Discarded: Pygmy and The Darlings

Rarely do I ever take the time to write about books I've discarded, but this time, I'm making an exception, especially since Penguin sent me a copy of The Darlings for review.

It's not like these books are terribly written, or lack creativity - it's just that they aren't for me.

If you've read either of these titles and disagree with me, share your thoughts in the comments section at the bottom of this post!

The Best Reads of 2012

The year has finally come to a close (we survived the fake apocalypse!) and so of course it's that time to review a list of the best books I read during 2012.

I ended up reading a total of 68 books this year - and those are only the ones I stuck with from beginning to end, not including those I discarded (of which there were actually a lot!). 68 books is not my best book count by far, but I certainly kept busy this year with a wealth of projects and new business ventures, so I guess it all evens out!

Not every book in this list was published this year - some of them are review copies, and some of them are from my personal collection.

Holiday Grind by Cleo Coyle

www.coffeehousemysteries.com

Released: November 2009

Holiday Grind (a title that actually sounds more like a "porn" mystery than a "cozy" mystery, haha!) is the eighth book in the Coffeehouse series by Cleo Coyle. With a festive Christmas theme, Holiday Grind is the perfect, cozy mystery read for cold winter nights - best served with a latte or cup of coffee on the side!

In Holiday Grind, Village Blend coffee shop owner Clare Cosi is tasked with investigating the death of Alfred Glockner - the local jolly Santa Claus - after stumbling upon his body in a deserted alley. In addition to performing some amateur sleuthing into Alf's death (is Clare still considered an amateur sleuth considering we're on book 8?), Clare deals with a new outspoken "do-rag" detective on the police force, and the fact that her hottie detective boyfriend Mike Quinn might be cheating on her.

The Secret of the Nightingale Palace by Dana Sachs

www.danasachs.com

Release date: February 2013

The Secret of the Nightingale Palace takes readers on a cross-country road trip adventure from New York to San Francisco with 35-year-old Anna and her grandmother, the eccentric and fashionable Goldie Rosenthal. An artist who recently lost her husband to leukemia, Anna is surprised when she receives a phone call from her estranged grandmother Goldie, requesting that Anna meet her in New York to discuss an important opportunity.

Curious and intrigued by her grandmother's sudden request, Anna drops everything in Memphis and meets Goldie in New York, who ends up convincing Anna to driving her across country to San Francisco so she can return a priceless collection of Japanese art to its former owner. Desperate for a change in her unexciting, dreary life, Anna agrees to Goldie's proposal, and they begin to head west.