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Cottage on Gooseberry Bay #17
A Christmas Caper
USA Today Bestselling author Kathi Daley brings you a heartwarming mystery series about finding answers and fostering hope while building friendships and embracing the magic of life by the sea and small town holidays.
Ainsley Holloway had come to Gooseberry Bay to find answers about her past. She’d come to find an explanation for the dreams that haunted her after the death of the cop who’d both rescued and raised her. And she’d come to identify the family she couldn’t remember but knew in her heart she’d once belonged to.
Ainsley hoped that by finding these answers, she’d also find healing. She hoped that once she’d resurrected the memories buried deep in her mind, she’d find peace.
The Cottage at Gooseberry Bay is a series about, not only finding answers, but finding hope.
It’s a series about family and friendship.
It’s a series about shared holidays, festivals, and celebrations.
It’s a series about shared heartbreak and hardship.
And it’s a series about the bond that can be forged amongst strangers when tragedy binds two or more individuals with a common goal.
In book 17 in the series, Ainsley is hired to put a stop to the plans recently announced by the local scrooge to evict twelve families from the apartment building he owns just two weeks before Christmas.
Meanwhile, Adam and Archie are working hard preparing for the annual Winter Ball, Remi finds the new deputy in town too captivating to ignore, Parker has been assigned her first big story since making the move to the Seattle News, and Bexley has a truck load of puppies to place with foster families so they don't have to spend Christmas behind bars.
Ainsley Holloway had come to Gooseberry Bay to find answers about her past. She’d come to find an explanation for the dreams that haunted her after the death of the cop who’d both rescued and raised her. And she’d come to identify the family she couldn’t remember but knew in her heart she’d once belonged to.
Ainsley hoped that by finding these answers, she’d also find healing. She hoped that once she’d resurrected the memories buried deep in her mind, she’d find peace.
The Cottage at Gooseberry Bay is a series about, not only finding answers, but finding hope.
It’s a series about family and friendship.
It’s a series about shared holidays, festivals, and celebrations.
It’s a series about shared heartbreak and hardship.
And it’s a series about the bond that can be forged amongst strangers when tragedy binds two or more individuals with a common goal.
In book 17 in the series, Ainsley is hired to put a stop to the plans recently announced by the local scrooge to evict twelve families from the apartment building he owns just two weeks before Christmas.
Meanwhile, Adam and Archie are working hard preparing for the annual Winter Ball, Remi finds the new deputy in town too captivating to ignore, Parker has been assigned her first big story since making the move to the Seattle News, and Bexley has a truck load of puppies to place with foster families so they don't have to spend Christmas behind bars.
142 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 3, 2024
483 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
About the author
Kathi Daley
321 books1,791 followersKathi lives with her husband, kids, grandkids, and dogs in beautiful Lake Tahoe. When she isn't writing, Kathi likes to read (preferably at the beach or by the fire), cook (preferably something with chocolate or cheese,) and garden (planting and planning not weeding). She also enjoys spending time on the water when she's not hiking, biking, or snowshoeing, the miles of desolate trails surrounding her home.
Kathi uses the mountain setting in which she lives, along with the animals (wild and domestic) that share her home, as inspiration for her cozy mysteries.
Join me on Facebook at Kathi Daley Books (www.facebook.com/kathidaleybooks) for updates on my books, photos of life in Lake Tahoe, recipes, contests, and giveaways. For weekly updates and contests sign up for The Daley Weekly Newsletter (http://eepurl.com/NRPDf).
Kathi uses the mountain setting in which she lives, along with the animals (wild and domestic) that share her home, as inspiration for her cozy mysteries.
Join me on Facebook at Kathi Daley Books (www.facebook.com/kathidaleybooks) for updates on my books, photos of life in Lake Tahoe, recipes, contests, and giveaways. For weekly updates and contests sign up for The Daley Weekly Newsletter (http://eepurl.com/NRPDf).
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Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews
December 7, 2024
I devour these books as they're released... Kathi Daley is the Queen of Cosy Mystery as Debbie Macomber is the Queen of Romance!
This is the latest book about Ainsley and her friends who live in Gooseberry Bay. Ainsley is a private investigator, and she's asked to intervene on behalf of the tenants of a block of apartments, whose homes are being sold and they're not being given much notice.
Ainsley, along with her friends determine something strange is going on, and they use all the resources at their disposal to sort it the problem out.
My only issue with the story is that the ending happened really quickly, a lot of preamble, and it concluded in a couple of chapters. I'll still give it 5 stars, though, as I loved it.
Of course, nothing story by Kathi Daley would be complete without an animal or 2, abd apart from the regular animals who appear in this series, Bexley, a newish character brings along more dogs and puppies to be fostered. It also sets up a new series that is based around Bexley, her life, and her adoption clinic for dogs and cats in Gooseberry Bay. The series is called Rescue on Gooseberry Bay and is due to start soon... I can't wait!
Whilst all the books are individual stories, they are best read in order of publication to preserve continuity of the characters and wider storyline.
If you like this book, try others by Kathi Daley, you won't be disappointed! Some of my favourites are The Inn at Holiday Bay, The Bookstore at Holiday Bay; Rescue Alaska; Zoe Donovan; Tess and Tilly, and they're just a few. Some are complete series, and some are ongoing. Occasionally, characters from one series appear in others.
This is the latest book about Ainsley and her friends who live in Gooseberry Bay. Ainsley is a private investigator, and she's asked to intervene on behalf of the tenants of a block of apartments, whose homes are being sold and they're not being given much notice.
Ainsley, along with her friends determine something strange is going on, and they use all the resources at their disposal to sort it the problem out.
My only issue with the story is that the ending happened really quickly, a lot of preamble, and it concluded in a couple of chapters. I'll still give it 5 stars, though, as I loved it.
Of course, nothing story by Kathi Daley would be complete without an animal or 2, abd apart from the regular animals who appear in this series, Bexley, a newish character brings along more dogs and puppies to be fostered. It also sets up a new series that is based around Bexley, her life, and her adoption clinic for dogs and cats in Gooseberry Bay. The series is called Rescue on Gooseberry Bay and is due to start soon... I can't wait!
Whilst all the books are individual stories, they are best read in order of publication to preserve continuity of the characters and wider storyline.
If you like this book, try others by Kathi Daley, you won't be disappointed! Some of my favourites are The Inn at Holiday Bay, The Bookstore at Holiday Bay; Rescue Alaska; Zoe Donovan; Tess and Tilly, and they're just a few. Some are complete series, and some are ongoing. Occasionally, characters from one series appear in others.
December 7, 2024
Ok book
Usually I enjoy these books. This time I was kind of bored. There was no second case to go back and forth and the original case was a no brainer. I still enjoyed them as group and the new dog, Hank. Would have liked a little interaction with the new deputy who never joined them for the party like they agreed.
Usually I enjoy these books. This time I was kind of bored. There was no second case to go back and forth and the original case was a no brainer. I still enjoyed them as group and the new dog, Hank. Would have liked a little interaction with the new deputy who never joined them for the party like they agreed.
December 3, 2024
A Christmas Caper is the seventeenth book in Kathi Daley’s Cottage on Gooseberry Bay series. This is an entertaining and clean series with a strong emphasis on family, friends, community, and caring. The setting is charming, and the three-dimensional characters are well-developed. The complex and intriguing mystery, twists, and red herrings will keep readers engaged and guessing. Ms. Daley’s descriptive writing draws the reader in, making them feel like they’re taking part in the action. Whenever I pick up one of Ms. Daley’s books, I know I’m in for a treat, and I’ve never been disappointed. I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading well-crafted, cozy mysteries.
After Ainsley Holloway’s adoptive father passed away, she found a photograph of a woman with two young children. For reasons Ainsley couldn’t explain, she felt connected to the people in the photograph and started doubting her past. In her search for the truth about her past, Ainsley and her two Bernese Mountain Dogs, Kai and Kallie, moved from Georgia to Washington State and rented a cozy cottage in Gooseberry Bay. Ainsley, who originally planned to stay for only a month or two, quickly made friends, settled into the community, and opened Ainsley Holloway Investigations.
In this installment, Ainsley’s newest client, Emerson Hollyfield, asked Ainsley to help her and eleven other tenants who received eviction letters from the owner of their apartment complex requiring them to move before Christmas. Since the apartment complex is a low-income property, Ainsley agrees to represent the tenants pro bono and try to secure additional time for them to locate new lodging. Bexley and her staff are frantically trying to find temporary housing for more than a dozen dogs and two litters of puppies, including a special needs dog they rescued from a kill shelter. Meanwhile, a new deputy, Dani Dixon, arrives to fill the position Deputy Todd’s death created; everyone is preparing for Christmas and excited about the upcoming Winter Ball Adam and Archie host each year; and Parker’s new boss has assigned her a story that the entire peninsula gang assists with.
After Ainsley Holloway’s adoptive father passed away, she found a photograph of a woman with two young children. For reasons Ainsley couldn’t explain, she felt connected to the people in the photograph and started doubting her past. In her search for the truth about her past, Ainsley and her two Bernese Mountain Dogs, Kai and Kallie, moved from Georgia to Washington State and rented a cozy cottage in Gooseberry Bay. Ainsley, who originally planned to stay for only a month or two, quickly made friends, settled into the community, and opened Ainsley Holloway Investigations.
In this installment, Ainsley’s newest client, Emerson Hollyfield, asked Ainsley to help her and eleven other tenants who received eviction letters from the owner of their apartment complex requiring them to move before Christmas. Since the apartment complex is a low-income property, Ainsley agrees to represent the tenants pro bono and try to secure additional time for them to locate new lodging. Bexley and her staff are frantically trying to find temporary housing for more than a dozen dogs and two litters of puppies, including a special needs dog they rescued from a kill shelter. Meanwhile, a new deputy, Dani Dixon, arrives to fill the position Deputy Todd’s death created; everyone is preparing for Christmas and excited about the upcoming Winter Ball Adam and Archie host each year; and Parker’s new boss has assigned her a story that the entire peninsula gang assists with.
February 8, 2025
Ainsley Holloway came to Gooseberry Bay in search of answers and found so much more. In this book, Ainsley is hired to look into, and maybe stop, the sale of an apartment complex that'll see people being evicted by Christmas. Adam and Archie are planning their annual Winter Ball, Parker has been assigned a big story, and Bexley has several dogs who need foster homes for the holidays.
I've really enjoyed this series and this book's no exception. It was a well-written, quick, fun read that drew me in and kept me hooked from beginning to end. The characters are well-developed and believable. The mystery was very intriguing with lots of twists and turns. This was one captivating story that'll keep you glued to the pages. Kathi Daley is an amazing author and storyteller and this book will attest to that. I loved this book and am looking forward to the next one. I highly recommend both book and series.
I've really enjoyed this series and this book's no exception. It was a well-written, quick, fun read that drew me in and kept me hooked from beginning to end. The characters are well-developed and believable. The mystery was very intriguing with lots of twists and turns. This was one captivating story that'll keep you glued to the pages. Kathi Daley is an amazing author and storyteller and this book will attest to that. I loved this book and am looking forward to the next one. I highly recommend both book and series.
December 18, 2024
I like the mystery of it all. Is the missing man ill or dead? Will he be spoken of in future books?
There’s always a lot of things going on in books by Daley. Even some of the animals have mysterious backgrounds! I hope we learn more about Hank eventually.
Ainsley and Adam have come a long way, that’s for sure!
There’s a new spinoff, too. It’s about the animal shelter.
My next choice of book is “Merry Hexmas” by Lily Harper Hart.
There’s always a lot of things going on in books by Daley. Even some of the animals have mysterious backgrounds! I hope we learn more about Hank eventually.
Ainsley and Adam have come a long way, that’s for sure!
There’s a new spinoff, too. It’s about the animal shelter.
My next choice of book is “Merry Hexmas” by Lily Harper Hart.
December 27, 2024
Love this series
Kathi has a great ability to draw you in and you become part of the story. The gang gets involved from two directions on the same situation. With the help of the whole gang Parker and Ainsley jump in to figure out what happened to a recluse who seems to have disappeared and his helper is taking over his business interests. With the gang's help the mystery is solved, Parker has her story and Ainsley helps her client.
Kathi has a great ability to draw you in and you become part of the story. The gang gets involved from two directions on the same situation. With the help of the whole gang Parker and Ainsley jump in to figure out what happened to a recluse who seems to have disappeared and his helper is taking over his business interests. With the gang's help the mystery is solved, Parker has her story and Ainsley helps her client.
January 3, 2025
Another great book by this author
I love every Kathi Daley that I have read. This book contained main character, Ainsley, a private investigator. In this book Ainsley and her friends became involved with an elderly gentleman who was hard to find. The story includes repeated characters and a few new ones. All the characters contribute to the story and there are so many questions.
I love every Kathi Daley that I have read. This book contained main character, Ainsley, a private investigator. In this book Ainsley and her friends became involved with an elderly gentleman who was hard to find. The story includes repeated characters and a few new ones. All the characters contribute to the story and there are so many questions.
February 1, 2025
Another mystery with Ainsley and the gang on Gooseberry Bay as they investigate a reclusive real estate mogul who has mysteriously begun selling off all of his real estate holdings which is having devastating effects on his tenants. Quickly paced plot with all of the friends chipping in to help Ainsley solve the mystery. Ms. Daley does a wonderful job of combining mystery, friendship and romance in each book.
December 4, 2024
Enjoyable series
I really enjoyed how the characters in this series have developed over the years. Ainsley and Adam are now a couple. Her sister, Avery, is no longer a secret agent but works for Ezra and the FBI. There is a mystery to uncover, and although each book stands alone, it is more enjoyable to read the series from the beginning.
I really enjoyed how the characters in this series have developed over the years. Ainsley and Adam are now a couple. Her sister, Avery, is no longer a secret agent but works for Ezra and the FBI. There is a mystery to uncover, and although each book stands alone, it is more enjoyable to read the series from the beginning.
December 16, 2024
Ainsley has a new client who is asking for help, her apartment building was sold, and the new owner is only giving them till right before Christmas to leave. The group gets together to investigate the new owner and tried to reach them to get the evictions delayed, Adam gets involved and figures out a short-term solution to the problem but there are a few surprises along the way. Great Read
December 16, 2024
12 residents of an apt house were given notice
One of the residents asks Ainsley for help in talking to the owner who lives on an isolated island and has not been seen or heard from in months. Bexley is asking for fosters so Coop takes in blind Hank and Ainslet get 2 small dogs along with her large Kai and kailey. Well written story with lots of intrigue.
One of the residents asks Ainsley for help in talking to the owner who lives on an isolated island and has not been seen or heard from in months. Bexley is asking for fosters so Coop takes in blind Hank and Ainslet get 2 small dogs along with her large Kai and kailey. Well written story with lots of intrigue.
December 12, 2025
Mystery around shady real estate deals
When parcels of land and buildings start being sold without any seeing the owner, Ainsley and friends begin to wondering these are shady deals. With Christmas on the way, and a number of shelter dogs needing placement, the lives of the folks in Gooseberry Bay are busy..
When parcels of land and buildings start being sold without any seeing the owner, Ainsley and friends begin to wondering these are shady deals. With Christmas on the way, and a number of shelter dogs needing placement, the lives of the folks in Gooseberry Bay are busy..
December 27, 2024
Perfect cozy Christmas read
Kathi Daily is a favorite author of mine. I have enjoyed the Gooseberry Bay series. This book is one of my favorites so far; combining cozy Christmas scenes,, fun characters and a little marine action into the mix. Enjoy.
Kathi Daily is a favorite author of mine. I have enjoyed the Gooseberry Bay series. This book is one of my favorites so far; combining cozy Christmas scenes,, fun characters and a little marine action into the mix. Enjoy.
December 27, 2024
A story of fraud, treachery and death!
It is amazing how devious people can be. Is the man dead or out of the country or just ill? Is the man in charge stealing all the assets of his rich master?
It is amazing how devious people can be. Is the man dead or out of the country or just ill? Is the man in charge stealing all the assets of his rich master?
January 1, 2026
The pizza place closed! Before Xmas!
There goes Xmas with the best pizza place closing! And then they find a whole bunch of other places were sold off too. This was an interesting mystery. But stuff gets solved and then the more important things happen. The Xmas ball!!!
There goes Xmas with the best pizza place closing! And then they find a whole bunch of other places were sold off too. This was an interesting mystery. But stuff gets solved and then the more important things happen. The Xmas ball!!!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 4, 2024
Quite enjoyed this one, the mystery was terrific. I loved how they got into the house, very smart and it worked out great for Linda. Loved the romance too, people and dogs!
December 21, 2024
Still Good!
I really like this author and read alot of her books. They are good clean mysteries with interesting characters. I highly recommend Kathi Daley's books to all.
I really like this author and read alot of her books. They are good clean mysteries with interesting characters. I highly recommend Kathi Daley's books to all.
December 21, 2024
Gooseberry Bay Mstery
It was good to meet all the residents of Gooseberry Bay and their many pets. I would have appreciated more action in the mystery.
It was good to meet all the residents of Gooseberry Bay and their many pets. I would have appreciated more action in the mystery.
January 8, 2025
Love this series and all the characters. Always a good mystery.
January 13, 2025
Christmas Caper
This one kept me on my toes. An intriguing con seems to be underway. Parker is looking for the Big story for the paper and the gang is all ready to help.
This one kept me on my toes. An intriguing con seems to be underway. Parker is looking for the Big story for the paper and the gang is all ready to help.
February 11, 2025
Quick reading, edge of my seat book. I love all the characters in the book and feel like I know them on a personal level. I love the series and this book was no exception, it was a great read
February 25, 2025
A Christmas Caper
Excellent and it might not have been an engagement ring I don’t see how it could be interrupted as anything else. You Doni give your mother’s ring to just anyone.
Excellent and it might not have been an engagement ring I don’t see how it could be interrupted as anything else. You Doni give your mother’s ring to just anyone.
March 24, 2025
I enjoy this series. It is a quick beach read series. The characters are fun and seem like real people. I have read the whole series.
January 3, 2026
Great book
This is a great book and a great series. I love all of the characters and of course the animals.
This is a great book and a great series. I love all of the characters and of course the animals.
Displaying 1 - 24 of 24 reviews