Heather Day Gilbert

Another mystery ensues in Lewisburg, West Virginia, and Macy is on the case—with a few helping hands and plenty of suspects. And Shade Grown throws in a dash of Hollywood—something this little town is gaga over.

Heather Day Gilbert does such a good job of drawing me in and making me want to sit and stay a while. I love Macy’s relationship with her brother and the touches of romance that are sprinkled throughout the series with both Macy and Bo. And then there are the dogs—from Macy’s Great Dane to the rescues that spend a day or two at the café, each one has their own personality.

I can’t wait to visit Barks & Beans again soon!

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive or negative review. All opinions are my own.… (mais)

4.5 Stars

My favorite thing in Heather Day Gilbert’s Barks and Beans Café Cozy Mystery series is the relationship between Macy and her brother Bo. These two watch out for and care for each other deeply.

And you really see their kindness and hearts when they interact with their community. In Roast Date, readers learn more about Macy’s neighbor. Vera has been a fringe character in the past few books, but in Gilbert’s latest release, we get to see inside her home and her character more.

The mystery kept me guessing, the dogs are adorable, the coffee is warm and inviting, and the story is just the way I like it—a good mix of mystery, relationships, and romance. I’m already looking forward to the next installment.

Disclosure statement: I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book and was not required to write a positive or negative review. All opinions are my own.… (mais)

False Pretense takes the reader back to West Virginia and Tess Spenser for the last time. While I hate that I will no longer be able to join Tess in her sleuthing, I really did love the finale to the Murder in The Mountains series. Tess’ husband is running for District Attorney and facing a daunting opponent who won’t stop at anything. That, the reappearance of the mythical Moth Man, and two missing women adds additional stress to Tess’ life. The wife and mother who helps at the police station bears a striking resemblance to those missing. Could Tess be in danger too? The mystery is a puzzler keeping me on my reading toes. While False Pretense is a small-town mystery, I’m reluctant to call it a “cozy” — there are some darkish elements that add some creepy goodness to it. 😉 One of its strengths is the exploration of family dynamics. Tess and her mother-in-law, in particular, have an envied relationship. Many characters from previous books in the series make an appearance, and the reader is given some closure with ongoing threads, plus a glimpse at the Spenser family in the years to come. One character, Axel, has intrigued me since I read book 1, Miranda Warning. While I was so wrong on just who Axel is, I loved his reveal.

Closing the cover on False Pretense was bittersweet. I am going to miss Tess, but Gilbert has many more stories and characters ready to go. If you haven’t read any of this series, be sure to get them all and enjoy the binge-reading ride!

Recommended.

Audience: Adults.

(I purchased the ebook from Amazon. All opinions expressed are mine alone.)… (mais)