2018
Cozy Holiday Reads Part 1
I love the holidays, and can hardly contain myself when Halloween ends and the Christmas season begins to be more in sight. Throughout my reviewing years, I have come to love beyond reason cozy mysteries set with holiday themes. In fact, each year I eagerly await the end of November to share my holiday reviews and giveaway. So for this part of my Cozy Holidays I am sharing a small batch and will give one lucky reader a copy of each book. Look further below for the details. I hope you enjoy my thoughts on these wonderful books.
Joanne Fluke
Christmas Cake Murder
Colette London
The Peppermint Mocha Murder
Laura Levine
Death of a Neighborhood Scrooge
Amanda Flower
Premeditated Peppermint
Carol J. Perry
Bells, Spells, and Murders
G. A. McKevett
Murder in Her Stocking
Christmas Cake Murder
- Author: Joanne Fluke
- Publisher: Kensington
- Print Length: 224 pages
- Release Date: September 25, 2018
- Genre: Cozy
Ruminations
We go back in time to holidays past with Hannah this year. It was really neat to experience her life prior to becoming such a popular baker and sleuth. Now the sleuthing still stands as Hannah has a mystery involving Essie. I think what was the best part of this book was the understanding and knowledge you gain about Hannah, her family, and the Cookie Jar. It is the perfect way to start the series or pick up as the 23rd book in the wonderful series. It is Christmases past for us in this wonderful mystery and Hannah is only getting started.
The Peppermint Mocha Murder
- Author: Colette London
- Publisher: Kensington
- Print Length: 352 pages
- Release Date: September 25, 2018
- Genre: Cozy
Ruminations
Merry Christmas, Hayden! Here is our sleuth heading to a wonderful holiday when the good mystery strikes. Soon I was enthralled in the murder and suspect list. Now many couldn’t really cry too many tears for the victim but Hayden still gets justice served with a nice cup of cocoa. My love for this book was really the setting, it was just so charming! I know many of the cozy settings seem the same but this one was extra magical for the holiday season. So if you are looking for a read that has the perfect holiday setting here it is!
Death of a Neighborhood Scrooge
- Author: Laura Levine
- Publisher: Kensington
- Print Length: 304 pages
- Release Date: September 25, 2018
- Genre: Cozy
Ruminations
I forgot how much I love this series! Oh Prozac and Jaine are the best ever! Seriously, I laugh through all the books in the series and this one was a big chuckle and holiday cheer. Jaine has a flair for solving mysteries to her own beat and drum. I can’t quite describe how her antics, Prozac and the others play into this so well, but it is as good as Christmas cookies and milk. Now I love a good come back story but as the reader will see there is more to this neighborhood than meets the eye.
Premeditated Peppermint
- Author: Amanda Flower
- Publisher: Kensington
- Print Length: 352 pages
- Release Date: September 25, 2018
- Genre: Cozy
Ruminations
There is something about an Amish setting at Christmas. The idea just asks the reader to sit down and savor the story. This is certainly one of the best from Amanda Flower. I love that Bailey is getting her first Christmas in her new home. It fits with this series that Bailey gets to have another new experience. Solving a mystery during the holiday season. One thing about Bailey and the mysteries she solves is that a reader is never bored and always eager to read the next chapter.
Bells, Spells, and Murders
- Author: Carol J. Perry
- Publisher: Kensington
- Print Length: 384 pages
- Release Date: September 25, 2018
- Genre: Cozy
Ruminations
I love a good magical mystery and this book didn’t disappoint. Lee is a delightful character that takes us all on her adventure into Salem and solving a good Christmas mystery. Lee has a knack for standing out in a reader’s mind and making sleuthing her own. I really liked the setting and the Salem feel that the book had. The cover is amazing on this mystery and I could easily see myself buying this book for the cover alone! But trust me the pages between the covers will have you hanging on every word and following the crumbs to the end.
Murder in Her Stocking
- Author: G.A. McKevett
- Publisher: Kensington
- Print Length: 304 pages
- Release Date: October 30, 2018
- Genre: Cozy
Ruminations
What a great holiday mystery! Having never read a book from this author before, I was instantly a fan of Granny Reid. Going back to the ’80s to a holiday season where remembering can be murder is the perfect way to have a holiday mystery.I have been missing out on this author! Not only was this book wonderful and perfectly cozy it was made just for the holidays. But don’t let it fool you, you can certainly read this book any time of the year. I am hoping we will see further in this series and I am going to go check the other series out!
**DISCLAIMER: I was provided an opportunity to read these book as an Advanced Reader Copy in return for a fair and honest review.
Giveaway
I love spreading the holiday cheer, share one way that you spread the love during the holiday season. One lucky reader will win all these books, giveaway ends 12/14/18.
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I enjoy reading books from those authors. The one cat that I can always remember the name of is Prozac. There are days I’d like to give my cats some, lol. I like your reviews, I get bombarded with them but I do try to read them when I get a chance. Thank you so much for this chance at this generous giveaway.
I love books so always donate to childern hospital and to other special needs
I love everything about mysteries, especially cosies! With the theme of Christmas, it makes them even better! The cover art always draws me in. The snowman holding his head is a hoot!
Thank you for your reviews and for this amazing giveaway.
This year I am going to do the same thing I did last year.. my daughter was in junior high, and obviously it’s hard to purchase gifts for everyone, so I (not being a baker at all.. I mostly burn things, but decided this was a easy enough recipe to try).. I made Christmas Krack and got tins to put it in.. I made enough for all her teachers, the office staff and my son’s teacher also.. it is super tasty and fun to make. (No I’m not turning into a baker.. but it was lots of fun to do)
And when I am at a store, if I see someone in the isle looking down or upset, I smile and start a little conversation with them if they are willing.. it may cheer them up and give me warm fuzzies too❤️❤️
We always try to find a family in the area that needs help, whether it be buying some presents for their kids for Christmas or help with groceries.
These books all sound amazing. Thank you so much for the chance at this amazing giveaway.
I just love reading mysteries & collecting mystery movies. These looks like good reading.
This is awesome giveaway! During the holidays I focus on children and am secret Santa to those I can help have an enjoyable Christmas.
Not just at Christmas but all the year through I love to give to others. Sometimes it’s a load of homemade nut bread other times it might be a homemade wreath. The smile on their faces is enough to warm my soul. It would be wonderful to call all these books my own.
My friends and I exchange small gifts at Christmas. As a retired librarian, my gift is always a Christmas book so they are building up quite a collection of Christmas literature that their family members read when they are visiting over the holidays.
Such wonderful reviews! Makes me want to read each and every one of them. ?
I read Christmas books all year long.
Thanks so much.
I love having people over during Christmas. I’m having a Christmas tea this year for the ladies at my church. Know we will have. Lot of fun. Thanks for the chance to win these great books.
This is really a great collection of Holiday stories from great authors. They all sound like great holiday reads. I like to spread the love at Christmas by getting together with my friends and surprising them with a little something, even though we don’t exchange gifts anymore.
All the books sound so interesting and fun to read. Christmas book’s get me in the Christmas spirit. I read them all year though. But Christmas time really makes the books even more special.
We make candies, especially bourbon balls, to give family and friends.
Thanks for all the great reviews. I’m an avid cozy reader and love a good recommendation. I appreciate that you don’t just give a synopsis of the book but that you share your thoughts on the book and author. One of my favorite things to do during the holiday season is to create homemade cards with my son to send to a local retirement home where my grandmother used to live. It’s become a tradition we’ve done for years. I look forward to it months before and love to search for a new creative idea.
One of my favorite “new” traditions since moving to my new state 4 1/2 years ago is backing up my mom’s cut-out cookie recipe and having my six local grandkids over to frost and decorate the cookies. It is SO MUCH FUN! My mom always made a ton of many different cookies (as well as THE BEST) fudge) at Christmas. Using her recipe makes me feel that I am continuing to pass down her love from heaven to her great-grandkuds.
Uh, that should be BAKING, not “backing up.”. Silly autocorrect…..
…and great-grandKIDS, not great-grandkuds! I blame my fat finger for that typo! ?
I love reading Christmas Books they really put you in the mood. I also read them all year long and enjoy them. Thank you for the chance.
Marilyn [email protected]
Congrats Marilyn I will be contacting you to pick the books!
One way I spread Christmas cheer is to get myself and my son’s family in the mood early. I buy Christmas jammies to the grandkids every year (preferably matching) and I try to do it in late November/early December. They are 7 yrs, 2 yrs and 2.5 mo. old this year and look like little elves already! [email protected]
I love cozy mysteries! ( especially Christmas ones) – I like the ones with recipes! I knit dishcloths in holiday colors and twist them to put on packages instead of bows.
love these authors and thank you for the chance to win a copy of these titles!!
i will be helping at Christmas with my church group. we have worked all year long on backpacks for the homeless (filled with essentials and goodies). Closer to Christmas, we will travel 2 hours to the closest big city (Nashville) to distribute the backpacks <3
I usually bake and shared with people I care about. This year I went and decorated for my parents and made them a fruit cake, Chex mix, and peanut butter popcorn as neither of them are well. Thank you for the chance. Merry Christmas.
I love baking special Christmas treats for friends and my co-workers at the office. This week I’m making an eggnog bundt cake. YUM! Thank you for the generous giveaway!
I love to get in the mood with Christmas-themed books and these are all great! We spread the love by inviting my kids’ homeless friends to celebrate with us.