I have heard really good things about this series,  finally found the first book and started reading it.  I am almost to the 50 page test, but if I hadn't heard such great things about the series I think I would just pitch it on page 51.  I know that the first book in a series is sometimes difficult to get the hang of, but quite frankly so far all I have seen is the main character as a know it all school psychologist who has been back in her home town for a couple years, takes over most of the responsibility of running her middle school by giving constant directions to everybody, and apparently has a half a ton of baggage with her including why she left the town in the first place then came back, several old boyfriends, all it seems she has disappointed in some way, a new boyfriend who kind of sounds like a geek, and she finds the dead body of a student actress alone in the gym who was supposed to play the part of Sleeping Beauty.  Oh yes, and she is a very bad driver and is apparently perpetually poor.   Now I know all this stuff, but at about 50 pages I have absolutely no clue about why any of them happened, what her real background is, how she ticked off the Sheriff in the town, and who this poor kid is who died. 

I don't really want to throw it out, but I just need some encouragement to perserveer (I don't think I spelled that right) in reading it.   Help!  I'm almost to page 50!   :)

Thanks!

Joy

The first book in the series is called Murder of a Small Town Honey.  For some reason, I am not sure if that is the one you are reading.  From what I remember when I started the series, it explained all of why she was there, and really gave you some background.  Hope that helps.

Well, wouldn't you know it.  The book I am reading is called Murder of Sleeping Beauty, it is a paperback, and on the front of the book it says "first in a great new series".  If I had known that there were two books before that it would indeed have made a difference.  Thanks a bunch!  I'll look for the other book.  I actually have perservered a bit more and am beginning to get the picture and feel a little better about Skye.  I felt like I had just been dropped in the middle of a book, now I know why!

Joy

I know the feeling...

Joy, here is a list of the books in order from stopyourekillingme.com

http://www.stopyourekillingme.com/S_Authors/Swanson_Denise.html

Joy, I will admit I am not a fan of this series.  But you have to take what I say with a grain of salt because I don't enjoy most American cozies, because I usually get incredibly annoyed by the main characters.  (Like you said about Skye, they come with a lot of baggage!)  Strangely, I don't often feel that way about British cozies, so maybe it's something to do with writing conventions.  Who knows?

Anyway, I hope you begin to enjoy the series more.  :->

Hi Joy

I have read all the books in the Scrumble River series [actually botoxed blonde is on my TBR list] and vaguely remember almost giving up on the Small town Honey book but by the end was very glad that I didn't.  Yes it will all come together well before the end and Skye will grow on you.  Unfortunately so many first books have to cover so much that they can become a nightmare before you get it.  That is how I felt about Donna Andrew's Turing Hopper [I think] books and now I find them fascinating.  I even started my 15 year old grandson reading them.

Stick to the Small Tiown Honey book.  It needs a lot more than a 50 page chance.

Leyba

Thanks everybody.  I did finish the book today and have ordered or put on my wish list several of the rest in the series.  :)  She did grow on me, so I'm giving her another chance.  By the way I kept hopping from one to the other characters about "who done it"  and I was wrong in the end.

Charlie - thanks for the tip, I did go to that site today (like I obviously should have done in the first place :( and got the list in order!

I tried the series but didn't like it. I got through the second book - the characters just never "grew" on me, which surprised me since I like most cozy authors. I am in the minority though! :)

I had trouble getting into the Scumble River series, but as others have said, Skye grows on you, and it's like watching a near train wreck: what is she going to do next?  And you have to wonder: why is a psychologist so unable to figure out what is wrong in her life and improve it.  She seems so unable to understand herself, and she has these men all panting after her, but she can't decide which one to go with, or to ditch them all, ditch the town and start somewhere new, with a new insight as well.  It's fascinating and you have reminded me I need to read the next one on my list, Murder of a Barbie and Ken.

Judith - Yes, it is amazing that she can't see what is wrong in her own life to fix it.  Maybe she is so busy fixing everyone else she has no time for herself?  That's a good description of her, watching a near train wreck!  Perhaps the author figures she will lose some part of the story line if she gets Skye to improve herself.  I have to say the romance portion of it does frustrate me to no end! But they always do, be it in a novel or movie or TV show (Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman is a great example of this - was she ever going to wake up to the fact that she was in love with Sulley and do something about it???).  The excruciating drawn out romance , or non-romance I suppose you could call it, is the worst.  If the couple can get it right within the first two or three novels, TV shows, etc., it isn't quite so bad.  :)  Thanks for your thoughts on Scumble River!