Tuesday, December 13, 2022


I'm asked often, what is my favorite cozy series.
To pick one would be like picking a favorite family member. Wait, no. I do have a favorite family member. But there is still no way I could pick a favorite series. 

So, welcome to my first installment of
One of My Favorite Series

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Just in time for the Christmas season, one of my favorite series is . . . 

The Christmas Tree Farm Mysteries
by
Jacqueline Frost


When Holly White’s fiancé cancels their Christmas Eve wedding with less than two weeks to go, Holly heads home with a broken heart. Lucky for her, home in historic Mistletoe, Maine is magical during Christmastime—exactly what the doctor prescribed. Except her plan to drown her troubles in peppermints and snickerdoodles is upended when local grouch and president of the Mistletoe Historical Society Margaret Fenwick is bludgeoned and left in the sleigh display at Reindeer Games, Holly’s family tree farm.

When the murder weapon is revealed as one of the wooden stakes used to identify trees on the farm, Sheriff Evan Grey turns to Holly’s father, Bud, and the Reindeer Games staff. And it doesn’t help that Bud and the reindeer keeper were each seen arguing with Margaret just before her death. But Holly knows her father, and is determined to exonerate him.The jingle bells are ringing, the clock is ticking, and if Holly doesn't watch out, she'll end up on Santa's naughty list in 
Twelve Slays of Christmas, Jacqueline Frost’s jolly series debut.


It’s out of the cupcake tin, into the fire for Holly White’s best friend, Caroline. Can Holly clear Caroline’s name in time to go caroling?

When a body turns up in a larger-than-life candy bowl filled with peppermints on the town square, Holly White is horrified to learn her best friend Caroline is the main suspect. Everyone in town, including Mistletoe, Maine’s sheriff, saw Caroline fighting with the victim on the night of his death. Worse, a custom kitchen knife, engraved with Caroline's initials was found with him.

Now, just ten days before Christmas, Holly’s up to her jingle bells in holiday shenanigans and in desperate need of a miracle. Juggling extra shifts at her family’s Christmas tree farm and making enough gingerbread jewelry to satisfy the crowd is already more than she can handle―and now she has to find time to clear her best friend of murder. Add in her budding relationship with the sheriff, and a personal stalker dressed as Santa Claus, and Holly’s ready to fly south until springtime.

But her Sherpa-lined mittens come off when Caroline is taken into custody. Can Holly wrap up the case in time for Christmas...even after she gains the true killer’s attention? Find out in 
‘Twas the Knife Before Christmas, Jacqueline Frost’s second pine-scented Christmas Tree Farm mystery.


Maine innkeeper Holly White returns to sleuth another seasonal slaying in the third Christmas Tree Farm mystery from bestselling author Jacqueline Frost.

Reindeer Games Christmas Tree Farm is going into the B&B business, and Holly White is looking forward to her new role as innkeeper. Even better, Mistletoe, Maine's sheriff, Evan Gray, has deputized his little sister Libby to help Holly wrap presents for Mistletoe's toy drive. But a cold wind ruffles the cheery holiday decorations when a new guest checks in: Karen, a vicious B&B critic, who could make or break the new inn. And the short December days turn even darker when Evan and Libby find Karen's dead body in the gift-wrapped toy donation box.

The suspect list is longer than Santa's naughty list, and local resident Cookie is on it, since her fingerprints are all over the murder weapon, a metal nutcracker that she gave to Holly. So is Libby, who recently moved to town from Boston in less-than-savory circumstances. But cranky Karen was an oh-holy-nightmare to lots of the townsfolk, such as Evan's reporter friend Ray; Christopher, the inn's former contractor; and confectioner Bonnie, whose Gum Drop Shop was a direct target of Karen's scathing prose.

To figure out the killer's identity and clear Cookie's name, Holly and her friends brainstorm at The Hearth, the farm's café, while her mother keeps them fueled with Christmas goodies fresh from the oven. But if they can't put the culprit on ice, Holly may never see another Christmas.

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I fell in love with this series within the first chapter of book one, TWELVE SLAYS OF CHRISTMAS, and now they just can't release too fast for me!

This series is everything I want in a cozy mystery. It follows all the guidelines I look for.
 
1. No foul language. 
2. No going-a-bit-too-far love scenes. 
3. No graphic descriptions of death scenes.
Bonus: Set in a small town.

Those who are fans of truly real cozy mysteries, you're going to love this series!
Don't mind an edgier cozy? Well, you're going to love this one anyway.

The characters, the setting, the writing, they give out all of the good feels!   


 

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4 comments:

  1. Thank, Lisa! I’m very particular about starting a new series but, upon your recommendation, I just ordered the first book. I like that it truly meets cozy guidelines…and it’s Christmas-themed!
    Happy Tuesday,
    Pat T

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Pat, you will love this series! You and I feel the same about tradition cozies, so I know this is will be right up your alley. Also, check out Julie Anne Lindsey, Bree Baker, and Julie Chase. All the same author. Her real name if Julie Anne Lindsey. She's true tradition under all her names. I haven't read her series under Julie Chase, but I can't help but feel they would follow the same style.

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  2. thank you for sharing this today. oh I would love to read this series. it has all the right things that I love.

    ReplyDelete