Cozy On Up To This... Or Not

 I have a problem. 

When I write, I don't seem to be able to stick to one genre. Or at times, even two.  

The overall mystery genre is filled with several sub-genres, and I sure can't stick to one of those. Here's a perfect example: 

Jalapeno Cupcake Wench - Amazing Gracie Trilogy Book 1

A reviewer named Shelby says: Mostly this is a solid cozy with some romance and worth reading if you’re into the genre. 

Same book, from a different reviewer named Sabine: First a warning to my cozy mystery friends at Goodreads. Despite the look of the cover this is not a cozy! There is also a sex scene in it.

There are other reviews for all three trilogy books with comments scattered from cozy to thriller. The words, scenes, plot, and story are identical, but the readers are different.

Labeling the story, especially when more than one genre and/or subgenre are mixed and blended, seems to be in the mind of the reader.

If you've read any or all of the Gracie stories, where do the books fall for you along genre and/or subgenre lines?

For readers, does it bother you if a book's storyline doesn't slide neatly into a fixed genre? Or do you prefer to follow the story to see where it leads? Or do you fall somewhere in between?

Want to join in the great cozy debate? It's easy. Read the book. Then pop over to Amazon and/or Goodreads and let others know where you think Gracie belongs on the wide-ranging mystery scale.

For me, the moral to this story is that when life gives you options... take them all! 

To prove this, I decided to write another Gracie story! I know you've heard rumblings about another Gracie book. They're all true. Gracie will be back in June with a totally new adventure in a standalone Amazing Gracie Mystery. All your favorite characters will be back plus a few others.

The cover and title reveal for the new book will be Wednesday, June 5. I think you'll like it. Gracie approves :) 

Hugs,

Carol