Pages: 211

Publisher: Beyond the Page Publishing

Published: November 17, 2020

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Review: I found this series on a whim and started in the middle and went back and got caught up. I really enjoy it. I usually gravitate towards cozy mysteries centered around books and cooking and although this series does have baking and recipes it is really about a farm. I have learned so much regarding cranberries. I have started thinking about different ways to incorporate them into savory dishes outside of Thanksgiving time.

I am excited for the next book as I can’t wait to see how Monica runs with her new path in life. I love the addition of Hercules, the dog. He is a joy and adds the right amount of fun.

You can start this series with any book and be just fine. The author does a great job of giving enough background on each character.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Beyond the Page Publishing, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

NetGalley: An ambitious TV personality takes a star turn in murder in the new Cranberry Cove Mystery from USA Today bestselling author Peg Cochran!

With the cranberry farm in full harvest mode, Monica is thrilled to learn that they’ll be the featured guests on a local TV news show. Certain the exposure will give her bakery products and the farm’s store a welcome boost, she’s also nervous about how she’ll come across on-screen. But her real worries begin when the show’s ruthless star is found bludgeoned to death on a side road of the farm—and Monica’s own brother heads up the list of suspects.

Launching an investigation to find the real killer and clear her brother, Monica discovers there was no love lost between the victim and those closest to her. From the dead woman’s husband, a calculating politician with his sights set on more lucrative pastures, to the timid cameraperson she repeatedly bullied, there’s no shortage of suspects or motives. And when Monica unearths a compromising secret that turns the spotlight on one of them, she suddenly realizes the solution has been staring her in the face. As she closes in on the killer, she’ll need sharp wits and steely nerves to avoid taking her final bow . . .

Includes tasty recipes!

Pages: 196

Publisher: Beyond the Page Publishing

Published: November 10, 2020

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Review: I am so happy this series has been continued. There is something comforting every time I read the series.

Cooper is such a sweet character. She makes me think that there are still good people out there not ready to make one over on someone. I am so happy about the direction her life has taken. I think she is on the right path with her love life.

This is a clean read (except for murder but no grisly scenes) that you will not want to put down. I found myself devouring it in less than 24 hours because I couldn’t wait to get back to my friends in the Sunrise Bible Study Group.

Yummy recipes are included and just in time for the holidays!

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher. Beyond the Page Publishing, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

NetGalley: It’s June in Virginia, and the scent of flowers and the sound of wedding bells are in the air, an unwelcome reminder to Cooper Lee of the long-distance relationship she recently ended. When Cooper and her Bible study group are invited to spend a weekend at a newly renovated historic inn, it’s the perfect chance to get away with friends and put her bittersweet memories behind her—until the inn’s pompous co-owner is murdered and one of the suspects is Cooper’s own mother.

Certain that someone on the inn’s staff must have done the cruel deed, the Bible study group begins piecing together the clues, only to learn that everyone there has a motive for murder. When they discover that a valuable painting has also been stolen from the inn, they know they’re up against a particularly shrewd evildoer. Determined to bring the culprit to justice and save her mother, Cooper and her friends devise a risky scheme to trap the killer, because sometimes even the Bible study group must work in mysterious ways . . .  

Includes heavenly recipes from Magnolia Lee’s kitchen!

Pages: 336

Publisher: Zondervan Fiction

Published: November 3, 2020

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

My Review: What a delightful read! I am still laughing at the antics the two sisters pulled during this novel.

The book focuses on the trials and tribulations of love Naomi has experienced but the true winners are the sweet elderly sisters, Esther and Lizzie, that Naomi works for at the sisters’ inn. They are a hoot. I absolutely adore how Wiseman made them so real. Yes, they are Amish and believe in turning the other cheek and being mild but we all know that sometimes you just have to express yourself. Lizzie will have you rolling on the floor laughing when she spars with Grumpy Gus who in turn thinks she is the grumpy one. Plus, her teeth debacles!

Gus, a tenant on the sisters’ property, shows his tender side with Esther during her medical scare. I really hope we get to learn more about him in future books. I don’t think he wants to be as grumpy as he appears.

This is a must-read for Amish fiction/romance fans. You will want to gobble it up as quick as the Thanksgiving turkey. A clean read that will leave you smiling and holding your tummy from the laughing.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Zondervan, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

NetGalley: Sweet Naomi Byler cooks meals for the guests at The Peony Inn, where Amish sisters and owners of the inn Esther and Lizzie love her like a granddaughter. She’s as happy there as a young woman can be, considering that her fiancé, Thomas, has left her to court someone else. She knows she’ll get over the love of her life in due time, but she assumes marriage will never be a part of her future.

Amos Lantz and his mother are guests at the inn, visiting town for a cousin’s wedding. Attending a wedding is the last thing Amos wants to do since his own fiancée, Sarah, died tragically just a year ago.

Naomi and Amos understand each other’s grief and become quick friends when they discover their mutual love of painting. As the two begin to paint through their sadness together, Esther and Lizzie play matchmaker—a risky move with the potential to backfire. And when Thomas makes an unexpected return intending to win back Naomi, she realizes she no longer knows her own heart.

In this new Amish series from bestselling and award-winning novelist Beth Wiseman, true love takes root in the deepest of wounds.

Pages: 304

Publisher: Kensington

Published: September 29, 2020

Rating: 3.5/4 out of 5 stars

My Review: Although this was not my favorite in the series I still found it a good read which is why I gave it 4 instead of 3 stars. I read cozy mysteries to escape the real world and this one did not let me do that this time around. There was a lot of political views expressed throughout the entire book.

I am excited for the next book as I cannot wait to see how Robbie adapts to her new role with her love.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Kensington, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

NetGalley: As December sweeps through South Lick, Indiana, Robbie’s life seems merry and bright like the string lights glistening around town. But strange happenings signal a bumpy ride into the holidays. First a man raises eyebrows at Pans ‘N Pancakes when he claiming to be the long-lost half-brother of Robbie’s assistant. Then a fire destroys the home of a controversial anesthesiologist, exposing skeletal remains in his attic. Helplessly intrigued, all Robbie wants for Christmas is to stop her winter wonderland from becoming a real nightmare. With a decades-old mystery taking shape, can she run as fast as she can in pursuit of a killer who’s harder to crack than a stale gingerbread man?

Pages: 280

Publisher: Hallmark Publishing

Published: November 3, 2020

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Review: A joyous read that lets you feel it is ok to slow down and enjoy the life around you. Evergreen is the small town we all dream of living in during the Christmas season. A much-needed book for the crazy year we have all experienced.

All three books in the Christmas in Evergreen are a treat that is best enjoyed with a hot cup of cocoa piled high with marshmallows and a cozy blanket. Each can be read as a standalone.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Hallmark Publishing, through NetGalley. All opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

NetGalley: An unexpected encounter…An extraordinary discovery…Welcome back to the town of Evergreen.

Katie, an author struggling to write her second novel, heads to Evergreen, Vermont for a holiday retreat—only to get an assignment to write an article about the town. On the train, she meets Ben, a former big-city reporter who’s now a librarian in Evergreen.

Katie’s initially skeptical about Evergreen’s love of Christmas; the place seems too good to be true. Meanwhile, Ben’s wary of Katie’s intentions. He’s protective of his small town, and he knows all too well how cynical the media can be. Then a hunt for a fifty-year-old time capsule leads to a remarkable discovery. As Katie and Ben get caught up in the community’s past and present, they both begin to envision new possibilities for the future.

This feel-good Christmas romance includes a free Hallmark original recipe for Cranberry Crostini.

Pages: 288

Publisher: Barbour Publishing, Inc.

Published: November 1, 2020

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Review: The Blended Quilt lets us revisit with the girls from The Hawaiian Quilt and The Hawaiian Discovery. The story mainly focuses on Sadie, the last of the girls to be single. She finds herself unhappy with her boyfriend and to work through her doubts she creates a quilt that blends the Hawaiian and Amish cultures. During the process, she writes a book on the quilts and the blending of the cultures. Unfortunately, the process creates strife with several loved ones.

The story was fast-paced and interesting. The reason it was not a 5-star read was I found Sadie a tad off-putting. As the story progressed she was more and more greedy and seemed to think everyone else was the problem. She is for sure and certain not one of my favorite Amish characters.

You do not have to read the other books to read The Blended Quilt. Each book is written as a stand-alone. The Blended Quilt is a clean, Christian read with only one trigger warning. There is a scene dealing with miscarriage.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Barbour Publishing, Inc., through NetGalley. Any opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

NetGalley: Will pursuing Sadie’s dreams mean leaving a romance behind?
 
Sadie Kuhns has a lot happening in her life. She is creating a unique quilt by blending a traditional Amish pattern with a Hawaiian pattern as a tribute to her time spent in the islands, and she is working on a self-published book. But her relationship with Wyman Kauffman has stagnated after six months of courtship. He can’t seem to commit to a profession that would secure a future, and he is jealous of the time Sadie gives to her own pursuits. Is there really any reason to drag this courtship out? Only time will tell in this new novel from New York Times bestselling author Wanda E. Brunstetter, writing with her daughter-in-law Jean Brunstetter.

Pages: 320

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Published: August 11, 2020

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Review:

I admit I started this series with book 9 and am mad at myself for waiting so long to start the series. It was very easy to start with books 9 and 10 as the author does a fantastic job giving enough background to know who is who and what is what. One of my reading goals for 2021 is to get caught up on this series.

In book 10 we visit Key West the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Hayley’s mother-in-law comes to visit and excitement seems to have followed her down. The mother-in-law was a little snooty for my tastes. Her comments on food/eating were bothersome. Why make your new daughter-in-law question her food choices and eating habits? First, she just met Hayley, and second, it is Hayley’s job to enjoy food. I hope the mother-in-law softens up her hard edges before visiting again.

There are plenty of yummy recipes included and not all revolve around Key Lime. I also liked that the book quotes at the beginning of each chapter. I have found some new authors to try.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, through NetGalley. Any opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

NetGalley: National bestselling author Lucy Burdette’s tenth Key West Food Critic mystery is piping hot with pie-enthusiasts and murder suspects.

When a fierce rivalry between key lime pie bakers leads to a pastry chef’s murder, food critic Hayley Snow is fit to be pied.

During the week between Christmas and New Year’s, the year-round population of Key West, Florida, faces a tsunami of tourists and snowbirds. It doesn’t help that outrageously wealthy key lime pie aficionado David Sloan has persuaded the city to host his pie-baking contest. Every pie purveyor on the island is out to win the coveted Key Lime Key to the City and Key Zest food critic Hayley Snow is on the scene to report it.

Meanwhile, Hayley’s home life is turning more tart than sweet. Hayley’s new hubby, police detective Nathan Bransford, announces that her intimidating mother-in-law is bearing down on the island for a surprise visit. Hayley offers to escort Nathan’s crusty mom on the iconic Conch Train Tour of the island’s holiday lights, but it becomes a recipe for disaster when they find a corpse among the glittering palm trees and fantastic flamingos. The victim–Au Citron Vert’s controversial new pastry chef–was a frontrunner in Sloan’s contest.

It’s bad enough that Hayley’s too-curious mother-in-law is cooking up trouble. Now, the murderer is out to take a slice out of Hayley. Can she handle the heat of a killer’s kitchen?