I have read and enjoyed Books 1 and 4 in Kate Hamilton Mysteries series and plan to go back and read the second and third ones. This Christmas novellaI have read and enjoyed Books 1 and 4 in Kate Hamilton Mysteries series and plan to go back and read the second and third ones. This Christmas novella was easy to follow since I have read two of the stories. Kate, who works in an antiques shop, and Tom, a detective inspector, are about to get married on Christmas Eve. Family and friends from the US and other countries are heading to the UK. But trouble happens to a friend, and she disappears a few days before. She may have been taken because of a very special coin and official letter. So, Kate and Tom work to find her but they really are pushed with the wedding and honeymoon coming up and it makes the time even busier. I like the small Suffolk village setting, especially at Christmas, the interesting and likable characters, history, and always enjoy the mystery that Kate and Tom get involved in. I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review. All thoughts are mine only....more
This book started off with a bang and kept the pages turning for me. This is the story of the third Amish sister of the Shadow Lake series, that of CoThis book started off with a bang and kept the pages turning for me. This is the story of the third Amish sister of the Shadow Lake series, that of Colette and Matthew. The two have known each other all their lives and are just now finding themselves in love and planning to marry. But Mattie is called out of state to help his uncle. The day of Colette's sister's wedding, Mattie returns but a young woman is hanging onto him. What is the world is going on? It only gets worse as information unravels and it appears that Mattie may need to move to Missouri. This story just kept going up and down with frustration, angst, secrets, worry, danger, and mystery tempered with love and faith that Gott's (God's) will be done. Highly recommended for Amish stories sprinkled with light mystery. I received a copy for the purpose of an honest review, and these are my thoughts....more
In this second of the Piper and Porter Mysteries, Darby and Tate, owners of the Piper and Porter Detective Agency, get a new case with a high school fIn this second of the Piper and Porter Mysteries, Darby and Tate, owners of the Piper and Porter Detective Agency, get a new case with a high school friend of Tate's. Cecily, wife of a renowned dermatologist and skincare company, hires them to find someone who is threatening her husband. The two are to pose as a couple for a posh New Year's weekend at her inn on a nearby mountain. They have plenty of suspects to investigate and when the husband is killed, things really get into high gear. I enjoy the banter between Darby and Tate as they work the case and interact. The setting is lovely with lots of snow and the inn sounds gorgeous. This is a fun mystery to unravel, and I did have some ideas, but it definitely had some twists and turns to get there. It even has a wee bit of a holiday feel to it with the inn decorated with Christmas decorations. Great read for those who enjoy cozy mysteries and nice to return to the series. I received a complimentary copy for the purpose of an honest review. All thoughts are mine....more
It is December in Aspen Hills, Colorado, and time for another Warm Springs Writers' Retreat with Cat, Shauna, and Seth. It is real Christmas weather wIt is December in Aspen Hills, Colorado, and time for another Warm Springs Writers' Retreat with Cat, Shauna, and Seth. It is real Christmas weather with snow, icy conditions, fires in the fireplace, hot cocoa, and warm cookies that Shauna has baked. This retreat is for authors who write nonfiction, unlike the fiction that Cat writes. Dante has warned Cat that someone may be writing a tell all book about Covington College's secret ties to the Mafia. The only man of the group, Dan, a travel writer, is found dead on his bed right after arrival. Could he be the one to reveal the local secret? And people keep bringing up Cat's deceased ex-husband, Michael's name. The Economics Department is even having a special event to celebrate his accomplishments. As layers are peeled away, other secrets are discovered that involve Michael, Dante, Dan, and a female friend from their college years at Covington. Seth is staying away from the retreat. Is he having second thoughts about his and Cat's engagement? This is a great addition to this series that I have enjoyed so much. As always, danger is present sooner or later. Great read for all cozy mystery lovers....more
This is the second of the Harmony Grove series that takes place in a small Central Florida town near Lakeland. It is Christmas time in Harmony Grove aThis is the second of the Harmony Grove series that takes place in a small Central Florida town near Lakeland. It is Christmas time in Harmony Grove and there is a holiday air to the story. Tia Jordan runs a home where abused women, including those with children, can go and disappear from their abuser until they can get their footing under them. Tia was abused by her ex-husband and he is now at the end of a five year prison sentence. A kind older lady, Elizabeth Sloan, just passed away and left her large home and money to Tia's charity to help abused women with the contents of the home going to her grandson if he can be found. Elizabeth's grandson, Jason, and his mother, had to disappear seventeen years ago because Elizabeth's son George was abusive to his family. Jason traveled to Florida after hearing of his grandmother's passing but his mother was unable to because she has cancer. The two are hoping to be able to use money from his grandmother's estate to pay medical costs but their copy of Elizabeth's will was from years ago and they didn't know of the change. When Tia and Jason meet, there is definitely friction. Jason is so stunned by the news. While he is going through the contents of the house, he gets to know Tia and realize that she is the real deal helping abused women. He especially admires her after what he and his mom went through. The two have an attraction that is re-enforced by their faith but both have some issues from their background to hinder a relationship developing. Things get tense when it is apparent that someone is following Jason and then Tia finds out her ex is out of prison. There is a gradual uptick in suspense and danger as the book goes on with an especially edgy, surprising finale. The author's writing is smooth and easy to read with great characters and a setting easy to visualize. I always enjoy Carol Post's book and I highly recommend this book and series. This story is a touching subject and hard to believe that people are so disturbed in how they treat others weaker than them. I received a complimentary ARC from the author but all thoughts are mine only....more
Ginger Snapped to Death is a fun addition to the Cookies & Chance Mysteries series. There is never a dull moment in Sally Donovan's life in ColwesternGinger Snapped to Death is a fun addition to the Cookies & Chance Mysteries series. There is never a dull moment in Sally Donovan's life in Colwestern, New York. She is the owner of a bakery named Sally's Samples where her best friend Josie is the baker. The two have a tendency to get into trouble, usually when they put on their sleuthing hats to investigate a crime, mostly involving murder. Sally is a magnet for trouble. This time it is the week before Christmas and she is nine months pregnant when she is carjacked by two men in Santa suits. Things are compounded when an old boyfriend is found dead with a cake server with her name on it sticking out of his neck. She is questioned by her old friend, police officer Brian. She really tries to stay out of trouble this time but Josie is determined to investigate and Sal goes along. On top of those troubles, her sister Gianna and her fiance Johnny are supposed to get married Christmas Eve. Sally has nightmares about giving birth to her baby in prison. What a time they all have with crazy parents, Johnny's crazy grandmother and the criminals! Her hubby Mike is fit to tied when she won't stay home with her feet up. This is another winner in the series. I received a complimentary ARC from the publisher. All thoughts and opinions are mine only....more
This is a pleasant book to read for a holiday themed story with lots of great sounding foods, shopping and parties to get in the spirit. Pamela PatersThis is a pleasant book to read for a holiday themed story with lots of great sounding foods, shopping and parties to get in the spirit. Pamela Paterson is a knitter who makes sweaters and garments for herself and her daughter, Penny, along with working for a fiber magazine. Pamela and her best friend and neighbor Bettina are members of a group of knitters who get together every week to knit and have refreshments in different homes. They call their group, Knit & Nibble. Pamela, Bettina and her husband Wifred are busy icing Christmas cookies for the next meeting when Penny, home from college, calls Bettina's house frantic after finding a body in a nearby nature preserve. The body is that of a friend, Millicent, who owns a local craft shop. Millicent was a wealthy woman who has recently married so her new, younger husband, Pierre, is suspected of her murder as are a few others. Pamela and Bettina set out to find out who killed their friend while spending time knitting, baking, cooking and shopping. Pamela also has some work to do for the magazine as well. I would have liked to see more time time spent on solving the murder mystery instead of so much time spent talking about daily activities and detailed discussion of recipes, baking and cooking. There is plenty to read about parties, Christmas carols, time spent with family and friends. I was very surprised to see who the killer turned out to be. I never suspected the person. I received a complimentary ARC from Kensington Books through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only....more
This is a fun Christmas themed cozy mystery with likable and quirky characters in the small coastal town of Crystal Cove, California. Jenna Hart, her This is a fun Christmas themed cozy mystery with likable and quirky characters in the small coastal town of Crystal Cove, California. Jenna Hart, her aunt, Vera, and the crew of the Cookbook Nook are gearing up for Christmas with lots of fun activities and even a cookie exchange. Things turn bad when a friend of her neighbor, Jake, is found dead at Jake's home. His body is found wrapped in Christmas lights and stabbed in the back by a star used on a Christmas tree. The first person blamed is Jake but he was at the store and video backs him up. A grumpy neighbor reported hearing Jenna's brother in law arguing with the dead guy. But he also had an alibi. Jake and Jenna's dad are close friends but he is out of the country so Jenna decides she needs to do some investigating in her dad's place. Maybe the killer was really after Jake and not his friend. She finds that there are several people who might want to get to Jake. A local businesswoman wants a rare stamp Jake has that is worth tons of money. A businessman from San Francisco wants Jake's house but it is not for sale. Jake's estranged sister is in town. Maybe she wants his estate. Amid the investigation, Jenna has her sister and her family in town for a music competition, her boyfriend Rhett returns to town and news abound with Jenna and her good friend Bailey. But also, danger is there as someone tries to complete their task of getting to Jake. The shop and connected cafe have fun events with yummy sounding foods and the cafe serves great food. The book includes some recipes in the back that would be interesting to try. I found the ending not totally surprising but it does have a strange twist that I did not see at all. I received a complimentary ARC from Beyond the Page Publishing through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. The thoughts stated are mine only....more
Read and Gone is a great cozy mystery that takes place during the Christmas season. It is the second in the series and I could tell that I was missingRead and Gone is a great cozy mystery that takes place during the Christmas season. It is the second in the series and I could tell that I was missing some background information but it didn't hinder me from enjoying this book. Carrie Singleton is head of Programs and Events Coordinator at the library in Clover Ridge and has been for the last several months, since moving to town to live with her aunt and uncle. Now she is living in the cottage on the property owned by her boyfriend, Dylan Avery. Neither of her parents have been great at parenting, especially her career criminal father, Jim, who shows up at her house on the night of her birthday party. Jim is back to find some gems he and his partner and jewelry store owner, Benton Parr stole. When Jim is found standing over Benton's body in the jewelry store, things don't look good for him at first. Dylan works for a company recovering stolen art and jewelry. This causes some friction between Carrie and him when she realizes that he may have used her to get close to Jim. It soon becomes apparent that others might have a reason to kill Benton, including his wife or the husband of the woman he was having an affair with. But as other people are killed, the pool of suspects grows larger. Festivities are going on at the library for the holiday season so Carrie has to juggle her investigation in the murder with her job at the library. The story is filled with some interesting characters, including Evelyn, a ghost that only Carrie and her young cousin Tacey can see, her cat Smokey Joe, who spends his days at the library, and others. The library sounds like a lovely place to work, especially during the holiday festivities. I received a complimentary ARC from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley. Opinions and thoughts are mine only....more
Murder in Her Stocking is a great start to a new series that is an off shoot to the Samantha Reid series. I have not read the series but this story haMurder in Her Stocking is a great start to a new series that is an off shoot to the Samantha Reid series. I have not read the series but this story has gotten me interested in looking into it. As the story starts, Stella "Granny" Reid is spending time with her adult grandchildren and friends at Christmas time when she is thinking back to another Christmas thirty years ago in McGill, Georgia-a Christmas that was good but also had some sadness. I was drawn in from the beginning and laughing out loud at the dialect, witty conversation between Granny and her seven "grand-angels," all named for towns in Georgia where their mother had lived. Stella is the only responsible person in the children's life. Their father, Macon, Stella's son, is on the road all the time and never around to help with the children while their mother, Shirley, spends all of her time at the local tavern. Savannah is the oldest and is very mature for a twelve year old because she has to look after the others. Waycross is the only boy and second to the oldest. Savannah devours Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys books and plans to become a policewoman when she grows up. She gets her chance at detective work when she and Stella along with Waycross hear a dying scream one night while taking care of some mischief that Waycross had gotten into. The local lady of the night, Priscilla Carr, has been injured and is dying when Stella reaches her after securing the kids at the sheriff's office. Many wives in the town have reason to kill Prissy but so do others-men who spent time with her. Besides the mystery of who killed Prissy, there is a secondary mystery when Bud, the abusive husband of Stella's friend Flo's, disappears after a big fight with Flo. This story is rich with small town colorful characters who love to gossip and know each other's business but also show support in a time of need. Stella and her son's family are poor as dirt but she is rich in love and respect for others, especially with her grand-angels. When Christmas Day arrives, Stella and the children have a special day with friends and a few lovely surprises. I received a complimentary ARC from Kensington Publishing through NetGalley for an honest review. The opinions stated are mine only....more
Deadly Noel is a hard to put down and fast paced suspense that takes place right before Christmas. Kira Davis, county assistant DA, did the unthinkablDeadly Noel is a hard to put down and fast paced suspense that takes place right before Christmas. Kira Davis, county assistant DA, did the unthinkable when she helped convict and put an innocent man in prison. After being in prison for eight months, Gabriel Michaels is released when the bodies of two more women are found right next to the body of Marcie Michaels, his estranged wife. He was convicted based on the fact that her blood was found on him, so much that she couldn't be alive. He had an excuse for the blood being on him but the police and DA didn't listen to him. Now, he is back and very angry with Kira. She wants to make amends for her mistake and asks for his help to help her find the real killer. As he finally agrees to help her find the killer and clear his name in the eyes of the townspeople and Marcie's family, they are drawn together. The killer is someone from their small hometown; someone that they all know. The killer keeps asking Kira to stop him and this loads more guilt on Kira. I enjoyed this story and had trouble putting it down. There were lots of suspects and I kept trying to figure out who was killing off women. Great read!...more
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