Road to Copper Hollow

Mining For Justice #1

by Katie Trapp

All Blythe Gallamore wanted to do was get her life on track and settle down. After decades of friendship, she and her best friend, Miranda, began developing feelings for each other. So when she inherits the Gallamore estate that also comes with a now-defunct copper mine, she jumps at the chance to head home to Copper Hollow and Miranda. Copper Hollow hasn't changed a bit. Still gossipy and still religiously intolerant. What was supposed to be her new start, quickly descends into chaos when she finds out her first love that ghosted her in college, Brooke, is also back in town. That is only the beginning of the mayhem. Between struggling with her feelings for Miranda and Brooke, she also has to navigate a murder and find out that no one seems to be who they appear. Blythe will get a first-hand lesson in what truly lies below a person's facade. Can she survive the rollercoaster she's about to hop on? Only fate really knows.

Genres: Lesbian, Mystery, Romance, LGBT, Crime, Friends To Lovers

255 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 23, 2023

About the author

Katie Trapp is an indie author from a small town in southern Middle Tennessee who currently resides with her wife, two dogs, and two cats in Kentucky. In 2021, she published her debut novel, An Unexpected Partnership, and has been writing ever since.

Reviews

[Fran Sappharc · Rating 4 out of 5]

From blurb I am aware that I don't know whether ex or present partner will be the romance. There is a spectre of nefarious goings on but again from the blurb I know there will be something bigger. 30% in and it is still to ignite. I don't quite get the full animosity to the ex since her father made her leave, rather than a voluntary action.
I still don’t get the reaction, but the ex’s behaviour means I don’t really have much sympathy. The present girlfriend isn’t an angel either and I am not sure where this is going. There is according to the blurb, a death, over 40% before we get to that. The atmosphere in the book changed just before that as the writer ramped up the setting and tension. I have to say, it worked. I was a bit ambivalent about the romance, and still am, but the blend plot has me interested.
You know when someone in a book does something stupid and you get annoyed at them....That! Well, I was right to be annoyed!!
The blend plot is gripping and to be honest the romance jeopardy is also well done.
Well, although the ending is open to a sequel, it is well enough wrapped up that I don’t feel cheated as everyone that should be, is left in a good place. 4.5, not upped but close!

[Lady Olenna · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 Stars

I enjoyed the love triangle vibe that was happening at the beginning and middle. The big mystery was also interesting to follow.

[Neen Cohen · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars for me

Well now, this book was fantastic. The slow build up of suspense was brilliant and the potential suspects just kept growing and growing. I felt like it was suspicious island and I was all here for it.

The small town dynamics, the broken family, the battles the main character came up against were all handled disturbingly accurate and well. While I wanted to scream at the main character and her choices at times, I also totally understood them and related to her a little too much throughout the book.

I really loved the unexpected dive in to self awareness and being able to look back on the past and know that shifting those glasses on old emotions and experiences isn't always instant or simple.

I enjoyed the writing and the sense of feelings the setting inspired. And while I have a very Aussie small town history, I definitely felt akin to much of this character and the town. Especially the contradictory feelings that wash over and overwhelm at times. The characters duality of both self awareness and complete unawareness of other things hit way to close to home lol.

But in the end, it was a fantastic suspense, even if it did start a little slower than I'm used to. Hoping I'll get a chance to read the next one soon.

[Jessica Rush · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
🏚️🐈🔥⛏️👮

Damn. This book had me laughing out loud, gripping the edge of my seat, crying my eyes out and my heart beating to the point I was going to pass out.

A book with such a great plot line, back history and a great set of characters (even though some of them you wanted to push down a mountain...) My favourite character was Vida 😼

I loved the relationship between Blythe and Miranda - they are best friends who are getting into a romantic relationship slowly, but it's not actually the main plot line, which makes everything that happens between them even more precious.

The plot was so good that I didn't want to put it down just to find out what happened and who did what to who.

This is a fantastic second novel by Katie Trapp. Absolutely loved it. Congrats on another scorcher of a book Katie. (also thanks for the copy of the ebook. This review is left voluntarily.)

[Safictions · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blythe is back in Copper Hollow after all these years as she has inherited the family estate and the Gallamore Copper mines.

Miranda is the town's sheriff and has feelings for her best friend Blythe and is slowly taking her new budding relationship with Blythe.

I loved the relationship between Blythe and Miranda and how right they are for each other. There is a murder mystery in this book which is very well done.

I did not expect the cliffhanger ending and really wanted to read the next one. Luckily the next book in the series- Redemption in Coper Hollow, comes out October 30, 2023. I cannot wait to read this one!!

Would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves a murder mystery in a small town sprinkled with Sapphic Romance!!!

[Morgan · Rating 2 out of 5]

New author, but this story did not capture my interest in the slightest to even consider continuing this series. You name the issue, this story has it: telling instead of showing, poor plot structure, lack of a true character voice, swapping character perspective at random points, etc. None of the characters "spoke" to me, and I assume Blythe is intended to be the main character but I found her not only unlikable but incredibly immature with more of a teenage voice instead of a woman in her 30s. The main story wasn't interesting enough for me to be able to ignore all of the issues I have with this execution. Will not be coming back to Copper Hollow.

[Dulaine Roode · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, that took a twist.

Blythe moved back to a town that never truly understood her. But mostly because of how and by who she was raised. She recently acknowledged her feelings for Miranda but they were still taking it slow. That is until Brooke, her long time ago ex showed up again and tried to get back together with Blythe. That part made me just shake my head at Blythe and her actions, as I was rooting for her and Miranda.
Well a lot happened i. The book that I really did not see coming and I totally misread the clues as to who murdered Lissa.

On to the next book to see what happens next.

[Anna Avian · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice small town mystery but the relationships between the characters just felt off to me. Blythe's friends and brother were treating her like some teenage girl and were often talking for her instead of eliciting a conversation. It ended with a cliffhanger so I'm looking forward to the second installment and hopefully more depth to Blythe and Miranda's relationship.

[Ange Elson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I lived this book so much.

Katie Trapp is a new author for me and let me just say this book blew my socks off.

Capturing the longing for a first love thwarted and an a new type of love. Choices to make.

The ensemble cast makes it easy to get invested in these people.

Can’t wait to read book two.

[Deb · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good story , definitely more of a murder mystery than a lesbian romantic novel. Personally, it's hard to believe the two main characters only had one sexual episode. Who waits in their 30's when they have already been doing a long distance thing? This won't stop me from reading the next book, carry on Katie Trapp.

[Hans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, fantastic characters and overall story. Plenty of twists and turns. Would have given it 5 if some parts were slightly less contrived and unnecessary drama in the last chapter, also let it down in my view. Could definitely have done with an epilogue to tie up a few loose ends that don’t need to wait until the three years later of the sequel book.

[Frances Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love it

I gave it 5 stars because I couldn't put the book down I found by accident I'm so glad I did Great characters great story line I can't wait for the next book to better have to wait until the fall I recommend this book

[Kim Satterfield · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved everything about this book! The characters are engaging and make you want to root for them. There is just enough spice. This eastern Kentucky girl could definitely imagine the people and places described in the book. Highly recommend!

[Kristy Chene · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book was enjoyable. I wasn't too impressed with any of the characters in the beginning, but over time they grew on me. The author clearly is making this a series because the ending leaves you hanging a bit. Overall it was a fun, quick read.

[Carpediem · Rating 5 out of 5]

Deep and dark love

Blythe had lost an old love and in the ensuing decades had moved into unexpected wealth and a mystery. An intricate path of love and betrayal lay ahead as the author weaves a clever story full of pitfalls, danger and desire . Good writing.

[J H · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent whodunit

I thought I knew who the perp was for most of the book, but I started suspecting the actual killer right before the clues started adding up. Pretty good novel with a few factual errors that might not get noticed. I think most mystery buffs would enjoy this.

3½⭐

[Mandy 'Hammie' · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Great characters and storyline was well written, I really enjoyed this book. I Would highly recommended this book and author.

[Susan Rheingruber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good suspense and twist.

Katie Trapp writes a good suspense book with some twists. Fun to read. I enjoyed it. I’m eager to read the next in the series.

[Cesaleigh Cupp · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did not see the twist coming! I’m not a big fan of love triangles but this wasn’t horrible. I did catch myself rolling my eyes at the past lover a few times (girl bye.)