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A Year-Round Christmas Mystery #7
A Slay Ride Together With You
The slay bells are ringing in this festive seventh installment of national bestselling author Vicki Delany’s Year Round Christmas Mystery series, perfect for fans of Amanda Flower and Donna Andrews. Rudolph, New York shop owner Merry Wilkinson’s best friend Vicky Casey is newly engaged to Chef Mark Grosse and is moving into the historic Cole House–a home surrounded by drama, intrigue, and a possible haunting, that is in desperate need of renovation. The wedding is just three weeks away, but all is not bliss for the newly engaged couple as estranged relatives of the late owner fight over her will. Then, late one night, Vicky and Merry come across a dead body in the garden of Cole House–and Mark is the one standing over the corpse. As Detective Diane Simmonds focuses on Mark as the prime suspect, Vicky asks for Merry’s help to clear her fiance’s name in time for the wedding. As they dig deeper into the connection between the house, Cole relatives, and town residents, past and present, it becomes clear that plenty of people wanted the victim dead. With a bakery to run, the busy Easter weekend fast approaching, a house to renovate, and a fiancé to clear of a murder accusation, Vicky’s wedding may end up on the chopping block. It’s up to Merry to put aside the chocolate bunnies and stuffed rabbits and help her best friend save her wedding–and her life.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published September 24, 2024
86 people are currently reading
652 people want to read
About the author
Vicki Delany
62 books1,907 followers“It’s a crime not to read Delany,” so says the London Free Press.
Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most varied and prolific crime writers.
She is the author of four cozy mystery series: The Tea by the Sea series from Kensington Books, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series from Crooked Lane and the Year Round Christmas series from Penguin. Under the pen name of Eva Gates she writes the Lighthouse Library Series.
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com , www.facebook.com/evagatesauthor, and twitter: @vickidelany
Vicki is part of Mystery Lovers Kitchen (http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com) and Killer Characters (http://www.killercharacters.com)
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com
Vicki Delany is one of Canada’s most varied and prolific crime writers.
She is the author of four cozy mystery series: The Tea by the Sea series from Kensington Books, the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series from Crooked Lane and the Year Round Christmas series from Penguin. Under the pen name of Eva Gates she writes the Lighthouse Library Series.
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com , www.facebook.com/evagatesauthor, and twitter: @vickidelany
Vicki is part of Mystery Lovers Kitchen (http://www.mysteryloverskitchen.com) and Killer Characters (http://www.killercharacters.com)
Visit Vicki at www.vickidelany.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
December 16, 2024
Another fun Christmas story but one of my top favorite cozy mystery authors. Helped set my mood for the holidays this week. I purposely saved it until 30 days from Christmas, and even tho this setting was June / July, it still made it a jolly season. What a mystery with the house history and strange folks visiting town.
September 21, 2024
The seventh book in the Year-round Christmas mystery series. I started at book six and one day would like to play catch up from the start.
The series is set in a town called Rudolph where the shop owners like Merry Wilkinson celebrate Christmas nearly all the time, with some extra fun thrown in at Easter. Merry's best friend Vicky is about to get married and move into an old house which appears to be haunted. A dead body turns up in the garden and Vicky's future husband is a suspect. Will there be a wedding? Merry sets herself to investigate and clear his name.
I enjoyed the setting, the story and the characters and it was an entertaining read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
The series is set in a town called Rudolph where the shop owners like Merry Wilkinson celebrate Christmas nearly all the time, with some extra fun thrown in at Easter. Merry's best friend Vicky is about to get married and move into an old house which appears to be haunted. A dead body turns up in the garden and Vicky's future husband is a suspect. Will there be a wedding? Merry sets herself to investigate and clear his name.
I enjoyed the setting, the story and the characters and it was an entertaining read.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.
September 17, 2024
Spring in Rudolph, New York, American’s Christmas town, is usually a little show, which means it is the perfect time for Merry Wilkinson’s friends Vicki and Mark to plan their wedding. They’ve even managed to buy the Cole House to move into, but only because it needs a lot of work. However, things aren’t going well at the house since the couple are hearing strange noises in the night. Then, when Merry is visiting, the trio find a dead body. With Mark under suspicion, Merry starts gathering clues. Can she figure out what happened?
Normally, I enjoy this series, but this entry didn’t work for me. The story was too slow to get going. While things did pick up once we found the body, including giving us some great suspects, it wasn’t satisfying. Having said that, my questions were answered at the end. Since this is set in spring, it didn’t have quite the usual Christmas cheer, but I think that’s on me more than anything. The series regulars were still fantastic, and I did enjoy getting to see them again. And we got three recipes that Vicki has been working on for her cookbook. Fans of the series will be happy to check in on the characters, but everyone else can pass this one by.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
Normally, I enjoy this series, but this entry didn’t work for me. The story was too slow to get going. While things did pick up once we found the body, including giving us some great suspects, it wasn’t satisfying. Having said that, my questions were answered at the end. Since this is set in spring, it didn’t have quite the usual Christmas cheer, but I think that’s on me more than anything. The series regulars were still fantastic, and I did enjoy getting to see them again. And we got three recipes that Vicki has been working on for her cookbook. Fans of the series will be happy to check in on the characters, but everyone else can pass this one by.
NOTE: I received an ARC of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
September 29, 2024
Easter has come to Christmas town, but not all is fuzzy bunnies and chocolate when a body is found that leaves Merry's friends in danger! Merry is back to sleuthing in an attempt to save her friends from rumors and potential arrest! This series just keeps getting better and better. The plot is so well crafted that you'll be looking one direction when you should be looking another! All the right clues are there for you to see, but lots of red herrings to have you guessing the wrong villain! The mystery is of course the meat of this Easter story, but the characters' personal stories will also be integral to the plot as well! I must say that this book is my new favorite in the series as the author very creatively wove the mystery to be engaging and compelling. I can't wait to see what happens next in the series especially the Muddle Harbor vs Rudolph aspect not to mention all the events in the personal lives of the characters. I am already excitedly waiting for the next story to be written!
September 15, 2024
"A Slay Ride Together With You (A Year-Round Christmas Mystery #7)" by Vicki Delany is actually set at Easter with a touch of Wedding theme. Merry's best friend Vicky is getting married, writing a cookbook and starting some major home renovations of the old house she and her fiancé just bought together all while trying to run her café. Wow, that's a lot at once. The real kicker is the house is supposedly haunted and there are distant relatives of the previous owner trying to get their hands on the house.
That relative is found in the backyard, having been hit over the head with something. Vicky's fiancé is suspected because of their legal issues and him finding the guy. Merry and Vicky do their usual investigation. The reveal was a definite, "Ha hah! I knew it" moment for me. Though, I did waver a bit here and there throughout the story.
I am glad to hear the issues with the neighboring town may start to be worked out. It was getting a bit old. Especially when they were constantly out to get Rudolph. Time for them to work together. Especially since they really could be helping each other economically speaking, at the very least.
That relative is found in the backyard, having been hit over the head with something. Vicky's fiancé is suspected because of their legal issues and him finding the guy. Merry and Vicky do their usual investigation. The reveal was a definite, "Ha hah! I knew it" moment for me. Though, I did waver a bit here and there throughout the story.
I am glad to hear the issues with the neighboring town may start to be worked out. It was getting a bit old. Especially when they were constantly out to get Rudolph. Time for them to work together. Especially since they really could be helping each other economically speaking, at the very least.
December 22, 2024
Dollycas's Thoughts
While Rudolph, New York goes all out for Christmas they need tourists to visit year-round. Right now, they are decking their halls for Easter. Merry Wilkinson, owner of Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, and the other shopkeepers are adding some eggs, chicks, and bunnies to their wares and windows.
Merry is also looking forward to her best friend, Vicky Casey's wedding. It is just three weeks away and she and her groom Chef Mark Grosse have made a major purchase, the historic Cole House. It has been empty for a long time and needs serious renovation but it is also plagued with a history of drama and it may be haunted. On top of that alienated relatives of the previous owner are fighting her will and want the house.
Vicky and Merry are having a girl's night at the house and a noise leads them outside. There they find a dead body in the garden and Mark is standing over the body with blood on his hands. Mark is now Detective Diane Simmonds' prime suspect and Merry knows she and Vicky need to prove his innocence. Can they do that before the wedding? or will Mark be locked away on their big day?
_____
Merry Wilkerson is a terrific protagonist and a master juggler taking care of everything thrown at her in this story. Her father Noel performs his Santa duties whenever needed. Her mother gives voice lessons. They are a perfect match. Merry is dating Alan Anderson, woodworker extraordinaire. Her best friend Vicki owns Victoria's Bake Shop. Her fiance Mark is head chef at the fancy Yuletide Inn. Merry's dog, Mattie is a big lovable drooling Saint Bernard who goes with her almost everywhere. All the core characters in this story feel like old friends including Mattie.
The victim, Jim Cole has made many enemies over the years and hadn't visited the property he wanted in very long time. Merry and Vicki soon had a nice list of suspects. With Vicky's wedding day quickly approaching she and Merry worked hard to follow every clue much to the angst of Merry's assistant Jackie who was left handling the shop. Ms. Delany has written a well-plotted story. I thought I had my focus on the right person but her talented writing sent me in another direction only to realize she tricked me. She really is an expert at creating twists and turns to keep her characters and her readers on their toes.
The Cole House was a character in itself. It is a rundown creepy place. Boarded up for years, red brick with multiple chimneys, the old Victorian featured dusty chandeliers, cracked tile, mouse-chewed carpeting, heavy dust-filled curtains, moldy furniture draped in sheets, cobwebs, and an overgrown yard and that was just at first glance. Over the years it became a kid's hangout and a right of passage to spend the night there for the students from Rudolph High. It did have a working kitchen but I wouldn't have made it beyond the porch and I definitely wouldn't have moved in. I would have sided with the people who thought Mark and Vicky had lost their minds.
Ms. Delany also uses her descriptive writing talents when describing the food served in this story too. Her words may have you drooling as much at Mattie. She does include recipes at the end of the book. The Holiday Shortbread recipe was scanned and printed out immediately.
A Slay Ride Together With You is an entertaining read that takes us on a merry chase to catch a killer. It was unusual to visit Rudolph in the spring but I enjoyed catching up with the Wilkerson's, their friends, and the town's residents. Until next year, Ms. Delany. I am excited for this series to continue.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
While Rudolph, New York goes all out for Christmas they need tourists to visit year-round. Right now, they are decking their halls for Easter. Merry Wilkinson, owner of Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, and the other shopkeepers are adding some eggs, chicks, and bunnies to their wares and windows.
Merry is also looking forward to her best friend, Vicky Casey's wedding. It is just three weeks away and she and her groom Chef Mark Grosse have made a major purchase, the historic Cole House. It has been empty for a long time and needs serious renovation but it is also plagued with a history of drama and it may be haunted. On top of that alienated relatives of the previous owner are fighting her will and want the house.
Vicky and Merry are having a girl's night at the house and a noise leads them outside. There they find a dead body in the garden and Mark is standing over the body with blood on his hands. Mark is now Detective Diane Simmonds' prime suspect and Merry knows she and Vicky need to prove his innocence. Can they do that before the wedding? or will Mark be locked away on their big day?
_____
Merry Wilkerson is a terrific protagonist and a master juggler taking care of everything thrown at her in this story. Her father Noel performs his Santa duties whenever needed. Her mother gives voice lessons. They are a perfect match. Merry is dating Alan Anderson, woodworker extraordinaire. Her best friend Vicki owns Victoria's Bake Shop. Her fiance Mark is head chef at the fancy Yuletide Inn. Merry's dog, Mattie is a big lovable drooling Saint Bernard who goes with her almost everywhere. All the core characters in this story feel like old friends including Mattie.
The victim, Jim Cole has made many enemies over the years and hadn't visited the property he wanted in very long time. Merry and Vicki soon had a nice list of suspects. With Vicky's wedding day quickly approaching she and Merry worked hard to follow every clue much to the angst of Merry's assistant Jackie who was left handling the shop. Ms. Delany has written a well-plotted story. I thought I had my focus on the right person but her talented writing sent me in another direction only to realize she tricked me. She really is an expert at creating twists and turns to keep her characters and her readers on their toes.
The Cole House was a character in itself. It is a rundown creepy place. Boarded up for years, red brick with multiple chimneys, the old Victorian featured dusty chandeliers, cracked tile, mouse-chewed carpeting, heavy dust-filled curtains, moldy furniture draped in sheets, cobwebs, and an overgrown yard and that was just at first glance. Over the years it became a kid's hangout and a right of passage to spend the night there for the students from Rudolph High. It did have a working kitchen but I wouldn't have made it beyond the porch and I definitely wouldn't have moved in. I would have sided with the people who thought Mark and Vicky had lost their minds.
Ms. Delany also uses her descriptive writing talents when describing the food served in this story too. Her words may have you drooling as much at Mattie. She does include recipes at the end of the book. The Holiday Shortbread recipe was scanned and printed out immediately.
A Slay Ride Together With You is an entertaining read that takes us on a merry chase to catch a killer. It was unusual to visit Rudolph in the spring but I enjoyed catching up with the Wilkerson's, their friends, and the town's residents. Until next year, Ms. Delany. I am excited for this series to continue.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. Thank you to Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC.
January 13, 2025
Rounding up from 3.5⭐
Running her gift shop in a Christmas all year town, normally keeps Merry busy. Now add in her best friend who's just bought the local haunted house as a fixer upper before her wedding. Strange noises are bad enough, but then there's a body. First one read in this series and I felt a little disconnected to the characters. Perhaps, if I had read some earlier books in the series, I would have enjoyed it more. The actual villain in the book didn't.ake sense to me either. On the positive side, many of the secondary characters were interesting. Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Running her gift shop in a Christmas all year town, normally keeps Merry busy. Now add in her best friend who's just bought the local haunted house as a fixer upper before her wedding. Strange noises are bad enough, but then there's a body. First one read in this series and I felt a little disconnected to the characters. Perhaps, if I had read some earlier books in the series, I would have enjoyed it more. The actual villain in the book didn't.ake sense to me either. On the positive side, many of the secondary characters were interesting. Thanks to netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 13, 2024
I have really come to love these year-round Christmas books. Who wouldn't want to celebrate Christmas all year round? After all, the Christmas spirit is one of the most important parts of the Christmas season. It keeps reminding us that there is hope, kindness, and generosity in the world. And it helps us hold onto our humanity. But what happens when someone takes advantage of that kindness and generosity? You end up with murder and other assorted crimes like in Rudolph.
Poor Merry and Vicky are at it again, only this time the stakes are so much higher. Vicky is on the precipice of getting married and having just bought the infamous Cole House, things have certainly gone pear shaped. The criminal (or criminals) must be stopped to allow peace and happiness to spread once again.
I thought the premise of the book was really interesting. I, like I am sure a lot of you out there, enjoy learning about the history of homes, even if it is heartbreakingly tragic.
Cole House is important to the town as well as now Vicky and Mark, now that it is their home. And unfortunately, there are a lot of bad people in the world that would take advantage of Cole House's story and try to make something that should be happy and joyful and turn it into sorrow and anxiety filled.
I love the way town is set up. I know some people would find the idea of a year-round Christmas cheesy or kitschy, but I find it clever. What else are you going to do with a town named Rudolph?
There are a heap ton of possible suspects in this one and I certainly had a great time trying to piece together all of the clues to figure it out. It ended up being the very first one that I had suspected then dismissed altogether so beware of that while you're reading. The red herrings and clues were really fun and kept me on my toes.
I love Merry and Vicky as friends. No matter what is going on with them, they're there for each other. It doesn't matter time of day or night. I know I could use some friends like that. The loyalty and often times, hard headedness of both characters is exactly what brings these cases together.
Every time I read one of these books, I know I am in for a good relaxing romp through its pages. I always learn something new and have greatly enjoyed the experience. Vicki Delany is just an absolutely fabulous author. I will keep reading these books as long as they keep coming. I highly recommend.
Thanks to Net Galley, the publishers, and to Vicki Delany for the ability to read and review this book. All opinions are my own and are completely honest.
Poor Merry and Vicky are at it again, only this time the stakes are so much higher. Vicky is on the precipice of getting married and having just bought the infamous Cole House, things have certainly gone pear shaped. The criminal (or criminals) must be stopped to allow peace and happiness to spread once again.
I thought the premise of the book was really interesting. I, like I am sure a lot of you out there, enjoy learning about the history of homes, even if it is heartbreakingly tragic.
Cole House is important to the town as well as now Vicky and Mark, now that it is their home. And unfortunately, there are a lot of bad people in the world that would take advantage of Cole House's story and try to make something that should be happy and joyful and turn it into sorrow and anxiety filled.
I love the way town is set up. I know some people would find the idea of a year-round Christmas cheesy or kitschy, but I find it clever. What else are you going to do with a town named Rudolph?
There are a heap ton of possible suspects in this one and I certainly had a great time trying to piece together all of the clues to figure it out. It ended up being the very first one that I had suspected then dismissed altogether so beware of that while you're reading. The red herrings and clues were really fun and kept me on my toes.
I love Merry and Vicky as friends. No matter what is going on with them, they're there for each other. It doesn't matter time of day or night. I know I could use some friends like that. The loyalty and often times, hard headedness of both characters is exactly what brings these cases together.
Every time I read one of these books, I know I am in for a good relaxing romp through its pages. I always learn something new and have greatly enjoyed the experience. Vicki Delany is just an absolutely fabulous author. I will keep reading these books as long as they keep coming. I highly recommend.
Thanks to Net Galley, the publishers, and to Vicki Delany for the ability to read and review this book. All opinions are my own and are completely honest.
July 10, 2024
It was nice to beat the summer heat by taking a trip to our favorite Christmas town, Rudolph, New York. While it is close to Easter, not Christmas, Merry and crew have plenty going on. Vicki and Mark have decided to get married and have bought a house to boot. It is an old, run-down house with a very interesting history. Vicki is writing her cookbook, and Merry is trying to help her find a publisher as both ladies gear up their businesses for the coming Christmas in July festivities. When Vicki and Mark start having issues with a heir to the last owner of their house and rumors of the ghosts and the haunting of the place, they are trying to down play everything until Mark discovers the man's body in their yard. With Mark now a suspect and the wedding only two weeks away, Merry needs to get busy going thru the multiple suspects our victim has amassed as folks done wrong. As always it a good time whenever you visit Rudolph, its fun folks and holiday vibe. Thanks to #NetGalley, #CrookedLaneBooks, and the author for the chance to read. #ASlayRideTogetherWithYou, #VickiDelany, #bookreview, #bookideas,#retiredreader
September 18, 2024
A Slay Ride Together With You by Vicki Delany takes us back to Rudolph, New York, a town that has refashioned itself as “America’s Christmas Town.” They did let Easter peek in just a little and that is when we find ourselves there. Merry’s best friend, Vicky, baker-extraordinaire, is about to marry, Mark, an excellent chef who has put the hotel on the culinary map for the area. Vicky and Mark have bought a house: a big, scary, maybe-haunted house, that hasn’t been lived in in years and is in terrible shape. Mark’s dream. High school kids have been hanging out and scaring one another for years: Cole House. They and a crew of friends have cleared the majority of the trash out, saving only some wood pieces that might be salvageable and Vicky and Mark are planning to live in three rooms on the ground floor. But, Vicky is frightened. She goes to bed way before Mark comes home but she hears knocking and footsteps and all manner of frightening sounds. Merry could see the lack of sleep on her friend’s face and questioned her about it. At the same time there was some shirt-tail relative of Emmeline Coles running around and telling people the house should be his. Plus Mark and Vicky had a wedding to plan.
As always, Delany writes excellent characters, giving personalities to more than just the couple of leads. The plot was quite good as various characters seemed to have reason to question the sale and then the murderer turned out to not give a hoot about the house, but was after something else entirely. It was a merry chase with all kinds of twists and turns in this lively little town near Lake Ontario. Sub-plots abound in this coziest of cozy mysteries. I highly recommend.
I was invited to read A Slay Ride Together With You by Crooked Lane Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #CrookedLaneBooks #VickiDelany #ASlayRideTogetherWithYou
As always, Delany writes excellent characters, giving personalities to more than just the couple of leads. The plot was quite good as various characters seemed to have reason to question the sale and then the murderer turned out to not give a hoot about the house, but was after something else entirely. It was a merry chase with all kinds of twists and turns in this lively little town near Lake Ontario. Sub-plots abound in this coziest of cozy mysteries. I highly recommend.
I was invited to read A Slay Ride Together With You by Crooked Lane Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #CrookedLaneBooks #VickiDelany #ASlayRideTogetherWithYou
March 6, 2025
2-1/2 stars rounded up to 3.
Set during the Spring and Easter season, this installment of the series just wasn't as fun for me as those that take place during Christmas. I wasn't as invested in the mystery of this book either, and found myself bored several times throughout.
I rounded up to 3 stars because I do enjoy these characters, including the furry ones.
This was an OK story, but I've definitely enjoyed the previous books in this series more.
Set during the Spring and Easter season, this installment of the series just wasn't as fun for me as those that take place during Christmas. I wasn't as invested in the mystery of this book either, and found myself bored several times throughout.
I rounded up to 3 stars because I do enjoy these characters, including the furry ones.
This was an OK story, but I've definitely enjoyed the previous books in this series more.
March 22, 2025
Another good one as usual. Love this series!
August 17, 2024
A Slay Ride Together With You is the next installment in Vicki Delany's Year-Round Christmas mystery series. Vicky has just announced not only that she is engaged but also that she is buying the Cole House with Mark. Everyone in town believes the Cole House to be haunted and anyone who lives there will be cursed. While Vicky and Mark don't initially believe in such tales, they soon start hearing unidentifiable noises at all hours of the night. With neither of them getting much sleep, Merry agrees to stay the night and get to the bottom of these "hauntings." Unfortunately, what Merry, Mark, and Vicky discover is a dead body. With Mark as the prime suspect, Merry and Vicky have their work cut out for them to solve this case before the big wedding day.
A Slay Ride Together With You is a charming holiday cozy mystery. I love that even in Spring, I still get the Hallmark Christmas vibes from this series. The characters are all fun and quirky. The mystery was reasonably intriguing and kept me guessing. I will definitely be recommending not only this book but the entire series to anyone who loves a good cozy mystery. I can't wait to read about Merry and friends' next adventure!
A Slay Ride Together With You is a charming holiday cozy mystery. I love that even in Spring, I still get the Hallmark Christmas vibes from this series. The characters are all fun and quirky. The mystery was reasonably intriguing and kept me guessing. I will definitely be recommending not only this book but the entire series to anyone who loves a good cozy mystery. I can't wait to read about Merry and friends' next adventure!
May 27, 2024
A Year Round Christmas Mystery #7
Ms. Delany writes all kinds of cozy mystery stories that are fun to read. The stage is set in Rudolph, New York, where the mystery will have shop owner Merry Wilkinson helping her best friend Vicky Casey and her fiancé Mark Grosse move into the historic Cole House, an old home deemed haunted....of course odd goings on starts the moment Vicki and Mark move in...Even a body of a man is found on the grounds triggering all kinds of speculation.
I haven’t read the all the previous books in this series but I can assure that at any point you can pick up a book and be right at home. This one is set during Easter time but the town’s hasn’t left its Christmas spirit go after all Rudolph is known as “America’s Christmas Town” for a reason. Mark was unlucky enough to have found the body of the man and has fast become the prime suspect as Detective Diane Simmonds sets her focus on him. Merry, Vicki, the opera diva, Santa and most of the town people spring into action to find solutions and solve the puzzle so that Mark can be vindicated.
The action is slow moving but does keep us in a soft suspense from the time Mark was blamed till the motives were uncovered and the killer was found. Ms. Delany style is simple and easy to follow and for us to be totally immersed in the going on. This is real chick-lit at its best and a joy to read.
I received this ARC from the publisher Crooked Lane Books via Netgalley for my thoughts: this is the way I see it.
Ms. Delany writes all kinds of cozy mystery stories that are fun to read. The stage is set in Rudolph, New York, where the mystery will have shop owner Merry Wilkinson helping her best friend Vicky Casey and her fiancé Mark Grosse move into the historic Cole House, an old home deemed haunted....of course odd goings on starts the moment Vicki and Mark move in...Even a body of a man is found on the grounds triggering all kinds of speculation.
I haven’t read the all the previous books in this series but I can assure that at any point you can pick up a book and be right at home. This one is set during Easter time but the town’s hasn’t left its Christmas spirit go after all Rudolph is known as “America’s Christmas Town” for a reason. Mark was unlucky enough to have found the body of the man and has fast become the prime suspect as Detective Diane Simmonds sets her focus on him. Merry, Vicki, the opera diva, Santa and most of the town people spring into action to find solutions and solve the puzzle so that Mark can be vindicated.
The action is slow moving but does keep us in a soft suspense from the time Mark was blamed till the motives were uncovered and the killer was found. Ms. Delany style is simple and easy to follow and for us to be totally immersed in the going on. This is real chick-lit at its best and a joy to read.
I received this ARC from the publisher Crooked Lane Books via Netgalley for my thoughts: this is the way I see it.
May 22, 2024
Cozy mystery fans, rejoice; Merry Wilkinson is back at it with another murder to solve in the Christmas Town of Rudolph, New York.
As her best friend Vicky plans her wedding, as well as buying an old house that is well known in the area, Merry has to work doubly hard to make sure that the wedding goes off on time and without anyone wrongfully in jail.
Along with her parents and coworkers, Merry is as delightful as ever and the mystery will keep you guessing until the very end. Add in the three distinctly different dogs, and you will have a rollicking good time with this latest instalment in an already amazing series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for my honest review.
As her best friend Vicky plans her wedding, as well as buying an old house that is well known in the area, Merry has to work doubly hard to make sure that the wedding goes off on time and without anyone wrongfully in jail.
Along with her parents and coworkers, Merry is as delightful as ever and the mystery will keep you guessing until the very end. Add in the three distinctly different dogs, and you will have a rollicking good time with this latest instalment in an already amazing series.
Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this book for free in exchange for my honest review.
July 19, 2024
Our mystery follows Mark and Vicky in this book. They purchase a historical home that needs a lot of work and a body is found on the property. Thus our investigation begins. I always like the friendship between Merry and Vicky, it is really nice to see such strong female friendship. The potential movement in the town rivalries is a welcomed change. It gets old always disliking something for no reason. The mystery was interesting but not necessarily the strongest. But I liked a lot of the side characters Cindy I thought was quite empathetic (didn’t love how Merry and her mother treated her for really no reason). I hope we get more of Russ. He is one of my fav characters in this series. Maybe him and the detective?!?!? Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.
May 21, 2024
#ASlayRideTogetherWithYou #NetGalley is another fun story in this Year Round Christmas cozy book.
Merry loves her life and is very happy for her friend Vicky, who is getting married in a few short weeks.
Vicky and her soon to be husband have bought the Cole house, rumored to be haunted and creepy.
It doesn't take long for bizarre things to happen, and it seems like Vicky and Merry may have a murder to solve before anyone can say I do.
I love this series and I'm always excited to recommend this series to others.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
Merry loves her life and is very happy for her friend Vicky, who is getting married in a few short weeks.
Vicky and her soon to be husband have bought the Cole house, rumored to be haunted and creepy.
It doesn't take long for bizarre things to happen, and it seems like Vicky and Merry may have a murder to solve before anyone can say I do.
I love this series and I'm always excited to recommend this series to others.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
December 31, 2024
A SLAY RIDE TOGETHER WITH YOU, the 7th book in Vicki Delany's Year-Round Christmas series finds store owner Merry Wilkinson caught up in another murder investigation when the fiancee of her best friend is found standing over the body.
Rudolph, New York maintains it's Christmas Town brand throughout the year but with Easter approaching, Merry is dealing with the Easter holiday and the pending nuptials for her best friend Vicky.
News that her friend and fiancé Mark have bought the run down Cole House shocks Merry. The house has long been unoccupied and pretty much serves as a teen party hangout and "haunted" house for the town.
But the couple plan to renovate it and make it their home. That is until Jim Cole, a distant relative to the family that owned the house comes to town claiming that he should've inherited the house. A problem to be sure but one that appears to be nothing more than a nuisance.
That is until he turns up dead. And Mark is seen as the intial prime suspect. Warned to stay out of the case by Detective Diane Simmonds, Merry ends up learning much about the man who was killed. It seems he was more akin to Ebeneezer Scrooge at the beginning of 'A Christmas Carol' than at the end. He spent his life making anyone and everyone who crossed his path miserable. Two ex-wives, a neglected daughter, a gold-digger girlfriend and any number of people he sued just because he felt like it. It's almost less of a question of who wanted him dead than who didn't!
But looking to clear Mark's name, Merry ends up poking into the Cole House history as well as the family's history. With a break-in at Vicky's bakery as well as an in-store fight between two possible suspects, there's a whole lot going on.
But as people are cleared, the question of finding the killer could soon lead to Merry's own demise. There's a killer on the loose and their feelings are anything but cheery.
The story in A SLAY RIDE TOGETHER WITH YOU started off a bit slower than usual I thought. I know romance and/or marriage are a prime component of cozy mysteries but until the body pops up, the focus on the pending nuptials occupied most of the early going and I was a bit bored...get on with the killing, willya?
I love the way Delany balances the no-nonsense ways of Detective Simmonds when she's working a case with Merry's sometimes clever, sometimes bungling manner of "detection". Plus, the jealousy on Merry's part with her dog Matterhorn acting like a besotted suitor whenever he sees the detective makes me chuckle. A traitor indeed.
Once the murder happens and the investigation begins, the story does pick up the pace a bit more and when that happens I did get into the book more. Mark does make a viable suspect in the beginning and there's a couple of instances where he does himself no favors. I was left thinking those reactions could be seen as red flags for his relationship with Vicky but I don't think that would be part of a cozy storyline.
Merry's parents, the opera diva and Santa Claus are the mismatched pair who are so perfectly matched regardless. I love that Merry's mom plays a cool role in the investigation while her Dad brings that Xmas magic even during Easter season.
The funny thing is that despite loving how the mystery itself turned out with a twist of who just might've killed the victim and why, the most interesting part of the book was the potential thaw in the relationship between Rudolph and its neighboring town Muddle Harbor. Much like the rivalry between Merry and police officer Campbell, it feels like it is time for the towns to "grow up" and the possibility of that makes me want to journey back to Rudolph to see how that develops as much as reading about Merry's latest murder investigation.
A SLAY RIDE TOGETHER, perfectly timed for release around the actual Xmas holiday this year, brings plenty of cheer to this reader!
Rudolph, New York maintains it's Christmas Town brand throughout the year but with Easter approaching, Merry is dealing with the Easter holiday and the pending nuptials for her best friend Vicky.
News that her friend and fiancé Mark have bought the run down Cole House shocks Merry. The house has long been unoccupied and pretty much serves as a teen party hangout and "haunted" house for the town.
But the couple plan to renovate it and make it their home. That is until Jim Cole, a distant relative to the family that owned the house comes to town claiming that he should've inherited the house. A problem to be sure but one that appears to be nothing more than a nuisance.
That is until he turns up dead. And Mark is seen as the intial prime suspect. Warned to stay out of the case by Detective Diane Simmonds, Merry ends up learning much about the man who was killed. It seems he was more akin to Ebeneezer Scrooge at the beginning of 'A Christmas Carol' than at the end. He spent his life making anyone and everyone who crossed his path miserable. Two ex-wives, a neglected daughter, a gold-digger girlfriend and any number of people he sued just because he felt like it. It's almost less of a question of who wanted him dead than who didn't!
But looking to clear Mark's name, Merry ends up poking into the Cole House history as well as the family's history. With a break-in at Vicky's bakery as well as an in-store fight between two possible suspects, there's a whole lot going on.
But as people are cleared, the question of finding the killer could soon lead to Merry's own demise. There's a killer on the loose and their feelings are anything but cheery.
The story in A SLAY RIDE TOGETHER WITH YOU started off a bit slower than usual I thought. I know romance and/or marriage are a prime component of cozy mysteries but until the body pops up, the focus on the pending nuptials occupied most of the early going and I was a bit bored...get on with the killing, willya?
I love the way Delany balances the no-nonsense ways of Detective Simmonds when she's working a case with Merry's sometimes clever, sometimes bungling manner of "detection". Plus, the jealousy on Merry's part with her dog Matterhorn acting like a besotted suitor whenever he sees the detective makes me chuckle. A traitor indeed.
Once the murder happens and the investigation begins, the story does pick up the pace a bit more and when that happens I did get into the book more. Mark does make a viable suspect in the beginning and there's a couple of instances where he does himself no favors. I was left thinking those reactions could be seen as red flags for his relationship with Vicky but I don't think that would be part of a cozy storyline.
Merry's parents, the opera diva and Santa Claus are the mismatched pair who are so perfectly matched regardless. I love that Merry's mom plays a cool role in the investigation while her Dad brings that Xmas magic even during Easter season.
The funny thing is that despite loving how the mystery itself turned out with a twist of who just might've killed the victim and why, the most interesting part of the book was the potential thaw in the relationship between Rudolph and its neighboring town Muddle Harbor. Much like the rivalry between Merry and police officer Campbell, it feels like it is time for the towns to "grow up" and the possibility of that makes me want to journey back to Rudolph to see how that develops as much as reading about Merry's latest murder investigation.
A SLAY RIDE TOGETHER, perfectly timed for release around the actual Xmas holiday this year, brings plenty of cheer to this reader!
November 8, 2024
A Slay Ride Together With You
By: Vicki Delany
Publish Date: September 24, 2024
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Literary Fiction/ Mystery and Thriller
#ASlayRideTogetherWithYou#NetGalley
I would like to thank both NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read and review this book.
Book Review:
This is book 7 in the series The Year-Round Christmas. I haven't read all the books in this series, and you really don't have too to get the understanding of this book. I really enjoy in the family and friendship in this book. The small town vie also works well in this story. I gave this book 4 stars.
In this book Merry's best friend is getting married. Just before the wedding Vicky, Merry's friend, and Mark buy an old house with an interesting history. Things start happening at the home and this has both Mark and Vicky a little worried. Then one night they find a body on the property. The body is none other than Jim Cole who was causing them problems about the home. The home that both Vicky and Mark used to belong to the Cole family and Jim wanted the home even though the owner wanted it sold on her death. Mark is being investigated for the murder,but did he do it. The town is up in the air on what to do and who actually did it. You will have to read the book to find out. I didn't guess it and usually I can figure it out.
By: Vicki Delany
Publish Date: September 24, 2024
Publisher: Crooked Lane Books
Literary Fiction/ Mystery and Thriller
#ASlayRideTogetherWithYou#NetGalley
I would like to thank both NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read and review this book.
Book Review:
This is book 7 in the series The Year-Round Christmas. I haven't read all the books in this series, and you really don't have too to get the understanding of this book. I really enjoy in the family and friendship in this book. The small town vie also works well in this story. I gave this book 4 stars.
In this book Merry's best friend is getting married. Just before the wedding Vicky, Merry's friend, and Mark buy an old house with an interesting history. Things start happening at the home and this has both Mark and Vicky a little worried. Then one night they find a body on the property. The body is none other than Jim Cole who was causing them problems about the home. The home that both Vicky and Mark used to belong to the Cole family and Jim wanted the home even though the owner wanted it sold on her death. Mark is being investigated for the murder,but did he do it. The town is up in the air on what to do and who actually did it. You will have to read the book to find out. I didn't guess it and usually I can figure it out.
December 12, 2024
Another enjoyable installment in this series! One thing I do have to mention is that narrator changed for this one and while I still enjoyed the presentation, the feel of the characters was different for me due to this change. I'm still looking forward to the next installment as always.
November 6, 2024
A cozy mystery set in Rudolph, New York at Easter time. The story centers around the best friend of Merry Wilkinson, the main character. The book was an easy read.
February 28, 2025
Finished the newest book tonight! Loved it and this series and author are one of my top 20…
May 19, 2025
I am not sure I believe that Vicky and Mark would be able to flip their murder house BUT I like this series and I would like to visit Rudolph, dead bodies aside.
December 14, 2024
Cute cozy mystery 📚
July 7, 2024
What makes people kill? Surely something life shattering or a perceived threat? Greed? Tangled emotions? Money? So many reasons. Yet, Vicki Delany managed to come up with a new one for me. Nope, not telling, but definitely gives one pause.
I won't detail the plot, that's what the blurb is for, but it manages to combine a spooky, maybe haunted old mansion, romance and wedding plans, food, and dogs. Mattie/Matterhorn is main character Merry Wilkerson's Saint Bernard and he is definitely not to missed. Actually, that'd be hard to do since he weighs in at 170 pounds. You'll meet Merry's best friend Vicky Casey, who is owned by an "ancient" Golden Labrador. That's not the big news about Vicky, however. She's not only getting married but plans on buying a house with husband-to-be and chef Mark Grosse. You guessed it. The house in question is the rumored haunted mansion that even now rather spooks Merry, who remembers it not to fondly from her youth. Oh, and did I forget to mention that Merry's father is Santa Claus? Well, the official Santa Claus of Rudolph, New York, anyway. Her mother is every inch a diva, a famous but retired opera singer. Rounding out this basic cast is Alan Anderson, Merry's boyfriend, a woodworker who doubles as Santa's head toy-maker at public events. If you haven't noticed, Rudolph is, as the subtitle says, a town dedicated to all things Christmas, even as Easter approaches.
Unfortunately, being dedicated to Christmas doesn't mean bad things don't happen. When Mark is found standing over a dead body in the garden of the garden of the home Vicky and he just bought, Merry can't help but be caught up in the investigation. So, who killed the Jim Cole? It isn't like he didn't have enemies. Even his former wife and supposed girlfriend seem to have had flashing dollar signs in their eyes when they believed they might inherit a huge sum from him. Maybe the daughter he'd basically deserted and ignored? The legal terms of the old homes title add complications. Toss in spooky sounds at night that spook everyone, including Merry, and you'll even be wondering if there are ghosts involved. Will Vicky ever get that cookbook she's writing done? It isn't like she doesn't have a few other things on her mind, like her job, finding new staff, a rapidly approaching wedding day, and the almost mind-boggling repairs their new home will require to keep her occupied. And....enough teasers.
Bottom line, I enjoyed revisiting Rudolph to catch up with Merry and the gang again. It was fun to get a dose of Christmas spirit when not focused on the investigation and creaky boards and sounds. I liked the regular characters and, as always, smiled while rolling my eyes as Merry's mother put on her diva persona as needed and even showed some great investigative skills herself. And, don't forget, Santa knows. Well, not whodunit, but Santa, Noel Wilkerson in the real world, does seem to always manage to show up when he's needed. Rudolph sounds like a delightful place, much of it within walking distance of everything else. As for the mystery, while I wasn't expecting the reason behind the murder, it all made sense in a sad kind of way. People are complicated. The friendship between Merry and Vicky isn't, however. They're simply there for each other, no matter what or when. That's good as it is going to take two heads to sort out the clues and red herrings of this one. Thanks #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for inviting me for an early peek at the goings-on in Rudolph. Always a pleasure to soak up that Christmas spirit of kindness and caring that dominate, even amidst unpleasant circumstances.
I won't detail the plot, that's what the blurb is for, but it manages to combine a spooky, maybe haunted old mansion, romance and wedding plans, food, and dogs. Mattie/Matterhorn is main character Merry Wilkerson's Saint Bernard and he is definitely not to missed. Actually, that'd be hard to do since he weighs in at 170 pounds. You'll meet Merry's best friend Vicky Casey, who is owned by an "ancient" Golden Labrador. That's not the big news about Vicky, however. She's not only getting married but plans on buying a house with husband-to-be and chef Mark Grosse. You guessed it. The house in question is the rumored haunted mansion that even now rather spooks Merry, who remembers it not to fondly from her youth. Oh, and did I forget to mention that Merry's father is Santa Claus? Well, the official Santa Claus of Rudolph, New York, anyway. Her mother is every inch a diva, a famous but retired opera singer. Rounding out this basic cast is Alan Anderson, Merry's boyfriend, a woodworker who doubles as Santa's head toy-maker at public events. If you haven't noticed, Rudolph is, as the subtitle says, a town dedicated to all things Christmas, even as Easter approaches.
Unfortunately, being dedicated to Christmas doesn't mean bad things don't happen. When Mark is found standing over a dead body in the garden of the garden of the home Vicky and he just bought, Merry can't help but be caught up in the investigation. So, who killed the Jim Cole? It isn't like he didn't have enemies. Even his former wife and supposed girlfriend seem to have had flashing dollar signs in their eyes when they believed they might inherit a huge sum from him. Maybe the daughter he'd basically deserted and ignored? The legal terms of the old homes title add complications. Toss in spooky sounds at night that spook everyone, including Merry, and you'll even be wondering if there are ghosts involved. Will Vicky ever get that cookbook she's writing done? It isn't like she doesn't have a few other things on her mind, like her job, finding new staff, a rapidly approaching wedding day, and the almost mind-boggling repairs their new home will require to keep her occupied. And....enough teasers.
Bottom line, I enjoyed revisiting Rudolph to catch up with Merry and the gang again. It was fun to get a dose of Christmas spirit when not focused on the investigation and creaky boards and sounds. I liked the regular characters and, as always, smiled while rolling my eyes as Merry's mother put on her diva persona as needed and even showed some great investigative skills herself. And, don't forget, Santa knows. Well, not whodunit, but Santa, Noel Wilkerson in the real world, does seem to always manage to show up when he's needed. Rudolph sounds like a delightful place, much of it within walking distance of everything else. As for the mystery, while I wasn't expecting the reason behind the murder, it all made sense in a sad kind of way. People are complicated. The friendship between Merry and Vicky isn't, however. They're simply there for each other, no matter what or when. That's good as it is going to take two heads to sort out the clues and red herrings of this one. Thanks #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for inviting me for an early peek at the goings-on in Rudolph. Always a pleasure to soak up that Christmas spirit of kindness and caring that dominate, even amidst unpleasant circumstances.
November 5, 2024
A SLAY RIDE TOGETHER WITH YOU by Vicki Delany is the seventh book in the Year-Round Christmas Mystery series. It’s the wonderfully written story about Rudolph, New York, America’s Christmas town, during the Easter season. Merry Wilkinson puts on her amateur sleuthing hat in order to help her best friend and her fiancée from a possible haunted house and being charged for murder.
Vicky, Merry’s best friend, and Mark, a local chef, are excited about their upcoming small wedding and starting a new life together. Part of that was buying an old historical house known as the Cole House with grand plans to renovated the abandoned and badly in need of repair house into the beautiful home of their dreams set on a large plot of land. Almost immediately, their excitement starts to dim when noises and events make them wonder about the gossip of the house being haunted. The tales include the tragic deaths of many of the Cole family members at the house. When Mark explored one such incident, he finds the body of one of the Cole decedents (the one that had been giving them trouble saying he had a claim on the estate) outside in the garden. When the police arrive, Mark was found standing over the body with blood splatters on his chef jacket and hands. When evidence proved it was a homicide, Mark immediately becomes a suspect much to the dismay of his future bride and Merry. While Merry had been trying to be just a normal citizen with a business in town to run, she felt she just had to help her friends and find evidence for who was the killer and maybe in the process shed some light on the ghost like events that had been going on in the Cole mansion.
Merry Wilkinson, 31, lives with her 170-pound Saint Bernard named Matty. Her boyfriend, Alan Anderson also known as Santa’s head toymaker, is dedicated to help Merry any way he can and to keep her safe. Maybe with the help of Alan, her dad - locally known as the official Santa, her mom - a former opera singer, and even Jackie - her shop assistant who makes getting away from her shop - Mrs. Claus’s Treasures - possible, she can find clues by overhearing or seeing things that will help Detective Diane Simmonds find the true murderer in the Jim Cole case. Merry and Alan find that Mr. Cole had made many enemies and no friends in his life making their list of suspects rather long.
Are the events that have taken place at the Cole House connected to Jim’s death? With all that’s happened, can they get everything together in time for the fast-approaching wedding day? How can Vicky work on her cookbook idea between working at her bakery, trying to get ready for a wedding and worrying about Mark being charged for murder? Is it possible to solve who killed Jim Cole in order to clear Mark’s name? Will Merry’s snooping around end up putting her own life in danger? Can Alan keep her from harm?
A SLAY RIDE TOGETHER WITH YOU is a fabulous cozy mystery! You need to plan on reading it in one sitting because it’s definitely a book you won’t be able to put down. Vicki Delany leads Merry and the reader down may paths where some connect to the murder and some are somewhat dead ends, but adding depth and details to the story. It a fabulous story of many turns and adventures. The final reveal is both exciting and surprising adding flare to this magnificently written FIVE STAR book! Although part of a series, A SLAY RIDE TOGETHER WITH YOU can most definitely be read as a standalone book.
I receive a copy of this book with no requirement or expectations of a review. All opinions are completely my own.
#ASlayRideTogetherWithYou #YearRoundChristmasMystery #cozymystery
Vicky, Merry’s best friend, and Mark, a local chef, are excited about their upcoming small wedding and starting a new life together. Part of that was buying an old historical house known as the Cole House with grand plans to renovated the abandoned and badly in need of repair house into the beautiful home of their dreams set on a large plot of land. Almost immediately, their excitement starts to dim when noises and events make them wonder about the gossip of the house being haunted. The tales include the tragic deaths of many of the Cole family members at the house. When Mark explored one such incident, he finds the body of one of the Cole decedents (the one that had been giving them trouble saying he had a claim on the estate) outside in the garden. When the police arrive, Mark was found standing over the body with blood splatters on his chef jacket and hands. When evidence proved it was a homicide, Mark immediately becomes a suspect much to the dismay of his future bride and Merry. While Merry had been trying to be just a normal citizen with a business in town to run, she felt she just had to help her friends and find evidence for who was the killer and maybe in the process shed some light on the ghost like events that had been going on in the Cole mansion.
Merry Wilkinson, 31, lives with her 170-pound Saint Bernard named Matty. Her boyfriend, Alan Anderson also known as Santa’s head toymaker, is dedicated to help Merry any way he can and to keep her safe. Maybe with the help of Alan, her dad - locally known as the official Santa, her mom - a former opera singer, and even Jackie - her shop assistant who makes getting away from her shop - Mrs. Claus’s Treasures - possible, she can find clues by overhearing or seeing things that will help Detective Diane Simmonds find the true murderer in the Jim Cole case. Merry and Alan find that Mr. Cole had made many enemies and no friends in his life making their list of suspects rather long.
Are the events that have taken place at the Cole House connected to Jim’s death? With all that’s happened, can they get everything together in time for the fast-approaching wedding day? How can Vicky work on her cookbook idea between working at her bakery, trying to get ready for a wedding and worrying about Mark being charged for murder? Is it possible to solve who killed Jim Cole in order to clear Mark’s name? Will Merry’s snooping around end up putting her own life in danger? Can Alan keep her from harm?
A SLAY RIDE TOGETHER WITH YOU is a fabulous cozy mystery! You need to plan on reading it in one sitting because it’s definitely a book you won’t be able to put down. Vicki Delany leads Merry and the reader down may paths where some connect to the murder and some are somewhat dead ends, but adding depth and details to the story. It a fabulous story of many turns and adventures. The final reveal is both exciting and surprising adding flare to this magnificently written FIVE STAR book! Although part of a series, A SLAY RIDE TOGETHER WITH YOU can most definitely be read as a standalone book.
I receive a copy of this book with no requirement or expectations of a review. All opinions are completely my own.
#ASlayRideTogetherWithYou #YearRoundChristmasMystery #cozymystery
August 4, 2024
Merry Wilkinson lives in Rudolph, New York, deemed "Christmas town" and owns Mrs. Claus's Treasures, a gift shop. She's also best friends with Vicky Casey, who owns the local bakery. While talking with Vicky one day she learns that Vicky and her fiancé Mark Grosse, a chef at a local inn, are purchasing a long-vacant Victorian mansion that has been dubbed as haunted. Not wanting to say anything, she just congratulates her.
But then the troubles begin: a man accosts them in the street, claiming the Vicky stole the mansion out from under him and he is the rightful owner. Even though neither of them believes it, Vicky is a bit shaken up. Later Merry learns that Vicky -- and Mark -- have been hearing noises at night, more creaks than an old house should offer up. There's also knocking at both front and back doors -- but no one is there. After Mark arrives home from work, the women tell him, and he starts to search outside -- but not for long. A body is discovered, and Mark has the person's blood on him from trying to turn it over. Now he's a suspect in the murder, and Vicky asks Merry to help clear his name. But in doing so, will she once again put herself in harm's way?...
I have to be honest and say that I have not read every book in this series, but I wish I had. I love Ms. Delany's other series, and this book has the same charm as the others. It pulls you in at the beginning and makes you want to continue to read it all in one sitting. The characters are believable, the settings descriptive; so much so that I want to visit Cole House myself. I love Victorian homes, and I love old mysteries within mysteries, so this book was perfect for me to read.
I love the fact that the author managed to convey both sadness in the previous owners of the home while encouraging the happiness of a new couple who would be beginning their lives together soon. But will the wedding occur with the death hanging over them? It becomes apparent that this was a homicide, and Mark may have had a motive -- or did he? That's the pleasure of reading these stories. You are given a plethora of suspects, and then you must weed them out to find the true culprit. And, of course, Merry does -- as we know she will do.
The climax of the story is suspenseful, as it should be. There is nothing light about it; and it is not until the epilogue (last chapter) that we see the new beginnings come into focus. When we discover the reason for the killing it seems tragic at the very least; and it lets us see that almost anyone can be deranged in their thoughts. A definite plus for the ending. I am glad I read this and now will have to go back to the ones I missed and start all over. Highly recommended.
I was given a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
But then the troubles begin: a man accosts them in the street, claiming the Vicky stole the mansion out from under him and he is the rightful owner. Even though neither of them believes it, Vicky is a bit shaken up. Later Merry learns that Vicky -- and Mark -- have been hearing noises at night, more creaks than an old house should offer up. There's also knocking at both front and back doors -- but no one is there. After Mark arrives home from work, the women tell him, and he starts to search outside -- but not for long. A body is discovered, and Mark has the person's blood on him from trying to turn it over. Now he's a suspect in the murder, and Vicky asks Merry to help clear his name. But in doing so, will she once again put herself in harm's way?...
I have to be honest and say that I have not read every book in this series, but I wish I had. I love Ms. Delany's other series, and this book has the same charm as the others. It pulls you in at the beginning and makes you want to continue to read it all in one sitting. The characters are believable, the settings descriptive; so much so that I want to visit Cole House myself. I love Victorian homes, and I love old mysteries within mysteries, so this book was perfect for me to read.
I love the fact that the author managed to convey both sadness in the previous owners of the home while encouraging the happiness of a new couple who would be beginning their lives together soon. But will the wedding occur with the death hanging over them? It becomes apparent that this was a homicide, and Mark may have had a motive -- or did he? That's the pleasure of reading these stories. You are given a plethora of suspects, and then you must weed them out to find the true culprit. And, of course, Merry does -- as we know she will do.
The climax of the story is suspenseful, as it should be. There is nothing light about it; and it is not until the epilogue (last chapter) that we see the new beginnings come into focus. When we discover the reason for the killing it seems tragic at the very least; and it lets us see that almost anyone can be deranged in their thoughts. A definite plus for the ending. I am glad I read this and now will have to go back to the ones I missed and start all over. Highly recommended.
I was given a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.
December 16, 2024
This is book number 7 in the Year-Round Christmas Mystery series. Merry Wilkinson finds herself sleuthing a mystery with Halloween vibes during the Easter season in the Christmas themed town of Rudolph New York. Not to worry, you do not have to be familiar with the series to be able to enjoy the story.
Merry’s BFF is Vicky Casey, a very gifted baker who is engaged to be married to an equally gifted chef named Mark Grosse, and together they purchased the fixer-upper known as the Cole House. Apparently the word around town is that Vicky and Mark must have lost their minds because the place has a sad and possibly cursed history. Not to worry the backstory for the Cole house is included in fact there is plenty of backstory regarding all of the characters to keep you in the loop. In addition to backstory there are some great interactions between characters. There are some truly interesting characters such as Merry’s parents. Her mom, Aline Steiner Wilkinson, is a real diva as in opera diva and a little bit of a regular diva. Noel Wilkinson, her dad, is the official town Santa Clause, complete with real beard and the jolly disposition. Merry takes after her dad a bit more than her mom, which is probably why everyone in town thinks that Merry’s store assistant, Jackie O’Reilly is indulged to the point that she gets delusions of grandeur. In Jackie’s defense, Merry is often running off to ask questions and hunt for clues instead of managing Mrs. Claus’s Treasurers. If it wasn’t for Merry, we the readers would not get to armchair sleuth.
Ms. Delaney does a great job of keeping the reader intrigued and turning pages while trying to reason out who could have killed the sue‑happy and obnoxious Jim Cole, cousin to the former owner of the Cole house. Instead of being able to challenge the will for ownership of the really run down house, he got blunt force trauma. Suspects include Jim’s own daughter whom he had nothing to do with since she was little and he left her mother. There is also an additional ex-wife and a current girlfriend, both of whom are “distraught” that such a financially well off and loving man has been murdered. The only reason Merry is involved is because Mark has a little bit of a temper and was the unfortunate person who found the body.
The story moved at a good pace and the red herrings were well thought. I was able to figure out the “who” but not the “why.” I also enjoyed the little something extra that both Aline and Jackie add to the story. It might not be Christmas time but this was a great cozy for a year round Christmas town. Be sure to check out the recipes at the end of the story. I am adding the Coconut Sugar Cookies to my holiday baking list. The cookies are both easy to make and tasty to eat.
Merry’s BFF is Vicky Casey, a very gifted baker who is engaged to be married to an equally gifted chef named Mark Grosse, and together they purchased the fixer-upper known as the Cole House. Apparently the word around town is that Vicky and Mark must have lost their minds because the place has a sad and possibly cursed history. Not to worry the backstory for the Cole house is included in fact there is plenty of backstory regarding all of the characters to keep you in the loop. In addition to backstory there are some great interactions between characters. There are some truly interesting characters such as Merry’s parents. Her mom, Aline Steiner Wilkinson, is a real diva as in opera diva and a little bit of a regular diva. Noel Wilkinson, her dad, is the official town Santa Clause, complete with real beard and the jolly disposition. Merry takes after her dad a bit more than her mom, which is probably why everyone in town thinks that Merry’s store assistant, Jackie O’Reilly is indulged to the point that she gets delusions of grandeur. In Jackie’s defense, Merry is often running off to ask questions and hunt for clues instead of managing Mrs. Claus’s Treasurers. If it wasn’t for Merry, we the readers would not get to armchair sleuth.
Ms. Delaney does a great job of keeping the reader intrigued and turning pages while trying to reason out who could have killed the sue‑happy and obnoxious Jim Cole, cousin to the former owner of the Cole house. Instead of being able to challenge the will for ownership of the really run down house, he got blunt force trauma. Suspects include Jim’s own daughter whom he had nothing to do with since she was little and he left her mother. There is also an additional ex-wife and a current girlfriend, both of whom are “distraught” that such a financially well off and loving man has been murdered. The only reason Merry is involved is because Mark has a little bit of a temper and was the unfortunate person who found the body.
The story moved at a good pace and the red herrings were well thought. I was able to figure out the “who” but not the “why.” I also enjoyed the little something extra that both Aline and Jackie add to the story. It might not be Christmas time but this was a great cozy for a year round Christmas town. Be sure to check out the recipes at the end of the story. I am adding the Coconut Sugar Cookies to my holiday baking list. The cookies are both easy to make and tasty to eat.
January 21, 2025
Stepped away from the series for a bit, and the start, a reintroduction to the characters, strikes as too peppy. 'My father! My best friend! Her fiance! My store!'
Not enjoying this one; force-read to the finish, and its tedious.
Ch 9 - is this really how police handle the report of a db? If so, note to self, if a db shows up on your property, ignore it? Take a vacation? Why would anyone cooperate if they knew this? Just imagine - "I saw a stolen car." "Oh, well, we have to take you to the precinct. If you saw it, you might have stolen it."
Also the dog-loves-officer shtick is tedious. It does happen that a dog will take to a random person, but a well-trained dog is always going to prefer their person over a stranger, even a cool one. So is the point in this series that the MC isn't cool? Because supposedly her father was the mayor for years, and she still doesn't get an attorney before answering questions about finding a db. Maybe she feels 'special'? Oh, of course she does.
Lots of full-blown cattiness in this one. The db's exes, the neighbor's gossip, the MC's mother (almost every time she speaks), the MC's hired help. Its too much. And the failed break-in, oh come on, that's pathetic and obvious. The MCs' behavior diminishes their character.
Given all that's going on, the MC comes across as horribly narcissistic.
The title is truly irrelevant, for one thing the action is set at Easter, for another, there's no 'sleigh' or significant 'ride' in it.
The recipes at the end would be a nice touch, except - they don't include the 'favorite' items, or in fact ANY of the items, mentioned in the book. What's the point of that?
Might be time to pass on this series. This one is like a tabloid trying to do a daytime TV soap.
Not enjoying this one; force-read to the finish, and its tedious.
Ch 9 - is this really how police handle the report of a db? If so, note to self, if a db shows up on your property, ignore it? Take a vacation? Why would anyone cooperate if they knew this? Just imagine - "I saw a stolen car." "Oh, well, we have to take you to the precinct. If you saw it, you might have stolen it."
Also the dog-loves-officer shtick is tedious. It does happen that a dog will take to a random person, but a well-trained dog is always going to prefer their person over a stranger, even a cool one. So is the point in this series that the MC isn't cool? Because supposedly her father was the mayor for years, and she still doesn't get an attorney before answering questions about finding a db. Maybe she feels 'special'? Oh, of course she does.
Lots of full-blown cattiness in this one. The db's exes, the neighbor's gossip, the MC's mother (almost every time she speaks), the MC's hired help. Its too much. And the failed break-in, oh come on, that's pathetic and obvious. The MCs' behavior diminishes their character.
Given all that's going on, the MC comes across as horribly narcissistic.
The title is truly irrelevant, for one thing the action is set at Easter, for another, there's no 'sleigh' or significant 'ride' in it.
The recipes at the end would be a nice touch, except - they don't include the 'favorite' items, or in fact ANY of the items, mentioned in the book. What's the point of that?
Might be time to pass on this series. This one is like a tabloid trying to do a daytime TV soap.
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