Murder with a Hint of Pumpkin Spice by Laura M. Drake Review Spotlight

 Murder with a Hint of Pumpkin Spice is the first book in author Laura M. Drake’s Whisper Hollow Mysteries series. Looking for a fun clean cozy mystery novel perfect for fall? Look no further than this novel.

Murder with a Hint of Pumpkin Spice kicks things off with an eye-catching cover. It’s a beautiful scene laid out for the eye to devour. Top to bottom you have golden leaves clinging to tree branches while leaves that are variety of colors drift down. Below is a beautiful depiction of a block of Whisper Hollow that we will become very familiar with through this novel. You’ll see three storefronts with Whispering Pages, Harper’s store, and center stage.

On either side of Whispering Pages are two other storefronts. Neighbors of Harper’s that you’ll meet as the story unfolds. In the forefront is a black cat taking a nap on a book with a coffee drink sitting nearby on a pile of leaves. The cover gives a sense of coziness and invites readers to pick the book up and dive into what awaits inside.

Murder with a Hint of Pumpkin Spice is a cozy mystery novel that takes readers to Whisper Hollow. Here is where we meet Harper. She’s looking to start over after a bad break-up from her now ex-fiance. Harper has taken over her deceased grandmother’s bookstore. A bookstore in a small town sounds rather ideal. However, Harper can’t escape drama and trouble...even here.

Mr. James owns the building that Whispering Pages is housed in. Mr. James? Well, he is making frequent stops at Whispering Pages. He’s not there for a book or just to make sure that business is good. Whether business is good or not, he wants Harper to know that he wants her out. Sounds like trouble brewing, right?

Well, trouble absolutely breaks out when Mr. James...winds up dead...in Whispering Pages. Harper quickly becomes suspect #1 thanks to her employee, Kyle. Dang it Kyle! LOL! Of course, we all know that Harper didn’t do it. Why would she? Yeah, she and Mr. James spoke the day before the murder. Yeah, he was pressuring her to break the lease. But that doesn’t mean that she did it! Turns out...there are more suspects waiting to be added to the pool.

As Murder with a Hint of Pumpkin Spice unfolds author Drake introduces a variety of characters one at a time. Harper has a murder to solve but on top of that mystery? Is another mystery! The mystery of her Nana’s missing money! That particular mystery paired with the murder will have Harper making the rounds and analyzing suspects. Expect her to...get things wrong...a time or two.

Murder with a Hint of Pumpkin Spice is an engaging cozy mystery that immediately draws you in. Set around the time for Halloween this story gives readers a small town feel with enough of a nod to the upcoming holiday to make sure you remember it’s there.

Harper is portrayed as a flawed character. She’s still hung up on her ex, Tate. She’s an introvert running a book store, and she’s sworn off dating. Cue up two handsome brothers who just so happen to work next door and whom her Nana took a liking to before she passed away. Sounds like an interesting recipe brewing, right?

Murder with a Hint of Pumpkin Spice is a well-orchestrated whodunit cozy mystery. Author Drake keeps readers engaged in the storyline as Harper suspects and accuses a person or two in her quest to solve this case.

All Harper wants is to make her Nana’s bookshop successful and to find some peace. Finding out who the killer is isn’t going to be easy. Especially when Harper basically suspects almost every one of having done the deed. Some of her suspicions will be merited, evidence...is key...and that is one thing she’s lacking.

Readers who love “nerd” nods will absolutely love this book. The black cat on the cover? Yeah, she’s a “side” character of the story. But what readers will love will be the nod to a specific character from a famous movie. Harper is a “nerd” and readers will enjoy the random quotes and mentions linked to specific movies and books throughout. They definitely made us smile.

Not going to mince words here – Harper did get on our nerves a time or two. The whole situation with her ex? We didn’t get why she refused to just do the basic – block and delete his number. Why cling to that when he hurt her so badly? Don’t worry – you’re going to get some backstory on that drama-rama.

The big reveal of the killer...is okay. If you’re hoping for something big and dramatic, you’re going to find yourself disappointed. All in all though, it makes sense why there is a lack of drama.

As Murder with a Hint of Pumpkin Spice draws to a close it teases readers of what a potential future will be like in Whispering Hollow. Will the next book see romance in Harper’s future? Will Harper’s ex make an appearance despite her trying to cut him out of her life? It’ll be interesting for sure to see where things go from here.

4.5 out of 5 stars

A Chocolate is Announced Review Spotlight

 A Chocolate is Announced is the seventh book in author Amber Royer’s Bean to Bar mystery series. Felicity is back with family and friends in this page-turner mystery as a fun weekend takes a deadly turn. It’s supposed to be a murder-mystery weekend with fun role-playing, and the showing off of Logan’s own chocolate creations. But things will take a turn when someone turns up dead, and the body count just continues to climb.

A Chocolate isAnnounced holds firm to the style of the series with the cover of it appearing hand-drawn. On the cover Is the depiction of a hotel lobby, which accurately fits in with the storyline. In the right-hand corner, you’ll notice a table with stacks of chocolate bars, and then to the left is an adorable ferret peering out at the reader. The cover does a good job of piquing one’s interest in the story and also setting the stage for what is to come.

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A Chocolate is Announced begins innocently enough. Felicity, Chloe, and Felicity’s former nemesis, Ash are all working together to create a short video clip for the weekend announcement. Things seem to have hit a bit of a snag, but they manage to eventually get what will be the perfect cut.

The beginning of AChocolate is Announced is slow going. Author Royer is setting the stage by bringing in each of the potential victims and the killer into the hotel that Felicity’s aunt Naomi has been working on renovating. Some of the characters will be more interesting than others, but they are all harboring secrets that they wish to keep hidden. The big question will be – how are they all connected?

Piece by piece AChocolate is Announced begins to come together. The guests for the weekend have all arrived, but there is something strange going on. Several of them have asked Felicity the exact same question. Literally word for word. Does this sound rehearsed to you? Or was this a specific line that the soon-to-be killer informs them all to say?

Of course, there are a couple of flies in the chocolate...so to speak. LOL! A couple of the characters aren’t exactly going to fit in with the rest of the guests, but it all plays to something bigger. The bigger aspect of it all is that they each have secrets that they are all trying to keep as locked up tight as possible.

A Chocolate isAnnounced gives readers a “primary” murder and then...things just go south from there. Author Royer throws in quite a few twists, and keeps readers on their toes as the game is afoot. Who is the killer? What is their motive? How is Felicity going to get through this weekend with her soon-to-be in-laws and sister-in-law?

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Okay, okay. The sister-in-law angle of the story is quite the doozy. Dawn, Logan’s sister, is quite the brash character. She speaks her mind, which is all well and good, but she just comes off as...rude! It’s wild. It’s literally like she’s looking down her nose at Felicity because Felicity isn’t a “trained professional.”

Knightley, Felicity’s lop rabbit, gets a few moments in this story, but we’re getting a different animal “mascot” in this story. We get the adorable little critter featured on the cover. Just makes you want one, right? LOL! But that’s not the only adorable creature who will show up at the hotel over this fraught weekend. Nope, we get a former police beagle, too. His name is just too cute, and he more than earns a treat or two through his own hard work in this story.

The murder in thisbook is a true puzzle that will keep readers guessing as to how it went down and who the killer is. That is one of the fantastic elements concerning this book. You get a new book that is intended to give Felicity and her friends clues as to who the killer is. Then you have a seemingly impossible murder to solve.

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Of course, what fun would a straight-forward murder be? Well, it would still be fun piecing together the mystery of who committed the murder out of a number of guests, but when you throw in some extra drama? Well, it definitely takes things up a notch.

Author Royer throws out more than a few red herrings in this story, but that’s really true to this author’s form. So, no complaints there. While the pacing of the beginning is slow, things gradually pick up in pace. The more intense things get and the higher the drama builds the more drawn into the story you’re going to become.

A Chocolate isAnnounced is definitely a good addition to the series, and will absolutely leave you wanting more of Felicity and company. Why? Because the reveals are always unexpected. We love trying to accurately guess who the killer is. Unfortunately, we have yet to guess accurately, but that does not dull our enjoyment by any means necessary.

Readers who enjoy a fun cozy mystery novel will not want to miss out on A Chocolate isAnnounced. Packed with familiar characters, gripping mystery, delicious foods, and so much more this is sure to be a delight for many a reader who has enjoyed the series thus far.

4.5 out of 5 stars

Double Grudge Donuts Review Spotlight

 

The latest book in the deliciously delightful Deputy Donut Mystery series is here! The 8^th book in this long running series by Ginger Bolton is sure to be a crowd pleaser as amateur sleuth and Deputy Donut Cafe owner, Emily Westhill, returns with a wedding on the horizon, and all while a murder is brewing.

True to form the Deputy Donut Mystery series graces Double Grudge Donuts with a delightful cover that showcases the storefront of Deputy Donuts and their patio area. Dep sits adorably at one of the patio tables with a paw outstretched towards a plate of double fudge donuts. Makes you wish you could be there to share in one, too. Right? The cover definitely sets a scene that is sure to draw in fans of the series and new readers alike. Eye-catching, delicious elements, and an adorable kitty that surely will pique the interest of adoring cat lovers.

Double Grudge Donuts picks up with the Fallingbrook’s Art Festival week. What should be a joyous time for the town isn’t exactly going too well for one particular performer. A cornet performer seems to be struggling with their performance. Is this a case of stage-fright? Loss of concentration?

Well, when a bagpiper decides to let out a series of “squawks” and “wheezes” from their own instrument, it is definitely with the intent of lending a “helping hand” or any sense of “encouragement.” What those dreadful sounds end up doing is turning heads, drawing the ire of many and setting the stage….for murder.

Kirk, the bagpiper, is would appear is out to make more enemies than friends with his behavior. He’s a recent transplant to Fallingbrooks and works as a janitor at the local school. You’re quickly going to get the sense that he’s one of the least liked individuals in town. Kirk’s attitude and irritating behavior quickly create a list of people who like to see him silenced. But when he turns up dead, does that mean that someone he annoyed with his raucous late night playing and rudeness did him in?

With Emily and Dep discovering the body, and all signs pointing to a clear case of murder, the question arises...who did the deed? Was it someone he upset with his rudeness? Was the murder weapon a Deputy Donut mug that was stolen?

Settle in, because Double Grudge Donuts is going to immerse you in a delightful cozy mystery that details Emily’s drive to solve this mystery and not end up the murderer’s next victim in the process. This won’t be easy as the air of suspicion has been cast upon Emily and her family. Who would dare to suspect Emily and her parents? Well, you can bet that it’s not the local police force. That’s for sure!

Emily is definitely going to have her hands full in Double Grudge Donuts! She’s got the business to run, customers to keep happy, events to participate in, and a wedding to plan! Throw in a murder, and boy does she have an overflowing plate! Can she do it all and stay one step ahead of a dangerous murderer? You bet!

Of course, things get complicated when the list of suspects just keeps growing and growing. Why did Kirk have to go and make so many people mad?! Let’s be real though...if someone was walking around at night playing their bagpipes and disturbing people’s sleep...you’d be mad, too. LOL! Add in him interrupting performances with his rude playing...you’re going to be hard pressed to feel much sympathy for him.

Emily stays true to form to the Deputy Donut series with her desire to figure out the truth. She’s shown a lot of development through the series with her learning to share any information she gathers with her soon to be husband, Brent. Of course, she’s constantly going to be warned along the way by many a character to “let the police handle things.” Not an easy thing to do when it appears that someone is trying to frame you for murder.

Double Grudge Donuts is packed with delicious donutty treats that will leave you drooling and wishing you could have one...or two...or more! LOL! Engaging characters that will keep you engaged in the story as it all unfolds. The back and forth between Emily and a variety of characters keeps you wondering...”Who is the killer and what would their motive be?”

Author Bolton drops little hints along the way throughout the book like crumbs from a donut. Can you piece together who would have motive, means and opportunity to end Kirk’s haunting tunes? For this reader, author Bolton managed to keep that particular mystery buried deep until the final lead-up to the fateful reveal. A unique turn of events will show you that this particular case goes well beyond Fallingbrook, and ties to something else from the past.

While this book is the lead-up to Emily’s wedding, we don’t get a lot of the wedding planning itself. Author Bolton throws in a few mentions here and there, along with some fun playful banter. However, if you’re hoping for more...you may be a touch disappointed. Double GrudgeDonuts focuses more on the mystery and the solving of it. You get swirls around the town, but the story stays focused on the characters, the festival, and uncovering hidden secrets and potential motives.

Double Grudge Donuts is an average paced cozy mystery novel. The characters come off as realistic and overall engaging. Dep gets to play a pretty important part of the story, but you’ll have to pay attention to what that element particularly is. Of course, you’re going to tempted with some tantalizingly delicious donuts, and as with every book in this series, you’ll find a couple delicious recipes in the back.

The book gives readers Emily’s big day, but we’ll have to wait and see what happens next with Emily and Dep as they continue their path in this next chapter of their lives.

Pros:

• Engaging storyline
• Twists and intrigue
• Well developed characters
• Tons of mystery

Cons:

• Little focus on the wedding planning, since this is the book with a wedding in it.

Cover Score: 9.6/10

4.5 out of 5 stars

Deadly Dreams Review Spotlight

 Deadly Dreams is the latest book in Jane Tesh’s cozy mystery series, The Grace Street Mysteries. Cam and David are called back into action when they are asked to look into the tragic death of a local woman. Her sudden death has struck her co-workers hard as it came on so suddenly. She was so happy, so for her to leave the world that she did...strange. Think that things are going to get even stranger? Well, you’d be right. Good thing that P.I. David Randall and Cam are on the case!

While this book is part of a series, it’s easy to dive into this book and get swept away by the current case that they find themselves embroiled. This one is going to touch just about everyone they know and care for. David’s daughter, Lindsey, is helping him from beyond the grave and directing him in the directions that he needs to take. While she can’t...or won’t give him the specific instructions he’s sometimes looking for, she’s rarely wrong when she gives him a nudge.

This book will sweep you away shortly after you start reading it. The author doesn’t wait to bring up the tragic suicides that start things off. The deeper you go into the story, questions will begin to pop up. How does this happen? What’s going on? How are they going to solve this one? Is there a way to find out who the culprit is? Will justice be served? A lot of questions. I know.

You’re going to have to exercise patience with these characters because there are no straightforward answers. While they are piecing this particular puzzle together though they will meet quite a few unique individuals. One is Xavier “the Great.”

Xavier is a strange man. You’re going to be giving him some serious side-eye ESPECIALLY when he does something that would have most people seeing red. That and Xavier would probably be having a nice conversation with a police officer as to what he was thinking. Seriously. Is it really a bright idea to go busting up into someone’s house simply because they had a conversation with your employer? He’d be fired. LOL!

The dynamics between the characters are as engaging as ever. The back-and-forth between the guys and Ellin is both just as funny, and just as frustrating. LOL! Ellin is still bent on getting Cam to be more of a part of the PSN and he’s still resisting. Of course, that doesn’t mean that she doesn’t get her way a couple of times.

Trust me, there are going to be some epically hilarious moments in this book. One specific one involves Cam but sees poor David catching the blame for it. Let me just say it right now – it is not David’s fault. Not by a long shot. I promise you. There is also a nice addition of two supporting characters. You’ll be a touch hesitant about them at first, but they bring a nice amount of humor to the story as well.

The mystery element of this story will keep you on your toes. The story pulls you deeper and deeper in as you try to piece together how it all connects. That is one of the greatest elements of this book. The truth is there in front of you, but it goes deeper than you would think. There are twists and turns that keep you wondering – is this really the truth over here? So watch out for those “red herrings” that the author drops here and there to try to throw you off track a few times.

There is one particular protagonist in this book that when you first cross paths with them – well, you’re not going to like them. Not one bit. Try to hold on passing judgment on them though. (Yeah, I epically failed at that. LOL) There’s more to this character’s story than meets the eye. Granted, they could have done a little less “beating up” on Cam, but it all pans out. The revelation is one that is going to bring a tear to your eye.

Deadly Dreams absolutely measures up to its name, but I won’t tell you exactly how. That’s going to be something that you discover for yourself when you read this book. I will say this though – it’s not how you think. LOL! Okay, that’s all I’ll say.

Deadly Dreams is a good addition to the Grace Street Mystery series. The characters are relatable, believable, and realistic. You’d think that you’d be able to meet them for yourself. Though, of course, be mindful of Cam and his telekinesis abilities. Especially when he’s upset.

For fans of this series, or readers who just enjoy a good unique cozy mystery – this book is worth checking out.

5 out of 5 stars

Thank you to the author, Jane Tesh, and Cozy Mystery Review Crew for the opportunity to read and review this book. I look forward to what comes next!  

 

A Summer with the Hermit King Spotlight

 

Welcome to the tour for A Summer with the Hermit King by William Todd. Read on for more details!

                                                       A Summer with the Hermit King

Publication Date: December 2022

Genre: YA/ Cozy Mystery

Year: 1888. Diminutive sixteen-year-old Auggie Rose decides he can no longer take the physical and mental abuse at the hands of other boys living at the orphanage. He decides to leave and cast his lot living as a recluse on the nearby beautiful Presque Isle, a peninsula on the shores of Lake Erie. After sneaking out in the middle of the night, on his way to the peninsula, he witnesses a murder at the hands of ‘the man with a limp’.The murderer initially does not know he was witnessed. Not knowing what else to do that wouldn’t jeopardize him being sent back to the orphanage, Auggie tries as best he can to put the incident out of his head and so begins his new life adjusting to the wilds of Presque Isle. To that end, Auggie is helped along by Joe Root, a hermit himself and a curiosity among the locals, who has been living on the beaches of Presque Isle for decades. He is also befriended by kitchen help, Maisy, who works at a resort at the entrance to the peninsula. Over time, his relationship with Maisy blossoms into more than just friendship as he adjusts to his new life. During this time, he also slowly begins to realize that the murder he had witnessed is part of a larger plan that has something to do with the peninsula itself. Auggie inadvertently inserts himself into the investigation and is befriended by Will Weston, the detective investigating the murder. As businesses around Presque Isle are being bought then shuttered by a mysterious businessman, one of these owners is murdered. It is then that Auggie begins to realize that whatever nefarious plan ‘the man with the limp’ has, it is putting his life and the lives of those closest to him in mortal danger.

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Paperback

About the Author

William Todd has been writing for over 20 years, primarily gothic horror stories in the style of Lovecraft, Poe, and Shelley. Loving all things Victorian, he was inspired to read (and later to write) by Arthur Conan Doyle. The first book he ever read cover to cover was Hound of the Baskervilles, which also fed his appetite for horror. William Todd has written two short story compilations of gothic horror, Dead of Night and Beyond the Gossamer Veil and one sci-fi/horror hybrid genre Something Wicked This Way Comes. He has also written multiple Sherlock Holmes pastiches, Murder in Keswick, A Reflection of Evil, Mystery of the Broken Window, and Elementary—a short story compilation, which were picked up for republish by Spellbound Publishing, LTD. Three of his short stories were part of MX Publishing’s New Sherlock Holmes Stories with proceeds going to a charity for special needs children housed in Undershaw, the very home Conan Doyle penned Hound of the Baskervilles. Writing for the books was a special privilege because his daughter, Alina, has Down Syndrome. In 2022, he published his first YA/historical novel A Summer with the Hermit King, which was an Amazon #1 New Release, and he has started yet another Sherlock Holmes compilation. When not writing (which isn’t often!) William spends his time walking the trails and beaches of Presque Isle in his home of Erie, Pennsylvania, and spending time with his family.

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Cinnamon Twisted Review Spotlight

Looking for a fun cozy mystery novel? Well, keep reading! I've got a good one for you to check out! 

 Cinnamon Twisted is the latest book in Ginger Bolton’s A Deputy Donut Mystery series. Fans of this series aren’t going to want to miss out on this addition as Emily finds herself swept up into a murder mystery that lands her at the top of the suspect list.

Like all the books in this series, things start off innocently enough. Emily is enjoying life working at her donut shop with friends, family, and her beloved Torbie – Deputy. Change has been swirling around the little town in Wisconsin, but that’s to be expected with the onset of the summer months. What Emily isn’t expecting is for a customer to turn up dead after gifting her precious cat with a toy donut. What caused the woman to flee in such a panic from the bakery? How did she end up dead hours later and why? It appears that this particular mystery is one that’s going to hit especially close to home as it’s Emily’s home that is the center of it all.

It is such a delight to return to Fallingbrook, Wisconsin, and the delightful bakery of Deputy Donut. Familiar characters return as they pursue a murder mystery that generates more questions than answers before the big reveal at the end. The main character, Emily, is just as engaging as ever. You could easily see yourself gravitating towards her in real life as she goes about her days with her cat, Deputy.

Over the cases that Emily has solved, you’ll get to see that she is expertly retaining the knowledge of past events and makes a few novice mistakes. Of course, this doesn’t help her much when she is the first on the scene to discover that the customer she saw alive just a few hours ago is now deceased. Add in a new police chief who appears to have something to prove and you have quite the recipe for drama.

As you read this book you’ll have to applaud Emily for maintaining her cool more often than not. Especially whenever she has to cross paths with Chief Agnew. When it comes to characters you’re going to love to hate, he’s going to fill the bill to a “T”! Of course, the author does an excellent job with this because whether you like it or not he becomes a memorable character. LOL! He’s quick to judge and is looking to wrap this case up in a hurry. Apparently, with the thought process of “evidence be damned!” While Emily does her best to tread carefully with the police chief, sometimes she just HAS to put him in his place! I don’t blame her one bit! The man is insufferable! LOL!

It’s not always “angry drama” though in this book. There are many delightful and fun-filled moments for the characters as they enjoy various aspects of life with each other. Whether it’s simply hanging out at the bakery or attending a life-changing event, this book will bring a smile to your face.

Emily is definitely the focus of this story, but be forewarned – Chief Agnew threatens to steal the show more than once. With his bulldog approach to the murder, and his apparent desire to wrap the case up quickly he pops up frequently. I’m sure you’re thinking though – well, Emily surely has the protection of her friends and boyfriend Brent. Well, you see...the thing is...not so much. LOL! Now, in order to answer the question as to why...you’ll have to read. LOL! Rest assured the author eventually does offer some explanation behind SOME of Agnew’s behavior, but it’s just a small bit. LOL! I really think the man is just trying to be as crotchety as possible. I get the feeling he’d rather be “feared” than “liked.” At the rate he’s going he’s simply going to be DISliked, and highly judged for his poor policemanship. (Yes, I know that’s not a word, but it works! LOL!)

Dreaming of that sweet sweet ending? Well, how about before we get to THAT we tease a little bit about the killer. If you are more clever than me, you’ll figure it out pretty quickly I’m sure. For me though, the author kept me guessing. Okay, okay. I was too busy enjoying the story to really think about puzzling out the murder until it got closer to the ending. There just weren’t too many obvious clues! You get a clue here, a clue there, and of course, you’re GOING to suspect Chief Agnew due to HIS bizarre behavior. But the real culprit is going to come out of left field. But hey! At least you’ll be entertained and engaged the whole time you’re reading this book! That is a guarantee!

Now, the ending? Swoon! That’s all I’ll say. It is the perfect ending, and I’m honestly eager for the next book. I just KNOW that it’s going to be an absolute delight. Just hopefully it won’t be signaling time for us to be saying goodbye to these characters. I’m nowhere near ready for that! So, I’m hoping that the author has at least two or three more books in her to add to this series. LOL!

There is so much to love about this book, and I just know that you’re going to enjoy it all. From the twists, the turns, the historical aspect is woven into the story, and the sweet romance dripped in to give it that sweetly perfect balance. And don’t forget about the delicious recipes at the back! YUM! Can’t wait to try those out! This book gives you the right balance of story that will leave you utterly satisfied.

I’m rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. Well deserved and well earned. Another Deputy Donut Mystery delight.  

 

Beauty and the Alchemist Review Spotlight

Welcome to the book tour for Beauty and the Alchemist! This delightful fantasy cozy mystery novel will keep you page-turning to the end! Prepare for fun, murder, and some delicious recipes! Read on for more! 

Beauty and the Alchemist is the first book by Elle Hartford in her Alcehmical Tales series. For readers looking for a new and fun twist on the fairytale Beauty and the Beast this is a book that you are absolutely not going to want to miss out on. The author is going to appeal to your imagination from the beginning and do an excellent job keeping you engaged to the very end. Prepare to meet fun and unique characters that will have you coming back for more. 

Red is a traveling alchemist. She thought that she had found a place for herself outside of the town, but you know Fate is. Pulls you right back in when you thought you'd gotten out. LOL! Well, when a murderer manges to escape, the town is put on high alert. Red is told to (ahem) to "stay out of it" and to "stay out of trouble." Sounds simple enough right? Well, what do you do when your senses push you to check something out and you get more than you bargained for? Well, that's exactly what happens in the first couple of chapters. LOL!

From there things just get things only get crazier. There is tons of magic, drama, mystery and a nice amount of fantasy elements to keep you page-turning in this novel. There is even a lovely map at the beginning of this book that lays out the town and surrounding area. So you get a nice idea of how things look. I personally love novels that have a nice little map that adds a nice touch of detail. 

You're really going to appreciate the amount of humor in this novel as well. Of course, there is always going to be one or two characters who will have you whipping your head around pining them with narrow eyes. Gloria just so happens to be one of those characters. You'll meet her soon enough, but before you even do you'll understand why she's not anyone's favorite in that town. LOL!

Red is a fun character, and with her companion, William, she won't be alone in her investigations. There are a nice amount of layers to this story to keep you engaged. I'd absolutely love to read more from this author in the future, and I look forward to the next book in this series. I highly encourage you to grab this fun cozy mystery novel. You won't regret it. 

I'm rating this book 5 out of 5 stars. 

Thank you to the author, Elle Hartford, and Silver Dagger Book Tours, for the opportunity to read and review this book! I look forward to what comes next!

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                                                                    Beauty and the Alchemist

The Alchemical Tales Book 1

by Elle Hartford

Genre: Cozy Fantasy Mystery

In this magical mix-up of fairy tales and murder, Little Red Riding Hood solves the mystery at the heart of Beauty and the Beast . . .

What does it take to overcome a curse?

Traveling alchemist Red settles into life as a shopkeeper in rural Belville and expects to focus on her potions. But crime stops for no woman. Neither does Red’s friend, police officer Thorn! When a beastly criminal escapes to a nearby abandoned castle and is found murdered, Thorn immediately suspects Luca, a meek-mannered bookseller–not to mention Red’s best friend.

Red knows that there’s more to the castle–and the murder–than meets the eye. But as she rushes to prove Luca’s innocence, she’s beset by a not-dead-yet ghost, a beautiful and ill-tempered suspect, and a horde of mysterious mist creatures that terrify the town. Oh, and then there’s the series of lost books that hold the key to the castle’s curse! If Red and her friends can’t find the books and solve the mystery, Luca might not be the only one in trouble. But in idyllic Belville, appearances can be deceiving. Red will need all of her alchemical prowess and all the help she can get in order to uncover the truth behind this twisted tale.

This special second edition includes a new epilogue, recipes, and a sneak peek at book two of The Alchemical Tales.

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When we hit the third corner, I stopped dead. It felt as though a bucket of ice-water raced down my back. The darkness was so thick that even with my goggles, I could barely see beyond my own hand. The front of the castle stretched away into inkiness.

Officer Thorn, already a pace ahead and nearly disappearing, looked over her shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

“Something here,” I mumbled incoherently. “There’s something wrong with being here. Don’t you feel it?”

“To tell you the truth, I’ve never been haunted, so I wouldn’t know what it feels like,” Thorn replied blithely.

I sucked air into my lungs. The fastest way out of here is forward, I reminded myself. Gritting my teeth, I began following the officer once more. “Just stay close, okay? No bounding off after evidence or what have you.”

She looked back and grinned, her long teeth flashing. “The sooner we catch Owl, the better.”

“I don’t think Owl is what’s making these shadows,” I said.

Thorn was impervious. “Then it could be Gloria alone, and that’s worse. See, Red, your problem is—”

I never got to hear what my problem was, unfortunately. The grass we’d been edging along gave way to a stone patio set a few inches below the surrounding ground, and I stumbled. With that jarring step came recognition of the fact that we were right in front of the castle’s main entrance, and another bone-penetrating chill.

“Wh-wh-whatever it is y-you want to s-see, it must be h-here,” I said, my teeth chattering.

“It’s just a little cold, Red. Are all islanders such wimps?”

“Hush, and look around!” I insisted. I was starting to think that maybe Thorn hadn’t ever been haunted simply because she refused to see anything other than what she wanted to.

“It’s the front of the castle,” she informed me matter-of-factly. She began stalking about the patio, with me close on her heels. “I was on the inside team during the search earlier, so I missed this. Nice carvings on the doorway. Old and worn down, but they’ve held up well considering. Good sturdy door. See that ironwork across the front? Guess we’re not dealing with the fey, eh? And what’s this—gems inlaid in the doors, too. Surprised those haven’t walked off over time. Maybe they’re locked down—get it? Ha ha. What’s this?”

I’d only been paying half-attention to Thorn’s monologue, but the repetition of the phrase in a new tone of surprise caught my ear. I turned from looking over my shoulder to see that Thorn held something small and rectangular in one large hand.

“Did you just find a book?” I asked, startled.

“Did I?” She handed the object to me for inspection. As I took it, though, the air around us thickened. I had to hold the slim volume very close to my face to see the bark binding. My gaze drifted over the title and the gold leaf to notice that, rather than blackness, a silver fluidity filled my vision.

“Why is it foggy?” I tucked the book into a pocket in my cloak for safe-keeping and frowned as I looked up. Officer Thorn looked just as surprised as me. I could see her face well, despite the cloudiness, because the moonlight had reappeared. It bounced off the water in the air. The world was brighter now, but it was also much closer.

Officer Thorn’s club rose, sending swirls ricocheting through the air. “Never mind the fog, Red. Look here, at the corner of the doorway. Doesn’t that look like—”

Again, I was destined not to hear the officer’s thoughts. Only fair, really, considering how often she interrupted mine. But I wasn’t thinking that at the time. At the time, I was screaming like a banshee, because something had grabbed me from behind.

Elle adores cozy mysteries, fairy tales, and above all, learning new things. As a historian and educator, she believes in the value of stories as a mirror for complicated realities. She currently lives in New Jersey with a grumpy tortoise and a three-legged cat.

Find more stories of Red and her friends at ellehartford.com. And while you’re there, sign up for Elle’s newsletter to get bonus material, behind-the-scenes sneak peeks, and terrible jokes!

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Giveaway

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Signed Papeback of Beauty and the Alchemist

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