The Write Way to Die (Murder By the Book Mystery series Book # 1) by Beth Prentice

From USA Today bestselling author Beth Prentice comes a brand new series filled with humor, romance, and deadly deceptions...

A writing retreat. A famous author. A deadly fall.

Aspiring novelist Aubrey Jackson never expected her big break to be wrapped in crime scene tape. Invited to an exclusive writer’s retreat hosted by the legendary author Willow Fox, Aubrey was excited to sharpen her plot twists and finally finish her first book. But when Willow is found dead—pushed from a third story window—the peaceful getaway turns into a real-life investigation.

With a retreat full of suspects, and the police pointing the finger at one of her best friends, Aubrey’s instincts kick in. After all, she’s read enough murder mysteries to know this wasn’t an accident! So with her writer buddies, Ellie and Spencer, by her side, she sets out to find a killer!

Only problem? The sharp detective with gorgeous eyes and enough muscles to be on a magazine cover, who has a frustrating determination to arrest the wrong person.

Can Aubrey uncover the truth before the killer writes her off for good? Or will her first big break end in a plot twist she never saw coming?

And don't forget to pick up Aubrey Jackson's debut novella, Murder for Shore!   (Summary via Goodreads)

The Write Way to Die is the first book in the Murder By the Book Mystery series by Beth Prentice and it has a lot to love .... a story that grabs you instantly, a cast of strong characters, one stronger than the other as they are a murderer, a great setting for this first of hopefully many in the series, a story within a story, plus much more !!!

In The Write Way to Die main character Aubrey is going on a weekend writing retreat with her best friend, Elle and another good friend Spencer.  Another good friend of Aubrey and Elle's is co-hosting the event with a popular author that they cannot wait to spend time with and learn from .... unfortunately Willow, the author, is found dead outside and Aubrey is the one to find her !!!

It is soon ruled murder as she was pushed from her third floor room window.  And with the retreat consisting of authors and individuals that want to be authors, everyone is talking and they all have their own ideas.  Except one of them is most likely the murderer so .....

Aubrey is there to work on the story that she is writing, a cozy mystery, so when she can't focus on her writing she wonders about Willow's murder and cannot help but start to do her own investigating.  And Elle and Spencer are just as bad and go along with it all.  Even though Aubrey gets in too deep and the handsome detective is constantly telling her to stop !!

Prentice has a great foundation with this first book in this series.  There is so much to love as I stated already.  And the way that she ends this story, you know you are in for it all and be waiting for the next book ... I know I will be.

Murder For Shore (Saltwater Bay Secrets Mystery novella) by Beth Prentice & Aubrey Jackson

From USA Today bestselling author Beth Prentice & Aubrey Jackson, the subject of the "Murder by the Book Mysteries," comes a cozy beachside mystery full of intrigue, danger, and just the right amount of salt in the air!

Daphne Wright thought the biggest challenge at her newly inherited beach house in Saltwater
Bay would be battling the sand in her coffee. But when a human skull washes up with the morning tide, she’s suddenly pulled into a deadly mystery lurking beneath the waves. As secrets bubble to the surface, and the small town’s past proves as treacherous as the shifting sands, Daphne must navigate a tide of lies before the killer strikes again.

Want more Aubrey Jackson? Pick up The Write Way to Die, and learn how she wrote her first novella amidst her own real-life mystery!  (Summary via Goodreads)

Murder For Shore may be a novella but it reads like a full length novel.  You get a glimpse of Murder For Shore when you read The Write Way to Die which is the first book in the Murder By the Book Mystery series.  But you don't have to read it because you get all of it in the novella but it is neat to see it unfold in the main characters mind.

In Murder For Shore main character Daphne returns to Saltwater Bay when she inherits the beach shack that her grandmother leaves her.  Before she even gets to unlock the door her neighbor comes over and shows her the human skull that washed up in the recent storm.  The head is soon identified and Daphne decides to look into the case when it is determined that the person was murdered and he apparently had dated her grandmother.  

Unfortunately Daphne is going to uncover some things that people in town may not want uncovered and she may be in way over her head ....

Author Beth Prentice will have you invested as soon as you start reading and you will be glad it's a novella so you can read it in one sitting because as soon as you start reading, you will want to find out what happens.

Murder at the Moulin Rouge (A Blackwell & Watson Time-Travel Mystery Book # 5) by Carol Pouliot

Paris, 1895. When a cancan dancer at the Moulin Rouge falls to her death from the top of one of Montmartre’s highest staircases, the police dismiss it as an accident. But, Madeleine was one of Toulouse-Lautrec’s favorite models, and the artist is certain she was murdered. Enter Depression-era detective Steven Blackwell and 21st-century journalist Olivia Watson who travel back in time to Paris to hunt down the killer. Before long, they learn that a second dancer—a ballerina and favorite model of painter Edgar Degas—has died. Two dancers dead in two weeks. Two artists grieving. Is the killer targeting young dancers, or, does this case involve the enigmatic Paris art world?

From the moment Steven and Olivia arrive, Steven is out of his element. The small-town cop has no idea what techniques the French police use in 1895. Worse, he has no official status to investigate murder in one of the world’s largest cities. The sleuths soon discover disturbing secrets at the Paris Ballet. And when Olivia insists on going undercover to visit a suspect’s house alone, Steven fears he’s made the biggest mistake of his life.

Travel back in time with Steven and Olivia, as they enter the back-stabbing world of dance in one of the world’s greatest cities. Murder at the Moulin Rouge is their most daring and dangerous case to date.   (Summary via Goodreads)

I am a huge fan of time traveling books, I think they are so fun and when you add a murder to solve with a touch of romance, I'm totally 100% in !!  And author Carol Pouliot does it perfectly with her Blackwell & Watson Time-Travel Mystery series.

Steven Blackwell is a detective in the early 1930's while Olivia Watson is a journalist/researcher small business owner in 2015.  They are able to time travel between times by walking over the threshold in a bedroom in the house they both own in their timeframe.  They are able to venture out together in both timeframes and Olivia helps Steven with his murder cases.

In the fifth book in the series, Murder at the Moulin Rouge, they are going to go way out of their comfort zones when Steven's deceased mother knocks on his door .... and she is a lot younger.  A friend of her's in Paris in the year 1895 needs help.  A dear friend of his has died, the case was ruled an accident but Henri knows it wasn't.

Before they can even comes to terms with the fact that Steven's mother can time travel as well, they agree to go to 1895 Paris and try to investigate and help Henri.  Obviously this is going to be the toughest case they have ever worked on .... what do they know about the year 1895 other than what they may have learned in history class ?  That doesn't stop them from diving in head first, working with the local detective, meeting very interesting people and spending time with Steven's mother ... which isn't wierd at all !!!

I'll admit Murder at the Moulin Rouge is not my favorite book in this series.  I love spending time with Steven and Olivia no matter where and when they are but I wasn't a fan of Paris. The storyline was captivating and interesting and I was glad they solved the case and were able to return to their own timeframes.  I also now know that in future books I will not be surprised wherever they end up traveling to .... looks like nothing is off limits for this duo and I look forward to the next book to see where they go and who they meet.

Murder Pays a Call (A Keri Armstrong Cozy Mystery Book # 1) by Nancy J. Cohen

Personal concierge Keri Armstrong will accept almost any job, but solving murders wasn’t on her to-do list—until now.

When personal concierge Keri Armstrong swings by her favorite client’s mansion to drop off groceries, she expects a heartfelt chat along with a cup of tea—not Fiona Sullivan dead in bed and her room ransacked. Though police chalk it up to a botched robbery, Keri isn’t so sure. Whispers around town suggest Fiona wasn’t as adored as Keri had believed, and many of the philanthropist’s so-called friends in affluent Sunny Grove, Florida seem glad she’s gone.

Keri refuses to let Fiona’s memory be reduced to malicious gossip. Armed with a keen eye, insider access, and a fully charged tablet, she sets out to uncover the truth. Soon her file of suspects grows faster than her to-do list. Between sneaky neighbors, resentful relatives, and tight-lipped charity board members, Fiona left behind a trail of frenemies who’d happily skip her memorial brunch.

As Keri digs deeper, she discovers her late mentor had a gift for extracting people’s secrets and using them like fine china—carefully storing them until they could serve a purpose. But Fiona also kept a few skeletons in her own walk-in closet. Now, with danger creeping closer, Keri must race to crack the case before her number comes up next… and Murder Pays a Call.

A Fresh Pick at FreshFiction.com!

“Fans of award-winning author Nancy J. Cohen’s long-running Bad Hair Day Mysteries will be thrilled to learn there’s a new sleuth in town.” Lois Winston, author of the bestselling and award-winning Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries.  (Summary via Goodreads)

I fell in love with the Bad Hair Days Mystery series written by Nancy J. Cohen so when I found out she started a new series, I was very excited !!!  And boy has she started this new series off with a bang !!

Murder Pays a Call is the first book in her Keri Armstrong Cozy Mystery series.  This series follows main character Keri in her personal concierge business.  She helps others make their lives easier and simplier.  Unfortunately when Keri finds one of her favorite customers who is like a grandmother to her dead in her bedroom and it is ruled murder, she jumps right into looking for the killer.

Sadly Keri soon learns that Fiona wasn't liked by all and was downright mean to many.  Keri doesn't want to believe that but as the list of suspects continues to grows, she is going to have to face facts ....

As with the Bad Hair Day series Cohen provides readers with a strong main character that you immediately are drawn to and love.  And I know that Murder Pays a Call is the first book in this new series but Cohen knows how to end the story to ensure that readers will be back for more.

Murder at Cape Costumers (Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery Book # 7) by Maddie Day

In Agatha Award-winner Maddie Day’s delightfully spooky Cozy Capers Book Group mystery, it’s Halloween, and Cape Cod bike shop owner Mackenzie “Mac” Almeida and her book club must unmask a killer…

Just in time for Halloween, a new costume shop has opened on Main Street in Westham, Massachusetts. Cape Costumers is a cut above the usual seasonal pop-up stores with their flimsy mass-produced outfits and cheap plastic masks, mostly due to co-owner Shelly, a former Broadway costume designer. But when Shelly discovers her elderly boyfriend Enzo—a Broadway star who retired to Westham—dead of unnatural causes, Halloween suddenly gets a lot scarier.

Sleuthing, Mac has found, is a lot like riding a bicycle: once you learn how, you never forget. Far from being spooked, Mac and the members of the Cozy Capers Book Group put down their weekly book selection and put their heads together to see past a bag of tricks and find a malice-making murderer who’s hiding in plain sight . .  (Summary via Goodreads)

Murder at Cape Costumers, the seventh book in the Cozy Capers Book Group Mystery series, has multiple stories to follow which will keep you reading for sure. 

If you've read any or all of the previous books in this series by Maddie Day, you know that main character Mac cannot stay out of trouble.  When there is a murder, whether she knew the victim or the suspects, she will begin investigating ... but don't worry, she has the Cozy Capers book club watching her back .... hopefully.

On the morning after Halloween Enzo, a gentlemen that was a recent customer at Mac's Bike's is found dead on his deck still wearing his skeleton costume.  Before the death is determined to be murder or natural causes, Mac is already looking into things.

In Murder at Cape Costumers not only is Mac looking into Enzo's murder but her sister-in-law and two small children are visiting.  Unfortunately Jamie, Tim's sister, goes out one night claiming to be meeting a friend for dinner and never returns.  This leaves Mac and Tim looking after Ella and Luca.  Luckily Ella and Mac's niece Cokey become fast, best friends and Mac's family is there to help until Jamie returns.  Tim and Mac, both being business owners try to settle into their new home life but, of course, Mac needs to make sure her hometown and it's residents are safe .... so until she knows who killed Enzo and they are arrested, she will still stick her neck out ..... 

Murder at Cape Costumers, in my opinion, is different than the others as it digs deeper into the family aspect and has a storyline that draws from that.  Not only are we working on a murder but a missing loved one as well.  I personally got emotional with Jamie's disappearance and that could be because after six books, Tim is fictional family.

Regardless as to what drew you into this series or what draws you in, I know you will enjoy your time spent with Mac, Tim and the rest of the town of Westham.

Murder at an Irish Wedding (Irish Village Mystery Book # 2) by Carlene O'Connor

The O Sullivan clan of County Cork, Ireland, are thrilled to be catering the matrimonial affairs of a celebrity couple until a cunning killer turns an Irish wedding into an Irish wake . . .

"Any wedding is a big deal in the small village of Kilbane even more so when the bride is a famous fashion model. It is also good for business. Not only has customer traffic picked up at Naomi s Bistro, Siobhan O Sullivan and her five siblings have a full plate catering for the three-day affair. And Siobhan s own beau, local garda Macdara Flannery, gladly steps in as best man after the groom s first choice makes a drunken arse out of himself.

Even if he hadn't been disinvited to the wedding, the original best man wouldn t have been able to show. He's been found murdered in the woods, casting a pall over the nuptials. And when a second member of the wedding party is poisoned by a champagne flute engraved with Macdara's name, the garda goes from being best man to prime suspect.

With a killer at large and a string of robberies plaguing Kilbane, Siobhan feels more than a little protective of her village. She vows to clear Macdara's name, but the suspect list is as long as the guest list. Like the bride walking down the aisle, Siobhan needs to watch her step. For as she gets closer to unveiling the truth, the murderer is planning a very chilly reception for her . . .

PRAISE FOR "MURDER IN AN IRISH VILLAGE"

If Janet Evanovich and Maeve Binchy wrote a book together, "Murder in an Irish Village"would be the result. 

This one is delicious fun. Laurien Berenson, author of"Live and Let Growl"

A lively debut . . . The cheeky and close-knit O'Sullivans are sure to appeal to cozy fans, who will also appreciate the warmth and spirit of the people of Kilbane. "Publishers Weekly"

A smart whodunnit in an idyllic locale. I dare you not to be charmed by sleuth Siobhan and her siblings, the O Sullivan Six. Barbara Ross, author of"Fogged Inn"

This entertaining combination of Maeve Binchy s old-world Irish charm and Janet Evanovich's roguish humor is a smart, fast-paced read. Devotees of the Hibernian mysteries of Dicey Deere and M.C. Beaton will toast this debut with a pint of Guinness. Slainte! "Library Journal" (Summary via Goodreads)

I am a huge fan of books centered around Ireland.  If I liked to travel, Ireland would definitely be at the top of my list ... but seeing as I hate to travel and get anxiety when I have to visit family in Florida I will live inside books.  And the Irish Village Mystery series by Carlene O'Connor is one of the best ones to get lost in.

I fell in love with the first book in this series, Murder in an Irish Village, so I couldn't wait to get my hands on the second book.

Murder at an Irish Wedding brings an interesting group of people to the Kilbane Castle for a wedding.  Alice is a famous fashion model and also the bride.  She, along with the groom Paul, and their small wedding party and parents are staying at the Kilbane Castle to celebrate their love and have the ceremony.

Unfortunately on the morning after a night out drinking, Kevin, Paul's best man is found dead in the woods and it is definitely murder !!  Main character Siobhan is there delivering some of her family's bistro's brown bread so she immediately goes into investigator mode .... especially when her boyfriend/police officer, Macdara, is on the suspect list.  Macdara is long time friends with Paul and asked to step in as best man.

Paul and Alice are determined to get married no matter what !!  Even when everything and it seems everyone is against it !!

Readers cannot help but love this series and this edition is a repackaged trade paperback reissue so if you are like me and just becoming a fan, I hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.  And I hope you will continue reading because as you'll see when you get to the end of Murder at an Irish Wedding, things are going to be changing for Siobhan and her siblings ..... and it's going to be a hoot for sure !!!!

Death Whisk (Cookies & Chance Mysteries Book # 15) by Catherine Bruns

From USA Today bestselling author Catherine Bruns comes the next dangerously delicious Cookies & Chance mystery!

Full time baker and part time sleuth, Sally Muccio, is looking forward to an impromptu getaway at Bella Vita, a charming local inn recently renovated by an old friend of her father’s. Sal’s been asked to provide treats for Bella Vita's open house and, in addition to the extra dough she’ll earn, her entire family is invited to spend the night at the bed and breakfast for free.

But after a winter storm knocks out the power and Sal stumbles across owner Guido Sorrentino’s lifeless body, the night becomes something directly out of a horror movie. Sal fully intends to leave the investigation to the police...that is, until her father’s life becomes endangered as well! Who wanted Guido dead and what does her father have to do with it? Was Guido a member of organized crime? And why was he acting like he had a death wish? With a crowd of angry and bitter relatives busy celebrating his death instead of mourning, it quickly becomes apparent that there are too many suspects to count. It's up to Sal to find a killer before she’s treated to a taste of death herself!

Recipes Included!

What critics are

"A fantastic cozy mystery!"
~ InD'Tale Magazine

"I want to visit more with all of the quirky characters just to see what crazy and outrageous things they will do next!"
~ Fresh Fiction

"The Cookies and Chance Mystery series is more than just a series....it's a family !! Once you read the first book, you are hooked and feel like a member of the crazy Muccio family."
~ Cozy Mystery Book Reviews     (Summary via Goodreads)

What can you say about a book when it is the fifteenth book in a series ?  Well..... a lot actually.

Death Whisk is the fifteenth book in the Cookies & Chance Mystery series by Catherine Bruns and by far my favorite series.  This series is so much more to me then just stories.  When I open one of these books, I am home with my family.  The Muccio and Donovan families are a part of me .... you cannot help but love them and the craziness they get into !!!

And in Death Whisk we get to see a whole different side to Sally's father, Domenic.  Something I don't think we could have ever imagined !!!  

In Death Whisk Sally and Josie have been asked to provide cookies for an open house.  A friend of Domenic's from when he lived in Italy has bought and renovated a bed and breakfast and he has invited a selection of people to attend the open house and spend the night before the grand opening.  Sally, who is almost due to delivery her second child and Mike will be in attendance along with everyone else except Gramma Rosa who stayed home to watch the other children.

Unfortunately in the middle of the night Sally and Mike go to Guido's suite with an issue and find him dead.  And maybe with all the excitement, or maybe that's just how the family is, Sally goes into labor !!  As you know Sally can handle anything .....

Instead of being able to just rest and enjoy her family with the new addition, Sally is drawn into the murder investigation.  She claims to do it because her father is involved somehow and she knows that he isn't telling them everything, but we know she can't help herself !! 

I just love this series and look forward to when the latest book gets published so that I can dig in.  There is so much to love !!  You cannot help but love the families and the relationships.  No matter what is going on, whether it is family dinner with Gramma Rosa's cooking, a murder, hanging out with Sally and Josie at the bakery, or spending time with Sally and Mike, you will enjoy it.  And Bruns knows how to keep your blood pumping and you on the edge of your seat !!!

A Murder Most Fowl (A Food Truck Mystery Book # 1) by Carmela Dutra

A food truck run by twins serves up a clucking good murder in this cozy debut mystery, perfect for fans of Lucy Burdette and Joanne Fluke.

When their late aunt Dolly passes away, twins Beth and Seth Lloyd inherit a chicken themed food truck. Despite the challenges, the siblings rise to the occasion, even going as far as signing up their truck Kluckin’ Good to compete on a top cooking show and ruffle a few feathers for some good publicity. But the competition goes from heated to lethal when a contestant is found dead.   

With the elimination competition becoming far too literal, Beth and Seth will need all the help they can get to get out of the frying pan without landing in the fire. Relying on their assistant-turned-friend Rylie for help, they’ll have to follow the bread crumbs to untangle a very twisted case before either one of them is put on the chopping block.  

This humorous series debut with a mouthwatering mystery will charm readers and keep them guessing right until the not-so-bitter end.  (Summary via Goodreads)

I had so much fun reading A Murder Most Fowl, the debut book in the Food Truck Mystery series by Carmela Dutra.  I totally rate this a 12 out of 10 stars !!  

In Murder Most Fowl twins Beth and Seth Lloyd have signed up for a food truck competition.  Their Aunt Dolly left them the Kluckin' Good chicken food truck and even though Beth does most of the work with Seth working at getting his law degree, she has her best friend Riley helping.  

Unfortunately before things can really get under way in the competition, one of the contestants dies.  It is ruled a heart attack but Beth is not convinced.  Even though she and Benji were not friends, some things do not add up so this puts her on alert.

Ohhhhh.... there is so much more within the story that I want to tell you but I don't want to take away from you reading it for yourself and hopefully having the same reaction as I did.

Dutra has the beginning of a great series that I am sure will receive a lot of fans !  The food truck setting has so much potential and don't get me started on the friendships and other relationships brewing !  Not only are you on the edge of your seat reading the excitement, there will be times that you will laugh out loud !!  You cannot help falling in love with Beth and Seth and the way they are towards each other.  And they have the best friendship with Riley, she completes them !!!

I highly recommend grabbing your copy and digging in.  Plan a snack and a drink, a comfy blanket and staying up past your bedtime with this book !!!

Catnaps & Crimes (A Book Store Cozy Mystery Book # 2) by Lucinda Race

Enjoy this clean, small town, paranormal cozy mystery by award winning and bestselling author, Lucinda Race.

Book store owner and novice witch Lily Michaels is struggling to get a handle on her new powers. The book “Practical Beginnings” is showing her random spells to learn, and her familiar, the talking cat, Milo, isn’t much help. She doesn’t need any more distractions, but when a car crashes just outside the bookstore, Lily is first on the scene. It’s more than just an automobile accident. Bullet holes can be deadly. The victim, shady real estate agent Teddy Roberts, was dead before his fancy sports car ever hit that pole.

Investigating the crime scene is Detective Gage Erikson, or as Milo calls him, Detective Cutie. His crush on Lily is not-so-secret to anyone but her, but she’s acting like he’s a distraction she doesn’t need. Is he her boyfriend, or just her best friend? He just needs to keep her out of trouble while he traces clues to the crime.

But a mystery is like catnip to Lily. She’s willing to admit she has a tiny bit of a reputation for investigating things she shouldn’t. She’s trying to balance her growing feelings for Gage while keeping her witchy secret from him and solve a murder. Teddy had plenty of people with reasons to do him in. Will Lily’s best protection spell be enough to keep her and Gage safe while they work together to catch a killer?

Catnaps and Crimes is the second novel in A Book Store Cozy Mystery Series, although each book can be read as standalone. A sweet and clean cozy mystery with a guarantee the culprit is caught. Happy reading!  (Summary via Goodreads)

I fell in love with Books & Bribes, the first book in the Book Store Cozy Mystery series by Lucinda Race .... there is so much to love, you just want to jump inside the book and stay forever.  Luckily with that being the first book, you don't have to do that, you just have to open the next book and get lost in the story again.

The stories are set in Pembrooke Maine which is a little town and you are mainly hanging around with two main characters.  Lily who owns a bookstore in the town square, is just coming into her powers at being a witch, takes to her cat who is her familiar and is in love with the other main character, Gage.  Gage is a detective, always trying to keep Lily out of trouble, doesn't know she is a witch and is in love with her also.  But neither will tell the other.

Oh and there is always a murder to solve.  

Catnaps & Crimes is the second book in this adorable series and I fell deeper in love, if that is possible.  In Catnaps & Crimes there is what appears to be a car accident in the town square that all the shop owners and customers hear.  Lily gets to the car and finds the driver dead.  Teddy Roberts, who was a real estate agent, is the victim but things are not as they look.

Of course Lily should be tending to her shop and reading her witch book and mastering her new skills but she is drawn to Teddy's murder and loves to solve puzzles.  It's a good think for her that Gage, being her best friend and always close to her, can keep an eye on her and keep her out of trouble ..... I'll pause for a moment while you laugh ...... I know I've only read two books in this series but I already know Lily will do what Lily wants and Gage knows that.

Even without murder and Lily and Gage solving the crimes, I would still love this series.  It has a quaint little town with inviting shops, good people, and I feel like you could relax and have some fun.  And anytime you can communicate with a cat has got to be a blast !!!!  

Vengeance in the Vines (Rylie Sunderland Mysteries Book # 2) by Rachele Baker

Secrets can be deadly. When the owner of a local bar is found dead in his home after eating at her best friend’s husband’s restaurant, veterinarian Rylie Sunderland is determined to uncover the truth to save her friend in this intriguing small town cozy mystery.

This suspenseful cozy mystery is perfect for fans of Kate Carlisle, Ellie Alexander, and Lauren Elliott.

Rylie’s thrilled when she gets a long-term locum veterinarian job in the beautiful Napa Valley wine country where her best friend Sophie lives, and she’s looking forward to enjoying the area and spending time with Sophie and Sophie’s husband, Lucien.

That is until the owner of a local bar is found dead in his home after having eaten at Lucien’s restaurant during the Chamber of Commerce awards dinner.

Evidence piles up against Lucien, but Rylie is certain he’s innocent. She feels compelled to do whatever she can to help clear Lucien of suspicion.

When Rylie meets Alex, the handsome son of the man who died after eating in Lucien’s restaurant, they can’t deny their attraction to each other. And they’re both motivated to find out who killed Alex’s father. Alex believes Lucien’s innocent. And he has some ideas of his own as to who may have had motive to kill his father.

Rylie goes to the detective in charge of the case with each new piece of information she finds that she thinks could be relevant to the murder investigation. But the detective seems laser focused on the mounting evidence against Lucien and doesn’t seem swayed by any of the information Rylie brings him.

The pressure increases as Rylie’s best friend Sophie struggles to deal with the stress of the investigation involving her husband. Will the secrets of the past prevent the truth from being revealed?  (Summary via Goodreads)

Readers fall in love with Rylie Sunderland immediately !!  Author Rachele Baker has created an amazing main character in Rylie.  You got to know Rylie in Tragedy in Tahoe, the first book in the Rylie Sunderland Mystery series and, well yeah, she was a bit of a mess. The veterinary hospital that she worked at burned down and when she went away to try to figure things out, she was thrown into a murder investigation.

Now in Vengeance in the Vines Rylie has taken a job as a temporary veterinarian in the Napa Valley.  She will be working part of the week for a doctor who is recovery from surgery.  Her and Bella, her dog, have a beautiful house they are staying in and her best friend from college Sophie and her husband live nearby.

Unfortunately after Sophie's husband's restaurant hosts an event and one of the people in attendance is found dead in his home from poisoning, Lucien is on the suspect list.

While Rylie wants to help Sophie and Lucien, this time around she has a group of woman that she became fast friends with and they meet weekly and show her around as well as try to help with the case.  Rylie has also met  Aaron, the detective on the case, and they become friends as well.  It doesn't hurt that Rylie and Aaron have dogs in common,

The best part is when Rylie becomes friends with Alex, whose father is the murder victim, and they hit it off instantly !!!  

One thing I really liked about Vengeance in the Vines is that it isn't all about the murder, you have love, friendship, fun outings, clothes, food, food and more food !!!  

When you are reading this book, have a snack handy !!!!

Home Sweet Homicide (Hometown Mystery Book # 5) by Rosalie Spielman

From author Rosalie Spielman comes matrimony turned murderous!

Retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Tessa Treslow never thought that she'd be attending the wedding of her first love, Joe Eriksson, but that's exactly where she finds herself. Even worse, his fiancée has asked her to be the Maid of Honor!

But in the days leading up to the wedding, it becomes clear why Jessie St. John asked Tessa to stand with her, and it's not just her military-style organization. Between a meddling "best
frenemy" who's doing her best to sabotage the wedding and an ex-husband falling—or being tossed—to his death, Tessa's investigative skills are once again put to the test.

The suspicious death of one of Jessie's ex-husbands in one thing. But when ex-husband number 2 is also found dead, theories are tossed around like a bride's bouquet. In order to help the wedding stay on track, Tessa needs to calm the bride, combat the frenemy, and make sure the flowers arrive, all while keeping sane.

Despite a state detective being brought in to solve the case, Tessa is forced to fight to keep the ones she loves and her home sweet home safe from the most diabolical killer she has faced yet.

" Clever & Compelling Gem! An excellent read and high on my list for 2023 honors."
~Kings River Life Magazine

"You will also fall in love with New Oslo and its residents and businesses. You will want to pack a bag and jump in your car and head there as fast as you can!"
~ Cozy Mystery Book Reviews   (Summary via Goodreads)

After reading a few books in the Hometown Mystery series by Rosalie Spielman I fell in love with the town of New Oslo, the people and the stores ..... Unfortunately I skipped a few books in the middle and have now just finished reading Home Sweet Homicide.  And yes I still love the town and the people but I don't think I will EVER recommend getting married there !!  I know it is specific to the couple getting married in Home Sweet Homicide but it does leave an impression !!

Okay .... I don't want to scare you away so let me start over ....

In Home Sweet Homicide one of the main characters Tessa is asked and accepts the role of maid of honor for her friend Jessie.  That should be awesome and fun right ?  Except Jessie is has already been married a nunber of times and this time she is getting married to Tessa's ex-boyfriend Joe.  Even though Tessa is in a great relationship with Nick, the sting is still there. 

But bad things start to happen ..... Shelby a friend of Jessie's who is a wedding planner finds out that she is getting married and didn't hire Shelby to plan the wedding so she decides to do whatever she can to ruin the wedding.  And then one of Jessie's ex-husbands is found dead and ruled murder ...... I sure hope Shelby wouldn't go that far but then if she didn't do it, there's someone else out there looking to stop the wedding !!

I could tell you more but I don't want to ruin it for you and I honestly don't think you would believe me !!!

Spielman has a magnificent imagination !!  She sure has a knack with creating stories that make you coming back for more !!  

Murder at Arleigh (Gilded Newport Mysteries Book # 13) by Alyssa Maxwell

Reporter, sleuth, and new mother Emma Cross Andrews comes to the aid of a distraught wife who’s convinced her husband is trying to kill her . . .

April 1903: Emma and Derrick Andrews have been invited to the wedding of her cousin Reggie Vanderbilt and heiress Cathleen Neilson at the Bellevue Mansion, Arleigh. Their hosts are a popular young couple who are leasing the home for the summer—Harry and Elizabeth “Bessie” Lehr. Known for his practical jokes, Harry is the toast of parties, earning a reputation as the court jester of the Gilded Age. However, as Emma soon learns, behind closed doors he is dead serious.

Following the wedding, Bessie comes to Emma for help, insisting that her husband is cruel to her in private, telling her outright he married her only for her money and finds her repulsive. Divorce is unthinkable. Now she believes he is plotting to murder her and make it look like an a broken balcony railing she might have leaned on, a loose stair runner that could have sent her tumbling down a staircase, faulty brakes in the car she uses . . .

Some would say being trapped in a loveless marriage is a fate worse than death. Not Bessie—she wants to live! Unsure if these situations are mere coincidences or add up to premeditated sabotage, Emma agrees to investigate and determine if Newport’s merry prankster is engaged in a cold-blooded game of life or death . . .  (Summary via Goodreads)

Alyssa Maxwell knows how to draw readers into her stories and maintain your attention from start to finish.  Her stories are filled with lovable characters, crafty characters, characters you do not want to ever be alone with anywhere !!  Her stories are captivating and full of secrets, mystery, love, hate, family, and so much more !! 

Murder at Arleigh, is the thirteenth book in her Gilded Newport Mystery series and when you start reading it, you feel like you are returning to your summer house after a time away. And you are right in time for a wedding !!!

Main character Emma Andrews and her husband Derrick are attending the wedding of Emma's cousin Reggie.  But that is not the best part ....  After the wedding is over Bessie Lehr, one of the host of the property where Reggie wed, calls upon Emma.  Bessie insists that her husband Harry is trying to kill her and she wants Emma to prove it.  Now I know what you are thinking ..... Emma usually gets involved after there has been a murder so how is this going to work ??

Even though Emma has her hands full with baby Annamarie, running the Messenger with her husband, and following up on any story worth publishing, she cannot help but feel drawn to Bessie's concerns.  Especially after meeting Harry and seeing how he treats people.

Emma has learned though so she does enlist the help of her husband and her brother to help see what they can also learn while she sticks to Bessie as much as she can.

Don't worry fans things will turn and you will be on the craziest rollercoaster ride ever and all you can do is hang on and try to help Emma solve things before it gets too late ...... 

Every time I open one of Maxwell's books, I know that I am in for a real treat and cannot wait for the next book !!!

The Mango Murders (Key West Food Critic Mystery Book # 15) by Lucy Burdette

The turquoise waters of Key West are stained with pink in this explosive 15th installment of the Key West Food Critic mysteries from USA Today bestselling author Lucy Burdette.

Food critic Hayley Snow’s employer, Key Zest, is throwing the event of the season, a lavish cocktail party catered by Janet Snow, Hayley’s mother. As Hayley boards the luxurious cruise, she anticipates a smooth sailing soirée filled with shimmering cocktails, mouthwatering mango-infused delicacies, and new supporters for the e-zine. But as the boat sets sail, the festivities take a tragic turn when an explosion rocks the vessel, plunging the party guests into chaos.

In the days that follow, Hayley learns that a local culinary entrepreneur died in the explosion and it was no accident–someone on board had a deadly agenda. With the tropical city of Key West as her backdrop, Hayley navigates a web of secrets and lies. Her investigation takes her from the shadowy corners of island politics to fierce competition between high-end event caterers and personal vendettas.

With the clock ticking and the stakes higher than ever, Hayley must rely on her keen intuition to unmask a cunning culprit before they strike again.  (Summary via Goodreads)

Miss Gloria is turning 85 !!!  Having an entire book dedicated to her and her parties would be enough for readers of the Key West Food Critic Mystery series but author Lucy Burdette knows that her dedicated fans can handle more .....  and she does not disappoint !!

The Mango Murders is the fifteenth book in this series and main character Hayley will have a lot going on, like always.  Like I said Miss Gloria, who is Hayley and her husband Nathan's neighbor on Houseboat Row, is having a birthday and they are going to be partying !! They have a weekend full of parties and Miss Gloria's sons and daughters-in-law will be in town to celebrate !!

But before they can concentrate on Miss Gloria and her birthday Hayley has a work function.  Her boss Palamina has organized and is hosting a cocktail party and has chartered a boat for the event.  Hayley's mother and step-father have been hired to cater the event.  Unfortunately the boat has an explosion on board throwing everyone out and into the water.  They soon learn that there was one person killed as a result and the authorities are leaning towards murder.

As always, Hayley wants to solve the case even though Nathan who is the deputy chief of police and his department are more than capable of solving it and it's their jobs !!  Hayley feels this is personally in two ways with first her employer was hosting the event and secondly her mother wss the caterer hired. 

Readers will fall in love with everything about this series.  The series has a special place in my heart.  When I was visiting my mom who lived in Florida I had one of these books with me to read.  My mom showed an interest so I left it with her to read.  She has since passed so every time I have the pleasure of opening the latest book in the series, I feel like mom is with me.

So whatever reason you have for reading these books, I hope you feel a connection and enjoy them like I do !!!  Happy reading !!!

A Ghostwriter's Guide to Murder by Melinda Mullet

Charming yet wickedly imaginative mystery ghostwriter Maeve Gardner finds herself at the center of a murder investigation with more twists and turns than any story she's ever written, perfect for fans of Anthony Horowitz and Richard Osman.

Maeve Gardner kills people for a living. A dodgy occupation perhaps, but as ghostwriter for the long-running Simon Hills mysteries, Maeve has planned the perfect murder time and again and she enjoys it. She dreams of writing something under her own name someday rather than babysitting her adopted character Simon, but at least she’s writing. And as one of the burnt-out souls who’ve run away from dry land to live on London’s waterways, she has the joy of working from the home she a colorful houseboat. Life on the canals is grand, but when her cheating ex-boyfriend turns up floating face down in the water outside her boat, murdered, and the police arrest her, the plot takes a wayward turn. 

Suddenly, Maeve is thrust into one of her own crime dramas, complete with missing money, violent thugs, extortion, and conspiracy. Only this time, there is no real-life Simon Hill to come to her aid. Instead, with the help of friends from the river–India, owner of a popular floating bookshop; Paul, the exceedingly attractive landlord of the local pub; and Ash, Maeve’s quiet, nerdy neighbor who is keeping some secrets of his own–Maeve may have a shot at saving herself. 

As Maeve and her motley crew of would-be investigators find themselves wondering if they are in over their heads, a killer lurks and won’t hesitate to kill again…  (Summary via Goodreads)

WOW !!!   A Ghostwriter's Guide to Murder by Melinda Mullet was so fun to read !!  

In A Ghostwriter's Guide to Murder readers are introduced to main character Maeve Gardner, her loveable dog Captain and a group of people who become true friends when she finds she needs their help and they deliver !!

Maeve lives on a houseboat and writes about murders for a long standing Simon Hills mystery series.  Little did she know that she was going to become the main suspect in a real life murder !!!   Maeve catches Captain biting into a rubber tire bumper on the dock. When she goes to check it out, she finds money hidden into the hole.  She knows it isn't hers so she returns it to it's hiding spot and goes to the police to report it.  When she returns with the cops, the money is gone !!  And while the police are there, they discover a body floating in the water .... and it turns out to be her ex-boyfriend, Gavin.

Maeve hasn't seen Gavin in months since they broke up and he moved on with the woman he cheated on her with.  Even though she hated him and what he did she didn't want to have him dead and to die that way.  But the police aren't so sure and when the murder weapon is determined to be something on her boat with her fingerprints on it, she is arrested for his murder.

Luckily while Maeve is at the police station her friends, India, Paul, and Ashley decide to do some investigating themselves.  Soon each of them has their own line of research going and hopefully one of them will clear Maeve.

Fortunately Maeve is released from jail and can also help with the investigating.  She needs to clear her name so she can return to her life of just writing about murders.

I have found that books written with characters living on houseboats is quite fascinating.  I am not a boat person and am very claustrophobic so you would never find me doing it but I cannot help but appreciate those that do, even if it is in a story.  

Readers will enjoy this book with the author providing viewpoints of the main characters by designating chapters to what they are doing.  It allows the reader to see all the different "balls in the air" that this story requires .... and even though Mullet doesn't designate them for Captain, you are provided with little tidbits here and there.

If you cannot tell, I will say it to be sure, I highly recommend grabbing your copy of A Ghostwriter's Guide to Murder, a comfy seat and let Mullet entertain you for a spell.

 

Solid Gold Murder (Golden Motel Mystery Book # 2) by Ellen Byron

Dee Stern’s Golden Motel-of-the-Mountains promises a tranquil getaway for outdoor lovers in the scenic Californian village of Foundgold. But when Dee accidentally triggers a modern gold rush, she suddenly turns her peaceful retreat into a hotspot for mayhem and murder . . .

With the summer season looming, former Hollywood sitcom writer Dee Stern has one small goal—scrubbing her motel’s unflattering moniker as the “Murder Motel.” Dee and ex-husband-turned-business-partner Jeff Cornetta are excited to introduce a family-friendly panning activity complete with fool’s gold just in time for the peak tourist months. Except neither could have anticipated the discovery of a real gold nugget or the ensuing social media frenzy. In a flash, the viral sensation draws grizzled prospectors, wide-eyed adventurers, and trend-chasing thrill seekers to the abandoned mines scattered around the woods . . .

The instant popularity proves great for business, but it also attracts a group of out-of-touch Silicon Valley techies with dreams of striking it rich—again. Dee finds herself particularly annoyed by the insufferably smug Sylvan Burr, a retired CEO who sold his startup before age 30 and won’t let anyone forget it. But things take a sinister turn when Sylvan meets a grim fate at the bottom of a mineshaft, leaving Dee at the center of a deadly mystery that could end her days as a motelier. And while Sylvan had plenty of enemies, Dee suddenly faces adversaries rooting against her own success. Now, with her life and the future of the Golden Motel hanging by a thread, Dee must unearth a minefield of suspects and outwit a greedy killer before she finally digs herself too deep . . .  (Summay via Goodreads)

Sometimes readers come across a book that they fall in love with .... that is exactly what happened when I read A Very Woodsy Murder. This was the first book in the Golden Motel Mystery series written by Ellen Byron.  So much to love and knowing it was the first book in a series made it even better !!!  So when I received the second book, Solid Gold Murder, I waited as long as I could then had to tear into it !! 

One thing I think readers will appreciate is the Who's Who in the beginning of the books.  This gives the reader an idea of the characters and their roles in the books.

Okay let's get into Solid Gold Murder ... Dee, who co-owns the Golden Motel with her best friend Jeff, is recording her father as he gives a lesson on how to pan for gold in the sluice to a father and son staying at the hotel.  It is suppose to be a fun event for families to do while there.  Unfortunately as a result they find that they have a few real specs of gold !!  And Dee was so excited that she accidentally shared the video !!

Soon the hotel is full with people who are there to pan for gold in areas around the hotel.  Dee and Jeff have their hands full wih all kinds of interesting people.  They even have a foursome of young techie rich kids and a married couple that is down on their luck hoping for something good.

Sadly things get out of hand and one of the techie's ends up missing but is soon found dead in an abandoned mine shaft.  Sylvan Burr, the leader of his little group, had ruffled quite a few tail feathers so the suspect list is quite long.  Dee and Jeff will do whatever they can to solve this murder so that they can try to get people to stop calling it the Murder Motel .... which isn't going to be easy !!! 

The Golden Motel Mystery series is so fun !!  Byron has creative a great setting for the books, with colorful characters, two interesting towns and even without the murders, it would still be a fun series to get lost into.