Mrs. Morris and the Venomous Valentine

Salem B&B #9

by Traci Wilton

Cupid’s taking aim at Charlene Morris’s historic Salem B&B, which is brimming with models for a contentious photo shoot, but his arrow goes astray when someone is murdered on Valentine’s Day…

A full house is nothing new to Charlene and her ghostly friend, Dr. Jack Strathmore, but this Valentine’s Day, their Salem, Massachusetts inn isn’t filled with romantic couples. Instead, every room is booked by formerly famous photographer, Dane Stallone, for a Cupid-themed calendar he hopes will jumpstart his sagging career.

Though Charlene’s hands are full with a dozen gorgeous models, Dane is the only diva—pitching fits, making unreasonable demands, and generally being a mood killer... until a real killer strikes and puts the whole shoot on ice.

With more suspects than a jumbo box of chocolates, Charlene, Jack, and Detective Sam Holden race to find the one person filled with murderous intent...

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Cozy, Ghosts, Paranormal, Fiction, Witches

368 pages, Mass Market Paperback

Published December 24, 2024

About the author

Traci Wilton is a pseudonym of authors Traci Hall and Patrice Wilton.

From contemporary seaside romances to cozy mysteries, USA Today bestselling author Traci Hall writes stories that captivate her readers. As a hybrid author with over fifty published works, Ms. Hall has a favorite story for everyone.

Mystery lovers, be on the lookout for her Salem B&B Mystery series, co-written as Traci Wilton, and her Scottish Shire series, which takes place in the seaside town of Nairn, as Traci Hall. Whether it’s her ever popular By the Sea series or a fun who-done-it, Traci finds her inspiration in sunny South Florida, by living right near the ocean.

New York Times, bestselling author, Patrice Wilton knew from the age of twelve that she wanted to write books that would take the reader to faraway places. She was born in Vancouver, Canada, and had a great need to see the world that she had read about.

Patrice became a flight attendant for seventeen years and traveled the world. At the age of forty she sat down to write her first book—in longhand! Her interests include tennis, golf, and writing stories for women of all ages.

She has more than forty books published on Amazon, and is best known as a popular romance author. She is especially proud of her best selling contemporary romance series, Paradise Cove, and Heavenly Christmas and the Wounded Warriors. Co-writing with Traci Hall, they have assumed the name Traci Wilton for the Salem B&B mystery series published with Kensington.

Reviews

[Suhailah · Rating 5 out of 5]

《Book 9 completed!》

Overall Rating: 5☆

Mystery: 5/5 Even though this was focused on another detestable victim….a narcissist to be precise,😒 one that I didn’t care about whatsoever, the mystery was so gripping! Though I never solved the mystery before the reveal, it really kept me on my toes, guessing all the way up until the very end. There were tons of possible suspects, lots of secrets, some twists….and this time, the mystery hits way too close to home—it practically takes place at Charlene's Bed and Breakfast!😲 Talk about bad for business! It's Valentine’s week, and Charlene is hosting 12 models and the previously famous photographer Dane Stallone as he works on a huge project, he hopes will direct him back into fame and money—a Cupid-themed calendar! 🏹💘

I really felt so bad for Charlene as she ended up in quite the mess with a pending murder investigation stranding all her guests (who all became potential suspects). Let me tell you, the models were something else! All sorts of personalities and food restrictions! Not easy to host at all! I’m convinced Charlene herself is a superhuman haha with her outstanding abilities to host under so much stress while keeping everyone happy at the same time. As usual, I loved all the Jack moments and just the quirky special family they have created together over the course of the series—Charlene, Minnie, Avery, Jack, and of course Sam!

♡I really loved some of the surprises that dropped about the character's storylines as I’ve been following this series for a few years now. Excited doesn’t even define how I feel about the future of the series after—THAT ENDING!! I had the biggest smile on my face reading that last page lying in bed, up way too late for a work night, finishing this one up! I am so ready for the next book: Book 10: Mrs. Morris and the Day of the Dead, which of course I’ve already preordered! It drops this August. 🙌😁

Friends –it's never too late to travel to the Bed and Breakfast in Salem and meet Charlene aka Mrs. Morris. Though each book could potentially be read as a standalone mystery, I strongly recommend starting with the first one and reading them all in order as there is quite a bit of continuation in the storylines of the characters. And it means everything!

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really like this series when it started, but this is the second one that I just think is too silly and convoluted. I’m also tired of the Jack and Sam thing which I said in my previous review.

[Alyssa Maxwell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author puts a new twist on Valentine's Day when a group of models and a narcissistic photographer come to the B&B to shoot a series of photos for a new calendar featuring exotic cupids. Each model has a twisted history with the photographer, whose own ties to Salem include dabbling in witchcraft. The artistry of the photography combined with the lure of fame and complex relationships make this a book you can't put down. It kept me guessing till the end.

[Jenna (readinginjennaland) · Rating 4 out of 5]

We are back in Salem Massachusetts with Charlene at her b&b. She's hosting a famous photographer and twelve models. The photographer Dane Stallone is a narcissist and not a nice person. He wants to recreate his famous work with a calendar. As they finish up and he's about to show the calendar he collapses. Jack the resident ghost tells Charlene he thinks he was poisoned. Charlene must help investigate to find the killer.

I really enjoyed this book. I was hooked right away and enjoyed following the clues and learning the models secrets. I'm excited to read the next one in the series.

[Karen Stallman · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Mrs. Morris and the Venomous Valentine" the 10th instalment in the Salem B&B Mystery series by Traci Wilton. This is my favourite one so far, I just loved it! lol I think I say this every time.

I love visiting Salem and Charlene’s B&B with its resident ghost Jack and her B&B family. I love all the characters Charlene, Jack, Minnie, Sam and Avery. This time around it’s Valentine’s Day and she has a house full of models and a narcissist photographer with ties to Salem. Cupid’s taking aim at Charlene Morris’s historic Salem B&B, which is brimming with models for a contentious photo shoot, but his arrow goes astray when someone is murdered on Valentine’s Day…

The mystery was interesting, well plotted, with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing till the very end. I definitely was surprised by the ending and can’t wait for book 11 to see what happens next with Charlene and Sam!!!

I highly recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Kensington Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Cozy Reader Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Mrs. Morris and the Venomous Valentine (Salem B&B #9)" by Traci Wilton is set around Valentine's day and Charlene's guests are shooting a cupid themed calendar. They are a photographer and his models. For someone supposedly good at marketing, Charlene sure drops the ball when it comes to marketing for herself. The moment she found out that the photographer intended to use the whole property for his photo shoot she should have also made him pay some sort of event or facility use fee. It took other people suggesting it for her to think about it, not do it and offer her marketing skills for free to the guy.

The mystery in this one is pretty typical of the series. Several possible suspects and all with some big secrets. In the end, one of the possibilities I had in mind panned out. However, I really didn't come to that particular conclusion until a little before Charlene did.

The sort of love triangle between Charlene, Jack and Sam may be coming to a head. Hopefully in the next book. It really is a little frustrating since Jack is a ghost, or maybe an angel (my theory). Charlene has been more seriously seeing Sam, outside of the B&B, and it seems more serious than Charlene will admit.

[Mr Francy Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

GREAT BOOK AS ALWAYS AND THE ENDING....!!! I NEED THE NEXT ONE!

SERIES PREMISE: In this series we follow Charlene aka Mrs Morris who runs a B&B in Salem, Massechusetts.
In this book: Famous Photographer Dane Stallone has rented out the entire B&B for himself and his models. He wants to do a re-inspired work of cupids like he used to do, to re put himself back out there. Charlene, with her background, offers to assist on ideas. But when Dane is found dead, everyone is s suspect.

THOUGHTS: I love this series and this book was no different. Charlene is fantastic as the MC amatuer sleuth and Jack the ghost always adds to the fun. Was different having models stay at the B&B but wasn't unwelcome.
I enjoyed the mystery and the reveal, however the literal ending has me needing the next book!!!

5 Stars!
xoxo.

[Janet Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Enter Mrs. Morris and her 9th entry into the world of Salem mysteries. This, like past cozies, is very good.
Charlene Morris owns and runs a bed and breakfast in the historic Massachusetts town. Witchcraft is in the air, as a renowned photographer books the whole bed and breakfast for himself and his 12 models. He has returned to Salem (not everyone knows this, but it is where he grew up) to produce a calendar based on Cupid.
Dane Stallone is not a nice person, so when he is murdered, Mrs. Morris is not surprised.
Unfortunately, the police make all the models remain with Charlene, so she dashes into an investigative frenzy to get the case solved as quickly as possible. As usual, her resident ghost Jack helps her and they manage to find the real killed before her business is destroyed.
Well written, this book is filled with a great diversity of interesting characters.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 5 out of 5]

#MrsMorrisandtheVenomousValentine #NetGalley is an exciting addition to this series.
Charlene is hosting an unusual group of guests at her B & B in Salem, MA.
Dane Stallone is hoping to bring his flailing career as a photographer back to life, but his lies, deception and callousness takes his life instead.
After Dane's sudden death, Charlene is left with a houseful of models, all with their own share of secrets, but is one of them responsible for his death?

There is a lot happening in this book, and so far it is my favorite.
The ending left me gasping and I cannot wait for the next book!!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.

[Penny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series isn’t exactly a cozy mystery, but it’s close enough for my preferences. I’ve been reading the series from the beginning, and it seems to get better each book. In this latest, Charlene’s B&B is hosting models and their photographer, and the photographer is killed once his calendar with his models is finished. While this mystery is a little more convoluted with so many suspects, it was still fun and a great way to spend a few hours. At the end, I was like…OMG!! What an intriguing ending. Can’t wait for the next. Highly recommend. I was provided a complimentary copy which I voluntarily reviewed.

[Annarella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining and compelling as usual, another lovely addiction to this series.
A solid mystery featuring likeable and fleshed out characters, great setting.
Loved it
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

[Christine Poitras · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the latest installment of Mrs. Morris, although one situation regarding the ending haunted me - but not in a good way. The cliffhanger(s), though, are terrific.
This is book #9 in the series; book 10 will be published 8-26-25 and yes, I've already pre-ordered it. :-)

[JoAnne McMaster (Any Good Book) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charlene Morris moved from Chicago to Salem after her husband's sudden death, and bought the large mansion that is now her beloved B&B. It also came with the ghost of the former owner, Dr. Jack Strathmore, whom Charlene has grown very fond of. Only Charlene and her cat Silva can see and hear Jack, which makes her careful when others are around.

She's currently hosting twelve models from around the world and their photographer, Dane Stallone, for a photo shoot that must be done by March 1st, and it is nearly Valentine's Day. However, Dane is acting like a real diva, with nearly unreasonable demands of both the models and Charlene and her staff. While she doesn't like the man, she helps him anyway just to get it over with an him out of her house.

But then a murder occurs, and Charlene is stuck with everyone when the police -- namely newly promoted Detective Jimenez -- tells her no one can leave until she finds the killer. Suddenly tempers flare and arguments break out, but Charlene is determined to make the best of it and hope the remaining guests will, also.

Then there's the problem of Sam, who can't get involved in the case but still wants to see Charlene, and her "daughter" Avery is due home from school for a few days. With so much going on, will she be able to find time to gather clues to solve the case, or will this finally put an end to her sleuthing altogether?...

This is the ninth book in the series and I have read and loved them all. This one was a bit more complicated, as you have a lot more suspects, and they're all gathered in one place. Keeping the names straight was easy enough, but then you have to keep the countries straight as well. Not as easy, but doable.

I loved how the mystery was laid out, and even the fact that each of the people at the B&B had secrets of their own that they wanted to keep hidden. But it's not as simple as it seems when they must involve Brandy Flint, a powerful witch and owner of Flint winery, and Charlene's friend. It all seems so complicated for Charlene, who asks Jack for help.

Through a twisty tale that interweaves mystery, loss, and intrigue, we are given new insights and danger abounds; and wait to see how it all turns out. It is indeed a delicious mix of a tale, and while the ending is very good, I have to say that I am Team Jack (yes, I know he's a ghost, but such a delightful one); so Charlene has that to deal with as well (which is no spoiler as it's been in previous books).
\
Another fine tale from Ms. Wilton, and the ending alone is worth reading the entire book (but don't peek!). Highly recommended.

I received an advance copy from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

[June Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most unique love triangles around. Charlene Morris has two beaus. One is Sam, detective with the Salem Police. The other is Jack, a doctor. I like them both. Only one problem. Jack is dead. Jack is a ghost. He's charming, thoughtful, and cares for Charlene, however, even foregoing the chance to "go to the light" in a past book in order to stay with her in his former home. Charlene cares for him and goes out of her way not to hurt him as her feeling for the very alive, handsome Sam grow stronger. Well, when she isn't busy solving murders.

This time, it's a demanding guest at her B&B who is killed. Dane Stallone is a photographer trying to make a come-back. He's arranged a stay at the B&B for himself and his twelve models. Twelve. Get it? A calendar but a wildly creative, artistic one. Quite frankly, the models chatter, part idle chit chat but mostly them carping or complaining about something, usually Dane, would have given me a headache in real life. Amazingly, they don't hold throttle down their feelings even afterward when the police are present. Unfortunately for Charlene, Sam isn't on this case and the investigating detective is not at all fond of her. Nevertheless, she keeps asking probing questions while trying to help the models with their problem. I won't detail that huge fear and problem but will remind you that this is set in Salem, Witch City, which was Dane's hometown. What was in those contracts? Would one of them have killed him to get out of them? Or would that have even helped?

Bottom line, I thoroughly enjoy my visits with Charlene, even when the guests are less than ideal. At least they were nice to look at, I guess, and as their back stories emerge, I came to like most of them. Adam was my favorite. It was nice to have Avery pop in, even if she did wind up in the hospital for her efforts. Sam wasn't as involved, not being his case, but was definitely there as support and, oh, boy, that final chapter. I can't wait to see where that goes and how it'll all work out between Charlene and the "I don't believe in ghosts" Sam. And, let's not forget Silva, the cat. and housekeeper/cook Minnie Johnson who seems to be a marvel at improvising, especially for a large group that shuns calories. Thanks #KensingtonPublishing - #KensingtonCozies for allowing me to drop into Charlene's B&B without a reservation. We do get to see how difficult, not to mention, expensive, juggling reservations can be, too.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mrs. Morris and the Venomous Valentine is book 9 in Tracy Wilton's Salem B&B series, but it easily reads as a standalone novel, so if you've missed the previous books like I have, you can still jump in with this one.

Charlene has a gaggle of famous models staying at her B&B over Valentine's Day, while their famous photographer, Dale, tries to pull together a come back calendar before announcing his retirement. Their celebration after the shoot wraps is brought to an abrupt halt when Dale falls sick and then dies, and it's revealed that he was poisoned.

With every member of the group having secrets and grievances with Dale, there is no lack of suspects. Additionally there is a hacker threatening the entire group. Is the hacker responsible for Dale's death, or is it someone closer to home?

Charlene, and her ghostly resident, Jack, put their sleuthing skills to the test solving the murder of Charlene's former guest. In the meantime she must entertain this group of spoiled people, and that is no easy task.

The author kept me guessing with this mystery, simply due to the multitude of viable suspects. The only part I found a bit hard to believe was the whole blood contract portion and how all these people took it so seriously. I would have found it easier to believe if they had all been brought up with the same background, believing in witchcraft, but the models all came from very different cultural backgrounds. I found it hard to believe that at least one of them didn't question the validity of such a contract binding them to Dale (and possibly some dark lord after his death).

Other than that I really enjoyed the story. I would like to read some of the previous books, just to know the history of some of the background characters, like Jack, and Charlene's current love interest, Sam.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Mrs. Morris and the Venomous Valentine releases on December 24 2024, and curling up with it, and a good glass of wine (or your drink of choice) with a cozy blanket, would be a great way to spend Christmas Eve (if you celebrate)…or any winter evening for that matter.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mrs. Morris and the Venomous Valentine by Traci Wilton takes us on a journey to Salem, Massachusetts where Charlene Morris’s B&B has just been overrun by a group of beautiful models and a narcissistic photographer. We get to catch up with Charlene, Minnie, Sam, and Jack (as well as Silva). My favorite character is Jack, the ghost that haunts Charlene’s bed and breakfast. My least favorite character is Detective Jimenez (she has a bad attitude). The murder did not occur until I was a third of a way into the story. This did allow the author to establish the groundwork for the murder. There were plenty of suspects, but I had an idea who had committed the deed before the victim was pronounced dead. Detective Jimenez is assigned the case (unfortunately) and her demeaner towards Charlene has not changed (Jack has an idea as to why the newly minted detective is unkind towards Charlene). Charlene asks questions and searches for clues with Jack’s help. There are breadcrumbs that readers can follow to solve the crime. There is a decent wrap up at the end of the book. I felt that the story lacked action. The two days following the murder (which takes up the last two-thirds of the book) seemed much longer. Details regarding food and drink seemed to dominate the story (do we need to know what they eat and drink for every meal and snack). There are repetitive details as well (an example is that Jack is jealous of Sam). Charlene is going to have a romantic dilemma on her hands soon. Mrs. Morris and the Venomous Valentine can be read as a standalone for those new to A Salem B&B Mysteries. Mrs. Morris and the Venomous Valentine is a photogenic tale with a cupid calendar, a ghostly pal, a prima donna photographer, diet troubles, unfriendly detective, a curious cybercrime, and unexpected present.

[The Sassy Bookworm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book Review: Mrs. Morris and the Venomous Valentine by Traci Wilton

Rating: 4 Stars

I just wrapped up reading Mrs. Morris and the Venomous Valentine, and wow, what a fun read! If you're a fan of cozy mysteries, this one’s a treat. We're back with Charlene Morris and her charming B&B in Salem, which is buzzing with activity thanks to a Cupid-themed photo shoot led by the not-so-charming photographer, Dane Stallone. Just when you think it’s all about love and roses, things take a dark turn when someone is found dead on Valentine’s Day—yikes!

Charlene, along with her friendly ghost buddy, Dr. Jack Strathmore, has her hands full dealing with a house full of models and Dane’s diva-like antics. Seriously, the guy is a handful! With so many potential suspects running around, I was on the edge of my seat trying to figure out who the real killer was.

One thing I really loved about this book is how well-paced it is. This author knows how to keep you guessing without dragging things out. The characters are super likable, and I couldn’t help but cheer for Charlene as she tackled all the chaos while trying to solve the mystery. And can we talk about the cover? It’s adorable and perfectly captures the vibe of the book!

Overall, I’d give Mrs. Morris and the Venomous Valentine a solid four stars. It’s an entertaining mix of humor, mystery, and a sprinkle of romance that left me wanting more. I can’t wait to see what’s next for Charlene and her ghostly sidekick! If you're into cozy mysteries with a dash of supernatural fun, definitely check this one out!

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

[Shaina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Traci Wilton for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for Mrs. Morris and the Venomous Valentine coming out December 24, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

A full house is nothing new to Charlene and her ghostly friend, Dr. Jack Strathmore, but this Valentine’s Day, their Salem, Massachusetts inn isn’t filled with romantic couples. Instead, every room is booked by formerly famous photographer, Dane Stallone, for a Cupid-themed calendar he hopes will jumpstart his sagging career. Though Charlene’s hands are full with a dozen gorgeous models, Dane is the only diva—pitching fits, making unreasonable demands, and generally being a mood killer . . . until a real killer strikes and puts the whole shoot on ice.
 
With more suspects than a jumbo box of chocolates, Charlene, Jack, and Detective Sam Holden race to find the one person filled with murderous intent . . .

I’ve only read the book right before this one, but I was excited to receive this one. I absolutely love Salem, so this is a perfect series for me. I loved the K-pop references! There was definitely a lot going on with this one. I loved the mystery. I haven’t read a lot of valentine mysteries. The characters are so fun. Jack being a ghost is a little complicated to the plot, but I love it!

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys cozy Salem mysteries!

[Lizz Axnick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of the best books in this series IMHO. I thought the plot was intriguing and the whodunit came out of nowhere (but made great sense) and I love it when this happens because it takes a lot to stump me these days.

Charlene is hosting a group of models and a famous photographer in February for a week. The photographer, Dane Stallone, is hoping to either relaunch his career with this fancy cupid calendar or go out with a bang and retire. He also owes a lot of money to a lot of unsavory people and he is a narcissistic jerk. He is, of course, murdered and Charlene is stuck with a house full of models because the police won't let anyone leave until the crime is solved. After a while, she finds this trying and starts doing her own investigation, much to the chagrin of the prickly Detective Jimenez.

There was a lot of good character development in this book so you get to know each one of the models. It made the suspect game much harder, plus the surprise of the calendar pictures showing up online with the promise of destruction. No one knows who is posting them since Dane is dead.

This is one of the better cozies I have read this year. Quite enjoyable. I am glad I did not give up on the series. I look forward to her next offering.

Thank you Kensington Cozies and Netgalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jennifer Ritter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mrs. Morris and the Venomous Valentine is the ninth installment in the Salem B&B series by Traci Wilton. (Traci Wilton is the pen name for the collaboration of seasoned authors Traci Hall and Patrice Wilton.) Charlene Morris, owner of Charlene’s Bed and Breakfast, is now on the new business development board of her adopted home, Salem. As such, she keeps in mind the impact of everything on both her own business as well as all her fellow business owners.

Over Valentines week famous photographer Dane Stallone has booked all the rooms at the B&B to accommodate himself as well as a dozen models he is using to do a comeback of his original Cupid photos. Dane is also using the house and grounds for the shots as well as driving Minnie, chief cook and Charlene’s right had person, crazy with their zero calorie diet demands.

The arrogant and unkind photographer, although an artistic genius, is a cruel taskmaster with his models. He is also apparently deeply in debt, owing some pretty scary folks. When a killer strikes the group and they are stranded at Charlene’s both by Detective Jimenez’s orders and a serious winter storm, Charlene is forced to host the group and to help solve the crime.

This is yet another well done mystery with nuggets hidden along the way and twists that take the reader to the conclusion. I very much enjoyed this book and I do recommend it!

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the 9th installment. Charlene’s guests this Valentine Day are a famous photographer (Dane Stallone) originally from Salem and he has rented out the entire B&B with models to create a calendar. Dane has twelve models and is trying to recreate the magic he had with his first cupid photos. Charlene, Minnie and Jack are all dealing with the temperamental photographer and his group of models who he seems to have some type of “hold” over them. Dane is struggling with his concept and Charlene helps him with her marketing skills and he has 4 days to complete this calendar. Dane is brutal to these models yet he gets amazing photos and puts together an incredible calendar. It’s Valentine’s day night and after a nice dinner with all her guests at a local restaurant, they come home and it is apparent the house has been broken into and then Dane comes running downstairs and collapses and dies. Now Charlene has to house all the models until murderer can be caught and Sam is not the detective in charge of the case so that makes things harder for Charlene to get information to help solve this case. This case had a lot of twists and turns but was a good mystery with a sad ending. Also the storyline of Jack, Sam and Charlene seems to be sorting out. Looking forward to see where that goes in the next installment.

[Susan Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

I look forward to each of the books in this series. I have been charmed by the Ghost and Mrs. Muir vibe of Charlene and Jack and how, in spite of the fact that they can never be together in a physical sense, they have a deep and enduring love and have created a family of choice within the walls of her B&B. There is a triangle of sorts between those two and the very alive police detective who also loves her and whom she loves in return. But I suspect if all things were equal Jack would be the victor.

The B&B is beset with models from around the world who are shooting a calendar with narcissistic photographer. Narcissism is the least of his faults and when he is murdered some of the harm he has done is revealed and the ones he has harmed are finally freed. The murder weapon is quite unusual, which should be does not reduce the suspect pool. There are other things going on at the same time which adds to the suspense and there is a very exciting denouement that had me turning the pages to the resolution. It also leads some of the main characters clearly at a cross road. It will be interesting to see how things turn out. Five purrs and two paws up.

[Drebbles · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Mrs. Morris and the Venomous Valentine” is the ninth book in Traci Wilton’s Salem B&B Mystery series. This is a new to be series and I was drawn to it by the Salem, MA setting including the B & B, witches, and the mention of Jack the Ghost. And, while I thoroughly enjoyed the setting and characters, including B & B owner Charlene Morris, I do think I need to go back and read the other books in the series as I sometimes felt at lost at times about Jack’s character (a ghost who can use a TV remote?) and Charlene’s relationship to teenager Avery (who is like a daughter to her). The mystery itself was well done with more than enough suspects – twelve models who had good reason to want to the victim dead - , a unique murder weapon, nice touches of the paranormal, strong characters, many red herrings, twists, and turns. The ending, when all was revealed, was full of surprises, a bit of sadness, and plenty of suspense. Just when I thought I had things figured out, Wilton would throw in another twist or surprise. Finally, I thought the last sentence was perfect and I’m already looking forward to the next book in the series!

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

[Suzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mrs. Morris and the Venomous Valentine is the 9th installment in this fun paranormal cozy series by Traci Wilton. From the darling cover to the intriguing story line this book is the best one yet! Charlene Morris rented her B&B to a noted photographer and a dozen of his model. There is a rush on the photo shoot and the need for a powerful witch. The photographer is hateful and vain, though the models are nicer--each has secrets. After a murder occurs the police require all models to remain at the B&B for the time being. The twisted trail to the murderer begins!

The larger cast made this book more interesting and suspenseful. I have loved this series from the beginning. Starting with book one will allow the reader maximum enjoyment in character growth, though each book can be read as a stand alone.

Thank you to #NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #KensingtonPublishing #TraciWilton for allowing me an ebook advanced reader copy to read and review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

#MrsMorrisandtheVenomousValentine #NetGalley #ASalemB&BMystery

[April · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Mrs. Morris and the Venomous Valentine is a really good mystery, but so many of the characters are unlikeable. Dane, the famous photographer is egotistical and possibly evil. The models are fairly terrible too.
Charlene goes to extremes to make their stay successful and ends up holding the bag. She is out lots of wine, money and possibly her reputation since the models cannot leave on time once there is a death.
The pacing felt slow to me. The murder doesn’t occur until a third of the way into the book. It made sense because the author had to solidly build the framework for why the death would occur. But the two days following the death took the rest of the book.
I did not figure out who the murderer was. There were plenty of good suspects. With both a murder and cyber crimes going on, there were plenty of puzzles to figure out.
Thanks to Netgalley and Kensington for the opportunity to read this book.

[Linda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I have only read and reviewed Mrs. Morris and the Ghost of Christmas Past (#3) and Mrs. Morris and the Wolfman (#7), it was easy to get into this book from the very start! Charlene Morris has her hands full when photographer Dane Stallone and twelve models stay at her B & B for a cupid themed calendar shoot the week of Valentine's Day. When Stallone is murdered, she has to help the Salem PD find answers to what happened so the models can go home and she can open for business again. The paranormal component--the ghostly form of Dr. Jack Strathmore (who had been murdered at the B & B) provides Charlene with a secret confidant. I like Charlene, Jack, and Detective Sam Holden--Charlene's love interest. The author did a great job of describing the models and their diva behaviors! There are several possible suspects, secrets, and twists and turns throughout the book. I really enjoy this mystery series!

[Cozy Reviews · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the ninth release for this charming cozy series. Thank you to Net Galley and to the publisher for the opportunity. My review opinons are my own. This is a delightful series set in Salem with a ghost resident and a smart savvy protagnist.
Our protagnist Charlene has her B&B booked with a calender shoot for a famous photographer and his models. He is demanding and rude and soon offensive to everyone. When he is murdered Charlene , her resident ghost friend and her boyfriend detective are on the case. Suspects abound as clues are discovered about the neferious victim.

The sleuth was well crafted to conclusion. I did not guess the ending. I love the culture of Salem the author incorporates and the ghostly resident. This is a fun series to read and I look forward to the next in series. Well done to the author creating such a enjoyable series with great characters.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lots of great suspense

4.5 stars

This was the first book that I have read from this series. Though I knew about the ghost element, I had no idea about the other supernatural elements like witches. It wasn’t a bad thing, but it was surprising.

With that being said, I thought this was a really well done cozy mystery that took place around Valentine’s Day. The setup was good with this taking place during a calendar shoot at the B&B. I liked this was a snowed in type of mystery with all the suspects being stuck there as they tried to figure out who did it. It really upped the stakes and intensity. There were plenty of suspects and motives. There were tons of layers to the mystery. There were some great twists and turns along the way. The conclusion was very intense, yet it made for a satisfying ending. Overall it was just a very enjoyable read.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 5 out of 5]

I admit to being a fan of this series which sees Charlene, who owns a B&B in Salem, solve mysteries with the help of Jack, the ghost who lives there. Oh and Sam, the detective who is also her love interest. But don't worry if you haven't read the earlier ones as this will be fine as a standalone. Dane, the photographer who rented out the whole B&B to shoot a calendar turns out to be a real diva- and really dead. Who among the models did it? Or was it someone else? This is a classic cozy with the delightful addition of the paranormal that never gets too too. Fans will be pleased to see progression (and potential conflict) in the relationship between Charlene and Sam. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A good read.

[Tari · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can totally see why Charlene could be in love with Jack the ghost as well as her own flesh and blood detective boyfriend Sam. They're both amazing and Jack sure proved above and beyond in this book just how amazing he could be as far as helping in the showdown.

I loved that Avery was back for a visit and it was sweet how Charlene turned all mama bear when she was home since Avery was the closest thing she ever had to a daughter. The guests this time had been a group of self-centered models but they definitely came together against a common enemy toward the end. All mysteries were solved but the ending has me absolutely on pins and needles until the next book drops! I hope it comes in the spring!