Book Review: ‘Aftermath’ By Terri Blackstock

May 4, 2021 susansnodgrass

This gripping new thriller from New York Times bestselling author Terri Blackstock will leave you on the edge of your seat.

A devastating explosion.

Three best friends are at the venue just to hear their favorite band . . . but only one of them makes it out alive.

A trunk full of planted evidence.

When police stop Dustin with a warrant to search his trunk, he knows it’s just a mistake. He’s former military and owns a security firm. But he’s horrified when they find explosives, and he can’t fathom how they got there.

An attorney who will risk it all for a friend.

Criminal attorney Jamie Powell was Dustin’s best friend growing up. They haven’t spoken since he left for basic training, but she’s the first one he thinks of when he’s arrested. Jamie knows she’s putting her career on the line by defending an accused terrorist, but she’d never abandon him. Someone is framing Dustin to take the fall for shocking acts of violence . . . but why?

Praise for Aftermath:

“In Aftermath, Terri Blackstock plumbs the depth of human emotion in the face of devastating tragedy, grief, and loss. Yet, she still manages to give readers her trademark suspenseful story, sweet romance, and hope for the future. From gut wrenching scenes in a cancer patient’s hospital room to seeing the world through the eyes of a young woman with a debilitating mental health disorder, Blackstock pulls no punches about human frailties. Does the end justify the means? Romantic suspense lovers won’t want to miss Aftermath.” —Kelly Irvin, bestselling author

“Justice may be blind but that doesn’t keep it from facing mortal danger. In Aftermath, expert storyteller Terri Blackstock ratchets up the suspense in a novel that delivers on every level. Conflicts rage and loyalties are tested to the ultimate limit. Set aside plenty of time when you pick up this book—you’ll not to want to take a break.” —Robert Whitlow, bestselling author

Stand-alone suspense novel
Book length: 72,000 words
Includes discussion questions for book clubs
Also by Terri Blackstock: If I Run, If I’m Found, If I Live, Smoke Screen, Cape Refuge, and Truth-Stained Lies

About Terri Blackstock
Terri Blackstock is a New York Times best-seller, with over seven million copies sold worldwide. She has had over twenty-five years of success as a novelist. Terri spent the first twelve years of her life traveling in an Air Force family. She lived in nine states and attended the first four years of school in The Netherlands. Because she was a perpetual “new kid,” her imagination became her closest friend. That, she believes, was the biggest factor in her becoming a novelist. She sold her first novel at the age of twenty-five, and has had a successful career ever since.

In 1994 Terri was writing for publishers such as HarperCollins, Harlequin, Dell and Silhouette, when a spiritual awakening drew her into the Christian market. As she was praying about her transition, she went on a cruise and noticed that almost everyone on the boat (including her) had a John Grisham novel. It occurred to her that some of Grisham’s readers were Christians, and that if she wrote a fast-paced thriller with an added faith element, she might just find her niche. As God would have it, Christian publishers were showing interest in the suspense genre, so she quickly sold a four-book series to Zondervan. Since that time, she’s written over thirty Christian titles, most of them suspense novels.

Terri has appeared on national television programs such as “The 700 Club” and “Home Life,” and has been a guest on numerous radio programs across the country. The story of her personal journey appears in books such as Touched By the Savior by Mike Yorkey, True Stories of Answered Prayer by Mike Nappa, Faces of Faith by John Hanna, and I Saw Him In Your Eyes by Ace Collins.

My Rating: 4 Stars!

I’ve read this author for a lot of years and her suspense is always spot on! When Dustin is arrested for being in possession of the makings of a bomb, he turns to Jamie, now a lawyer, but who grew up next door to him after he was placed in an uncaring aunt’s custody after his parents’ death. Dustin has made a great life for himself by owning a security company but now all that could be in ruins. He has no clue what is going on, but he and Jamie decide to find out.

Blackstock always adds many layers to her stories and I love that. She inserts PTSD, mental health, family crises and others to the story as it progresses and the reader’s attention is held throughout. I was completely surprised at how the story ended. Great suspenseful story. Recommended.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson Publishers through Net Galley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Publisher: Thomas Nelson
Publication Date: May 11, 2021
Length: 332 pages
Genre: inspirational suspense
Buy link: Aftermath – Kindle edition by Blackstock, Terri. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Review: ‘Paint and Nectar’ (Heirloom Secrets 2) by Ashley Clark

May 3, 2021 susansnodgrass

In 1929, a spark forms between Eliza, a talented watercolorist, and William, a charming young man with a secret that could ruin her career. Their families forbid their romance because of a long-standing feud over missing heirloom silver. Still, Eliza and William’s passion grows despite the barriers, causing William to deeply regret the secret he’s keeping . . . but setting things right will come at a cost.

In present-day Charleston, a mysterious benefactor gifts Lucy Legare an old house, along with all the secrets it holds–including enigmatic letters about an antique silver heirloom. Declan Pinckney, whom Lucy’s been avoiding since their disastrous first date, is set on buying her house for his family’s development company. As Lucy uncovers secrets about the house, its garden, and the silver, she becomes more determined than ever to preserve the historic Charleston property, not only for history’s sake but also for her own.

“Clark makes a moving debut . . . . Those who enjoy inspirational time-slip stories will want to check this out.”–Publishers Weekly on The Dress Shop on King Street

About Ashley Clark
Ashley Clark writes romance with southern grace. She’s dreamed of being a writer ever since the thumbprint-cookie-days of library story hour. Ashley has an M.A. in English and enjoys teaching literature courses as an adjunct. She’s an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers. When she’s not writing, Ashley’s usually busy rescuing stray animals and finding charming new towns.

Ashley Clark’s debut novel last year was amazing and she has shown that she has incredible talent with this book, her sophomore effort. A time slip novel, Paint and Nectar is a powerfully told tale of old family feuds, love lost and found, and hearts that are full of hope.

‘She would get through this. She would find a way. She was a Legare, after all.’

Lucy Legare loves old things and preserving them. And when she locks horns with Declan Pinkney, who wants to tear down old things, she has found a formidable foe. But things aren’t always what they seem. Even though the Legares and Pinkneys have hated each other for decades and decades. Sometimes old feuds do well to be forgotten. But will they both agree?

‘She was as close to hating him as Jesus would permit.’

Clark has proven that her talent will stand in this story! I was captivated. I loved all these characters and enjoyed seeing characters from the last book. She pulls the reader in with her rich prose and depth of feeling for her characters. I felt every emotion and every heartbreak. Masterfully told, this is one for the keeper shelf, destined to be read yet again. Well done!

My thanks to Bethany House Publishers for a copy of this book. I was not compensated and the opinion in this review is entirely my own.

**Publisher: Bethany House**
**Publication Date: May 4, 2021**
**Length: 343 pages**
**Buy Link:** https://amzn.to/3ccSyyU

Book Review: ‘Let It Be Me’ (Misty River 2) by Becky Wade

May 2, 2021 susansnodgrass

The one woman he wants is the one he cannot have.

Former foster kid Sebastian Grant has leveraged his intelligence and hard work to become a pediatric heart surgeon. But not even his career success can erase the void he’s tried so hard to fill. Then he meets high school teacher Leah Montgomery and his fast-spinning world comes to a sudden stop. He falls hard, only to make a devastating discovery–Leah is the woman his best friend set his heart on months before.

Leah’s a math prodigy who’s only ever had one big dream–to earn her PhD. Raising her little brother put that dream on hold. Now that her brother will soon be college bound, she’s not going to let anything stand in her way. Especially romance . . . which is far less dependable than algebra.

When Leah receives surprising results from the DNA test she submitted to a genealogy site, she solicits Sebastian’s help. Together, they comb through hospital records to uncover the secrets of her history. The more powerfully they’re drawn to each other, the more strongly Sebastian must resist, and the more Leah must admit that some things in life–like love–can’t be explained with numbers

About Becky Wade

Becky is the Carol and Christy award winning author of swoon-worthy contemporary inspirational romances.

She loves to connect with readers via her web site at http://www.beckywade.com, via her Facebook author page at http://www.Facebook.com/AuthorBeckyWade, or via Instagram at http://www.Instagram/BeckyWadeWriter

During her childhood in California, Becky frequently produced homemade plays starring her sisters, friends, and cousins. These plays almost always featured a heroine, a prince, and a love story with a happy ending. She’s been a fan of all things romantic ever since!

Becky lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband and three children. You’ll find her power-walking her neighborhood while dictating scenes, reading, chatting with friends on Voxer, planning her next trip, watching TV with her Cavalier spaniels on her lap, or rummaging in her pantry for chocolate.

‘The safest course was to depend on himself. So why had he strayed from that?’

Every so often I read a book that just resonates so loudly in my heart that I have a difficult time sitting down to compose a review adequate enough to do the book justice. This was that book. Becky Wade absolutely never fails to pull me deep down into her stories. The characters she creates are not just people walking across a page in a book. No, not by a long shot. They are people slipping inside my head and heart and taking up residence there.

Wade takes us back to Misty River for the second in her series and tells us Sebastian and Leah’s story. And what a delicious story it is. An extremely guarded pediatric heart surgeon with enough hurts to cause him to never feel much emotion finally finds the woman who came to his rescue when he had a car accident in the closing pages of last book. Leah Montgomery is a math prodigy, math genius, math teacher who is absolutely no nonsense. She doesn’t believe in romance, either. She is too busy raising her teenage brother and trying to figure out the issues involved in a recent DNA test to engage in a relationship with Sebastian Grant.

Once again, Becky Wade proves she is indeed incredibly masterful at plumbing the absolute depths of the human heart. I wanted to read to the end but hated to finish it because I knew I’d feel bereft because it ended. Wade gets inside these characters and then pulls everything out of them in a way that leaves her readers gasping at the realness of it all. Every single word in a Becky Wade book is a treasure.

‘God, her spirit howled, where are you?’

As always, Wade is not one bit shy of proclaiming Christ in her books. That’s one thing I love about her. She puts Him first. God’s goodness shines through every page. The spiritual theme of this one was powerful and ministered to a situation in my own life. I can highly recommend this one. Bravo! Well done!

My thanks to Bethany House Publishing and the author for a copy of this book. I received no compensation and the opinion in this review is expressly my own,

**Publisher: Bethany House**
**Publication Date: May 4, 2021**
**Length: 384 pages**
**Genre: Inspirational romance.**
**Buy link:** Let It Be Me (Misty River Romance, A Book #2) – Kindle edition by Wade, Becky. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Book Review: ‘Let It Be Me’ (Misty River 2) by Becky Wade

May 2, 2021 susansnodgrass

About Becky Wade

Becky is the Carol and Christy award winning author of swoon-worthy contemporary inspirational romances.

‘The safest course was to depend on himself. So why had he strayed from that?’

‘God, her spirit howled, where are you?’

My thanks to Bethany House Publishing and the author for a copy of this book. I received no compensation and the opinion in this review is expressly my own,

Book Review: ‘Under The Magnolias’ by T. I. Lowe

May 1, 2021 susansnodgrass

This night not only marked the end to the drought, but also the end to the long-held secret we’d kept hidden under the magnolias.

Magnolia, South Carolina, 1980
Austin Foster is barely a teenager when her mama dies giving birth to twins, leaving her to pick up the pieces while holding her six siblings together and doing her best to stop her daddy from retreating into his personal darkness.

Scratching out a living on the family’s tobacco farm is as tough as it gets. When a few random acts of kindness help to ease the Fosters’ hardships, Austin finds herself relying upon some of Magnolia’s most colorful citizens for friendship and more. But it’s next to impossible to hide the truth about the goings-on at Nolia Farms, and Austin’s desperate attempts to save face all but break her.

Just when it seems she might have something more waiting for her―with the son of a wealthy local family who she’s crushed on for years―her father makes a choice that will crack wide-open the family’s secrets and lead to a public reckoning. There are consequences for loving a boy like Vance Cumberland, but there is also freedom in the truth.

T. I. Lowe’s gritty yet tender and uplifting tale reminds us that a great story can break your heart . . . then heal it in the best possible way.

About T.I. Lowe

T.I. Lowe is an ordinary country girl who loves to tell extraordinary stories and is the author of nearly twenty published novels including her debut, LULU’S CAFÉ, a #1 bestseller. She lives with her husband and family in coastal South Carolina. Find her at Tilowe.com or on Facebook (T.I.Lowe), Instagram (Tilowe), and Twitter (@Tilowe).

‘We had no choice but to stomach whatever life tossed our way next.’

This is such a powerfully told novel, as is every novel I’ve read by this author. Set in the 1980s, young Austin Foster is just barely a teenager when her mother dies and she must take on raising her six siblings, including a set of newborn twins. Her father has taken his wife’s death so hard that he is of little use. So Austin has to step up to the plate, including helping run the family’s tobacco farm in NC.

Told in Austin’s voice, it spans eight years in this family’s life. It’s truly Southern fiction at its finest, at times edgy, gritty, heartbreaking, but then it will make your heart smile. These Foster kids have to deal with things that no kid should ever have to face. And Austin does her best to hold this family together while bearing a heartbreak that is so weighty at times it seems it cannot be borne, especially by one so young. And they also have to deal with the community believing they are just ‘riffraff’. Oh, but God has a plan. He always does. One thing that struck me in this book was the love young Vance had for Austin and nothing could change it. Nothing he endured, or Austin endured, or the hard things that happened, his love prevailed. It was a beautiful thing to watch unfold.

This one will break your heart, then turn around and make your heart smile. Honestly, it’s profound. I highly recommend it. TI Lowe has a way of spinning a tale that will grab your and not let you go. As a fellow southerner, her vernacular is one I am totally familiar with and have used myself. I settled myself in and rarely put it down.

I received a copy of this book from Tyndale Publishers via Net Galley. I received no compensation and the opinion in this review is expressly my own.

**Publisher: Tyndale Publishers**
**Publication Date: May 4, 2021**
**Length: 384 pages**
**Buy Link: https://amzn.to/3nDUEuJ**

Book Review: ‘Seeking Sanctuary’ (Widow’s Peak Creek 2) by Susanne Deitze

April 24, 2021 susansnodgrass

All she wants is a home…

Can her second chance

survive a painful secret?

When pregnant single mom Paige Faraday arrives in Kellan Lambert’s bookstore seeking a temporary job, he wouldn’t dare turn away the sister of his old military buddy. After all, she just needs the job until her baby’s born and she figures out her next steps. But when Kellan’s deepest secret threatens their growing bond, will Paige be able to forgive him for the past he can’t forget?

From Harlequin Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.

Widow’s Peak Creek

About Susanne Dietze
Susanne Dietze began writing love stories in high school, casting her friends in the starring roles. Today, she’s an award-winning, RWA RITA®-nominated author who’s seen her work on the ECPA, Amazon, and Publisher’s Weekly Bestseller Lists for Inspirational Fiction. Married to a pastor and the mom of two, Susanne lives in California and enjoys fancy-schmancy tea parties, genealogy, the beach, and curling up on the couch with a costume drama. To learn more, visit her website, http://www.susannedietze.com, and sign up for her newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bRldfv

Susanne Dietze takes us back to the small town of Widow’s Peak Creek with this second book in her series. These folks are so precious and I’ve been happy to get to know them. When Paige Faraday comes to town to see her late brother’s best friend and to ask for help, she never imagined what she would find. All she wants is a place to have her baby until she decides what her life needs to look like. Instead she finds something she never thought she’d have. Kellan Lambert hires Paige to work in his book shop because he promised her brother he’d look after her. But he has a huge secret.

Dietze takes the reader on a journey in this book. A journey that teaches us some very important lessons about God’s plans for our lives. And, grace along with forgiveness, still exist in this world and in God’s heart for His children. She packs this story with so many wonderful characters! I’m looking forward to another book in this sweet town. Well done!

My thanks to the author and publisher for a copy of this book. I received no compensation and the opinion here is my own.

**Publisher: Love Inspired**
**Publication Date: April 27, 2021**
**Length: 185 pages**
**Genre: Inspirational Romance**
**Buy Link:** Seeking Sanctuary (Widow’s Peak Creek) – Kindle edition by Dietze, Susanne. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Book Review: ‘To Protect His Children’ (Sundown Valley 1) by Linda Goodnight

April 21, 2021 susansnodgrass

He’ll do anything to make sure they’re cared for…from *New York Times* bestselling author Linda Goodnight.

He finally found a nanny…

but can he convince her to stay?

After a tragedy, rancher Wade Trudeau’s offer of a summer housekeeping position at Sundown Ranch is the perfect cure for former teacher Kyra Mason. Only Wade left out an important part of her job—looking after his triplets! Now Kyra’s falling for the three adorable toddlers, along with their love-shy cowboy dad. But when summer ends, can Kyra return to real life…knowing she’s left her heart behind?

From Harlequin Love Inspired: Uplifting stories of faith, forgiveness and hope.

**Sundown Valley**

Book 1: *To Protect His Children*

About Linda Goodnight
NY Times and USA Bestseller, Linda Goodnight writes novels to stir the soul as well as to entertain. Her stories of hope through faith in Jesus have won the RITA, the Carol, the Reviewer’s Choice, and other industry awards. A small town girl, Linda remains close to her roots, making her home in rural Oklahoma. Connect with Linda on Facebook, Twitter, or at http://www.lindagoodnight.com

Linda Goodnight was a new to me author and I decided to take a chance with this book. I am very glad I did because I thoroughly enjoyed it. She has crafted wonderful characters that I felt connnected to right away. I do enjoy a good cowboy story and thus one ticked all the boxes. It also had a great spiritual thread. Recommended.

My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book via Net Galley. I received no compensation and the opinion in this review is my own.

**Publisher: Love Inspired**
**Publication Date: April 27, 2021**
**Genre: Contemporary Inspirational Romance**
**Buy Link: To Protect His Children (Sundown Valley Book 1) – Kindle edition by Goodnight, Linda. Religion & Spirituality Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.**

Book Review: ‘To Protect His Children’ (Sundown Valley 1) by Linda Goodnight

April 21, 2021 susansnodgrass

My thanks to the publisher for a copy of this book via Net Galley. I received no compensation and the opinion in this review is my own.

Book Review: ‘Miss Julia Happily Ever After’ by Ann B. Ross

April 18, 2021April 18, 2021 susansnodgrass

The delightful final installment of the beloved and New York Times bestselling Miss Julia series.

Wedding fever hits Abbotsville and several of Miss Julia’s friends have plans to tie the knot. But, as usual, nothing is so simple. Christy Hargrove suddenly gives up a lifelong dream and drops out of medical school to marry, Helen Stroud and Thurlow Jones decide to change their commercial arrangement into a marital one, and, to Miss Julia’s consternation, Lillian, her housekeeper and closest companion, is considering a less-than-romantic offer to wed a local businessman who turns courting into a job interview. And then there’s LuAnne who just wants to be married, and Janelle who doesn’t.

Miss Julia wants to properly celebrate each ceremony, insofar as anyone will let her. But Helen wants a private, even secretive, wedding; Christy’s fiancé wants a destination wedding, and Lillian can’t decide if she wants a wedding at all. In the middle of it all, a strange figure keeps showing up in town, streaking across lawns and vandalizing the gardens of Miss Julia’s neighbors. Abbotsville’s liveliest resident finds herself trying to solve it all—matters of the heart and petty crime alike—and once again save the day.

About Ann B. Ross
Ann is the mother of two daughters and one son, and the grandmother of four grandsons (including twin boys) and two granddaughters, both of whom are her namesakes. When her children were in college, she decided to complete her own education, enrolling in the University of North Carolina at Asheville where she earned a Bachelor’s degree in Literature. Reluctant to return to an empty nest, she continued her education by enrolling in the English Department of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where she earned both the Master’s and Doctor of Philosophy degrees. Afterwards, she taught Literature and the Humanities at the University of North Carolina at Asheville.

Ann’s writing career began in the early eighties when two mysteries were published as original paperbacks: THE MURDER CURE and THE MURDER STROKE. A few years later, her first hardcover book was published: THE PILGRIMAGE, an adventure story set in the nineteenth century. All three books are now out of print, but occasionally a used copy of THE PILGRIMAGE appears on Amazon.com for sale.

The publication of the first Miss Julia book, MISS JULIA SPEAKS HER MIND in 1999, set Ann on a full-time writing career. This book went through six reprintings in less than a year, and was ranked #9 on the Independent Booksellers’ seventy-six most highly recommended books for 1999. In addition, the book was named to the Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers list. The paperback edition of the same book was listed in The Best Books of the First Five Years by BookSense, as one of the titles independent booksellers most enjoyed handselling. The book was also published by Readers Digest Condensed Books, appearing in twelve foreign languages.

MISS JULIA TAKES OVER was one of seven nominees for the Book of the Year Award (2001) by the Southeastern Booksellers Association.

All of the books in the series are available on audiotape and in large-print editions, and are also available through The Literary Guild/Doubleday Book Club. All of the books, except the newest one each year, can be found in paperback editions.

MISS JULIA THROWS A WEDDING, MISS JULIA HITS THE ROAD, MISS JULIA MEETS HER MATCH, and MISS JULIA’S SCHOOL OF BEAUTY have all appeared on the New York Times Extended Bestseller List.

All of the books in the series will be published in German, Japanese, and Croatian editions, as well as on audiotape (in English) and in large print editions.

Inspiration for the escapades of Ann’s much-loved character, Miss Julia, comes in all manner of ways — a chance remark by a friend or family member, an incident she happens to see, in a dream, or by being reminded of something in her past experiences. It is always deeply satisfying to her when scenes in the book she is working on suddenly seem to fit together to make a good story. She does not outline or make detailed plans before starting a story. She does, however, have a general plot in mind before beginning to write, but this usually entails only the conflict and the final resolution, with few ideas of how they will be worked out. So, with just the beginning and the end of a book decided on, Ann relies on the characters themselves to fill in the middle with first one subplot after another. This, she says, is the joy of writing — when a character suddenly does or says something unexpectedly, leading her to funny and surprising ‘mini-scenes’ that seem to delight readers.

Ann was once asked by an interviewer how she knew when something she’d written was good. She replied, “I know it’s good when I fall off my chair laughing.” From that response, we can be sure that she enjoys writing about her characters as much as we enjoy reading about them.

My Rating: 4 Stars!

I have been a fan of Miss Julia a very long time. I own them all and they sit proudly on my shelves. Ann B. Ross says she is not a funny person, but she sure makes for a hilarious good time with her Miss Julia books. I love each one on its own merit. I read sections aloud to my husband and anyone else who will listen. I am from SC and still live here, not very far from the author and I am familiar with all her southern colloquillisms. (Sp?) I love these folks so much and so much hate saying goodbye to them, for the fly leaf states that this is the finale. Alas! What will we do without a new Miss Julia book to read every April? I look forward to each new release all year. Not to be missed. Well done!

Publisher: Viking
Publication Date: April 6, 2021
Length: 336 pages
Buy Link: Miss Julia Happily Ever After: A Novel – Kindle edition by Ross, Ann B.. Literature & Fiction Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

Book Review: ‘Spilled Milk’ (Barks & Beans Cafe 4) by Heather Gilbert

April 17, 2021 susansnodgrass

BOOK FOUR in the BARKS & BEANS CAFE cozy mystery series!!

Welcome to the Barks & Beans Cafe, a quaint place where folks pet shelter dogs while enjoying a cup of java…and where murder sometimes pays a visit.

The fall flea market has arrived in Macy’s small mountain town, and she’s taking a day off work to check out the local wares. As she and her Great Dane, Coal, wander through the booths, Macy’s more than a little taken aback to discover that her enigmatic tattooed barista, Kylie, is selling antique weapons at the event.

She’s even more shocked when Coal sniffs out a dead body…and the man appears to have been struck down by one of Kylie’s swords.

As rumors begin to circulate, the Barks & Beans Cafe also takes a hit. Customers are reluctant to order their mochas from a murderess. Macy stands by her employee, but even she believes there’s a whole lot more to Kylie’s history than the woman lets on. To make matters worse, Macy’s brother Bo is out of the country, leaving the cafe’s future in her hands.

And then her ex-husband Jake shows up, begging to make amends.

With the past rearing its ugly head, Macy has to ignore Jake’s distractions, appease the angst of her nervous customers, and convince Kylie to trust her, all before an elusive killer strikes again.

Join siblings Macy and Bo Hatfield as they sniff out crimes in their hometown…with plenty of dogs along for the ride! The Barks & Beans Cafe cozy mystery series features a small town, an amateur sleuth, and no swearing or graphic scenes.

The Barks & Beans Cafe cozy mystery series in order:
Book 1: No Filter
Book 2: Iced Over
Book 3: Fair Trade
Book 4: Spilled Milk

About Heather Day Gilbert
Award-winning novelist Heather Day Gilbert enjoys writing mysteries and Viking historicals. She brings authentic family relationships to the page, and she particularly delights in heroines who take a stand to protect those they love. Avid readers say Heather’s realistic characters–no matter what century–feel like best friends. When she’s not plotting stories, this native West Virginia gal can often be found hanging out with her husband and four children, playing video games, or reading Agatha Christie novels.

Find all her books and her newsletter signup at heatherdaygilbert.com.

‘Celebrating a man’s death seemed a little extreme.’

I just love this cozy mystery series! Sibling duo Bo and Macy Hatfield are quite good at solving crimes. They have opened up a wonderful cafe with a section for shelter dogs to hang out in. Hence the name Barks and Beans Cafe. By the way, I would really enjoy having lunch there one day.

Things are going along fine when Bo and Macy’s best barista falls under suspicion of murder (there always is a murder or two involved), and then Macy’s ex-husband shows up with all his charming ways. With Bo out of town, can Macy manage to solve all the goings on before landing her own-self in deep water?

I was provided a copy of this book by the author. I was not expected to leave a positive review.

Publisher: Woodhaven Press
Publication Date: April, 19, 2021
Length: 200 pages
Genre: cozy mystery
Buy link: Spilled Milk (Barks & Beans Cafe Cozy Mystery Book 4) – Kindle edition by Gilbert, Heather Day . Mystery, Thriller & Suspense Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.