Death at a Scottish Halloween by Lucy Connolly - 5 Stars!

It’s the week of Halloween and the town of Sea Isle is full of spooky celebrations. Dr. Emilia McRoy loves helping out in any way she can. But the festivities are interrupted when she and her assistant, Abigail, find a dead body in a haunted house. They’re too late to save the victim, but they’ll do whatever it takes to find his killer. Constable Ewan would prefer that the good doctor, and her friends stay out of the investigation. Dr. Em must stay one step ahead if she’s to survive this Halloween season alive—either that or she might just end up the next victim.

I really enjoyed this spooky, suspenseful, cozy mystery. Even though it was the fifth book in the series, I had no problem reading it and didn't feel like I missed a thing. The main character was very likable and enjoyable. And the townspeople were quirky and added to the atmosphere of the story. I really enjoyed reading about the setting, and it made me want to go there and see all the sites. I will definitely read more from this series. Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

A Murder at Midnight by Ellie Alexander - 5 Stars!

Halloween is just around the corner, and Annie and Fletcher are allowing a popular ghost hunter TV show to record an episode overnight at the bookstore. It seems like a great idea for publicity and a fun way to generate more revenue. But when the star is found dead, the detectives know they’re dealing with something much more alarming than an angry poltergeist. It’s up to the Annie and Fletcher to track down the real culprit and put an end to any otherworldly rumors, before someone else gets hurt.

This was a great cozy mystery to read right before Halloween. I love the main characters and how they work together to solve the mystery. The plot was very entertaining, and I was trying to solve the mystery with the detectives. But I was surprised by the big reveal in the end. I will definitely read more from this series. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this advanced reader's copy. This review Is my honest opinion.

 

Death on the Books by Victoria Gilbert - 5 Stars!

When a stranger dies in the Taylorsford Public Library, clutching a piece of paper inscribed with the words hen and sapphire, Library Director Amy Muir must investigate. She learns that the man is the personal assistant to Warren Sanderson, an art collector and dealer who happens to be visiting Kurt Kendrick, the godfather of Amy’s twins. When the autopsy reveals that the deceased was poisoned, suspicion falls on those who knew him: Sanderson, his granddaughter Heather, and Kurt. Determined to get to the bottom of the mystery, Amy digs into the relationships between Kurt and the Sandersons. Can Amy find out the truth before someone else dies?

I absolutely loved this mystery. It had everything that I like about cozy mysteries. The characters were diabolically entertaining, the plot was full of mysterious clues, and the setting made me think of sitting on a comfy sofa reading in front of a roaring fire. I definitely can't wait until the next mystery in this fun series. Thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

Cat on a Hot Tin Woof by Spencer Quinn - 2 Stars!

Chet the dog is not happy about the Little Detective Agency’s new case. Chet and his human partner, PI Bernie Little, have been hired to find a missing cat. Miss Kitty, an internet sensation, has disappeared, and Chet and Bernie have been hired to find her before her many followers realize something is wrong. Miss Kitty belongs to Bitty, a teenage girl who lives with her mom. Bitty and her mother are struggling financially, but the arrival of Miss Kitty and her social media appeal has changed everything. With Miss Kitty gone, the family's income is on the line. Can Chet and Bernie find the cat and save the day?

I really wanted to like this story because it had a unique perspective. I never read a story with the dog as a narrator. But I couldn't get into it. Chet's observations were so chaotic that it was hard to understand where he was going. I like the characters, and the mystery plot was unique. I wonder what this story would be like if Bernie was the narrator, instead of Chet. I recommend this to somebody who is used to reading mysteries with animals as narrators. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this advanced reader's copy.

 

A Fall to Remember by Ellie Alexander - 5 Stars!

Miranda Brown never meant to become famous. She just wanted a quiet vacation away from her stress running a store in Half Moon Bay, California. But when her terrible travel photos go viral, Miranda becomes an internet sensation. Now a travel company wants her to cover her hometown's Fall Harvest Festival, sending the charming (and handsome) Jim Cole to help capture her authentic world on camera. But Miranda finds that being genuine is harder than it looks. But when she learns his job depends on this campaign's success, she must decide if his feelings are real, or is she just part of his marketing plan?

This was a great contemporary romance read during the fall season. This story actually had two different romances in it, and there were four different point of view characters. But to me it wasn't confusing at all. I was able to enjoy all of the characters from their points of view. I'm really excited because a character actually mentioned one of the other series this author writes. I love it when authors make connections between the characters of different series. I'm definitely looking forward to reading more from this author. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

Give Me a Reason by Jayci Lee - 4 stars!

For ten years, Anne Lee told herself that Frederick Nam was her past. In order to save her families' finances, she left Frederick for an acting career in Korea. After Anne left, Frederick spent years loving her and hating her until he decided to live his life for himself. He followed his dream and became a firefighter in Culver City. When Anne returns to Los Angeles, she and Frederick are thrown together in the same wedding. Even though he is angry and distant with her, Anne can no longer deny that she never got over him. Can they open their hearts for a second chance?

This story reminds me of a K drama, with its wonderfully written characters and slow burning plotline. But, at least in book form, the slowness of the plot made it hard for me to finish. I was getting bored with it and realized there were only a few more chapters, so I decided to continue until the end. The time frame seems a bit long to me. For example, the main heroine left for South Korea for 10 years before coming back. It surprised me that the character was away for that long, and the hero still wanted to connect with her. I'm glad I finished the story because it has a very satisfying ending. Thanks to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this advanced Reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

Harbor Pointe by Irene Hannon - 5 Stars!

As a principal dancer with a New York ballet company, Devyn Lee returns to her hometown of Hope Harbor, Oregon to assist with a family emergency. After she agrees to help with a fundraising show for a local charity, millworker Aaron Steele's daughter joins the cast. When Aaron and Devyn meet, sparks fly. But what are the odds that such an accomplished, polished woman from the city could ever fall for a small-town lumberman with two left feet?

Years ago, I read another one of this author's books and felt that it was too hard and too long to stick with. But I'm glad I gave this book a chance, because it's a beautifully written story about love and faith. The characters were fun to read about, and the plot was enjoyable. The setting described was so beautiful that it made me want to look at a map to see if there was such a place to visit. I will definitely read more of this series. Thanks to NetGalley and Revell Publishing for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.