Crescent City Christmas Chaos by Ellen Byron - 5 Stars!

Ricki James-Diaz's parents have arrived in New Orleans for the holidays. Ricki takes the opportunity to jog her mom's memory about her adoption. The details have always been mysterious. And Ricki understands why when she learns her mother was blackmailed for years about the adoption. When the woman who extorted Ricki’s mom is murdered, her mom becomes the primary suspect. Can Ricki prove her mother’s innocence and have the case wrapped up in time for Christmas?

This was a great and extremely fun holiday cozy mystery. Ricki is a smart amateur sleuth who's fun to read about. The setting is interesting with all of the parties and descriptions of food. It made me hungry at times reading this story. There are just enough red herrings to keep me guessing about the true culprit. I can't wait to read the next installment. Thanks to NetGalley and Severn House for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

A Poisonous Pour by Maddie Day - 4 Stars!

It’s Memorial Day weekend in Sonoma County and Cece Barton, owner of Vino y Vida, has her hands full. Meanwhile, her neighbor, Richard Flora, is stirring up controversy with an article about Regan Greene, a power-hungry woman of a valley district organization. When Regan is found murdered, Cece feels that Richard could be named a prime suspect. Determined to clear Richard’s name, and failing to extract any clues from detectives, Cece once again investigates on her own to find the true killer red-handed.

I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. Cece is a wonderful amateur sleuth who uses her intelligence and her relationships to help find the truth. I enjoyed the setting and meeting the other characters who were mostly business owners and workers in the town. The only strange thing was the length and number of chapters. Even though this was a relatively quick read, I felt that the pacing was off. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this advanced reader's copy.

 

The Wishing Gate by Cindy Kirk - 5 Stars!

In 2026, Liliana Parks is an investigator looking at an estate in disrepair. She doesn’t believe in wishes until an iron gate carries her thirty-seven years into the past. In 1989, that same place is filled with life, its gardens are in bloom, and David Holliday is still dreaming of the future. But Lily knows that David is destined to die young, and the estate will be left to fall into ruin. Every time she travels back, she's drawn closer to David, his family and a life she feels more like home than anything she's known. But the gate will only open three times. Which life will Lily choose, the one she made for herself, or the unexpected one waiting for her on the other side of time.

In my opinion Cindy Kirk is one of the most eloquent writers in romance fiction. She writes stories that make you think, make you hope, and sometimes makes you cry. Admittedly, this story made me cry because it was about time traveling and finding love. And sometimes I wish I could go into the past myself to see my husband who I lost way too soon. But that's what good story does, it makes you think of your own life and what you would do if you were the main character. The characters, and the setting were so wonderfully described that it made them real in my mind. I want to thank the author for letting me read an arc of this story.

 

A Murder at the Mansion by Ellie Alexander - 5 Stars!

In the charming town of Redwood Grove, heiress Bernadette Garst vanishes from her mansion, and investigator Annie Murray is summoned to the scene. Upon arrival, Annie discovers a household riddled with secrets, bitter rivalries, and suspicious staff members. When Bernadette’s lawyer is murdered, it’s clear the case has become more dangerous. With her keen eye for detail, Annie must piece together the clues hidden within the estate grounds. Can she solve the puzzle before it’s too late?

I love this cozy mystery series, and this story is a great addition. Annie is a fantastic amateur sleuth who uses her wit and intelligence to figure out the culprit's identity. Redwood Grove is so wonderfully described, it's on my list of favorite mystery settings. I like how the amateur sleuth works with the police, and they're seen as intelligent and capable people. The plot was confounding, and I was surprised by the ending. Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this advanced reader's copy.

 

A Murderer's Guide to Mardi Gras by Ellen Byron - 5 stars!

It’s carnival season in New Orleans, and Ricki James-Diaz from Bon Vee is getting ready for Mardi Gras. She's joined the krewe of Chew to support her boyfriend, Virgil, who's to be crowned this year’s king. It’s all fun, and over-the-top outfits until the krewe’s captain is found strangled to death. The prime suspect is Ricki’s friend. It seems a straightforward case, but Ricki isn’t sure. Now she's at the center of another murder investigation. And if she’s not careful, her first Mardi Gras could also be her last.

This was a great cozy mystery filled with fun characters, and a plot that kept me guessing until the very end. I realized upon starting this novel that it wasn't the first novel in the series, but it was an easy read, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I loved reading about Mardi Gras season and all of the different parades and parties that go on in the Big Easy during this time. I've always wanted to go there, and this book gave me a taste of what it would be like. I will definitely read more of this series. Thanks to NetGalley and Joffe Books For this advanced reader's copy.

 

Happier Here With You by Amy Gail Hanson - 5 Stars!

Widowed and overworked, food anthropologist Maggie Brodbeck struggles to spend quality time with her daughter, Hannah. She doesn’t have time to breathe, let alone pursue personal happiness. Then, Maggie receives an invitation from her estranged great-aunt Alice to visit her Wisconsin farm. Desperate for a break, Maggie finds Rosehill Farm to be a revelation. In Alice, Maggie finds a kindred spirit. They share a natural rhythm. The calming pace of country living is made even sweeter when Maggie meets Brady, a local pastry chef. Then Maggie opens her aunt’s treasured box of recipes and discovers the threads of her heroic family history. The recipes not only shed light on the past but reconnect Maggie to her love of cooking and to a life of contentment close to her heart, and back to herself.

This was one of the most amazing, and moving novels that I have read in a long time. I felt a kinship with the main character because I'm also a widow. And I know that it can be hard to find your footing in a world when your significant other is no longer with you. I found Maggie to be a strong, intelligent and capable woman. The farm was such a dynamic setting that I found it more like another character because it grew and had hardships like any other character. Feeling the love from the other townspeople jump off the page made me want to visit this town. This was a sweet contemporary romance with no intense sexual scenes. This book was a selection from the Amazon First Reads program.

 

Murder at First Slice by Valerie Burns - 5 Stars!

Social media guru and baker Maddy Montgomery is preparing for her wedding day. Friends and family descend on New Bison, Michigan, to celebrate. Unfortunately, she has to deal with an unhappy couple: feuding cousins Hannah and Dorothy, who haven’t spoken in decades. When Dorothy crashes the rehearsal dinner, with several uninvited guests in tow, she starts complaining to everyone. And the next day, she's found dead with Hannah standing over her body. Nobody in town believes Hannah could commit murder. But a new detective doesn’t know Hannah and the evidence seems overwhelming. Now, with her wedding day coming up, Maddy needs to find the true killer before she walks down the aisle.

This was one of the most enjoyable cozy mysteries in this fantastic series. Maddy is a courageous and intelligent sleuth who is found new life and new love. I honestly envy the amateur sleuth as she has reinvented her life for the better. All of the side characters are unique and lovable. Reading about the scenery in Michigan makes me want to go there someday. The plot was very intriguing and even though I thought I knew who the culprit was, I was surprised in the end. I will definitely read more of this series. Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this advanced readers copy. This review is my honest opinion.