Secrets Between the Shelves, 4 Cozy Mysteries ~ a book review

 

Murder in the Mystery Section by Cynthia Hickey

The Secret Passage by Linda Baten Johnson

By Hook or by Book by Teresa Ives Lilly

The Missing Chapter by Marilyn Turk

This is a collection of four clean, contemporary mysteries in bookshop settings with varying degrees of elements of Christian faith.

In the first story, Murder in the Mystery Section, Amber, the owner of the local bookshop, has purchased some rare books. One of the local residents, Mrs. Peabody, claims that the books were stolen from her and that Amber has purchased stolen property. She demands that Amber return the books to her. Unfortunately, Mrs. Peabody is murdered in Amber’s bookshop and Amber is their main suspect. Mrs. Peabody’s nephew, Brandt, comes to town and wants to ascertain what was so special about the books that someone would kill his aunt for them. He and Amber find themselves working together to solve the mystery.  Are the books a treasure map? And if so, what is the treasure? Will Amber and Brandt’s blossoming relationship survive the revelation? This story is fast paced and easy to read with minimal faith elements.

The second selection, The Secret passage, Abbie bought a local building where she plans to open a bookshop and also works for a local rancher, Ben. He employs troubled youths in the hopes of helping them rehabilitating them.  One day when Abbie is working in the building, she is attacked. Once she recovers, she and her friend Zach begin working on the renovations. She enters the shop one day and discovers the dead body of a young girl. In the process of renovations, they discover a secret door that leads to a secret room, apparently used for runaways to take shelter in. How did runaways know about the secret room? Is someone helping them? Will Zach and Abbie develop more than a friendship while renovating the building and solving mysteries? This story is easy to read and involves a strong element of faith.

In By Hook or by Book, the third story in the collection, Lily Carter has moved back home and opens a pirate themed bookstore in honor of local folklore. Someone tries to break into Lily’s bookstore and Dwayne Forgione, a policeman who loves to tell jokes, is sent to investigate. As the story progresses, there are two murders. One in front of the local thrift store, owned by Lily’s mother’s best friend Katie and the other in Lily’s shop. The list of suspects is plentiful. What was the murdered person looking for? Will Lily and Dwayne solve the mystery? Will they forge a lasting relationship?  This story has a strong element of Christian faith and is an enjoyable who-dunit.

The final story of the collection is the longest of the four. Kelly moves to town and plans to open an art shop highlighting local artists. She meets Jeb, the owner of the local bookshop reading room, who has secrets. The locals suspect he had something to do with the disappearance of his wife. The rumor is that he killed her and set his large mansion on fire to cover up the crime.  There is no proof he was involved and no body was ever found. He prefers to keep the truth private.  When a local woman, Bunny, dies in his shop, the old rumors emerge. Kelly is determined to discover the truth and forms a friendship with Jeb. Was Bunny’s death a result of natural causes or was there foul play involved? Will Kelly and Jeb learn to trust each other and allow their friendship to grow? Will the mysteries of Jeb’s wife’s death and Bunny’s death be solved?

This was a fun story to read, not heavy or dark, very clean with an element of faith that was not pushy or preachy. 

This is from the publisher’s website:

“Mysteries Leap Off the Page
 
Murder and mayhem haunt four newly-opened bookstores.
 
The mysteries enjoyed in books come to life, threatening four businesses. Amber’s new bookshop and tearoom draws rare book collectors, but when one ends up dead in the mystery section, the shop’s future is questionable. Lilly’s pirate themed bookshop fits right into Harbor Inn, Maine, but she never expected to find a young pirate dead on her shop’s floor. Abby opens Secret Passages Bookshop in a Wyoming mountain town, not realizing her historic building held a real secret passage and a missing teenager. Lauren moves to Florida and frequents the Seaside Books and Reading Room, where she is strangely attracted to the owner—who is suspected of killing his wife. Can the store owners and their patrons solve the mysteries before their businesses go under?”

All four of these stories are easy to read with varying degrees of Christian faith involved.  All are clean with no objectionable language or inappropriate intimacy.

Go HERE to read an excerpt

I received a complimentary ARC of this book from the Barbour publishing via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed  are my own.

(A word about ARC books.   Advanced Reading Copies (ARCs) are a preview copy and are not a finished product. They may differ from the final published work and may include additional editing. My reviews may include some things that vary from the final published book.)

 

The Christmas Tree Farm, A Christmas novella by Melody Carlson

Madison returns to the family Christmas tree farm after spending many years overseas teaching. The farm and surrounding areas , have suffered from a devastating wild fire. Madison’s sister, Addie remained on the farm to care for her father and grandparents.  The sisters disagree on what they should do with the farm. Addie has had enough and wants to sell it. Madison wants to bring the farm back to it’s former success. Madison’s former boyfriend, Gavin, has also returned and lives next door with his daughters.  He never really explained why he stop his relationship with Madison and married someone else so quickly.  Addie, having lived next to Gavin for the last few years has developed feelings for him.  Madison befriends Gavin’s youngest daughter, Lilly. She and Gavin help Madison replant, over Addie’s objections.  The sister’s relationship suffers and tensions are high. Addie behaves rather badly toward Madison, but Madison tries to treat Addie with kindness, understanding and patience.

This story is about self-sacrifice, forgivness and reconciliation.  This is a clean, enjoyable story that is not overly “Christmasy” and while Christian faith is present, it’s minimal.

This is from the publisher’s website:

“Christmas is the perfect time for old memories, new beginnings, and second chances

When Madison McDowell returns from teaching overseas, she has high hopes of picking up where she left off at her family's Christmas tree farm in Oregon. But between damage from a recent wildfire and the neglect due to her sister Addie's unwillingness to invest, the farm is in sad shape. In fact, Addie is intent on selling the property. And to top it off, Madison's former high school flame, the now-widowed Gavin Thompson, has plans to break her heart again by turning his neighboring property into a dusty, noisy dirt bike track for his daughter.

With the odds stacked against her, Madison decides there's only one thing to do: double down on her dreams. It will require a ton of hard work--and some help from an unlikely ally--to save the farm she so dearly loves. But it may take a Christmas miracle to restore her relationship with her sister.”

Go HERE to read an excerpt 

Go HERE to learn more about Melody Carlson and her books 

 

 

 

 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell and Baker Publishing Group through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed above are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

 

 

The Women of Wynton's, A Classy 1950's Mystery by Donna Mumma ~ a book review

 

 

This story is set in a time when people dressed up to go shopping. I grew up in that time and as a child I remember putting on my "good clothes" to go shopping. I wasn’t aware of some of the topics dealt with by the author. Hopefully history has educated us and enlightened us. This story, while entertaining, deals with the upsetting topics of racial discrimination, prejudice and women’s equality and often mistreatment in the work place.

The story is about four very different women who band together to solve a mystery. They don’t always agree with each other and often end up mistrusting and fighting each other. Along the way they develop relationships and learn about each other and themselves.

Each character is introduced to us at the beginning of the book with their own story.

Audrey, the focal character, is not liked by very many people. She holds herself apart and doesn’t get close to very many people. She is basically second in command to the Wynton Department Store’s owner.

When she suspects someone is trying to hurt herself and her boss, she organizes an unlikely group of women to try to figure out who the culprit is.

This is a very entertaining and sometimes disturbing story.  I would have liked to see more faith centered content for me to feel comfortable labeling it a Christian story. There were a few “the good Lord’s” sprinkled around and it is certainly clean. The only thing I would have like to have seen changed was the use of the period between single words. It was a little. Over. Done. 

There is a romance that develops over time but it is not the main focus of the book.

This is from the publisher's website:

Mid-Century Glam Meets Murder Mayhem
 
Get swept away to the glamor of a 1950’s department store where four women’s loyalties, vanity, friendship, and detective skills are put to the test.
 
Audrey Penault once led a glamorous life as a model but now works as devoted secretary to Mr. Wynton. To her fellow employees, she is too vain and uppity.
 
Mary Jo Johnson, a wife and mother, longs to find her worth in the cosmetics department, but it may take a while for the shy housewife to discover her voice.
 
Vivian Sheffield owns and runs the bridal salon within Wynton’s. She is proud of her accomplishments and won’t let anyone take them away.
 
Gigi Woodard dislikes her job as waitress in the store’s lunchroom, but she is determined not to let her secret shortcomings cause her to lose the position.
 
These four women have much to dislike about each other, but they unanimously agree that Mr. Wynton is the best of employers and must be protected at all costs from someone who seems determined to see him gone for good. When other employee deaths occur, can the women band together to solve the murders, or will they discover it is one of their own bent on destroying Wynton’s from within?

Go HERE to read an excerpt  

I really enjoyed this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through their book review program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own.