Friday, September 30, 2011

Review and Giveaway: Button Holed

Button Holed (Button Box Mystery - Book 1) by Kylie Logan


Publication Date: September 2011
Publisher: Penguin Group USA
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Pages: Paperback, 288pp
ISBN-13: 9780425243763
ISBN: 0425243761
 
(Received for an honest review from Berkley Prime Crime)


Purchase: Barnes & Noble, Book Depository, IndieBound


Kylie Logan  (Miranda Bliss/ Casey Daniels) on the WEB: website, blog, facebook
(Not much info on Kylie quite a bit on her alter ego Casey though) 


Synopsis:


In a big picture world, it's the little things that appeal to button dealer Josie Giancola. There's history in every button. There's art, and craft, and style. There might be clues to murder, too.


Working out of her button shop in a Chicago brownstone, Josie Giancola has quietly become one of the country's leading experts on buttons - antique buttons, jeweled buttons, artistic buttons. Her reputation draws a Hollywood starlet to the Button Box to shop for one-of-a-kind buttons for her made-to-order wedding gown.


But after the Button Box is ransacked and the actress is murdered, Josie's cozy world is thrown into chaos. Homicide detective Nevin Riley is looking to her for clues, starting with the murder weapon - an antique buttonhook. But a killer has other ideas, like keeping Josie's lips buttoned up ... permanently.


Thoughts:


First in a new series, Button Holed, by Kylie Logan is a cozy mystery with an urban setting. Using the Windy City of Chicago as a backdrop for this engaging new series, Logan introduces cozy fans to Josie Giancola, a protagonist with an eye for beautiful buttons of all kinds. This is a novel with an interesting premise, a resourceful and determined heroine and a quirky cast of supporting characters that will draw the reader in and hold them glued to the pages all the way to the final twist.


With every new cozy series, the first book spends a great deal of time doing set up for future installments. Introducing the characters, setting the scene, giving the protagonist a reason to be investigating etc. etc. Logan is able to pull this off easily. She hooks the reader from the very first chapter with a beginning robbery scene that leaves Josie's shop in chaos on the eve of her grand opening. She then introduces the victim quickly into the story and the plot thickens.

As the book continues, readers begin to get a picture of who this heroine is and what shes all about. Josie is a very fresh and interesting character. Her passion for her work with antique buttons is obvious and she comes across as credible and believable. The authors knowledge of buttons and button collecting is extensive and adds to the authenticity of the book. I think readers will fall in love with Josie and her shop, The Button Box. She brings a lot to the table as an expert and since an antique button was found next to the body, and the murder occurred in her shop, she has a clear cut reason to want to investigate. 


The supporting cast includes detective Nevin Riley, who asks for Josie's help in figuring out the clues to find the killer and Josie's ex-husband, Kaz. I thought the author did such a great job bringing each new character in at the right time and giving them a genuine reason to be involved in Josie's life. Each character is well thought out and brings an added flavor to the book. Logan has created a cast that readers will enjoy learning more about and look forward to seeing again, which is great for a new series.


The mystery aspect of the book was well written and tightly plotted. The list of suspects is just the right size, not too many that each can't be explored and not too few, so that readers can easily pick out the killer. Button Holed is fast paced and doesn't let the reader down in the middle. The final twist and turn was exciting and kept me off balance just enough so that I couldn't quite figure it out until the author wanted me too. The hallmark of a good cozy! 


I think this book will appeal to readers who are interested in antiques, buttons, museums and things of this nature. This is a great beginning to a new series and I found myself really looking forward to the fact that this wasn't a single title. The characters were so interesting that I didn't really want to leave them yet, always a good sign that a series will do well.


Button Holed is available NOW from your favorite bookseller.


I'm giving this one 4 out of 5 apples from my book bag!








Casey Daniels (a.k.a. Miranda Bliss and Kylie Logan) has a degree in English, experience as a journalist and writing teacher. When she's not writing, she's usually with her family and two dogs, Ernie, an adorable Airedale pup, and Oscar, a rescued Jack Russell who spends far too much time watching TV. Daniels enjoys knitting, gardening and of course, stomping through cemeteries in search of history, stories and inspiration.

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

The publisher is sponsoring a giveaway for one copy of Button Holed by Kylie Logan that will go to one winner from Debbie's Book Bag!


~ You must be a Google Friend Connect follower to participate.
~ US Addresses only (Publisher Request).
~ The deadline to enter this giveaway is Midnight EST October 14th.


1. Please leave a comment in appreciation to the author on THIS post.
2. Please fill out the FORM.

20 comments:

holdenj said...

Congrats to Kylie on the new series! I like a book that starts off right away with an event to get things going. I am familiar with Miranda Bliss and sure I will enjoy this as well.
JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

cyn209 said...

a new cozy mystery series!!! YAYS!!!!

thank you for the giveaway!!!!

can't wait to read Button Holed!!!!

Linda Kish said...

This sounds like fun. I can't wait to read it.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

mamabunny13 said...

Thanks Kylie, for giving us a new series to look forward to! mamabunny13 at gmail dot com

Karen B said...

Buttons are so fascinating! I remember going through my grandmothers, aunts, great aunts, and my mothers button jars. Somewhere I still have a jar of my own!

kpbarnett1941[at]aol.com

Anonymous said...

What a great idea for a new Cozy series. Can't wait to read this.

ann said...

I love looking at old buttons and I love a mystery to - hope to win

amhengst at verizon dot net

My Recent Favorite Books said...

Congratulations Kylie! this sounds like a wonderful series!
I enjoyed the Miranda Bliss cozy series, and Im looking forward to reading this new "Button" series!

I remember my Mom having a big round tin container of buttons when I was a child.

Thanks for the giveaway!

Carol N Wong said...

My mother used to have a green tin button box full of so many kinds of bottons. I used to pla with them. This book would bring back some wonderful memories. Thank you for writing it.

CarolNWong(at)aol(dot)com

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the giveweay. I can't wait to read the book. Tore923@aol.com

In Julie's Opinion said...

This looks like a really good book, definitely one that I would enjoy reading! Thanks for the giveaway:)
jwitt33 at live dot com

Martha Lawson said...

Sounds like a great book!!

Dolly said...

Who knew there could be a button expert??

Exciting to get in on the ground floor of a new series! Your review was good, it sounds like the book is well-written.

jcsites2002 at hotmail dot com

Dianne11 said...

What fun, a new mystery series.

Theresa N. said...

I love a good crafty mystery.
theresa n
weceno(at)yahoo(dot)com

lag123 said...

A new series! Thank you so much!

lag110 at mchsi dot com

Junk Loving Girl said...

As a lover of buttons this book appeals greatly. If I don't win I know something being added to my Christmas list.

Unknown said...

Buttons are a weakness of mine. I have jars and jars full!

This sounds like a fun story.

Jules

LB said...

sounds really good!!

thatlittlehouse said...

Kylie/Casey - I am really looking forward to this series, the background sounds fascinating!

nblexp ( at ) gmail (dot) com