Christmas Comes to Morning Star by Charlotte Hubbard

 Christmas Comes to Morning Star

Book Summary

For fans of Beverly Lewis and Cindy Woodsmall comes a new Amish inspirational romance set at a most joyful time of year--Christmas!—in the heartwarming community of Morning Star, Missouri, with its mouthwatering marketplace, close-knit community, and blessings for everyone—even enterprising, noodle-making, unmarried twin maidels who’ve given up on love and families of their own.

Founded by five unmarried and enterprising Amish maidels, the new Morning Star Marketplace in small-town Missouri is preparing for a joyous Christmas season. But will the holiday also bring unexpected tidings of love?
 
Twin sisters Molly and Marietta Helfing are eagerly anticipating Christmas, with Marietta fully recovered from cancer and their noodle making business thriving. But Molly clearly misses having former tenant Pete Shetler and his rambunctious dog, Riley, around. Marietta can’t ignore Molly’s feelings for Pete—or the anxiety it stirs within her. Convinced her illness has made her unmarriageable, Marietta wonders what kind of life she’ll have if her sister marries—despite Molly’s promise to never leave her behind. . .
 
Then a fire destroys the home of Amish neighbors and Molly and Marietta graciously make room for widower Glenn Detweiler, his dat, and his two young boys. When Pete returns to help the family rebuild, Molly relishes her reunion with the handsome carpenter, while Marietta delights in mothering Glenn’s boys—and is surprised by her poignant bond with their quiet, brooding father. Soon everyone is wondering if this season will bring the blessing of a merry double wedding to Morning Star . . .

My Thoughts

Molly and Marietta Helfing are twin sister’s who are in their 30s.  They make a living selling their homemade Amish noodles in a shop in The Marketplace.  Marietta feels that no one will ever want to marry her since she had the mastectomy last year and is unable to have children.  Molly does not want to leave her sister alone, so she plans on not marrying as well despite her attraction to Pete Shetler.  Glenn Detweiler has lost his wife and his mother.  He is trying to take care of his two young sons and his aging father as well as his business.  Grief is overwhelming him.  Then a fire destroys his house. He is thankful when the Helfing sisters take in his family.  Pete worries that Molly is falling for Glenn and wonders if he has missed his chance.  What does the future hold for this foursome? 

Christmas Comes to Morning Star by Charlotte Hubbard is the 3^rd book in The Maidels of Morning Star series.  I recommend reading this heartwarming series in order.  I thought Christmas Comes to Morning Star was well-written with developed, friendly characters.  I love the maidels in this series.  This book focuses on Molly and Marietta, but we also get to catch up with Jo.  Jo Fussner likes Michael Wengerd, but her mother’s bitterness is standing in her way.  Love, hope, grief, community, and family are the themes of this story.  I enjoyed catching up with Lydianne and Regina as well. Bishop Jeremiah Shetler is a kindhearted man who cares about those in the community.  Bishop Shetler is a good man who is eager to marry Lydianne.  Two of the women have found love, and we are hoping the other three will as well.  The Marketplace sounds like a wonderful place with all the fabulous shops filled with homemade Amish goods.  Christmas Comes to Morning Star is a story that puts you in the Christmas spirit (even though it is August).  Christmas Comes to Morning Star is a comforting tale with homemade noodle pudding, a devastating fire, a disagreeable mother, a caring bishop, and three unmarried maidels.  

Christmas Comes to Morning Star publishes Tuesday, August 24.  You can pre-order from Amazon*.  The other two novels in The Maidels of Morning Star series are Morning Star and First Light in Morning Star.  Both books can be borrowed for free if you belong to Kindle Unlimited.  You can follow Charlotte Hubbard on Amazon so you can receive emails when she has a new release.  Thank you for stopping by today and reading my review.  No Grater Crime by Maddie Day is planned for tomorrow.  It is the 9th A Country Store Mystery.  I hope you have a cheerful day. Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

I'll Be Seeing You by Rosie Archer

I'll Be Seeing You

Book Summary

A World War 2 saga to warm the heart. Three women become friends when working in their local picture house. When life is so tough for everyone, a trip to the pictures is the perfect way to escape, to dream of romance and hope for the good things peace will bring.

It is 1943 on England's war-weary south coast where the conflict seems never-ending. After the heartache of the previous year, Connie Baxter now appears to have everything a girl could want. There is Ace, a man who loves her. She enjoys an enviable lifestyle despite the deprivations of war. She has friends and a job she adores as an usherette at the Criterion cinema. But appearances can be deceptive and Connie is struggling in more ways than one.

Then, to compound Connie's problem, her nemesis, Cousin Marlene, returns home. Secrets come to light, revealing jealousies that could shatter Connie's world once more, and Connie realizes that Ace isn't the man she thought he was.

In the darkest days of war, the glamour of movies and their stars can lift the bleakest of moods, while friends make the good times better and the bad times bearable.

My Thoughts

I’ll Be Seeing You by Rosie Archer has Queenie going into labor at the Criterion theater during a viewing of Now, Voyager.   Connie, Gertie, Edith, and Len are for there for Queenie who turns out to have a tough time.  Connie must seek an ambulance while bombs are being dropped on the area.  After making sure Queenie gets to the hospital safely to deliver, Gertie and Connie arrive home to a shocking scene.  Marlene, Gertie’s wayward daughter has returned home.  She caused Connie nothing but grief when they were children, and it appears the trend is going to continue.  Ace has two clubs plus several side businesses that are keeping him busy and away from Connie.  Marlene, though, gets to see him each night since Ace offered her a job in one of his clubs.  At the Criterion, they have a new manager who is proving to be just as bad his predecessor.  When money from the evenings take begins disappearing, the manager pins the blame on Doyle.  Connie knows Doyle would never steal and gets help trying to prove it. 

I’ll Be Seeing You by Rosie Archer is the 2^nd book in The Picture House Girls series.  I do suggest reading The Picture House Girls before embarking on I’ll Be Seeing You.  We go back to April of 1943 in Gosport, England where Connie Baxter and her friends work at the Criterion.  I thought the story contained good writing with developed, realistic characters.  The book moved along at a good pace.  I thought the author captured the time period especially with her movie and book references.  There is also talk about the black outs, rationing, and bombings.  The men and women during this time period had to be strong to endure what they did.  You never knew if a soldier would return home or if you would make it home from work.  You could go out to walk your dog and get struck by a bomb.  Of course, there are those who will take advantage of the war.  Black market goods were a hot commodity (racketeering was alive and well) along with acquiring petrol illegally and making “cigarettes”.  The author gave readers a rich atmosphere, so we were immersed in the time period.  I’ll Be Seeing You is an emotional novel with love, grief, heartache, joy, and anger.  I liked how the characters found joy during these hard times by going to the cinema, reading the latest novel, having a girl’s night out, or taking dancing lessons.  I’ll Be Seeing You is a warmhearted historical novel that shows us what everyday people dealt with during the war in Gosport.

I'll Be Seeing You is available from Amazon*.  The first novel in The Picture House Girls Series is The Picture House Girls.  You can find Rosie Archer's other novels here.  I hope I have helped you find a new book and author today.  Tomorrow I am featuring Christmas Comes to Morning Star by Charlotte Hubbard.  It is the 3rd book in The Maidels of Morning Star series.  I hope that you have an agreeable day.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Complications by Danielle Steel

 Complications

Book Summary

Scandal and tragedy erupt against the backdrop of an exclusive Paris hotel in Danielle Steel’s riveting novel.

Known for its luxurious accommodations and bespoke service, the Hotel Louis XVI has been the most lauded boutique hotel in all of Paris for decades, attracting an international clientele of the rich and famous. Now, after four years of renovations and the death of its legendary and beloved manager, it is set to reopen its doors at last. An esteemed group of loyal returning guests is set to descend upon the hotel, joined by a number of new faces who have managed to secure coveted bookings in the wake of last-minute cancellations.

Awaiting them all is the Louis XVI’s new manager, Olivier Bateau, an anxious man whose lack of experience leaves him unprepared. He and his level-headed assistant manager, Yvonne Philippe, both strive to continue the hotel’s tradition of excellence. But they quickly realize that anything can happen at any moment, and on one cool September evening, everything does.

A successful art consultant arrives at the hotel for the first time since her brutal divorce, and is surprised to find new love—if she is willing to risk her heart again. A new guest contemplates ending his life, and saves a life instead. A couple finds their once-in-a-lifetime trip interrupted by a tragic medical emergency, leaving the idyllic future they’ve long waited for hanging in the balance. And one of the hotel’s most high-profile guests, a French politician and assumed presidential candidate, holds a mysterious meeting in his suite that will threaten his life and legacy. Rocked by the events of this one fateful night, guests and staff alike brace themselves for the aftershock, as it quickly becomes apparent that more dramas and misfortunes are still in store.

Danielle Steel tells an unforgettable story about a famed hotel, where a few complications quickly escalate into a matter of life and death, changing the lives of everyone who passes through its doors.

My Thoughts

Complications by Danielle Steel was not quite what I expected from the blurb.  I thought the story would be focused on the Hotel Louis XVI and its new caretakers.  The story begins at the hotel where we are introduced to its new manager and assistant manager as the Hotel Louis XVI reopens are being closed four years for renovations.  We are then introduced to a variety of guests that include a physician, a prime minster, an art consultant, and a couple celebrating their respective divorces.  The nervous new manager is hoping for a smooth opening, unfortunately, two incidents happen that will change many lives.  We are introduced to a number of people in the beginning (info dump).  It did feel that we were introduced to a few too many people in the beginning (can be hard to keep them all straight).  After a while the story focuses on the main characters and their storylines.  I did find one storyline to be particularly disturbing and wish it had not been included in the book.  Complications is a short book so no one storyline was looked at in depth.  Gabrielle and Alaistair ultimately become the focus, but it is late in the tale.  There is repetition of information especially regarding Gabrielle’s ex-husband and his new Russian bride.  Complications was a quick, easy read with a satisfactory conclusion.  The lesson in Complications is to live life to the fullest.  You never know what will happen in your life, so we should not waste a day.  My favorite line from Complications is, “Life is precious, and every day is a gift.”  Complications is a contemporary romance with a high-end hotel, an attractive art consultant, an ill internist, a surreptitious prime minister, a jumpy manager, an unflappable assistant, and scandalous actions. 

Complications is available from Amazon*.  You can find Danielle Steel's other novels here.  The author has The Butler publishing October 5.  Her other upcoming releases are:  Flying Angels on November 23, Invisible on January 4, 2022, High Stakes on March 8, 2022, and Beautiful on April 19, 2022.  Thank you for joining me today.  I am planning on sharing my thoughts on I'll Be Seeing You by Rosie Archer tomorrow.  It is the 2nd book in The Picture House Girls series.  I hope that you have an cheerful day.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

The Haunted Homecoming by Angie Fox

    The Haunted Homecoming

   Book Summary

Apple cider, bonfires, football, and—ghosts.

It’s homecoming weekend in Sugarland, Tennessee and ghost hunter Verity Long is tickled to see so many souls—living and dead—back in town to celebrate. But not all reunions are happy ones, and when Verity stumbles upon a dead body by the football field, it appears someone has already evened the score.

   My Thoughts

The Haunted Homecoming by Angie Fox has Verity Long welcoming her mother, Tilly and stepdad to Sugarland, Tennessee for the 106^th Annual Sugarland Homecoming Festival.  The town will be opening their time capsule that weekend as well.  When the time capsule is opened, a woman in a red dress is found dead inside.  It turns out to be Tilly’s best friend who disappeared the night of her homecoming dance.  Tilly asks Verity to investigate and get justice for her friend.  Verity will have to do her sleuthing while helping Frankie evade a Cuban mobster intent on killing him (after a couple of decades of torture).  Verity will need to solve the murder with one reluctant ghost and one overeager mother.

The Haunted Homecoming by Angie Fox is the 10^th The Southern Ghost Hunter Mystery.  It can be read as a standalone, but you will be missing out on a delightful series.  I look forward to reading a new Verity and Frankie book each year and so does my mother.  When she heard I had gotten The Haunted Homecoming, she insisted I download it on her device.  I thought The Haunted Homecoming was easy to read with developed characters and plenty of humor.  I laughed often while reading this entertaining tale (and so did my mother).  Verity must deal with her mother who insists on telling people every detail of her life (especially the embarrassing stories and stuff Verity wants kept secret like her ghost hunting adventures).  Frankie, of course, is up to no good.  He has a Cuban mobster gunning for him which has Frankie plotting a way to get even.  The mystery was fun to follow.  A cold case has Verity questioning her mother’s old classmates—those alive and those who have passed.  Verity had plenty of “help” from her mother.  Verity’s mother provided many laugh-out-loud moments that included Lucy’s wearing a cheerleading outfit with a bow for her head and a wreath for Frankie’s shed.  The author ended the book on a cliffhanger which has me eager to read Give Up the Ghost. You cannot help but love a book that makes you laugh and smile.  The Haunted Homecoming is witty tale with an aggrieved girlfriend, a killer Cuban, a rumormonger mother, a freaked-out Frankie, a lovable Lucy, and a vexed Verity.  

The Haunted Homecoming is available from Amazon*.  You can find the other novels in The Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries here.  Give Up the Ghost will be the 11th novel in the series and it publishes May 31, 2022.  You can follow Angie Fox on Amazon so you can receive updates on her latest releases.  Thank you for visiting today.  Tomorrow I am sharing my thoughts on Complications by Danielle Steel.  I hope that you have a spirited day.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Cajun Kiss of Death by Ellen Byron: Review & Giveaway!

Cajun Kiss of Death

 

About Cajun Kiss of Death

 

Cajun Kiss of Death: A Cajun Country Mystery 

 

The next shot from Cupid's bow may be fatal in USA Today bestselling, Agatha Award-winning author Ellen Byron's hearty and delightful seventh Cajun Country mystery.

In Pelican, Louisiana, Valentine's Day has a way of warming the heart, despite the February chill. But the air at Crozat Plantation B&B turns decidedly frigid when celebrity chef Phillippe Chanson checks in. And when the arrogant Phillippe--in town to open his newest Cajun-themed restaurant--perishes in a fiery boat crash, Maggie Crozat's dear friend JJ lands in very cold water.

Did JJ, proprietor of Junie's Oyster Bar and Dance Hall, murder Phillippe because he feared the competition? Might Maggie's mother, Ninette, have bumped off the chef for stealing one of her cherished recipes? Or was the culprit a local seafood vendor, miffed because Phillippe was somehow able to sell oysters for a remarkably reasonable price, despite an oyster shortage?

Maggie had planned to devote her February to art lessons in New Orleans, a present from her sweetheart, Bo. But now she has to focus on helping her friend and her mother cross a murder charge off the menu. Meanwhile, Maggie receives a series of anonymous gifts that begin as charming but grow increasingly disturbing. Does Maggie have an admirer--or a stalker? And are these mysterious gifts somehow related to Phillippe's murder?

Blood may be thicker than water, but this case is thicker than gumbo. And solving it will determine whether Maggie gets hearts and roses--or hearse and lilies--this Valentine's Day.

About Ellen Byron

Ellen’s Cajun Country Mysteries have won the Agatha award for Best Contemporary Novel and multiple Lefty awards for Best Humorous Mystery. She writes the Catering Hall Mystery series, which are inspired by her real-life, under the name Maria DiRico. Ellen is an award-winning playwright, and non-award-winning TV writer of comedies like WINGS, JUST SHOOT ME, and FAIRLY ODD PARENTS. She has written over two hundred articles for national magazines but considers her most impressive credit working as a cater-waiter for Martha Stewart.

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My Thoughts

A few weeks later just before Valentine’s Day, Celebrity Chef Phillippe Chanson is opening a restaurant in Pelican.  The haughty chef has quite a stir in the town with his attitude, competitive drive, and recipe thievery.  The chef dies with fanfare on the opening night of his restaurant leaving behind a surfeit of suspects including a beloved local restaurant owner and Maggie Crozat’s own mother.  Maggie lays down her paint brush to don her sleuthing cap.  Can Maggie paint the killer into a corner for the local police before Valentine’s Day?  Cajun Kiss of Death by Ellen Byron is the 7^th A Cajun Country Mystery.  While it can be read as a standalone, I recommend reading this delightful series in order.  It will allow you to get to know the characters and the town of Pelican, Louisiana.  The characters are what make A Cajun Country Mysteries.   I have loved watching these characters develop over the course of the series.  Maggie has come a long way since Plantation Shudders. Maggie has a great family that is loving, welcoming, big hearts, and a wonderful sense of humor.  Maggie’s grandmere is one feisty woman (her granddaughter is a chip off the old block).  Cajun Kiss of Death has an opening that will delight fans of the series.  There is food, family, fireworks, and fun.  The whodunit was well plotted and a great one to solve.  There is a surplus of suspects in this mystery with a plot twist or two along the way.  I love how the author includes the history, culture, and cuisine of Louisiana.  Ellen Byron brings Louisiana alive with her vivid descriptions.  It is a place I want to visit.  A Cajun Kiss of Death was over far too quickly.  Based on the epilogue, Cajun Kiss of Death is the final book in this charming Southern series.  I am glad the author provided the epilogue which gives those who love the series a contented conclusion.  Cajun Kiss of Death is finer than a frog’s hair with purloined recipes, a jubilant New Year’s Eve gathering, flaring fireworks, stinky trash, stalker secret admirer, and a Valentine’s Day revelation.

Are you ready to read Cajun Kiss of Death? Cajun Kiss of Death is available at PenguinRandomHouse, Amazon, B&N, Kobo, and IndieBound.  You can find the other novels in A Cajun Country Mystery series here.  You can follow Ellen Byron on Amazon so you will be notified when she releases a new book.  Would you like to win a print copy of Murder in the Bayou Boneyard (open to those in the US only)?  You can click here to enter or use the Rafflecopter form below.  Good Luck!  Thank you for joining me today.  I will be back tomorrow with The Haunted Homecoming by Angie Fox.  It is the 10th book in The Southern Ghost Hunter Mysteries.  I hope that you have a joyful day, y'all.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

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Tour Participants

August 16 – Novels Alive – GUEST POST 

August 16 – The Avid Reader – REVIEW 

August 16 – Sapphyria's Book Reviews - SPOTLIGHT 

August 17 – The Book's the Thing – SPOTLIGHT 

August 17 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 

August 18 – Christy's Cozy Corners – REVIEW 

August 18 – My Reading Journeys – REVIEW 

August 19 – Mysteries with Character – REVIEW 

August 19 – Literary Gold – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 

August 20 – The Book Diva's Reads – SPOTLIGHT 

August 20 – Laura's Interests – REVIEW 

August 21 – Celticlady's Reviews – SPOTLIGHT 

August 21 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT 

August 22 – Books a Plenty Book Reviews – REVIEW 

August 22 – Author Elena Taylor's Blog – AUTHOR INTERVIEW 

August 23 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW 

August 23 – Hearts & Scribbles – SPOTLIGHT 

August 24 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW 

August 24 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW 

August 25 – Brooke Blogs – SPOTLIGHT 

August 25 – Baroness' Book Trove – REVIEW 

August 26 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW 

August 26 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – CHARACTER GUEST POST 

August 27 – Maureen's Musings – SPOTLIGHT 

August 27 – Reading Is My SuperPower – RECIPE 

August 28 – ThisIsMyTruthNow – REVIEW 

August 28 – I Read What You Write – SPOTLIGHT 

August 29 – BookishKelly2020 – SPOTLIGHT 

August 29 – Dear Reader – REVIEW

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Beyond the Tides by Liz Johnson

 Beyond the Tides

Book Summary

When Meg Whitaker's father decides to sell the family's lobster-fishing business to her high school nemesis, she sets out to prove she should inherit it instead. Though she's never had any interest in running the small fleet--or even getting on a boat due to her persistent seasickness--she can't stand to see Oliver Ross take over. Not when he ruined her dreams for a science scholarship and an Ivy League education ten years ago.

Oliver isn't proud of what he did back then. Angry and broken by his father walking out on his family, he lashed out at Meg--an innocent bystander. But owning a respected fishing fleet on Prince Edward Island is the opportunity of a lifetime, and he's not about to walk away just because Meg wants him to.

Meg's father has the perfect solution: Oliver and Meg must work the business together, and at the end of the season, he'll decide who gets it. Along the way, they may discover that their stories are more similar than they thought . . . and their dreams aren't what they expected.

Bestselling author Liz Johnson invites you back to Prince Edward Island for a brand-new series about family, forgiveness, and the kind of love that heals all wounds. 

My Thoughts

Beyond the Tides by Liz Johnson has Meg Whitaker enjoys her teaching position at the local high school.  She gave up her dream to be closer to home when her mother became ill. Then Meg learns that her father is going to retire and sell Whitaker Fishing to her archnemesis, Oliver Ross.  Meg does not want the business to go out of the family.  Meg’s father decides to let Meg and Oliver compete for the business.  They will work together for the season and at the end of it, her father will decide which one of them will get the fishing business.  Neither one intends to lose.  

Beyond the Tides is a traditional Christian romance.  The story has developed characters and a gorgeous setting.  I enjoyed the vivid descriptions of Prince Edward Island.  It is a place I have always wanted to visit.  I read Beyond the Tides, but I could not get into the story.  It is a sweet romance that deals with healing, loss of a dream, forgiveness, illness, and love.  There is talk about the lobster industry with its numerous regulations, building lobster traps, problem with a steady income, resentment from other fisherman, and sabotage.  Beyond the Tide has some humor as well.  The story is told from Meg and Oliver’s point-of-view.  It alternates chapter’s so we get to see things from each person’s perspective.  Oliver and Meg each have good reasons for wanting the business.  What is the best way to resolve this conundrum? It is easy to predict how this story will play out.  I would have liked more action that would have helped the pacing of the story (it was on the slow side).  If you like to read Christian romances, then you will enjoy Beyond the Tides.

Beyond the Tides can be obtained from Amazon*.  You can find Liz Johnson's other novels here on Amazon.  I appreciate you stopping by today and reading my review.  I will be back on Monday with Cajun Kiss of Death by Ellen Byron.  It is the 7th A Cajun Country Mystery.  I hope that you have a happy day.  We all need joy and laughter in our lives.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Still Life and Death by Tracy Gardner

 Still Life and Death

Book Summary

A murder at the flower shop.
An uncle suspected by the cops.
Savanna and her sisters are on the case.

Savanna Shepherd, a former art authenticator turned grade school art teacher, is delighted when her Uncle Max and Uncle Freddie move to Carson. Uncle Max takes a job at Libby’s Blooms, where Savanna teaches a still life painting class for adults. But one morning, Uncle Max finds a dead body in the rooftop greenhouse…and even worse, it looks like an inside job.

Savanna and her sisters—Skylar, a lawyer, and Sydney, the owner of a pet shop and grooming salon—dig in to find the real murderer. With their connections to the community and Savanna’s keen eye for details, they uncover long standing resentments and horticultural clues. Meanwhile, Savanna’s dating local doctor Aidan Gallager, but she worries it’ll cause a scandal, since his daughter is in her class. As Savanna’s investigation leads her into thorny situations, the killer may be arranging another murder: her own.

My Thoughts

Still Life and Death by Tracy Gardner is the 3^rd book in The Shepherd Sisters Mysteries.  It can be read as a standalone, but I believe it is better to read the books in order.  It will allow you to get to know the characters and their backstories.  When Uncle Max finds Libby dead on the roof of Libby’s Blooms, the Shepherd sisters rally around him.  No one can believe that someone shot Libby.  Sydney, the youngest sister, was close to Libby and is particularly distraught over her murder.  Savanna with her keen eye for detail, searches for clues to help aid the investigation.  The author has created friendly, relatable characters and a charming town.  The Shepherd sisters are close, and they care about their family.  I like the town of Carson, Michigan with its friendly residents.  There are great shops too.  Savanna is dating Dr. Aidan Gallager and she is worried about what other people will say especially at the school.  Sydney is dating Aidan’s brother, Finn.  She cares about him, but his job takes him around the country.  Libby’s murder has the Shepherd sisters digging up clues.  The mystery was not the focus of the book.  I did not feel the author took the time to develop it as much as the other aspects of the book.  There are a couple of suspects along with a red herring.  All the details of why are provided at the end.  Still Life and Death has a heartwarming ending that will leave readers smiling.  Still Life and Death is a charming tale with precious pups, close sisters, a friendly family, a senseless slaughter, beautiful blooms, and a rewarding relationship.

Still Life and Death is available from Amazon*.  The first two novels in A Shepherd Sisters Mystery series are Out of the Picture and Behind the Frame.  You can follow Tracy Gardner on Amazon so you can receive updates on her latest releases.  I appreciate you joining me today.  I hope you are staying cool.  August is proving to be hot and humid.  Tomorrow I am featuring Beyond the Tides by Liz Johnson.  It is the first book in Prince Edward Island Shores series.  May you have a joyful day. Recently, I told you about the planter I was going to assemble and I discovered that it was missing the legs.  The manufacturer responded back and sent me a new planter.  I am going to put it together this afternoon.  It is great that the seller went above and beyond to rectify the problem.  See you tomorrow.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

One for the Hooks by Betty Hechtman

 One for the Hooks

Book Summary

One for the Hooks by Betty Hechtman has Molly Pink acquiring yarn for the store when she witnesses a drone drop a sack of smelly seafood onto Sloan Renner, a local realtor who does a variety of other jobs as well.  Sloan was helping Miami Wintergarten turn her inherited home into a short-term rental which has her neighbors up in arms.  Molly’s ex-beau, Barry asks for Molly’s help on the case.  Molly has a way of acquiring information that the local police cannot.  Molly has some personal issues to deal with as well.  Her son, Peter shows up with luggage and a pregnant girlfriend.  It seems he needs to a place to live since his latest television project fell through.  Mason Fields, Molly’s layer boyfriend, has a proposition for Molly that could change her life.  Can Molly hook the killer while dealing with her personal drama?

My Thoughts

One for the Hooks by Betty Hechtman is the 14^th A Crochet Mystery.  It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series.  I thought One for the Hooks was well-written with developed characters.  I like that Molly Pink is a mature woman who is a clever and capable.  I was not a fan of the way Molly dealt with her son, Peter in this book.  I thought she would set down some rules for the pushy son and his cold girlfriend.  Molly most do some soul searching when Mason makes her an offer.  The whodunit had multiple suspects (a whole neighborhood), misdirection, and a unique method of murder.  One detail early in the book is all that is needed to solve the crime (I am not telling you which one).  I enjoyed following Molly and Dinah as they dug up information and got themselves into trouble in pursuit of justice.  Barry, of course, wants Molly’s information, but he is reluctant to share.  He also does not always appreciate her theories (you would think he would have learned to trust her by now).  There are cute pets, gorgeous yarns, fun with friends, plus book and yarn events.  I enjoyed the one-of-a-kind scarf project that Molly came up with using the yarns she purchased for the shop.  Adele was even more over-the-top than usual thanks to her vlog.  Her outfits match her ego (loud and large).  I laughed often while reading One for the Hooks.  I am eager for the next A Crochet Mystery after reading the ending.  One for the Hooks is an entertaining cozy mystery with ritzy yarns, a significant other’s suggestion, a problematic progeny, a daring drone, a curious killing, sensational Serendipity scarves, and the plucky Molly Pink.

One for the Hooks is available from Amazon*.  You can find the other thirteen A Crochet Mystery novels here.  You can find Betty Hechtman's other novels here.  Thank you for reading my review today.  I will be back tomorrow with Still Life and Death by Tracy Gardner.  It is the 3rd A Shepherd Sisters Mystery.  I hope that you have a perky day.  Take care, be kind, and Happy Reading!

Kris

The Avid Reader 

*This post contains affiliate links.  As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.