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.

 

All Aboard for Murder by Ellen Byron - 5 Stars!

It's October in Gold Rush country and Halloween is just around the corner. It also happens to be the birthday of Angus Sprockles, the man responsible for the town being designated a historic landmark. His only living descendant, Moses Sprockles, runs a railroad that used to ferry lumber from the mountains to the sawmill. Now a tourist attraction, the Sprockles Railroad is hosting a Halloween-themed fundraiser for the Historical Society. Then Moses is found dead on the tracks, seemingly felled by a fallen tree branch. Dee's dad Sam is convinced its foul play and urges his daughter to apply her sleuthing skills. No matter how crazy things get, Dee is determined to blow the whistle on a runaway killer with a one-track mind.

This was a fantastic cozy mystery read. Ms. Byron has weaved a tale with great characters, an exciting setting filled with a festival atmosphere, and a plot that was just twisty enough to keep me guessing until the very end. I love how the main character and her best friend created a new life after being in different careers. I love the antics showing how they're getting used to their new environment, including the bear that keeps them on their toes going in and out of their hot tub. There are so many juicy side characters that I can't wait until the next installment. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

Bodies and Battlements by Elizabeth Penney - 5 stars!

Herbalist Nora Asquith is delighted to open Ravensea Castle as a bed and breakfast in the village of Monkwell, Yorkshire. When Hilda Dibble, a local luminary, is found dead in the garden, Nora’s business is not only at risk, but she’s a prime suspect. Hilda had opposed the hotel plan, and although she didn’t succeed in stopping it, her disagreements with Nora only further her motive. One of the guests happens to be Detective Inspector Finlay Cole, who is new and finds himself with a murder case in his lap. Nora and her sister Tamsyn decide to investigate. They decide to look into the entangled dealings of their guests. Can Nora and Tamsyn get to the bottom of this mystery while keeping their new business afloat?

I loved this paranormal cozy mystery. The main character seemed extremely smart and capable. I loved her knowledge of herbs and herbal remedies. There were many different foods described that whet my appetite and made me hungry. I would've loved to sit at one of the dinners described in the castle. The setting was both cozy and mysterious, and the paranormal activity was light enough to not be disturbing. I think there were an adequate number of red herrings and suspects to keep me guessing, and I was surprised with the identity of the culprit. I will definitely read more from this series. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

A Legend in the Baking by Jamie Wesley - 5 Stars!

August Hodges was the silent partner in Sugar Blitz Cupcakes. That is until his rant about how women bakers are the backbone of the industry and baking cupcakes isn’t a threat to masculinity goes viral. With a new location in the works, August and his partners decide to capitalize on this opportunity. But the hiring of his best friend’s sister was as much of a shock as his fame. Social media manager Sloane Dell fell hard for her brother’s best friend more than a decade ago, but that infatuation cost her dearly. Still, she accepts her brother’s request to revamp the bakery’s social media presence and take advantage of August’s newfound popularity. Now, if she can only ignore her attraction to August. They vow to leave the past in the past. But can they ignore the feelings they still share? As they’re both about to find out, all’s fair in love and cupcakes.

I absolutely love this story. It's a contemporary romance about two people who have baggage from prior relationships, coming together and finding a way to be happy. And it has cupcakes! The main characters were adorable, and I could feel the chemistry between them jumping off the page. There was just enough heat to make it interesting without going overboard. Even though this romance was part of a series, I didn't feel like I was missing anything, as this was the first story I read by this author. I definitely will read another story from this author. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.