Tag: goats

REVIEW: The Wedding Plot by Paula Munier

REVIEW: The Wedding Plot by Paula Munier

Posted on by Jaymie

Summary

Mercy Carr and her Malinois, Elvis, should be consumed with wedding festivities instead of reporting a dead body. But when the spa director at her grandmother’s destination wedding goes missing, Mercy says she’ll check things out. She gets more than she bargained for.

Pretty soon, it’s a toss up over which situation is more troublesome – the pre-wedding antics of the wedding party or the trail of violence that is centered around the resort. But Mercy and Elvis – and Troy and Sugar Bear – are on the case!

Review

This was outstanding!! Mercy and Troy are in a good relationship place in this one, and it sets a lovely tone for the whole book. The dogs are in excellent form here, as always. And the mystery is truly top notch. I even started taking notes, trying to put all the pieces together for myself. (Ended up about 50/50 on my guessing.)

I have enjoyed the Mercy and Elvis mysteries since book one, A Borrowing of Bones. For me, this is the best of the series (so far). In fact, I can say for certain that this will be one of my favorite books of 2022 when the year is done. This book has everything I love – great characters, brilliant plotting, and a quest that propels the characters and the reader forward. I read this start to finish in one day and enjoyed it all. Highly recommend!

Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥+++*

♥♥♥♥♥+++* = Best of the best

BONUS REVIEW: Courting Can Be Killer by Amanda Flower

BONUS REVIEW: Courting Can Be Killer by Amanda Flower

Posted on by Jaymie

[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley and Kensington in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]

Summary

Millie spent 10 years in Michigan, caring for her ailing sister. While there, she became acquainted with a boy named Ben. Now an adult, Ben has followed Millie back to Holmes County, Ohio, to start over. He has fallen in love with a young woman named Tess. Ben hoped his honorary aunt, Millie, as the local matchmaker, would help him convince Tess’ father to let them marry. While Millie can see the love Ben has for Tess, she advises patience rather than going against Tess’s father’s wishes. But Ben seems to be in a hurry to move the relationship along. Millie can’t get him to explain why.

When tragedy strikes at the Amish Flea Market where Ben worked, Millie and her best friend, Lois, are determined to find out what happened to Ben and if it had anything to do with Tess or her father. “‘Amish Marple’ and her lovely sidekick are on the case.”

Review

Millie and Lois are such a fun sleuthing team! I am thoroughly enjoying this Amish Matchmaker Mystery series by Amanda Flower. There’s just enough crossover with the Amish Candy Shop series to make fun connections. But not too much that it would alienate readers unfamiliar with that series. And I love Millie’s goats! (Far more than the pig, Jethro, from the other series. That pig is a menace.)

I was caught off guard that Ben was the victim in this book. It’s in the official synopsis, but that wasn’t in my head when I started reading. Usually there’s some emotional distance between the protagonist and the victim. And often the victim is odious. But that wasn’t the case here. Ben is earnest and hard working. And he’s loyal to Millie who cares for him as if he’s family. That connection gave this mystery an unexpected emotional edge, and I liked it.

I will read pretty much anything Amanda Flower writes at this point, but I think this is my favorite series of hers right now. Millie and Lois are an odd couple in all the best ways. They make for a dynamic and FUN duo. Add in those hilarious goats, and a great mystery that kept me guessing until the end, and I am a happy reader. You can read my review of book one, Matchmaking Can Be Murder, here.

Rating: ♥♥♥♥*

*♥♥♥♥ = Great! Might re-read.