In Farm's Way by Amanda Flower

 

Shiloh Bellamy has a knack for finding dead people! When a local brewery owner is found dead in the frozen lake, Shiloh's best friend's husband becomes a suspect. Shiloh is determined to clear his name much to the local law-enforcements disgruntlement!

I have really enjoyed the Farm to Table Mysteries so far and In Farm's Way was a great addition. I'm loving the romantic interests in the stories and am anxiously waiting to find out if Shiloh has chosen the person I want her to be with! The murder was creative and I enjoyed following Shiloh as she hunted down clues to find the guilty person. I'm a bit frustrated with Shiloh and her father's relationship. I really wish he would get a clue. As always, the author has some cute furry characters that crack me up. Huckleberry, Shiloh's pug, has a funny personality that makes me laugh. If you enjoy cozy mysteries be sure to pick up this latest in the series.

Solid As Steele by Susan Sleeman

 

Mackenzie Steele is on vacation. Out in the middle of nowhere she enjoys her time alone and time to regroup. Her vacation is interrupted by a man showing up on her porch. He looks like he has been beat up and he can't remember who he is or why he is there. The name Owen sounds familiar to him so that is what she starts calling him. As they investigate who he could be Mackenzie doesn't know whether he is a criminal or not but she is determined to help him find out what has happened.

Just as I think that author Susan Sleeman can't get any better she proves me wrong! I loved Solid As Steele! I enjoyed the characters as well. I thought this installment of the Steele Guardians series was a bit different than the others in that it didn't mostly take place with the other Steele family members. A good chunk of the story took place away from home base. Mackenzie and Owen make a good couple and I liked the way their relationship developed. I also enjoyed that once they did join the family they embraced Owen. Those scenes had me laughing because the Steele family is anything but subtle when it comes to their family's significant others! I totally loved Solid As Steele and can't wait for the next book in the series.

Critical Threat by Lynette Eason

 

Grace Billingsley is after a serial killer. Sam Monroe is the son of one of the most notorious serial killers known. Now this new serial killer has Grace in his sight. Sam is worried that this killer may be a copycat of his father. Will they find the killer before he strikes again? Or before he gets to Grace? 

Critical Threat was extremely suspenseful and had me biting my nails as I read! I found book 3 to be a bit different than the first two in the series. I don't know if it was because it was more suspenseful to me or if it was written differently. It seemed a bit darker as well. I liked both Grace and Sam's back stories. I don't know if their romance worked for me, but I did like how Grace cared for Sam's kids. An exciting addition to the series and I definitely will be reading the next one in the series when it comes out!

Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous by Amanda Flower

 

I love Millie, or "Amish Marple" as her best friend Lois Henry calls her! Millie is the local matchmaker along with having a knack for solving murders. When Lois's ex "Rocksino-Guy" shows up with his new wife, Lois is less than happy to see him. When there is a murder at the local Chalet Millie and Lois are hot on the trail to solve another crime.

The thing I noticed most about this installment of the Matchmaker Mystery series was the humor. I've always enjoyed the humor in this authors books, but this one had some howl-worthy scenes! A favorite laugh-out-loud moment was one between Rocksino-Guy and Ruth Yoder. I seriously howled! Millie and Lois manage to get themselves in the middle of the investigation which puts them in danger but they help to solve the case. Of course we see Millie's goats causing all kinds of mischief, which is very entertaining! I thoroughly enjoyed Honeymoons Can Be Hazardous and can't wait for the next Matchmaker Mystery!

Frozen Detective by Amanda Flower

 

When a classmate of Darby and Tate hires the detectives to find out who is sending threatening notes to her husband Darby is leery of taking the case. Tate insists on taking the case which sends the detectives to a plush ski resort. It isn't long before their fears are confirmed and the husband is killed. Darby and Tate now have to find out who the murderer is before all of their suspects leave the mountain.

Frozen Detective is the second book in the Piper and Porter Mystery series. I enjoyed the mystery as it took several twists and turns that kept me engaged in the story. As always in an Amanda Flower cozy mystery there is an animal character that finds its way into the readers heart. Darby and Tate are still new partners so their relationship is still tentative, but they are learning to trust each other. I think that Tate has some secrets that will hopefully get a chance to be revealed in future books. I enjoyed the setting of the story as well. I look forward to the next book in the series. 

**Thank you to Hallmark publisher through Netgalley for my copy of the book to review. All opinions are my own**

A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman

 

I absolutely loved this book! I mean what is more endearing than a cranky old man who speaks his mind?

Ove thought his life was over after his wife died. But others had different plans for him. Instead of letting him alone it seemed that events in life were aiming to keep the curmudgeon alive! Ove was a man that saw what needed to be done and he did it. He wasn't intentionally helping others, it just happened that he could do a better job of it! 

I don't normally cry over a book but this one had me wanting to sob my eyes out with all the feels! A story of a reluctant hero that people fell in love with despite his desire to be left alone in peace. I can't recommend this book enough!

Made of Steele by Susan Sleeman

 

When Teagan Steele stumbles upon some underhanded activity going on at one of the businesses that Steele Guardians protects she is determined to investigate and bring the criminals to justice so that the family name will not be harmed. What she doesn't count on is Drew who is undercover and refuses to let anyone stand in his way of taking down the people that he has been investigating for a year. Both Teagan and Drew are determined to finish their jobs well. The question is, will they be able to work together in this operation before anyone else is hurt?

I love the Steele Guardian series and Made of Steele was the perfect fit. I loved how determined Teagan was to keep the family name and business from being hurt. I also loved how dedicated Drew is to his undercover job but also that he recognized that going that deep undercover can harm a persons faith and belief in people's goodness. Made of Steele was exciting as well as spiritually thought-provoking. I look forward to the next installment of the series!