A Deadly Garden Party by Elspeth Marlowe

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing A Deadly Garden Party by Elspeth Marlowe.  What a great start to a new series, I enjoyed this book and look forward to book 2. Ms. Marlowe is a new to me author but I definitely will read more from her.

Buy here for 99cents 

In this garden club, the competition is killer.

Delia Norris hoped Magnolia Grove's prestigious garden club would help her plant new roots after her divorce. Instead, when the club president drops dead at the annual garden party, Delia finds herself surrounded by suspects with secrets to bury.

A bitter rival. A nervous treasurer. A ruined landscaper. An estranged stepdaughter. Everyone has something to hide — and everyone has a motive.

With her sharp eye for detail and Captain, her opinionated African gray parrot, offering commentary at the worst possible moments, Delia digs beneath Magnolia Grove's picture-perfect surface. Because in this town, the deadliest things grow in the prettiest gardens.

A Deadly Garden Party is the first Magnolia Grove Cozy Mystery — a charming small-town whodunit with a clever amateur sleuth, a scene-stealing parrot, and a cast of neighbors worth returning to. Perfect for a quick, cozy read you can finish with a cup of tea.

Pull up a chair at the garden party — just don't drink the tea.

I liked the small-town setting of Magnolia Grove, the characters of Delia And Captain, her opinionated African gray parrot.  I especially liked following Delia's observations as she slowly worked through the mystery and tried to figure out who was responsible.

It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I did guess whodunnit but that did not distract from the story.  I’m sure in the next book character development and plot will improve and I won’t be able to guess. 

I recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 2 to come out!

⭐️⭐️⭐️

I requested and received an advanced readers copy from BooksGoSocial and NetGalley.  All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

Please join the conversation and comment below.  Have you read… If so what did you think/like

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!

I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

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A Lighthouse Legacy by Jo James

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "A Lighthouse Legacy by Jo James” the 5th instalment in A Gift Shop Mystery series set in Port Huron, Michigan.  Each book is written by a different author and this time it is a new to me author.

Buy here 

A Lighthouse Legacy is the fifth book in Guideposts’ Gift Shop Mysteries fiction series. 

Gift shop owner Sarah Morgan is helping Justine Hendricks, a young scholar, with a research project—but then a nineteenth-century logbook and diary entrusted to the student disappear! Since Justine is part of a group volunteering at the Port Hope Lighthouse, there are plenty of nearby suspects who could be responsible for the theft. To make matters worse, rumors are swirling that the lighthouse is haunted—a thing Sarah doesn’t believe for a moment. 

Soon Sarah and Justine are drawn into the compelling story of a nineteenth-century woman who may well have been Michigan’s first official female lighthouse keeper. Sarah will need all her sleuthing skills if she is to uncover the surprising connections between the modern-day theft, the strange happenings at the lighthouse, and this dauntless woman from the past. Why You’ll Love the Gift Shop Mysteries Series 

If you’re looking for a mystery series that’s equal parts heartwarming and intriguing, Gift Shop Mysteries is your perfect next read. Set in a charming lakeside town with a faith-filled shop owner as your guide, each book offers: 

• Captivating mysteries that keep you guessing—but never keep you up at night 
• A cast of relatable, endearing characters who feel like old friends 
• A cozy, small-town atmosphere you’ll want to escape to again and again 
• Faith-filled encouragement and hope, gently woven through every story 
• Themes of redemption, reconnection, and second chances—with God, family, and community 

Plus, each book includes delightful extras: 

• A recipe inspired by the story 
• A personal letter from the author 
• “Behind the Counter” insights into the real-life history or inspiration 
• Book club-ready discussion questions 

Whether you’re drawn to uplifting mysteries, enjoy uncovering meaningful secrets, or simply want a soul-soothing read with depth, heart, and a touch of suspense—this series was made for you. 

A  Lighthouse Legacy by Jo James is a charming cozy mystery with a pleasant, steady pace. Unlike many cozies, there’s no murder here. Instead, it weaves together a historical mystery with a modern-day one.

The plot revolves around an a nineteenth-century logbook and diary that has been stolen.  Soon Sarah and Justine are drawn into the compelling story of a nineteenth-century woman who may well have been Michigan’s first official female lighthouse keeper. 

I am also like where things are heading with Sarah and Flint. The mystery is interesting and well plotted, full of twists and turns.  I recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I requested and received an advance readers copy from NetGalley and the publisher.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

A Christmas Bookstore Murder by Sue Minix

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing A Christmas Bookstore Murder by Sue Minix the 8th instalment in the "A Bookstore Mystery" series. I enjoyed this book and look forward to book 9!

Buy here  for $2.99

Can she close the book on a killer close to home?

It should be the most wonderful time of the year, but when a stranger turns up dead after a Christmas party, the festive season is about to be anything but merry for the small town of Riddelton…luckily local crime writer turned amateur sleuth Jen is on the case.

When Jen’s friend Angus is arrested for the murder, she knows he must be innocent, but can she prove it?

As she investigates, Jen uncovers a trail of grief spanning generations past, a stolen future, and a killer who will stop at nothing to keep the past buried… even targeting Jen herself. The stakes have never been higher.

Can Jen uncover the truth and bring the killer to justice in time for the holidays?

I really enjoyed visiting Riddleton again and Ravenous Reads Bookstore.  I like the main cast of characters Jen, Charlie, Lacey, Eric, Ingrid and of course Savannah the German shepherd. When Jen’s friend Angus is arrested for the murder, she knows he must be innocent, but can she prove it?

There was lots to unravel in this instalment, secrets from Angus' past, Jen's feelings about christmas, and someones secrets that they want left buried.

It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I did guess whodunnit but that did not distract from the story.  

I requested and received an advanced readers copy from Harper Collins/Avon and NetGalley.  All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

Please join the conversation and comment below.  Have you read… If so what did you think/like

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!

I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

Follow my blog with Bloglovin