Death In Provence
10.0
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The first entry in a clever, lighthearted mystery series set in modern Provence—a delightful blend...
Fiction Contemporary Cultural France Cozy Mystery
Chicken Scratch (The Sisters, Texas Mystery Series Book 1)
7.0
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When Madison Reynolds finds herself widowed and penniless before forty, she does the only thing she...
mystery cozy mystery murder crime fiction adult
Murder on West Lake (South Shore Mystery #3)
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A scream shattered the tranquil air, echoing off the ice-covered lake, and Daniel's heart froze. He...
Historical Mystery Cozy Mystery Romantic
Up to No Gouda
8.0
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The first in a delicious new culinary cozy series featuring a grilled cheese eatery owner who must...
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2398 KP) rated The Last Line in Books
Aug 16, 2025 (Updated Aug 16, 2025)
I picked this book up expecting a cozy, but it quickly became evident this is a bit more of a traditional than a lighter cozy. As long as you know this going in, you should be fine. The mystery is good, and I was fooled until the end. Ellie has Tourette’s, something that overwhelms at times and proves to be a distraction. On the whole, I did love her character and the co-lead as well, as well as how their marriages were shown. The story is told from several points of view, but at times, we have some head hopping. This feels like a standalone instead of a series opener, but if we get a sequel, I’d be interested in revisiting the characters.
Clara and Ben are chiseled wonderfully for their roles. Clara, stood up at the altar, and Ben, the one who caused the pain. I wanted to throttle Ben a time or two but if he wasn't the way he was, I wouldn't have loved the story half as much! These two come to life among the walls of Bleakly Manor and the story unfolds in a most fascinating way!
I definitely recommend this book to all who want a wonderful, clean romantic story, that is pieced together among a Christmas mystery. It's 4 star worthy and one of my favorite Christmas stories of 2017! I am looking forward to adding the print version to my keeper shelf and to reading more amazing books like this in the future from the talented Michelle Griep! Bravo!
*Cafinated Reads received a complimentary copy of this book from Celebrate Lit Blog Tours and was under no obligation to post a review, positive or negative.*
Seashells , Spells and Caramels
7.0
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A magical French island. A dead contestant. An aspiring baker must clear her name before she gets...
Blackberry Pie Murder (Hannah Swensen, #17)
8.3
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It’s been a sleepy summer for the folks of Lake Eden, Minnesota. In fact, it’s been a whole four...
Cozy mystery
A Case of Bier
8.0
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In this charming madcap entry in the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Bed-and-Breakfast...
Fiction Mystery Cozy Mystery Series
Mark @ Carstairs Considers (2398 KP) rated Halloween Party Murder in Books
Sep 1, 2021 (Updated Sep 1, 2021)
Out of these three authors, I only regularly read Barbara Ross’s Maine Clambake mysteries, so that story, featuring Julia Snowden, was my favorite. That’s not to say I didn’t enjoy all three of the novellas. All three feature a strong assortment of characters and a solid mystery. Even if I figured out a part of the story early, I didn’t have it all pieced together until the end. My only complaint was the politics brought into the first novella in the collection. Even then, I’m a bit torn since it did play a part in the story while also feeling like I was reading a lecture. Still, if you are in the mood for a murderous Halloween party, you’ll be glad you picked up this novella collection.
