A Very Woodsy Murder by Ellen Byron - 4 Stars!

Sitcom writer Dee Stern is flipping the script. She's leaving Los Angeles to renovate a mid-century motel filled with cobwebs and retro charm. She teams up with best friend, Jeff Cornetta, also her ex-husband, to transform the aging ranch into the Golden Motel, a hiker’s oasis on the edge of the wilderness. But Dee and Jeff soon realize they're unprepared for the hospitality business. There’s also the reality of prowling bears and a general store as the only shopping spot for miles. Living and working in the middle of nowhere takes some getting used to, especially when a disrespectful guest ends up murdered! Now, with the motel duo topping the suspect list, Dee must determine if the killer is a local or tourist. Because as she quickly finds out, there are many things worse than a one-star review.

This cozy mystery is filled with charm and interesting characters. Dee is a modern amateur sleuth who finds herself in dire situations all throughout this story. She is an intelligent and resourceful individual, although highly unlucky. But Jeff is always there to help her when things get too rough. The plot is intricate, and confounding. I couldn't figure out whodunit until the big reveal at the end. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this advanced reader's copy.

 

Trouble is Brewing by Vicki Delany - 5 Stars!

Members of the Reynolds and Hill families are staying at Lily Robert's grandmother’s bed and breakfast, and now they’ve gathered at Tea by the Sea for Hannah Hill's bridal shower. But the last package Hannah unwraps contains a beheaded Raggedy Ann doll. She’s chilled to the bone. Lily senses that the shocking anonymous gift might be related to other tensions she’s picking up on. The mothers-in-law hate each other, and then Lily, out walking her dog, overhears the groom’s father, Ralph, offering his son a very sizable bribe to call off the wedding. She’s relieved when Greg angrily turns him down. But, then Ralph is found murdered in his bedroom. Can Lily solve the murder and help the couple find their happily ever after?

This was a great cozy mystery and the reason why I love Vicki Delany's work. The characters are so fun to read about. I like how Lily worked with the police to help solve the murder instead of going behind their back. The setting of this B and B and tea shop was so lovingly described I want to visit and have a scone and tea. I thought I solved the murder halfway through the book, but was surprised in the end. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

The Earl's Cinderella Countess by Amanda McCabe - 2 Stars!

Frederick, the Earl of Fleetwood was Eleanor St. Aubin’s first love, but being a vicar’s daughter held her back from admitting her feelings. Now she's a successful matchmaker, and the prospect of helping him find the wealthy wife he needs to settle his inherited debts is a nightmare come true! But returning from war, Frederick has nightmares of his own. Eleanor feels compelled to help him, but could she ever be his Cinderella countess?

I want to state upfront that I did DNF this book at 41% after realizing that it wasn't for me. The characters were likeable and filled with charming idiosyncrasies which made them realistic. I wanted to read more but the pacing was too slow and lagging. I kept on getting bored because there was also a lack of the romantic excitement that I find in most historical romances. I think that someone who likes a slower paced historical romance should pick this one, but it just wasn't for me. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

Fatal First Edition by Jenn McKinlay - 5 Stars!

Briar Creek Library director Lindsey Norris and her husband, Sully, are at a library conference in Chicago to hear book restoration specialist Brooklyn Wainwright give a keynote address. After the lecture, Lindsey finds a tote bag containing a first edition of Patricia Highsmith’s Strangers on a Train, inscribed to Alfred Hitchcock. Brooklyn determines the novel is one of a kind and quite valuable, so Lindsey and Sully return the book to the conference director. But just hours after they board a train back to Connecticut, rumors that the Highsmith novel has gone missing buzz amongst the passengers, and they soon find the conference director murdered. And the murderer planted the book in Lindsey and Sully’s room, making them prime suspects. Now, they must find the murderer, before they find themselves booked for a crime they didn’t commit. This story features a cameo from the New York Times bestselling author Kate Carlisle's Bibliophile series!

This cozy mystery series is one of the best, and this story is an example of why readers, like me, love it so much. Lindsay and Sully are a great pair that work together to solve mysteries. Lindsey is the amateur sleuth, but Sully's love for her has him joining her in many investigations. All the characters in this series are phenomenal. Having the murder occur on a train makes for an amazing sensory experience. The author described its movements, and scenery well. I saw, heard, and smelled the train as it traveled through the cold northeast winter storm. The mysterious plot was confounding, and I didn't know whodunit until the very end. I loved that there was a cameo from the other series I read in this story. I can't wait to read another Library Lover's mystery.

 

Rhythm and Clues by Olivia Blacke - 4 Stars!

It’s been five whole months since the last murder in Cedar River, Texas, and Juni Jessup and her sisters Tansy and Maggie have been humming along when disaster strikes. Their struggling vinyl records/coffee shop, Sip & Spin Records, is under pressure from predatory investors. But the night after their meeting, the sketchy financier is killed outside their shop during a torrential Texas thunderstorm. Now the sisters find themselves wondering who the murderer is, and Juni is determined to solve the case.
This cozy mystery was very good. I loved all the characters and felt that the setting was interesting and well described. I would love to find a store that sold vinyl records and coffee. The romantic subplot was a great distraction from the mystery, which was intriguing. I thought I had figured out whodunit, only to be surprised in the end. I can't wait to read the next one in this series. Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

 

Can You Solve the Murder? by Antony Johnston - 4 Stars!

There’s been a murder at Elysium, a wellness retreat in an English country manor. You arrive to find the body of a local businessman on the lawn with a rose placed in his mouth. It appears he was stabbed with a gardening fork and fell to his death from the balcony above. But that balcony can only be accessed through a locked door, the key is missing, and everyone in Elysium is now a suspect.
Gather the evidence and examine the clues. Choose who to interview, and who to accuse as your prime suspect. Every decision you make has consequences and some of them will prove fatal. Do you have what it takes? Can YOU solve the murder?
This was one of the most interesting books I've read recently. It's an interactive novel where the reader is the detective and makes the decisions during the investigation. But there are pitfalls and dead ends that you have to watch out for. The one thing I thought was strange was that at the end you were scored by the clues you found. I thought that was a little too much. I like to read for relaxation, but it became more of a challenge with this book.

 

Peach Tea Smash by Laura Childs - 4 Stars!

During the Mad Hatter Masquerade, a fundraiser hosted by the Friends of the Opera, Harlan Sadler is killed. He’s been hit in the head with a croquet mallet, and his body hung on the chains and paddles of the grist mill where Theodosia and Drayton find him. Theodosia was asked to investigate, and she risks her life to find the truth.

This was a great cozy mystery with fabulous characters and a setting that draws you in, and then the plot takes you on a cozy ride filled with intrigue. The one thing that surprised me was the use of profanity in this story. I think an author should use other words whenever possible. I recommend this story and series to any mystery lover.