The Villa

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for my honest review.*

Emily and Chess grew up together, but as adults have grown apart. Chess has reinvented herself several times and is now a self help guru with millions of followers while Emily has a cozy mystery series with several more books to write for the series. Emily is also going through recovering from an illness and now a divorce. Chess suggests going to a villa in Italy to reconnect their relationship. And the house that she rents turns out to be where an infamous murder occurred in the 1970s. Emily starts digging around the house and writing a story about the murder and it seems that Chess has lost her muse.

I could very much relate to Emily being in the shadow of Chess and being suspicious of her actions. I enjoyed how the story unfolded, but I felt like the novel could have just stayed within the current and 1970's storyline and left the third out of it. The third storyline was a little confusing and I am not really sure how it was resolved. I did enjoy the setting of the villa and the twists at the end. I wish things had resolved in a slightly different way because Chess was such an unlikeable character. But it also tied Emily and Chess together. Forever. So Creepy!!

Four stars for me. And this book was published in January 2023. Definitely worth a read!

Vinyl Resting Place

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and St. Martin's Paperbacks for my honest review.*

What a great first in a new series! Set in Texas. Three sisters re-opening a family music store selling records and coffee and, in doing so, becoming the third generation running a music store in the small town where everyone knows everyone else. Juni, the youngest, returned home to become a partner in the store and is living with the oldest sister. When a body is found in a storage room after the grand opening party, the sisters can't afford to leave the investigating to the police because they are more than happy to point the finger at the sisters' uncle. 

Crazy family definitely adds to the selling point in this story. And the added bonus of small town living and everyone knowing who the sisters are help bring in the coziness of this cozy mystery. Juni's ex as the police detective who seems to want to jump right back into a relationship after he broke Juni's heart with no explanation right before she left town years ago..... There is a lot to unpack in the future mysteries and I can't wait! And the drink names incorporating groups and singers are so creative! Some were very worth a chuckle.

Five stars! A great new series!

Winter's End

 *I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley, St Martin's Press and Minotaur Books for my honest review.*

I am going to be totally biased in this review because I absolutely love this series!

Spring is just around the corner and Beth is facing her first Death March - the annual coming together to make sure everyone made it through winter. When a couple of residents don't check in, Beth helps with locating those who are missing. And when Orin, the town's resident FBI man on the DL, goes missing after a search, Beth becomes concerned and it is added to her list of things she is investigating - the location of her long lost father and a new friend who wasn't at the Death March.

The characters in Benedict, Alaska are fantastically written and so enjoyable to read and get to know through the novels. I am really enjoying how a new criminal or two show up at the Benedict House each novel. And bringing in just a bit of the past into Beth's current world in Alaska is very smartly done. Just a bit each novel and big set ups for the next in the series!

I can't wait for the next book in this series and I can't wait to finish some of my other series so I can start on Shelton's separate series. So much to read, so little time!

Five stars! Seriously, I can't recommend this series enough!

Bound by Murder - Review

 *I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my honest review.*

Jenna has settled into her life as the antique book store owner and with her police officer boyfriend. She has good friends and has mostly recovered from her old life where she was accused of theft and murder. And then her ex shows up with his new bride-to-be and her entourage and they are nothing but a group of mean girls. And then the bride-to-be is found dead.

I really enjoy this group of characters and the quaint little town that Jenna has ended up in. I love how everyone has accepted her into the new life and she is thriving. I love how Jenna and the cop boyfriend have an adult relationship instead of pretending that there is no premarital sex ever.

Such a great series! Four stars from me. A very good series!

The Couple at No. 9

 Moving is such a pain and takes so much time. I am still catching up on books finished over the summer. it would help to sit and write the reviews occasionally. 

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley, Harper Perennial and Paperbacks, and Harper Paperbacks for my honest review.*

Imagine starting a home reno on a house that has been in your family for years and bodies are discovered buried in the back yard. Saffy and Tom have recently moved in and found out they are expecting when the bodies are discovered.

I enjoyed everything about this novel! The premise, the various points of view, the differing time lines, and how it all kept me guessing throughout the entire novel. Several major plot points that I haven't read before and it all flowed perfectly! And enough suspense to keep me coming back to it.

I have already recommended to friends and added Douglas to my list of must read authors.

Five stars!