Much Ado About Muffin

Happy Saturday!  I hope all of you are having a lovely day. I let Doozy take me on a walk (more like a run) today.  He is go, go, go and then he slows down to a crawl.  On the way home he kept trying to climb under bushes to take a break (I wanted to join him). My feet feel like they are on fire.  I wanted to talk to you about your favorite authors, Facebook, and giveaways.  I try to like all my favorite authors pages on Facebook.  The authors have giveaways and you can win prizes (bookmarks, mugs, jewelry, and books) we well as keep updated on their latest releases.  I have won several prizes lately from different authors (including two books).  It only takes a few minutes to find the author and like their page.  Then watch your Facebook feed for news (usually when they have a new book coming out).  

Much Ado About Muffin by Victoria Hamilton is the fourth book in A Merry Muffin Mystery series.  Merry Wynter has been in Spain for the last two months.  Her mother-in-law is dying and asked to see Merry (she treated Merry horribly when she was married to her son).  After her passing, Merry decided to stay for a spell.  It was nice to get away from life and have things done for her.  Merry even quit talking and writing her friends back home in Autumn Vale, New York.  But she realizes that it is time to return to reality and heads home.  Merry arrives at Wynter Manor to find out that Pish has invited a guest to stay (awfully nervy).  The guest is none other than Roma Toscano, the opera singer who hit on Merry’s deceased husband, Miguel (right in front of her).  Pish states that Roma needs his help (he could have asked first).  Merry agrees to let her stay, but she will definitely regret it.  Merry soon finds out that Roma has antagonized most of the townspeople (which is hard to do).  Merry has her own amends to make for neglecting her friends for so long including her best friend, Shilo (and Merry’s romantic interest, Virgil Grace).  When postmistress, Minnie Urquhart ends up dead, Roma becomes the number one suspect.  Roma recently had an argument with her (at the house in front of witnesses) and the murder weapon belongs to Roma.  This sends Roma into another round of hysterics.  Merry sets out to clear Roma’s name and hopes it will get Roma out of her house and Autumn Vale.  But Merry has some other matters that need attending as well.  Emerald seems to be under the influence of an unscrupulous woman, and she will not listen to reason.  Merry is determined to help Emerald whether she wants the help or not.  Come join Merry in Autumn Vale in Much Ado About Muffin.

Much Ado About Muffin is a well-written story with a nice, complex mystery.  I found, though, that there is a little too much going on and quite a few characters (it is hard to keep them all straight).  The book goes at a good pace (steady) with quite a bit of action.  The setting of Autumn Vale sounds so lovely that I want to live there.  The book has some quirky, but friendly characters.  There is some romance in the novel, but it is just the right amount so that it enhances (not distracts) the storyline.  I give Much Ado About Muffin 4.25 out of 5 stars (I liked it).  There are some recipes included at the end of the book.  While this is the fourth book in the series, it can be read alone.  The author does a very good job of bringing the reader up-to-date.  I look forward to reading the next book in A Merry Muffin Mystery.  I hope that Merry finally figures out what to do with the castle in the next book.  Merry needs to find a way for the house to earn money for her (host gathering, make it into an inn or a restaurant, host mystery dinners).   

Victoria Hamilton also writes the wonderful A Vintage Kitchen Mysteries.  You can follow Victoria Hamilton on Amazon and Facebook.  I received a complimentary copy of Much Ado About Muffin from NetGalley (and the publisher) in exchange for an honest evaluation of the novel.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

I am off to finish Curious Minds by Janet Evanovich.  May all of you be blessed with a nice evening.  I will be back tomorrow with another review. Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader