Book Review: SECOND BLOOM - The Holly and Ivy Mysteries Book 1 by Sally Handley

About the Book 

Holly Donnelly, an adjunct English professor, and her younger sister, Ivy Donnelly, a recently widowed, retired nurse are reluctantly drawn into the investigation of an elderly neighbor’s murder when Juan Alvarez, Holly’s trusted gardener, is accused of the crime. Holly fears police detective, Nick Manelli, assumes Juan is guilty and won’t conduct a proper investigation, while Ivy feels the “hunky” Manelli is not only a good cop, but also a possible romantic match for her sister.  

Can the clues the sisters unearth from neighborhood gossip about the victim’s family, a politically connected neighbor and a powerful real estate developer help save an innocent man, or will the gardening duo dig up more than they bargain for? 

Review 

Holly's hoping her sister's visit will convince her to move in with her. They both love to garden and have great plans for adding to Holly's garden. Only their plans are side tracked with the arrest of Holly's trusty gardner. Holly's determined to help him and is collecting information to prove Manelli - the detective on the case - is wrong. When the blame shifts to a young woman, Ivy is the one who wants to prove he's wrong. The ladies, get more than they bargained for. 

This is a well-written story about two strong women with differing personalities - while Holly is fighting any possible attraction to Manelli and focused on how irritating he is, Ivy is softer in some ways and points out his occasional wink. The pace of the story is good, with humor and wit. Best of all, I didn't figure out who the killer was until the end. I may have to read the next one to find out what happens with Holly and Manelli! If you're a fan of cozy mysteries and plants, you'll like this one. 

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The Holly and Ivy Mysteries

Second Bloom 

Frost on the Bloom 

Full Bloom 

Murder Under Tuscan Blooms 

The Blooming Treasure Murder 

The Mystery of the Bogus Blooms 

The Blooming Book Club Murder 

About the Author 

Sally Handley is the author of the Holly & Ivy classic cozy mystery series and the stand-alone suspense novel, Stop the Threat. She also writes a series on the Kindle Vella platform entitled The Adventures of Trixie, written from her faithful companion’s point of view. A member of Sisters in Crime and Past President of the Upstate SC Chapter, Sally hosts a monthly on-line Mystery Book Club and a Meet the Authors Series on her YouTube Channel, @sallyhandley1430. 

An avid reader, Sally has been a mystery lover since she read her first Nancy Drew, Trixie Belden and Cherry Ames books as a young girl. An English major, she graduated from Douglass College at Rutgers University and became a public school teacher. Transitioning into business, she worked also as a professional services marketer for 30 years and returned to teaching as an adjunct professor of English before retiring in 2015. She now lives in Mauldin, SC where she devotes her time to reading, writing and gardening.

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Book Review: CRUISES, COCKTAILS AND CORPSES (A Taryn O’Kelly Mystery) by Michelle L. Clifton

Cruises, Cocktails, and Corpses: (A Taryn O’Kelly Mystery) 

Cozy Mystery 2nd in the Series 

Setting – On Board a cruise ship and Cartagena, Colombia

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Salty Inspirations (April 8, 2025) 

Language ‏ : ‎ English 

Paperback ‏ : ‎ 277 pages 

About the Book

 

Trapped in a sinister plot with a vengeful drug cartel is a killer vacation. 

Taryn wanted sun, cocktails, and relaxation. Instead, she and Alex found themselves tangled in yet another deadly puzzle. 

After months of chaos and a near-death experience, Taryn and Alex are desperate for a break. A romantic cruise seems like the perfect escape. Adventurous excursions, tropical drinks, and uninterrupted passion. But their dream vacation takes a dark turn when a danger from the past resurfaces, and bodies start piling up. 

Trapped in the middle of a sinister plot, Taryn must unravel the mystery before the killer strikes again. With a vengeful drug cartel lurking in the shadows, the stakes are higher than ever. Will Taryn’s sharp instincts be enough to outmaneuver the enemy, or will their dream getaway become a deadly nightmare? 

Read an excerpt:

‛The other guests were fleeing the scene with their drinks still in their hands. At $10 a drink, you can’t waste those babies.’ 

'That man needed coffee or something. Good grief, I barely touched him. He should not have been standing so close to my door. What right did he have to stare me down? Beginning to feel annoyed with the encounter, I took a moment to breathe and tell myself this was not worth my energy. He can not control my feelings or my day.’ 

‛I had never been so happy to see them standing together. My heart leaped; no one had been snatched or killed. Yay! What has my life come to?’ 

‛The ECS team did not want to panic the other passengers. Probably to keep the appearance that cruising is safe and people don’t die.’ 

“Who said anything about wasting it? If I am going to die, I am not going down without my drink. I’ll finish it. To justice!” She gulped the Aguardiente and coughed again. “It burns,” she wheezed.

Excerpt from Cruises, Cocktails and Corpses. Copyright ©  2025. All rights reserved.

Review

Taryn and her husband, Alex, planned this vacation to relax and instead they find themselves dealing with a murderer, not to mention a possible drug cartel. It all starts off when they no sooner board and run into Taryn’s ex-fiancé/ex-suspect. And it goes downhill from there as far as relaxation is concerned.

This was a fast-paced, fun read. A cruiser myself, I could relate to the cruise part and even the itinerary, if not the mystery. Taryn is a strong female sleuth and event planner and easy to relate to, as is the “tall, dark and handsome” Alex.

Well-written, Clifton weaves in the romance of Taryn and Alex with humor, including a few laugh-out-loud moments. This is the second in the series, but is easily read out-of-order.

FTC Disclosure: I received a complimentary copy of this book in the hopes that I would post an honest review. This has not affected the content of my review in any way.

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Purchase Links

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About the Author 

Michelle L. Clifton is the author of the Taryn O’Kelly series, which mixes laugh-out-loud humor, steamy romance, and gripping mysteries. Her books are perfect for fans of Janet Evanovich, offering a modern twist on cozy mysteries with amateur sleuth Taryn O’Kelly at the helm. 

Michelle was raised in Southwest Colorado in the great valleys of the Rocky Mountains. There she married the love of her life and raised two beautiful kids, a cat, two dogs, and chickens! She has worked in the dental field, dance and theater industry, athletics, and event coordinating. She created Salty Inspirations to pursue her passion for writing. 

However, her favorite job is being MOM. Her family made a major move to Cape Coral, Florida, just in time for Hurricane Ian. When not crafting tales of intrigue, Michelle can be found spending time with her family hiking and camping in Colorado and boating and beaching in Florida. Oh! And writing of course! 

Author Links 

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Book Spotlight: BEDS, BREAKFASTS, AND BETA BLOCKERS : THREE DOG MYSTERIES by Jann Franklin

Beds, Breakfasts, & Beta Blockers (Three Dog Mysteries)

 Cozy Mystery 1st in Series 

Setting – Louisiana 

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Independently Published (February 20, 2025) 

Language ‏ : ‎ English 

Paperback ‏ : ‎ 238 pages 

About the Book 

Ro Bergeron’s grandparents raised her to be, well, helpless. She can’t boil an egg or keep a plant alive. When Ro inherits her childhood home, she decides to open a bed and breakfast for humans and their canine friends. Running a business catering to people is a big undertaking for thirty-two year old Ro—let alone pets too—yet with faith she is confident she can handle it. She even has her first guests booked for the coming weekend! 

But when her meddlesome great aunts find the opportunity to solve a local murder too irresistible, Ro’s new life as a business owner is turned upside-down! As Min and Win Rascoe indulge their sleuthing skills, a reluctant Ro and her enthusiastic house guests are drawn into the mystery. Will the Rascoe sisters and their unconventional team solve the murder before Ro’s high school crush Detective Jason Charbonnet? Can Ro master the skills of cooking and hosting? 

Will life for Ro in the tiny town of Belle Bayou ever be the same?

This book is the first of the Three Dog Mystery Series. 

Purchase Link – Amazon

About the Author 

Jann Franklin is a faith-based cozy mystery writer living in northwest Louisiana with slightly less than three hundred other people. Many of her stories are based on the tales she hears from residents. 

She and her husband John enjoy Sundays at church, dinner with family and friends, and watching the lightning bugs in their backyard. Their kids come to visit, when they aren’t too busy living their big-city lives. 

Author Links 

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Book Review: KILLER FLOWERS (A Christie's Flower Shoppe Mystery) by P. J. Peterson

About the Book 

The message is murder… 

After ten years in the big city, accountant Christie O'Mara is back in her hometown — and thrilled to take over her deceased grandmother's Flower Shoppe, known for its hidden floral “messages”. But while preparing for opening day, Christie finds a note that hints at a decades-old murder, taped to the underside of an antique desk drawer. Even ditzy Aunt Doris has no idea what it could mean — and she knows everyone and everything in town. 

When a man is poisoned by a Flower Shoppe bouquet with a “be careful” message, the police chief turns up on Christie’s doorstep with tricky questions. 

But he may be the least of her worries. Someone knows what happened forty years ago. And they’re laying the past to rest — one victim at a time. 

Review 

A letter taped to a desk leads Christie to investigate a murder. Her aunt has no clue but as time passes, and the flower shoppe is implicated in yet another murder, Christie needs answers before more people die.

This is an engaging story, mostly because of the characters - who doesn't like a "ditzy" character? The story moves along at a steady pace and Aunt Doris does her part to help Christie. This is the first in the series and a great start to establishing the core characters. I may have to pick up KILLER WEDDING.

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About the Author PJ Peterson began writing mysteries once she retired from her career as an internal medicine physician. It was a natural choice considering that she had read all the Nancy Drew and Trixie Belden books when she was younger, graduating to Agatha Christie and other mystery authors over time. 

Her novels include a touch of humor with her sidekick sister Carly providing much of that. And with her medical background, she sprinkles in something related to health or disease whenever it fits the story. She says a doctor is just a detective wearing a white coat. 

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Book Review: SILENT FALL (Sanders Brothers Book 2) by Barbara Freethy

About the Book 

Dylan Sanders is attending a wedding in the mountains when his trip takes a terrible turn. A former lover appears out of nowhere, demands a private conversation, and lures him into the woods, then leaves him there, drugged and disoriented. The next morning, the woman has disappeared, and Dylan is accused of her murder. 

Catherine Hilliard, a beautiful psychic haunted by her own dark past, is reluctant to offer up her cryptic visions to help skeptical Dylan figure out what's going on, but she can't leave her best friend's brother-in-law on his own ... or deny the powerful, inexplicable connection between them. 

Review 

As usual, Freethy has written a romantic mystery of high calibre.

There is suspense, unexpected twists and turns, a murder to be solved and a romance. It will keep you guessing (and reading) until the end. I liked the growing relationship between Dylan and Catherine.

Needless to say, the pacing of the story is fast-paced and the story is well-written. This is the second in the Sanders Brothers series. I didn't read the first one in the series, and I had no trouble following along. This one goes in the "Books Worth Reading" category.

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About the Author 

Barbara Freethy is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of 75 novels ranging from mystery thrillers to romantic suspense, contemporary romance, and women's fiction. Barbara has sold more than 11 million copies of her books worldwide. In 2014 she was named the Amazon KDP bestselling Author of ALL TIME! 

Twenty-eight of her titles have appeared on the NY Times and USA Today bestseller lists. Barbara is known for writing emotional, page-turn

ing novels that often include family drama and always have a surprising twist. 

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Book Review: DYING FOR A DUDE (Laurel McKay Mysteries Book 4) by Cindy Sample

About the Book 

A 2015 LEFTY AWARD Finalist Best Humorous Mystery and 2015 NEXT GENERATION AWARD Finalist for Best Mystery 

When Laurel McKay agrees to perform with the Sassy Saloon Gals during Placerville's annual Wagon Train parade, her greatest fear is a wardrobe malfunction. Before she can lace up her corset, a 150-year-old skeleton turns up on her grandmother's property. Did Laurel's great-great-grandfather murder his mining partner? 

Gran insists not and wants Laurel to prove it. 

Then the body of a prominent citizen is discovered shortly after Laurel's ex-husband decked him. When her detective boyfriend throws her ex in jail for murder, Laurel, with the help of her zany friends and family, must find the real killer. 

Juggling two kids, a new boss, a wilting romance, and two murder investigations would be enough to turn any woman into a chocolate addict. Extra pounds are the least of Laurel's worries as she and her Mustang-driving octogenarian grandmother try to unearth some long-buried secrets before the killer adds their names to the town's bloody history. 

Review 

This is an entertaining story with quirky characters who are relatable and, in most cases, likable.  The story showcases a lot of local places and lore, plus fun characters. Laurel's mixed allegiances to her current detective boyfriend and her ex-husband who he arrests, adds a layer of tension to determining the killer not only of the her grandfather's partner but also a figure in the community.

This is the 4th of 9 in the series. It's always best to start at the beginning only I didn't and it was very readable as a stand-alone mystery. It's well-written and fast-paced. A humorous cozy mystery just right for when you need something light and engaging.

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About the Author 

Cindy Sample is a former corporate CEO who decided plotting murder was more entertaining than plodding through paperwork. She retired to follow her lifelong dream of becoming a mystery author. Her experiences with online dating sites fueled the concept for Dying for a Date, the first in her national bestselling Laurel McKay Humorous Mystery series. The nine-book series is primarily set in the California Gold Country, unless Cindy feels like traveling. Then the characters tag along with her on trips to Hawaii, the Caribbean and Las Vegas. 

Cindy is a five-time finalist for the LEFTY Award for Best Humorous Mystery, a two-time finalist for the SILVER FALCHION Award for best traditional mystery, and a two-time finalist for the Chanticleer MURDER & MAYHEM AWARD. 

Cindy is a past president of the Sacramento chapter of Sisters in Crime and has served on the boards of the Sacramento Opera and the YWCA. She has two wonderful adult children, a lovely daughter-in-law, and a grandson who live too far away. 

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Book Review: HOT SEAL MIDNIGHT MAGIC (SEALS in Paradise Series) by Teresa Reasor

About the Book

Navy SEAL Gage Fontenot is home for the first time in two years because his grandmother, who raised him, is in the hospital after a brutal assault. He has four weeks to get the lay of the land, find who’s responsible, and guarantee the attacker gets the punishment he deserves. When he’s met at the airport by Mia, the woman he jilted six years ago, his visit becomes much more complicated. Because his reasons for leaving New Orleans all lead back to her. 

Psychic Mia Blanchard knows there’s always a price to pay for the best things in life, but she’s shocked by the dramatic change in Gage. Gone is the lighthearted Cajun who played guitar in the New Orleans clubs. What has happened to make him cut himself off from his home and family? She needs to find out, because she can’t move on until she puts their past behind her. 

But there is more than their personal history in play. She sees danger ahead for them both. But Gage never believed in her gift in the past. How can she convince him to trust it now? 

Review 

Gage's first priority is his grandmother's safety, but seeing Mia brings back memories, guilt, and the pain. With his own sense that something's not right, when Mia has another of her episodes, he's more open to her gift. With his protective instincts and the love he still has for her he's determined nothing will happen to Mia or his grandmother. 

Reasor tells a tale that has all the markings of a second chance romance, all the while building the suspense that someone is out to get Mia, and Gage may be in danger as well. The characters are well-developed and I liked both Mia, Gage, and his grandmother. An enjoyable and engaging page-turner, the plot speeds up and intensifies as the story continues. 

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About the Author New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Teresa Reasor was born in Southeastern Kentucky, but grew up a Marine Corps brat. The love of reading instilled in her in Kindergarten at Parris Island, South Carolina made books her friends during the many transfers her father's military career entailed. The transition from reading to writing came easily to her and she penned her first book in second grade. But it wasn't until 2007 that her first published work was released. 

After twenty-one years as an Art Teacher and ten years as a part-time College Instructor, she's now retired and living her dream as a full-time Writer. Her body of work includes both full-length novels and shorter pieces in many different genres, including Military Romantic Suspense, Paranormal Romance, Historical Romance and a Children's Book.

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