A Killer for Christmas by Kim Harrington

A Killer for Christmas

Book Smmary

Wrapped in red has a bloody new meaning in this contemporary holiday romance with a murderous twist, perfect for readers who enjoyed The Most Wonderful Crime of the Year.

Christmasville, Maine, is the only place where Kelsey Hendricks has ever felt happy. When she loses both her job and her boyfriend, the move is a no-brainer, especially when she sees a listing for a position as Christmasville’s social media manager. Surrounded by twinkling lights and candy canes and with the perfect job, this tinsel town is working its magic on Kelsey. With two heartthrobs vying for her attention, her life is now just like a Christmas movie.

Except for the murders.

The first one is dismissed as an accident. But after the second, and definitely the third, it becomes abundantly clear that Santa is leaving coal in someone’s stocking this year.

Determined to bring back the holly jolly spirit to the town before tourists begin canceling their reservations, Kelsey must sleuth her way out of a chilling murder mystery and back to a holiday rom-com.

This charming and clever mystery-romance where a cozy winter wonderland warms the heart while suspense chills the bones is the perfect read for the holiday season.

My Thoughts

Pour yourself some cocoa and settle in—A Killer for Christmas by Kim Harrington is a festive little mystery that brings just the right dash of holiday cheer, cozy romance, and suspense. Set in the tourist town of Christmasville, Maine, this lighthearted story blends a cozy mystery with a sweet holiday-romance thread, giving the suspense a fun rom-com sparkle without letting it take over. The mystery is well paced and satisfying, with a twist that adds a nice surprise, and the plot stays refreshingly easy to follow rather than becoming overly complicated. 

The Christmas setting may be unusual for a murder mystery, but it works beautifully and never feels forced. I also enjoyed the quirky cast of characters and the warm small-town atmosphere that make Christmasville feel inviting. The romance is gentle and supportive, adding charm and coziness while still leaving the mystery at the center. Overall, this is a quick, feel-good read with steady pacing, a relatable heroine, and a festive backdrop that makes Kim Harrington’s adult mystery-romance debut a cheerful seasonal treat. If Christmasville had a welcome sign, this book would be the twinkling lights around it.

Books, porch weather, and one very determined cat—what more could a reader ask for? Kim Harrington’s A Killer for Christmas is available now on Amazon. I’ll be back on Wednesday, September 23, with Mary Alford’s richly atmospheric and suspenseful The Memory House. Meanwhile, my cat, Dickens, has decided that the screened porch is the place to be. Since it’s still hot and humid, I don’t quite understand the appeal—and Dickens doesn’t understand why I won’t let her stay outside all night. Perhaps it has something to do with the coyotes and raccoons roaming our village since the nearby woods were cleared to make way for new homes! At eighteen, Dickens still acts like a kitten, proving that a little curiosity—and a good mystery—never gets old.

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

A Heart to Cherish by Amy Clipston

 A Heart to Cherish

Book Summary

Return to Amish country in an uplifting story of faith, friendship, and finding the courage to follow your dreams—and your heart.

Jeannie Graber is grateful for her life in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, where she enjoys working at her family’s fabric shop and saving for her future. Still, she longs for something more.

When customers suggest she offer quilting lessons, she jumps at the chance to remodel the storeroom into a sewing studio where she can give classes. Jeannie sees this as her opportunity to prove she is no longer the flighty girl no one takes seriously. She just needs help getting her dream off the ground.

Matthew Fisher works for his brother’s construction business, but he has dreams of his own. While he’s good with a hammer and nails, he’s even better with drafting tools. When Jeannie—the woman he’s quietly loved for years—asks him to design and build her business space, he knows God has given him the perfect opportunity to prove himself, to both his brother and Jeannie.

When a beloved elderly woman disappears from the community, Jeannie and Matthew join forces to bring her home safely. As they work side by side, faith and friendship blossom into something deeper. Will old insecurities keep them apart or will they finally trust God—and each other—with their hearts?

A Heart to Cherish is a must-read for anyone who loves the beauty and simplicity of Amish life and culture, characters with emotional depth who long to prove their value, and seeing how God brings two hearts together.

My Thoughts

Some stories feel like a gentle invitation to slow down, settle in, and remember what matters most—and A Heart to Cherish by Amy Clipston is one of them. Set in Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania, this heartfelt Amish romance beautifully blends faith, dreams, love, and a touch of suspense. Clipston draws readers into a world rich with wholesome traditions, close-knit community, and deeply held values, creating a setting that feels both comforting and alive. The two main characters each wrestle with personal doubts and the desire to prove their worth, which makes their journey feel honest, tender, and easy to connect with. 

The disappearance of an elderly woman from the community adds just the right amount of tension, keeping the story moving while the romance unfolds in a natural and meaningful way. Clipston’s close ties to Amish life shine through in the realistic details and emotional depth she brings to the page. A Heart to Cherish is the second book in her From the Heart Amish series and can be read as a standalone, though I would encourage readers to begin with A Heart Set Free for the fullest experience. With its small-town charm, heartfelt tenderness, quiet mystery, and uplifting message of faith and purpose, A Heart to Cherish is a story that lingers warmly long after the final page.

Grab your favorite bookmark, because today’s post has a sweet mix of heartwarming reads, cozy book news, and a little birthday joy. A Heart to Cherish is available from Amazon, and if you are new to the From the Heart Amish series, you can start with A Heart Set Free. These books come from Guideposts, the publisher behind several delightful cozy mystery series. I’ll be featuring the fifth heartwarming book in A Gift Shop Mysteries, A Lighthouse Legacy, on Tuesday, September 22. For now, I’m off to enjoy my birthday, made extra special this year by my mother and daughter, and I’m so grateful for the love they’ve poured into the day. I hope your next book brings you the kind of comfort, joy, and page-turning delight that makes reading feel like a celebration.

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Sisters of the Midnight Sun by Fiona Valpy

 Sisters of the Midnight Sun

Book Summary

Two women from different generations connect over their shared need to recover from trauma as they attempt to heal and begin their lives anew, from the bestselling author of The Dressmaker's Gift and The Beekeeper's Promise.

2001: Overwhelmed by grief in the wake of losing her twin sister, Ruby Reid has come to the north of Scotland to escape. Her new job as companion to Hanna Kristiansen, an elderly woman living on a rugged homestead in the wild and remote Shetland Islands, offers plenty of challenges and a welcome distraction from the devastating choice Ruby has to make.

1940: Hanna’s quiet life on the fjords of northern Norway is overturned when her hometown is attacked and her country falls into the hands of Nazi occupiers. But the Norwegians are a people as resilient as the ancient bedrock of their land. With her twin sister Hanna becomes involved in the resistance movement, fighting to end the war that has taken so much from her. She’s sent to Scotland for training, where she falls for a charismatic member of the shadowy special forces supporting Norway’s fight for freedom. Though she's torn between staying and going, Hanna must return to her homeland, leaving her new love behind, and face the dangerous underground work that lies ahead.

As Hanna shares her story, Ruby begins to navigate the path of her grief. Hanna in turn finds comfort in discovering that confiding in her younger friend is helping them both heal. Ruby also learns that, like the beautiful untamed land of Hanna’s rural croft, there is strength to be found in fragility, as well as hope for new life, in the wildness of an island at the end of the world.

My Thoughts

Some stories arrive quietly and end up glowing in your heart, and Sisters of the Midnight Sun is one of them. Fiona Valpy pairs a sweeping historical backdrop with an intimate portrait of women shaped by love, loss, courage, and hope. The dual timelines give the novel a beautiful rhythm, moving between the intensity of wartime struggle and the restorative pull of nature and human connection. Valpy is especially moving in her portrayal of grief and healing, showing how friendship, mentorship, and shared experience can help light the way forward. With the rugged Shetland Islands and the fjords of Norway echoing the characters’ inner strength, this is a richly layered, life-affirming novel for anyone who loves historical fiction with emotional depth and resilience at its core. By the final page, the story has left its light behind, warm, steady, and impossible to forget.

Curl up with your favorite bookmark, because today’s post has a little storybook sparkle, a pair of wonderful reads, and one very determined porch explorer. Fiona Valpy’s Sisters of the Midnight Sun is available from Amazon along with her other engaging stories. On Thursday, September 17, I’ll be featuring A Heart to Cherish by Amy Clipston. Meanwhile, my eighteen-year-old cat, Dickens, has been spending extra time on our screened porch, where she recently discovered that tiny frogs have moved in. Now she is fully committed to solving the grand mystery of their hiding place, and you would never guess she is eighteen. Here’s hoping your next good book brings as much curiosity, comfort, and delight as a cat with a mystery to chase.

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

The Last Quiet Autumn by Loni Kemper Moore

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The Last Quiet Autumn

About the Book

Book: The Last Quiet Autumn

Author: Loni Kemper Moore

Genre: Christian historical fiction with strong faith themes

One letter stitched a family together. Now, with war on the wind, only love—penned note by note—holds the threads in place.

Autumn 1941

Three young women—strangers to one another—each receive an alluring invitation they cannot and dare not refuse—Thanksgiving dinner in Texas with a mysterious ninety-year-old woman.

Virginia Campbell, a poised Boston socialite on the brink of marrying into a powerful political family, is entrusted with a delicate family mission—one that could jeopardize the perfect wedded life she so carefully planned.

Eulalia Bell, a spirited nursing graduate, earned her scholarship in Nebraska thanks to the Orphan Train. But the truth of her past threatens the career she’s fought hard to build.

Francesca Smythe, a resilient wife and mother on an Oklahoma ranch, survived the Dust Bowl and Depression. She longs for the warmth and connection of a true family. When the letter arrives, she wonders if it holds the key to the belonging she’s yearned for all her life.

As secrets unfold and pasts entwine, these three women are drawn to a truth that will reshape their lives—about love powerful enough to face a potential world at war, desires too strong to be silenced, and the courage to claim their place in history.

Click here to get your copy!

 

About the Author

Loni Kemper Moore is a sports-cheering, Diet-Pepsi-sipping, Rocky Mountain–adventure-seeking storyteller who longs to reflect God’s beautiful love through life’s hardest places, especially for remarkable women around the globe.

A preacher’s kid at heart though her father joined her mother in Heaven, Loni’s wanderlust was sparked early by family and missionary stories. She has visited more than a dozen countries, learning from other cultures while often experiencing life as “the other.” Though she attended multiple schools as a minority and later discovered African heritage through DNA testing, she approaches those experiences with humility rather than assumption.

Loni earned bachelor’s degrees in Education and Biblical Studies from the former Denver Baptist Bible College and completed graduate work in Education at the University of Evansville.

A Jesus-following history enthusiast, Loni was named Leonnie Sue after generations of strong women. Leonnie was her maternal great-grandmother, who died during the Influenza Pandemic, leaving behind her husband and four teenagers. Sue traces through the family tree to Susanna Dean, who stepped off a ship in Korea, Maine, in the 1640s. These inherited collections of more than 500 spoons; stories of faith, endurance, and love deeply shape Loni’s writing.

Her novel The Last Quiet Autumn came to life after cousin reunions on both sides of her family stirred memories of childhood gatherings at her grandparents’ homes—one on a Loudoun County, Virginia farm and the other on a southern Colorado ranch. Reflecting on shared family experiences and her parents’ childhood just before the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Loni began to wonder how different her life might have been without nearly two dozen cousins spread across four time zones. That question sparked a story that grew far beyond her original imagination.

When she isn’t writing, Loni is visiting friends, studying history, and exploring meaningful places—like the Cherwell River near Oxford, UK where J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis once walked. During a trip to Swindon, England, she visited the Eagle and Child pub, where the Inklings met, a moment that proved especially encouraging.

Loni is the proud mom of Adam, a CAD engineer and YouTuber; Becca and Anthony, who made her a delighted grandmother of her “GrandMiracles,” Naomie and Zemira; and a frequent traveler with her beloved “Hugsband,” Robert, an embedded engineer. A granddaughter of ranchers and farmers, Loni holds close the legacy of trusting God through tragedy—faith that carried her grandparents and parents through the World Wars and continues to anchor her stories today.

More from Loni

I can still picture my grandmother standing at her farmhouse stove, cracking open precious eggs she’d just sold back to herself. The surplus eggs were sold to allow her to buy rationed products.

One recipe she made regularly was this ‘Wacky Cake’—a chocolate cake so frugal it needed no eggs, butter, or milk. While historians debate the exact origin of the name, the most likely explanation is that it earned its playful moniker from the unconventional method of mixing everything directly in the baking pan—no bowl required. Homemakers could hardly believe a cake without eggs or butter would actually rise and taste good. But it does!

As a child spoiled by Betty Crocker mixes, I had to admire her ingenuity, even if I couldn’t quite share her enthusiasm for the taste. When my character Chessa bakes in ‘The Last Quiet Autumn,’ I drew directly from recipes like this one. Understanding how women stretched ingredients during wartime rationing helped me write scenes that felt authentic.

Have you tried Depression-era recipes? I’d love to hear about your family’s resourceful traditions from that era.

It reminded me how faith, like that cake, often rises when we least expect it to.

Wacky Chocolate Cake

(a.k.a. Depression Cake or Crazy Cake)

Circa 1940s

Ingredients:

• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon vinegar (white or apple cider)
• ⅓ cup + 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 cup cold water

 

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350°F
2. In an ungreased 8×8-inch square baking pan, sift together the flour, sugar, cocoa, baking soda, and salt.
3. Make three wells in the dry mixture:

o   In one well, pour the vanilla.

o   In the second, the vinegar.

o   In the third, the oil.

       4.  Pour the cold water over everything and mix well with a fork or whisk until 

            smooth.

       5.  Bake for 30 to 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes 

            out clean.

       6.  Let cool in the pan. Dust with powdered sugar or enjoy plain.

My Thoughts

The Last Quiet Autumn by Loni Kemper Moore is a historical novel told from the perspectives of three women.  The characters are well rounded and from different backgrounds.  The author effectively conveyed the historical context, demonstrating thorough research on the era.  I could not believe that a trained nurse could not get a job unless she could produce a birth certificate.  The alternating chapters made it hard to get into the story at first, but once engaged, I was eager to see what happened next.  I thought that the epilogue was unique and suited that period of time.  The Last Quiet Autumn is an enjoyable historical tale with a startling letter, train travel, meeting Mimi, a noteworthy Thanksgiving, rodeo nursing, a shattering radio broadcast, and finding family.

 

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Loni is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon Gift Card and a copy of the book!!  Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click HERE to enter.  Good Luck!

The Last Quiet Autumn Celebration Tour Giveaway

The Last Quiet Autumn can be acquired from Amazon*.  The first two books in the Silver Receiver Series are Faith Lights a Flame and Hope Travels Through.  All three books can be read for free if you are a member of Kindle Unlimited.

I will return on Tuesday, April 14 with The Patchwork Players by Jennifer Chiaverini.  It is the twenty-fourth The Elm Creek Quilts novel.  My front yard Easter display is down and I am now ready to set up my spring display (flower and cute baby animal inflatables).  We shall have to wait and see how it turns out.  I hope that you have a lovely spring weekend. Don't forget to enter the giveaway and leave a comment for an extra entry.   Take care and Happy Reading.  

Kris

The Avid Reader

Blog Stops

The Avid Reader, April 9

Stories By Gina, April 10 (Author Interview)

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, April 11

Simple Harvest Reads, April 12 (Author Interview)

A Simple Texas Girl, April 12

Texas Book-aholic, April 13

Artistic Nobody, April 14 (Author Interview)

For Him and My Family, April 15

Guild Master, April 16 (Author Interview)

Life on Chickadee Lane, April 17

Fiction Book Lover, April 18 (Author Interview)

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, April 19

Vicky Sluiter, April 20 (Author Interview)

Pause for Tales, April 20

Lily’s Corner, April 21

For the Love of Literature, April 22 (Author Interview)

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

How many of you do this?  I never go anywhere without a book or my Scribe.

*This post contains affiliate links

An Amish Country Lullaby by Patricia Johns

 An Amish Country Lullaby

Book Summary

A friend from her past…

A new dream for their future?

Single dad Curtis Moore has returned to Apfelkuchen, Pennsylvania, with a dream to revitalize the town—if only he can unite its Amish and English residents. When local businesswoman Hope Taylor offers to care for his spirited toddler, Lucy, he jumps at the chance. Hope figures this is exactly the experience she needs. Not only is she planning to open a day care, but she’s expecting her first baby—her late husband’s child. As tensions rise over his development plans, Curtis and Hope grow closer—and they must decide if the heart of the town’s future might just lie in the growing love between them.

My Thoughts

An Amish Country Lullaby by Patricia Johns is a sweet story.  I liked Hope Taylor, Curtis Moore, and his active daughter, Lucy.  Lucy can escape out of a shop or home faster than you can say Houdini.  Hope and Curtis clicked immediately, but both have reasons to hold back.  There is a great cast of English and Amish characters. We get to see the importance of community and understanding the Amish culture. It is evident that an initiative perceived as beneficial by some members of the community may be regarded as disadvantageous by others.  

The author’s descriptions of Apfelkuchen, Pennsylvania  allowed me to envision it (can you imagine trying to spell the city name as a child).  This story illustrates trusting Him and seeking the Lord’s guidance instead of pursuing our own plan.  I thought the story was well written with a good pace and flow.  The ending left me with a smile on my face.  An Amish Country Lullaby is the second book in An Amish Antiques Shop Romance series, and it can be read on its own.  An Amish Country Lullaby is a heartwarming tale with a man with a plan, an expectant woman, an escape artist child, a distressing proposal, visiting time, a preschool proposal, and a chance at romance.

An Amish Country Lullaby is available for purchase on Amazon*. The first book in An Amish Antiques Shop Romance series is Her Amish Country Husband.  The third book in the series will be out on November 24 and it is Amish Country Christmas.  Patricia Johns has Innocent Amish Target releasing on June 30, Through the Valley on August 4, and Her Amish Christmas Memories on October 27.   If you follow Patricia Johns on Amazon, you'll receive an email notification about her new book releases.  

Thank you for stopping by today. I will be sharing my thoughts on The House of Secrets and Lies by Rosie Clarke tomorrow (Thursday, February 26).  I am off to work in our storage area.  It is a mess.  I need to take everything out, sort, organize, and then put the items back in neatly.  I also need to fix the shelves that were destroyed by Hurricane Milton (I am hoping to convince my new neighbor to help since he already has all the necessary tools out).  May you have a cheerful day.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.

Easter Egg Murder by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Peggy Ehrhart

Easter Egg Murder

Book Summary

Light pink, robin’s egg blue, daffodil yellow, mint green—Easter eggs hiding sweet treats come in every pastel color. But in a few small towns this year, cracking them could be more fatal than fun…

EASTER EGG MURDER by LESLIE MEIER

In Provence to visit her daughter, part-time reporter Lucy Stone is soaking up the atmosphere, even if it includes one Carole Capobianco, the empty-nester she encountered on the flight over. Not exactly two peas in a pod, they’re both amused by the tale of a neighbor’s chickens refusing to lay eggs. The decoy eggs he’s set out to encourage the egg-centric hens are not only gorgeously Faberge-style, they’re being stolen! That’s confusing enough, but what’s happened to the cook is deadly serious.

DEATH BY ANOTHER EASTER EGG by LEE HOLLIS

When an ambitious young reporter dies mid-meal at Hayley Powell’s Bar Harbor restaurant, Hayley is horrified. Determined to save her eatery’s reputation, Hayley scrambles to crack the case wide open like an egg, discovering that the victim was about to break a juicy story—one that a number of people (er, suspects) did not order off the menu. Which makes finding the killer more than devilishly hard . . .

AN EGGY WAY TO DIE by PEGGY EHRHART

Cleaning up after the Easter egg hunt in the Arborville park, friends Pamela and Bettina are startled to find something else hidden—the dead body of a local cookbook author, surrounded by broken shells and slippery yolks. The pair are far from hard-boiled detectives, but as they search for clues, they find that the whole case smells distinctly like rotten eggs . .

My Thoughts

Easter Egg Murder contains three Easter themed novellas by Leslie Meier, Lee Hollis, and Peggy Ehrhart.  I was looking forward to reading Easter Egg Murder by Leslie Meier because I have been following Lucy Stone’s adventures since the beginning.  Unfortunately, the author included Carole Capobianco from her new series The Carole and Poopsie Mysteries.  Carole is brash, rude, and annoying (her family is just as bad). The narrative unfolds through alternating chapters from Lucy’s and Carole’s perspectives. Bill was irritable and not quite himself. While the mystery was fine, it felt somewhat implausible. I wish there had been more time devoted to Elizabeth who is expecting her first child. 

Death By Another Easter Egg by Lee Hollis felt rushed.  The killer was easy to spot, and, for some reason, Hayley had some blonde moments in this story. An Eggy Way to Die by Peggy Ehrhart has a cute title, but the writing is overly descriptive, especially  about food. The mystery was simple and I thought it unusual that it was resolved a couple of chapters before the end of the novella.  Easter Egg Murder was not the crackin’ good time that I was eggspecting.  

Easter Egg Murder will appeal to fans of the series.  Easter Egg Murder will be out on Tuesday, February 24 and it can be preordered on Amazon*.  The next A Lucy Stone Mystery is Countdown to Christmas Murder which comes out September 29.  Death of a Grill Master is the next A Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery and it will be out on September 29.  Lee Hollis has a new cozy mystery series publishing on May 26.  The debut book in A Downeast Maine Mysteries is The Chowder House Murder.  If you follow Peggy Ehrhart on Amazon, they will let you know when she has a new A Knit and Nibble Mystery releasing.  

Thank you for joining me today.  There are a number of new books coming out next week (they have kept me busy).  I will return on Tuesday, February 24 with Deadly Rodeo Threat by Sami A. Abrams.  It is the second book in the Stone Creek Ranch series.  We need to enjoy the warmer weather this weekend before the next cold front arrives.  I am hoping that this will be the last one before spring (a girl can hope).  I wish you an enjoyable and restful weekend.  Take care and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader

*I voluntarily read an advanced copy of this book.  I am not required to leave a review.  The comments and opinions expressed are strictly my own.

*This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase using my links, I will receive a small commission from the sale at no cost to you.  Thank you for supporting The Avid Reader.