Book Review: MURDER PAYS A CALL (A Keri Armstrong Cozy Mystery) by Nancy J. Cohen

About the Book

Personal concierge Keri Armstrong will accept almost any job, but solving murders wasn’t on her to-do list—until now. 

When personal concierge Keri Armstrong swings by her favorite client’s mansion to drop off groceries, she expects a heartfelt chat along with a cup of tea—not Fiona Sullivan dead in bed and her room ransacked. Though police chalk it up to a botched robbery, Keri isn’t so sure. Whispers around town suggest Fiona wasn’t as adored as Keri had believed, and many of the philanthropist’s so-called friends in affluent Sunny Grove, Florida seem glad she’s gone. 

Keri refuses to let Fiona’s memory be reduced to malicious gossip. Armed with a keen eye, insider access, and a fully charged tablet, she sets out to uncover the truth. Soon her file of suspects grows faster than her to-do list. Between sneaky neighbors, resentful relatives, and tight-lipped charity board members, Fiona left behind a trail of frenemies who’d happily skip her memorial brunch. 

As Keri digs deeper, she discovers her late mentor had a gift for extracting people’s secrets and using them like fine china—carefully storing them until they could serve a purpose. But Fiona also kept a few skeletons in her own walk-in closet. Now, with danger creeping closer, Keri must race to crack the case before her number comes up next… and Murder Pays a Call. 

Review 

With Keri's concierge business, she serves as a personal assistant to many in the community, including Fiona. More than a PA, Keri believes Fiona is her mentor and a friend. Unfortunately, when Fiona dies, Keri discovers the many secrets Fiona hid from her. And Fiona's not the only victim. 

The main characters are well-developed and Keri, as well as her friends Lora and Pam and others, create a support group of sorts to find the killer. There are multiple intertwined mysteries to be solved with a steady pace and surprises along the way. Even better, there's a hint of romance coming for Keri if she can organize her day so she has time for it. All in all, a great start for a new series by Nancy J. Cohen.

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. 

AMAZON

About the Author

Nancy J. Cohen writes the Bad Hair Day mystery series and the Keri Armstrong cozy mysteries. Her books have won numerous awards including her nonfiction title, Writing the Cozy Mystery, an Agatha Award Finalist. 

Active in the writing community, Nancy is a past president of Mystery Writers of America Florida Chapter and a frequent speaker at conferences and community events. When not busy writing, she enjoys reading, fine dining, cruising, and visiting Disney World. Nancy's contacts include:

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Don't miss the Fall Into These Great Reads Bookathon!

Calling all readers! Have you read all your beach reads over the summer? Looking for books to dive into this month? We’re celebrating books from all genres at N. N. Light’s Book Heaven’s eighth annual Fall Into These Great Reads Bookathon. 26 books featured plus a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card. 

Book Review: COLORADO K-9 RESCUE by Kathleen Donnelly

About the Book 

A kidnapper’s twisted game is on. 

And a trusty K-9 won’t let him succeed. 

Years after being abducted, Mckenna Parker’s worst nightmare has come true—her kidnapper is out on parole. And he’s after her again. Now an FBI victim specialist, she and her crisis canine, Mocha, have been assigned to a case with FBI agent Evan Knox. Together they must find two local girls who disappeared.

As passionate as Mckenna is about helping others, Evan is ambitious about his career. Both have sworn off love. But when Mckenna vanishes into the mountain wilderness, it’s Evan—with Mocha’s amazing help—who braves danger at all costs. 

Review 

Mckenna still hasn't overcome her own kidnapping but has dedicated herself to helping other survivors deal with the aftermath. Working with the FBI and her dog, Mocha, her first interaction with the grouchy and cold Agent Knox is when Mocha eats his sandwich. She hopes she never has to work with him. Of course when two girls are kidnapped, she is assigned to work with him. 

As the one survivor, Lily, tells her story of what happened, Mckenna relives her own experience as so many of the details match. Two weeks prior to this new kidnapping, the man found guilty of her kidnapping is paroled. Only Mckenna really believed it was him, back again. Now she and Agent Knox have to find him and try to put the pieces together. 

Donnelly crafted a believable, practical character who continues to be strong and fight her own battles in Mckenna. Similarly, Agent Knox's character is well-developed. This is well-written, excellently paced to keep this reader's interest, with tension and romance intermingled with the suspense. Donnelly did a great job of weaving the romance with the danger. I didn't figure out the kidnapper. Besides, who couldn't love a K-9 therapy dog like Mocha? 

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. 

AMAZON

About the Author 

Award-winning author, Kathleen Donnelly is a handler for a private narcotics K-9 detection company. She enjoys using her experience to craft realism into her fictional stories. Kathleen loves the beauty of the mountains, which inspired her choice of setting for her series. She lives near the Colorado foothills with her husband and her four-legged co-workers. 

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Book Review : DROPPED LIKE A BAD HABIT (Nun the Wiser Mystery #q2) by Melissa Westemeier

About the Book

The bodies keep piling up along Chestnut Street…

When Sister Bernadette hears from the local pharmacist about plans to redevelop and gentrify their small community on Chestnut Street, she rallies her neighbors at The Abbey: Senior Living to help stop it. Chestnut Street is home to local mom-and-pop businesses that The Abbey’s residents frequently access. But when the healthy pharmacist mysteriously drops dead with no discernable reason, Detective AJ Lewis is stumped. Then another, younger, business owner dies with no explanation, and AJ is suspicious and starts to dig. 

Sister Bernie, trying to solve small, seemingly nonsensical thefts, is intrigued and positions herself to collaborate with the police for what she hopes will be her second murder investigation. Why did two seemingly healthy men conveniently die? Who’s behind the shadowy Vision Corporation? Each question leads to a dead end or another question. And then there’s an unexpected death at The Abbey. 

Coincidence or connection? Murder’s becoming a bad habit Sister Bernie and AJ are determined to break. 

Review 

Lots of quirky characters make this a fun read with laugh-out-loud moments. The MC, Sister Bernadette, is older and a dominant force, as she likely was when she was actively a nun and teacher. The church and school closed and the building was re-purposed to The Abbey, a senior living facility with apartments and other amenities.  

Meadow is the manager and younger of the seniors, while Fern is the oldest and frailest. She adds the calming force as various residents disagree. Not far from The Abbey, on Chestnut Street, stores are being pressured to sell out to a development company. One staunch objector, Ethan, is found dead. As Bernie jumps in to find answers the detectives - AJ and Taylor - can't find, spearheads an organized attack on the Vision, residents have objects disappearing. Then there's another person with a suspicious death, and then another. 

The tale is well-written with eccentric characters, lots of surprises and suspects. It is both witty and heartwarming. Genre is definitely cozy, but with AJ predominant as well, includes police procedural. This is the second in the series. It can be read alone, still I always recommend you start with the first book in the series. 

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. 

AMAZON ~ Barnes&Noble

About the Author

Melissa Westemeier grew up around the edge of nerd culture, but marriage and motherhood with three sons immersed her in it. She’s fluent in Marvel, DC, Dr. Who, Star Wars, Godzilla, and more thanks to their influence. 

Her fiction work includes rom-com and a trilogy loosely based on her experience tending bar on the Wolf River in Wisconsin. She’s thrilled to realize her childhood dream of writing murder mysteries.

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Book Review: COWBOY WATCH (The Watchers Book 1) by Petie McCarty

The Watchers Series - Fallen angels seeking parole for their betrayal . . . 

Someone—or something—wants Kellen out of town . . . 

Kellen Brand’s inheritance comes as a monumental shock—a rundown farm in West Virginia she doesn’t want and one paroled Watcher all her own. Kellen’s eccentric mother had believed the Watchers to be fallen angels who sought penance by guarding chosen individuals who had lost their way. Seriously? A Watcher? Only her mother . . . 

Since Kellen vows no sane woman would choose to live in Riverside, she’s on a mission to dump the old farm fast and to the first buyer who comes along. Unfortunately for her, the only buyer is a resort developer, spurned by a townful of objectors and one handsome cowboy—her neighbor, Luke Thornton. Luke must block Kellen’s farm sale or risk exposing his own family’s secrets. He can ill afford his immediate and compelling attraction to his new neighbor. 

Someone is watching Kellen, but not who she thinks. Someone deadly and intent on scaring her out of town. Or worse. 

Luke faces a hellish choice. Step in and rescue Kellen from her threats, or stand by and watch to protect his family. . . 

Review 

Kellen arrives at the farm she inherited with her number one goal that of selling it and getting back to the city and her job. Her mother left her a cryptic note about a "watcher" keeping her safe. She's not sure what that means and deals with her goal. Only her first impression of the person pushing her to sell is negative and as she meets people in the small town, she learns the townspeople are very much against the sale. Enter Luke Thornton, who owns the adjoining property and strongly pushes her not to sell. Then she notices lights and shadows toward the mill. 

Cowboy Watch includes well-developed characters of Kellen and Luke, with sparks flying, as well as a number of bad guys and angels (or watchers). McCarty communicates the emotional side of Kellen's decisions and Luke's arguments - tissues recommended. The suspense builds - not only with regard to who is the watcher and who are the bad guys now fearful of what Kellen has seen - but with Kellen and Luke. A must read for those who enjoy romantic suspense without the heat. 

AMAZON

About the Author 

Petie spent a majority of her career at Walt Disney World—"The Most Magical Place on Earth"—where she loved working in the land of fairy tales by day and crafting her own romantic fairy tales by night, including her series, The Cinderella Romances. She eventually said goodbye to her "day" job to focus on her stories full-time. 

These days, Petie spends her time writing new tales for her Cinderella series, her new paranormal-romantic-suspense series, The Watchers, sequels to her Regency time-travel series, Lords in Time, and more contemporary romance standalones, along with her two previous releases—Any Fin For Love and Ambush in the Everglades. 

Petie shares her home on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee with her husband, a horticulturist/landscape designer who provided all technical background for Cinderella Busted, and an opinionated Nanday conure named Sassy, who made a cameo appearance in Christmas Watch, Book 2 of The Watchers series.

You can connect with Petie:

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Book Review: LOST HEART IN KING MANOR (Mysteries of the Heart Series) by Celeste Fenton

Romantic Suspense/Edgy Cozy Mystery 

1st in Series Setting – Dost Island (fictional) off the coast of Massachusetts 

Publisher ‏: ‎ Independently Published 

Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 24, 2025 

About the Book 

At 45, Gabby Heart isn’t looking for drama—just quiet days on Dost Island running her village gift shop, teaching art, and keeping her past tucked safely away. But when her mother suffers a sudden health crisis, Gabby is pulled into a storm of family secrets, betrayal, and a dark legacy buried within the walls of the once-grand King Manor. 

What was supposed to be a safe place for her mother’s recovery becomes the backdrop for a chilling mystery. Strange incidents begin to unfold, and it becomes clear: someone inside King Manor has a deadly agenda. As a hurricane traps Gabby inside the sprawling estate, she’s forced to work alongside two very different men—her maddeningly attractive officemate and a charming new neighbor, both hiding dark secrets. 

One man may want her heart. The other may want her dead. 

But can she trust her instincts before it’s too late? 

Review 

Gabby is dealing with her daughter Val moving across the country for college when she gets a call that her mother fell. Gabby rushes home to help her mother while still trying to keep her own work afloat. A second incident, with Gabby and her mother saved because of the cat, Gabby is at her wits end. There's an opening at ACHE, a senior rehab facility and her mother could recover there with the best of care. At least that's the promise.

ACHE has taken over the King Manor, with all it's glam, history, and tales of secret treasure. The director of ACHE, Beth, is her mother's neighbor and her mother is recovering there as well. The two men edging into her life? Rick and Jay. Rick has secrets and Jay is a little too smooth.

When first a tornado and then hurricane hits the area, two residents are injured among other strange occurrences and the discovery of tunnels, the tension mounts. Both Rick and Jay are constant companions to Gabby but she's not sure she can trust either of them.  

This is an interesting and engaging tale, with lots of unexpected twists and turns. What secrets is Rick hiding? What's Jay's endgame? The pacing is strong and the reader is carried along to the final conclusion. This is a great start to what should be an interesting series.

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. 

Companion Guide to Lost Heart in King Manor: 

An inside look (Mysteries of a Heart Series)

Step deeper into the secrets of Dost Island with this richly illustrated companion to Lost Heart in King Manor, the first book in the Mysteries of a Heart series. Explore the island’s storm-swept cliffs, charming village life, and shadowy past through exclusive character profiles, behind-the-scenes insights, maps, photographs, and bonus content that brings Gabby Heart’s world to life. 

Meet the unforgettable residents—from the sharp-witted Jay Laird and enigmatic Rick Payne, to the wise and mysterious women of the Heart family—each with their own stories, scars, and secrets. This companion is your invitation behind the curtain. But be warned… On Dost Island, even the quietest corners have something to hide. 

About the Author 

I have an M.Ed. and Ph.D. in education and have worked in higher education for over thirty-years. A former educator and lifelong reader, I began writing seriously at age 60. No one is more surprised than me, that in retirement, I found reward and occupation as an author. 

My writing is fueled by a lifelong love of mystery and a fascination with the complexities of the human heart. As a widow, mother of adult twin sons, proud grandmother, dog lover, and semi-retired educator, I believe I have enough real-world experience to weave imagination with insight to create stories rich with emotion and suspense. My work blends romance, mystery, and heart—with healthy doses of humor and hope. I feel passionate about helping others realize that creativity doesn’t have an expiration date.  

When I’m not writing, reading, or plotting another plot twist, I like to explore small towns across America—setting out solo for month-long adventures much to the awe (and occasional alarm) of family and friends. My latest obsessions include escape rooms, mastering the perfect miter cut for a DIY bathroom remodel, training my cavalier spaniel to do a high five, and making the impossible decision of where to travel next.

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Companion Guide Purchase Link 

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Book Review: WHISKERS & WITNESSES (A Purrs and Puzzles Cat Cafe Cozy Mystery) by Samantha Noble

About the Book

A dead judge. 

A café full of curious cats. 

And me, Emma Carter—the prime suspect. 

When a well-known Judge Harrington is found dead in my cozy cat café, I’m as shocked as anyone. I never thought my café, Purrs & Puzzles, would turn into the scene of a murder investigation. But when my rescue cats start bringing me clues—odd little “gifts” from the crime scene—I realize I’ve got a puzzle to solve. 

With the help of my nosy friend Lizzie, Detective Jake Malone who’s allergic to cats, and a bunch of quirky regulars who know more than they’re saying, I’m diving headfirst into a tangle of secrets and lies. 

And uncover a secret my mom has been hiding. I must untangle the truth before I lose my café, my freedom - or worse, my life.

Review 

The MC, Emma Carter, is likable and upbeat, except about the murder, and the cats - Cinnamon, Snowball, Patches, and Oreo - do their part. Her best best friend, Lizzie, helps, and the detective, allergic to cats, has his eye on Emma -perhaps for more than the murder. Emma has to deal with her usual customers, and some know more than they're sharing. This is a short, fast-paced cozy mystery ideal for a quick read to unwind. A fun read, especially for cat lovers. 

AMAZON

About the Author 

Samantha Noble is the author of the Hazelwood High Jinx and Purrs & Puzzles Cat Café cozy mystery series, where the gossip is juicy, the animals sometimes seem smarter than the humans, and the bodies always seem to turn up at the worst possible time. Set in small towns bursting with secrets (and the occasional sass from a parrot or a dog or a cat), Samantha’s mysteries blend humor, heart, and whodunits that’ll keep you guessing. 

Whether you're following a curious innkeeper, a determined cat café owner, or a parrot with a taste for drama, you’re in for a delightful dose of cozy crime-solving. 

When she’s not writing or wrangling plot twists with her editors or VA Chad Penwright, or getting suggestions from her Beta Team or ARC team, Samantha is likely sipping something caffeinated, daydreaming about her next book cover, or driving around town plotting murders (fictional ones—promise!).

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Book Review: A BONE TO PICK (A Canine Crew Mystery Book 1) by Fiona Grace

About the Book 

When Evie, Margo, and Grace—three best friends in their 50s—find their nests empty and time on their hands, they start up the Canine Crew, a neighborhood dog-walking service. But none of them ever expected to have to solve a doggone murder…. 

It's walkies into the dark side for Evie and her pals as their peaceful pet parade turns perilous with the murder of a charming mailman. A lost dog collar might be the key to unleashing the truth—but can these spirited sidekicks fetch justice before suspicion buries them alive? 

Take a paws-first dive into the beguiling world of the Canine Crew, where escapades are laced with wag-worthy wit and delightful idiosyncrasies. Em-bark on a journey that fetches a perfect mix of chuckles, warm fuzzy feelings, and tail-wagging surprises. Get ready to befriend a trio of fetching heroines who are bound to collar your affection and have you howling for more until the break of dawn. 

Book Review 

The story involves three single women - Gracie, Margo, and Evie, all in their 50s. Margo, with her business sense established a dog walking business, the Canine Crew, and the three ladies know everything going on their town as they engage in their business. They're also not only fans of dogs, but of mysteries. 

When the pleasant and very flirtatious mailman is killed and found by Evie, she is considered a "person of interest" and the three ladies decide to investigate. A dog collar is the only clue. 

This is a light read with a good mix of dogs, mysteries, and a touch of romance possible consistent with the cozy genre. The pacing is steady and the three main characters are well-developed (though they seem to think 50 is old), and their personalities complement each other. 

This is the first of seven in the Canine Crew Mysteries, and I will be adding the next to my long TBR list.

AMAZON

About the Author 

Fiona Grace is the author of multiple book series, including the CANINE CREW, most of them cozy mysteries, some with a paranormal twist, or a culinary twist. Other book series are romance centered. Certainly, a lot of choices with this author:LACEY DOYLE COZY MYSTERY, TUSCAN VINEYARD COZY MYSTERY, DUBIOUS WITCH COZY MYSTERY, BEACHFRONT BAKERY COZY MYSTERY, CATS AND DOGS COZY MYSTERY, ELIZA MONTAGU COZY MYSTERY, MURDER IN THE MANOR, and for romance ENDLESS HARBOR. Notably, the first book in each series is available on Amazon.

You can contact her at:

 

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