestock and help solve the murder. One thing's for sure, there's no whey Angie's going to let some killer get her goat . . .

My Review: **I voluntarily read this ARC**
This was a nice start to a new series. I absolutely adored Dom! I love puppies, especially not so little ones. And, because I have to say it, Precious was so precious! Ok, on to the actual story. It was an interesting mystery, although I did have my suspicions early on. The climax felt a little anticlimactic and slightly rushed. I really enjoyed how Angie was going through the final steps of opening her restaurant during the book. It added something a little bit different.

My Manicure: I went for a simple gradient look today. It is sort of a grass and sky type of look. I was planning on stamping over it but it blended so well that I wanted to show it off. I started out with glue all around my nails down to my knuckles. This was to make cleanup a lot easier. Then I did a quick coat of Sinful Colors Endless Blue. After that dried, I worked on the gradient. I put Sinful Colors Garden Party and Endless Blue on a makeup wedge and started sponging it on to my nails. I found that it worked best when I pressed it on my nail twice, one a little higher than center and once a little lower, then moved to the next nail. I could do two nails this way before I needed to put more polish on the sponge. I kept repeating this until I was happy with the results.

~Kelly