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Happily Ever Homicide #2
Heidi Lucy Loses Her Mind: Happily Ever Homicide, Book 2
Heidi Lucy has a secret—a big one. A scary, dangerous, ugly one. There’s just one thanks to a mysterious head wound, she can’t seem to remember what that secret is. In order to regain her lost memories, Heidi sets out to retrace her steps—followed grudgingly by Soren, a faithful patron of her little bookshop and the less-than-thrilled recipient of the cryptic voicemail she can’t remember leaving.
But her journey gets derailed when one of Heidi’s customers drops dead in the middle of her shop, and it isn’t long before both Heidi and Soren come under suspicion. Something fishy is going on in Sunshine Springs, and if they want to find the truth, they’re going to have to hunt for it themselves. Who killed the woman in Heidi’s bookshop? What secret has Heidi forgotten? And, maybe the most crucial question of all, who gave Soren permission to look so good in a man bun?
But her journey gets derailed when one of Heidi’s customers drops dead in the middle of her shop, and it isn’t long before both Heidi and Soren come under suspicion. Something fishy is going on in Sunshine Springs, and if they want to find the truth, they’re going to have to hunt for it themselves. Who killed the woman in Heidi’s bookshop? What secret has Heidi forgotten? And, maybe the most crucial question of all, who gave Soren permission to look so good in a man bun?
Audible Audio
Published November 7, 2023
118 people are currently reading
1795 people want to read
About the author
Gracie Ruth Mitchell
19 books805 followersGracie lives in a tiny town in Idaho, where she subsists on a diet of chocolate, romance novels, and kisses from her cute family. She may or may not have a cheesecake addiction, as well as an addiction to scribbling story ideas on whatever flat surfaces happen to be nearby. Clean romance, romantic comedy, and mystery rom coms are her passion.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 389 reviews
October 9, 2023
If you enjoyed Juniper Bean Resorts to Murder, you’re in for another treat. The murder mystery combined with the charming bookshop-slash-café backdrop set the cozy vibes at full force!
Waking up after a mysterious head injury with no memories of the last 24 hours, Heidi Lucy quite literally loses her mind. Adding to the suspense is a murder investigation landing in the middle of her café after a customer drops dead. Are the two events connected?
I really liked this mystery! As Heidi attempts to piece together the link between her missing memories and the murder, I never once found myself needing to overanalyze the details. It was so easy to simply sit back and enjoy the unfolding of evidence and suspects.
Soren Mackenzie (author, friend of Heidi, and regular patron of Paper Patisserie) was the perfect sidekick for the adventure. Completely, deliriously, adorably far-gone for Heidi, there is zero questioning how Soren feels—this man makes his intentions known. I loved the way he allowed the more hesitant Heidi to set the pace of their evolving relationship.
... And I now have a new appreciation for salted caramel ice cream. Whew!
(heat level: kissing only)
Waking up after a mysterious head injury with no memories of the last 24 hours, Heidi Lucy quite literally loses her mind. Adding to the suspense is a murder investigation landing in the middle of her café after a customer drops dead. Are the two events connected?
I really liked this mystery! As Heidi attempts to piece together the link between her missing memories and the murder, I never once found myself needing to overanalyze the details. It was so easy to simply sit back and enjoy the unfolding of evidence and suspects.
Soren Mackenzie (author, friend of Heidi, and regular patron of Paper Patisserie) was the perfect sidekick for the adventure. Completely, deliriously, adorably far-gone for Heidi, there is zero questioning how Soren feels—this man makes his intentions known. I loved the way he allowed the more hesitant Heidi to set the pace of their evolving relationship.
... And I now have a new appreciation for salted caramel ice cream. Whew!
(heat level: kissing only)
October 6, 2023
Thank you to the author for an eARC!
SUNSHINE.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
It’s my favorite micro trope ever: when the MMC is GONE for the FMC. It never gets old and automatically has me kicking my feet in the air waiting to watch the love story play out. And this one DELIVERED.
I love the combination of murder mystery and romance. It just works. Gracie Ruth Mitchell does an incredible job of balancing all of the swoon while moving the plot along and wondering whodunnit. I ADORED Soren (are we surprised?) and was ecstatic to get his POV alongside Heidi’s. I also thought Heidi was great. She’s quirky and goes after what she wants and I loved watching her let Soren in.
There’s lots of really great themes throughout too that made me want to hug multiple characters. I loved the bookish vibes and the small town setting. And every time Soren spoke I’m pretty sure I melted into the floor. This book is sweet and I loved it.
A fantastic story, one I devoured in practically a day. The books in this series can be read as a standalone too!
Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: low-moderate
- Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, attempted murder
SUNSHINE.
BLOG || INSTAGRAM
It’s my favorite micro trope ever: when the MMC is GONE for the FMC. It never gets old and automatically has me kicking my feet in the air waiting to watch the love story play out. And this one DELIVERED.
I love the combination of murder mystery and romance. It just works. Gracie Ruth Mitchell does an incredible job of balancing all of the swoon while moving the plot along and wondering whodunnit. I ADORED Soren (are we surprised?) and was ecstatic to get his POV alongside Heidi’s. I also thought Heidi was great. She’s quirky and goes after what she wants and I loved watching her let Soren in.
There’s lots of really great themes throughout too that made me want to hug multiple characters. I loved the bookish vibes and the small town setting. And every time Soren spoke I’m pretty sure I melted into the floor. This book is sweet and I loved it.
A fantastic story, one I devoured in practically a day. The books in this series can be read as a standalone too!
Overall audience notes:
- Contemporary Romance
- Language: none
- Romance: kisses
- Violence: low-moderate
- Trigger/Content Warnings: murder, attempted murder
September 29, 2023
It was so fun to be back in this universe Gracie has created! (is that an odd way to describe this? Maybe. But it’s how I’m gonna do it)
I felt like it was a perfect blend of cozy mystery and sizzling romance! I never felt rushed to move on to the next thing, or felt like I was wishing I was somewhere else in the story. I was just along for the crazy ride.
It was definitely a slow burn, he fell first and HARD! He was GONE for this girl and honestly…it was ADORABLE!
Ima just come out and say it…Soren was HOT! The whole “I’ll wait for you! We’ll take this at your pace.” situation was BEAUTIFUL! This romance was sexy in the best way. It was tasteful, and sweet, and slow, and just written perfectly for these two characters!
I loved getting inside both Heidi & Soren’s minds! Their inner dialogues were just so human. The imposter syndrome we can face in life. And sometimes the struggle we might have with feeling all of our emotions. Fears. Doubts. Excitement. Love. All the things!
It was delightfully bookish and cozy and (another weird way to describe it) just felt like a warm hug. It was just a GOOD STORY!
(I might’ve squealed just a wee bit when Juniper & Aiden made their little cameo!)
P.S I will never look at salted caramel ice cream the same way again! 🫠😍 IFYKYK
4.5/5 stars
*I received this book from the author**All opinions are my own*
I felt like it was a perfect blend of cozy mystery and sizzling romance! I never felt rushed to move on to the next thing, or felt like I was wishing I was somewhere else in the story. I was just along for the crazy ride.
It was definitely a slow burn, he fell first and HARD! He was GONE for this girl and honestly…it was ADORABLE!
Ima just come out and say it…Soren was HOT! The whole “I’ll wait for you! We’ll take this at your pace.” situation was BEAUTIFUL! This romance was sexy in the best way. It was tasteful, and sweet, and slow, and just written perfectly for these two characters!
I loved getting inside both Heidi & Soren’s minds! Their inner dialogues were just so human. The imposter syndrome we can face in life. And sometimes the struggle we might have with feeling all of our emotions. Fears. Doubts. Excitement. Love. All the things!
It was delightfully bookish and cozy and (another weird way to describe it) just felt like a warm hug. It was just a GOOD STORY!
(I might’ve squealed just a wee bit when Juniper & Aiden made their little cameo!)
P.S I will never look at salted caramel ice cream the same way again! 🫠😍 IFYKYK
4.5/5 stars
*I received this book from the author**All opinions are my own*
November 29, 2023
This should've been a five-star read. I really loved Juniper Bean and this has everything in it that I loved about Juniper Bean.
A really fun mystery (totally didn't see the twist, despite guessing whodunnit. GOT ME GOOD. Great characters--seriously. If I have any complaints it's that "man bun" is maybe a bit too much of a Marty Stu. That said, Somehow... he wasn't at the same time. Just in one particular area. Seriously, the guy couldn't have said or done one more relational thing more perfectly if he tried. But that was ONE strength. So there you have it.
Heidi Lucy was awesome--perfectly awkward and delightful. Fun. Determined. Seriously, Mitchell knows how to write characters who feel like they breathe through the pages. I LOVE her characters.
But Heidi's habit of using a mild euphemism for excrement got old. Fast. I know most people aren't bothered by it. But I am. I kept wanting to thrust a roll of toilet paper at her.
Still, that wouldn't have cut off more than half a star at most IF... it weren't for the sizzle.
Look, there were a few awkward moments in Juniper Bean that were really uncomfortable for me. I chalked them up to me and tried to ignore them. By comparison, the physical and emotional moments in this one were ramped up by a factor of ten. Or more. No, there are no bedroom scenes. That's one small favor, but oh my word. Look, if I'd been reading the book, there would have been a LOT of page flipping. As it was, whenever I could skip forward on the audio, I tried to, but I listened while doing other things, so it wasn't easy.
It was just so much more intense than the last one, that I'm sorry to leave the series here. Mitchell's writing is fabulous (I mean, I like a first-person/present author's writing!!!), her characterization is out of this world, and her mysteries are fun. The physical side of the romantic plot is just too much for me. It killed my enjoyment nearly every time the couple got touchy.
If you think cozies are too tame in the romance department, this is the book for you.
A really fun mystery (totally didn't see the twist, despite guessing whodunnit. GOT ME GOOD. Great characters--seriously. If I have any complaints it's that "man bun" is maybe a bit too much of a Marty Stu. That said, Somehow... he wasn't at the same time. Just in one particular area. Seriously, the guy couldn't have said or done one more relational thing more perfectly if he tried. But that was ONE strength. So there you have it.
Heidi Lucy was awesome--perfectly awkward and delightful. Fun. Determined. Seriously, Mitchell knows how to write characters who feel like they breathe through the pages. I LOVE her characters.
But Heidi's habit of using a mild euphemism for excrement got old. Fast. I know most people aren't bothered by it. But I am. I kept wanting to thrust a roll of toilet paper at her.
Still, that wouldn't have cut off more than half a star at most IF... it weren't for the sizzle.
Look, there were a few awkward moments in Juniper Bean that were really uncomfortable for me. I chalked them up to me and tried to ignore them. By comparison, the physical and emotional moments in this one were ramped up by a factor of ten. Or more. No, there are no bedroom scenes. That's one small favor, but oh my word. Look, if I'd been reading the book, there would have been a LOT of page flipping. As it was, whenever I could skip forward on the audio, I tried to, but I listened while doing other things, so it wasn't easy.
It was just so much more intense than the last one, that I'm sorry to leave the series here. Mitchell's writing is fabulous (I mean, I like a first-person/present author's writing!!!), her characterization is out of this world, and her mysteries are fun. The physical side of the romantic plot is just too much for me. It killed my enjoyment nearly every time the couple got touchy.
If you think cozies are too tame in the romance department, this is the book for you.
Read
October 12, 2023DNF @35%
.
I just can't get into this book. There's no distinction between the voices of the 2 narrators. And the premise is so absurd I can't suspend disbelief long enough to muddle through.
.
I really enjoyed Juniper Bean Resorts to Murder, but this just fell flat.
.
I just can't get into this book. There's no distinction between the voices of the 2 narrators. And the premise is so absurd I can't suspend disbelief long enough to muddle through.
.
I really enjoyed Juniper Bean Resorts to Murder, but this just fell flat.
October 13, 2023
Disappointed
I’m disappointed because I really enjoyed the first book! I had several issues with this one. Firstly, the heroine is 31 (THIRTY ONE) and yet acts more naive and dense when it comes to men and relationships than a middle-schooler. I get that she hasn’t dated a ton in the past, but a grown adult woman in her thirties would still have more maturity. It was really annoying.
Also, some things just didn’t make sense. SPOILER ALERT. Heidi looks back at her pictures and discovers that a receipt that was on the floor that she’d thrown away was in the background of a picture and showed the killer had bought rat poison, prompting her and Soren to go back to the house and dig around more. And eventually they look in Carminas locket and find the receipt for the rat poison. Whaaaaat? Either I’m super missing something, or the author forgot that she’d already used that receipt evidence, or the killer bought rat poison twice (convenient) and makes the discovery of the second receipt a little underwhelming. There were several little things like that that just didn’t make sense to me. Also, it makes me crazy in books when the villain at the end explains all their crimes to the person who’s discovering them. I know the author makes a joke (lifted from the Incredibles) about the villain monologue-ing, but that to me just shows she knew what she was doing was lame, but couldn’t figure out a more organic way to wrap everything up.
I’m disappointed because I really enjoyed the first book! I had several issues with this one. Firstly, the heroine is 31 (THIRTY ONE) and yet acts more naive and dense when it comes to men and relationships than a middle-schooler. I get that she hasn’t dated a ton in the past, but a grown adult woman in her thirties would still have more maturity. It was really annoying.
Also, some things just didn’t make sense. SPOILER ALERT. Heidi looks back at her pictures and discovers that a receipt that was on the floor that she’d thrown away was in the background of a picture and showed the killer had bought rat poison, prompting her and Soren to go back to the house and dig around more. And eventually they look in Carminas locket and find the receipt for the rat poison. Whaaaaat? Either I’m super missing something, or the author forgot that she’d already used that receipt evidence, or the killer bought rat poison twice (convenient) and makes the discovery of the second receipt a little underwhelming. There were several little things like that that just didn’t make sense to me. Also, it makes me crazy in books when the villain at the end explains all their crimes to the person who’s discovering them. I know the author makes a joke (lifted from the Incredibles) about the villain monologue-ing, but that to me just shows she knew what she was doing was lame, but couldn’t figure out a more organic way to wrap everything up.
December 17, 2023
no one makes me cackle quite so much as gracie ruth mitchell 😂 I think I did prefer juniper bean a smidge more, but I loved this one too. once again the perfect mix of adorable rom-com and cozy mystery, heidi and soren are just great. 5 stars from me!
October 21, 2023
can someone please be this obsessed with me!?!! along with Juniper, these are no doubt the most enjoyable dual pov books I have EVER read. loved the romance, humor, and wholesomeness. that’s real romance, baby
September 17, 2023
A new favorite from Gracie Ruth Mitchell! Full review to come!
October 9, 2023
This book was 5 ⭐️ hands down!! Gracie Ruth Mitchell did it again with this absolutely stellar book!! I was a little scared that after Juniper Bean I wouldn’t love her next book as much, but oh how wrong I was! (just look at my internal commentaries for proof😁)
{internal commentary: Noodles and the bathroom scene, priceless! Absolutely priceless! I was literally cackling so hard over that 😂 And the accidental wording slip up just topped it all off, literally so hilarious}
“That was the day that my stubborn heart cracked, just a little.
It’s been shattering for her ever since.”
{internal commentary: oh my lands! Just melt me now 🫠}
“My bandaged, fresh-from-the-hospital Heidi…”
{internal commentary: Ooookay, I see how this is 😁}
“Why is he smirking at me? Why do I like it? Because I do. But I don’t like cocky men.”
{internal commentary: laughing maniacally as she also gets called out for calling him “unnecessarily hot” 🤣}
{internal commentary: the panicked tackle over the shirt was to die for 😂 Legit how can this book be so good and so hilarious?! I am loooving it!!}
“If you and I ever kiss, and I do believe we will, there will be nothing accidental about it.”
{internal commentary: OH. MY. WORD!! The amount of hotness right now is completely off the charts 🔥}
Chapter 12. In Which Heidi Samples Salted Caramel
{internal commentary: ummm yes she did!😁}
“Whatever you’re thinking of right now—do it.”
{internal commentary: THE LICKING!! Ooooh the licking ❤️🔥 This just blows everything else out of the water… this was THE moment we’ve all been waiting for 😏👏🏻 My eyes literally got so big when Soren said to just do it 😁}
Chapter 18. In Which Soren Lets Heidi Explore
{internal commentary: did I know what I was in for? I thought I did, but it was even better than I’d hoped 😏}
“I would rather have you and just you than someone else and a brood of children.”
{internal commentary: I am absolutely dead at this point 🫠♥️ He is literally the sweetest and the absolute best for Heidi!}
{internal commentary: that first kiss though!!!! Ooooh my laaaands!!! Sooo worth the wait 🔥 And then of course the follow up was just as good 😏}
{internal commentary: okay this murder mystery has definitely kept me guessing and I love that so much! I hate being able to figure it out within a few chapters. Gracie Ruth Mitchell writes the literal best Killer Rom-Coms ever!! Well she writes some of the best books period.}
{internal commentary: this book has really made me think about how I treat others, especially those I dislike. I don’t know what all is going on in their lives and I should maybe take the extra time to be nice and actually get to know them. Who knows when they will suddenly fall over dead 😬}
{internal commentary: Noodles and the bathroom scene, priceless! Absolutely priceless! I was literally cackling so hard over that 😂 And the accidental wording slip up just topped it all off, literally so hilarious}
“That was the day that my stubborn heart cracked, just a little.
It’s been shattering for her ever since.”
{internal commentary: oh my lands! Just melt me now 🫠}
“My bandaged, fresh-from-the-hospital Heidi…”
{internal commentary: Ooookay, I see how this is 😁}
“Why is he smirking at me? Why do I like it? Because I do. But I don’t like cocky men.”
{internal commentary: laughing maniacally as she also gets called out for calling him “unnecessarily hot” 🤣}
{internal commentary: the panicked tackle over the shirt was to die for 😂 Legit how can this book be so good and so hilarious?! I am loooving it!!}
“If you and I ever kiss, and I do believe we will, there will be nothing accidental about it.”
{internal commentary: OH. MY. WORD!! The amount of hotness right now is completely off the charts 🔥}
Chapter 12. In Which Heidi Samples Salted Caramel
{internal commentary: ummm yes she did!😁}
“Whatever you’re thinking of right now—do it.”
{internal commentary: THE LICKING!! Ooooh the licking ❤️🔥 This just blows everything else out of the water… this was THE moment we’ve all been waiting for 😏👏🏻 My eyes literally got so big when Soren said to just do it 😁}
Chapter 18. In Which Soren Lets Heidi Explore
{internal commentary: did I know what I was in for? I thought I did, but it was even better than I’d hoped 😏}
“I would rather have you and just you than someone else and a brood of children.”
{internal commentary: I am absolutely dead at this point 🫠♥️ He is literally the sweetest and the absolute best for Heidi!}
{internal commentary: that first kiss though!!!! Ooooh my laaaands!!! Sooo worth the wait 🔥 And then of course the follow up was just as good 😏}
{internal commentary: okay this murder mystery has definitely kept me guessing and I love that so much! I hate being able to figure it out within a few chapters. Gracie Ruth Mitchell writes the literal best Killer Rom-Coms ever!! Well she writes some of the best books period.}
{internal commentary: this book has really made me think about how I treat others, especially those I dislike. I don’t know what all is going on in their lives and I should maybe take the extra time to be nice and actually get to know them. Who knows when they will suddenly fall over dead 😬}
October 4, 2023
There are so many things that I absolutely loved about this story!
The first meet was utterly hilarious, embarrassing, and adorable and I was laughing so hard, I was snorting. Lovely, I know. Heidi Lucy is one of the most fascinating characters I've ever read about. She's quirky, sweet, blunt yet awkward, adorable, hard-working, and has no clue what she wants. She manages to put herself in uncomfortable situations where she has no place being, yet it somehow works. I absolutely adored her in every single way, even though she made me blush harder than a naive little girl on so many occasions.
Soren, in all his golden man bun glory, is the ideal hero and his patience, charm, and imperfect perfectness is a sight to behold. He completely bewitched me with how he manages life and relationships, not to mention the fact that he's an author. Glorious swoony days!
Things to love:
🦜Jojo the bird and the things he says
🦜the pros and cons list
🦜the "odd" friendship/relationship
🦜salted caramel ice cream 😜
🦜bright pink t-shirt
🦜the big tackle
🦜a plethora of dogs
🦜a bookshop
🦜a murder investigation
🦜thoughts that accidentally drop from Heidi's mouth
🦜the best hugs
🦜twin brother and bestie
🦜a cameo of Juniper Bean!
Gracie Ruth Mitchell is a magnificent writer! The way she writes makes me laugh, yet conveys exactly the story she's trying to tell and I love her books so much! This one hit the spot and I can't stop thinking about it.
Content/TW: death/murder (not graphic); accident/moments of peril; very mild language; mild+ romance (swoony, kissing, etc)
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were voluntarily given.*
The first meet was utterly hilarious, embarrassing, and adorable and I was laughing so hard, I was snorting. Lovely, I know. Heidi Lucy is one of the most fascinating characters I've ever read about. She's quirky, sweet, blunt yet awkward, adorable, hard-working, and has no clue what she wants. She manages to put herself in uncomfortable situations where she has no place being, yet it somehow works. I absolutely adored her in every single way, even though she made me blush harder than a naive little girl on so many occasions.
Soren, in all his golden man bun glory, is the ideal hero and his patience, charm, and imperfect perfectness is a sight to behold. He completely bewitched me with how he manages life and relationships, not to mention the fact that he's an author. Glorious swoony days!
Things to love:
🦜Jojo the bird and the things he says
🦜the pros and cons list
🦜the "odd" friendship/relationship
🦜salted caramel ice cream 😜
🦜bright pink t-shirt
🦜the big tackle
🦜a plethora of dogs
🦜a bookshop
🦜a murder investigation
🦜thoughts that accidentally drop from Heidi's mouth
🦜the best hugs
🦜twin brother and bestie
🦜a cameo of Juniper Bean!
Gracie Ruth Mitchell is a magnificent writer! The way she writes makes me laugh, yet conveys exactly the story she's trying to tell and I love her books so much! This one hit the spot and I can't stop thinking about it.
Content/TW: death/murder (not graphic); accident/moments of peril; very mild language; mild+ romance (swoony, kissing, etc)
*I received a complimentary copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own and were voluntarily given.*
November 14, 2023
Oh my goodness, this book was a dream… and oddly therapeutic. 😍🥺
The story sucks you in on the very first page, leaving you demanding answers, haha. And running a bookshop cafe is every bookish girl’s dream… so I adore it! 🥰
Heidi & Soren have the sweetest dynamic. She’s the bookshop owner. He’s the famous writer trying to rebound from a book flop. They’re friends… he totally falls first… and she is relationship shy. Soren is so incredibly patient it turned me into a melted puddle. Like I said, SO SWEET!
Now for the therapeutic part. You know the feeling where you relate so hard to a character that the similarities almost feel awkward… that’s how I felt about Heidi. She was… so much like me. Her struggles made me feel seen & a little less like “there’s something wrong with me.” Also, Soren’s writerly insecurities are real… & something I feel sure most writers have come up against at least once… or twice, haha.
And I have to mention Eric & Heidi’s twin relationship because I’m a sucker for protective sweetheart older brothers. 🥹
As for the mystery, it was engaging and one wild ride! But perhaps best of all, the repercussions left me thoughtful.
(And yes, I read this twice in 1.5 months. Absolutely no regrets because not only is the book perfection but the audiobook is CAPTIVATING! The narrators nailed the characters, the tone, just everything! I’m not usually an audio fan, but this is seriously a new favourite to listen to!)
The story sucks you in on the very first page, leaving you demanding answers, haha. And running a bookshop cafe is every bookish girl’s dream… so I adore it! 🥰
Heidi & Soren have the sweetest dynamic. She’s the bookshop owner. He’s the famous writer trying to rebound from a book flop. They’re friends… he totally falls first… and she is relationship shy. Soren is so incredibly patient it turned me into a melted puddle. Like I said, SO SWEET!
Now for the therapeutic part. You know the feeling where you relate so hard to a character that the similarities almost feel awkward… that’s how I felt about Heidi. She was… so much like me. Her struggles made me feel seen & a little less like “there’s something wrong with me.” Also, Soren’s writerly insecurities are real… & something I feel sure most writers have come up against at least once… or twice, haha.
And I have to mention Eric & Heidi’s twin relationship because I’m a sucker for protective sweetheart older brothers. 🥹
As for the mystery, it was engaging and one wild ride! But perhaps best of all, the repercussions left me thoughtful.
(And yes, I read this twice in 1.5 months. Absolutely no regrets because not only is the book perfection but the audiobook is CAPTIVATING! The narrators nailed the characters, the tone, just everything! I’m not usually an audio fan, but this is seriously a new favourite to listen to!)
September 17, 2024
Heidi Lucy has someone murdered in her shop and has no memories of the last 24 hours. So good! The murder was somehow expected and unexpected. The relationship wasn't my favorite and pales in comparison to Juniper and Adian, but the cameo was fun! It's probably more like a 4.5 star read, honestly. Exactly my kind of book.
April 12, 2024
I’m honestly disappointed with this one. In my opinion, it wasn’t as good as the first book in this stand-alone series. It was okay, but even saying 'okay' seems generous. It also could’ve been the time I was reading it. I feel like I didn’t enjoy it enough to rate it a three star.
October 5, 2023
I absolutely loved Soren & Heidi's sassy, quirky, sweet, caring, loving, swoony story!!!
January 7, 2024
Have you ever picked up a book and within a very short time of reading it, you just knew it was going to be one of your favorites? Well, that's what happened to me the moment I started reading how Heidi and Soren met. Y'all this was probably one of my most favorite cute-meets ever! I literally felt all the emotions that Heidi and Soren were feeling and I just couldn't help but laugh so hard! It was just so stinkin' cute! And yes, I had to go back and reread it as soon as I finished it. Gah! It. Was. The. Best!
And things only got better from there. Heidi and Soren quickly became favorites of mine and will forever hold a special place in my heart. I can't even begin to tell you how many swoony moments these two had. And no, it wasn't just the toe curling kisses these two shared that turned me into an ooey gooey pile of deliciousness! It was more about the way Soren saw Heidi. The way he was so good to her and for her. The way he loved her. He knew just what she needed and was that person for her. Always. Their relationship was so endearing and sweet. I just couldn't get enough of it. Talk about all the little dreamy sighs. Oh! And did I mention those swoony kisses?! WOWZERS! All I can say is... salted caramel ice cream anyone?!
The mystery aspect of the book was masterfully done. My mind was going crazy right along with Heidi and Soren's trying to figure out who did it and why. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, PLOT TWIST! I finally just gave up and went with the flow. I do have to say that I was just as shocked as Heidi and Soren was when all was said and done. I love it when a book can do that to me!
I seriously loved every single thing about this book. It was so satisfying and it had every aspect that I have come to love in the books I read. It was so much more than just a romance, so much more than just a mystery, so much more than just self discovery, so much more than just a relationship. It had all of that and more tied up with most perfect bow you can imagine on your most cherished present. Ms. Mitchell has made a fan for life. I can't wait to see what she has planned next!
As for my casting, I know he was a given, but I still love these two! What do you think?!
And things only got better from there. Heidi and Soren quickly became favorites of mine and will forever hold a special place in my heart. I can't even begin to tell you how many swoony moments these two had. And no, it wasn't just the toe curling kisses these two shared that turned me into an ooey gooey pile of deliciousness! It was more about the way Soren saw Heidi. The way he was so good to her and for her. The way he loved her. He knew just what she needed and was that person for her. Always. Their relationship was so endearing and sweet. I just couldn't get enough of it. Talk about all the little dreamy sighs. Oh! And did I mention those swoony kisses?! WOWZERS! All I can say is... salted caramel ice cream anyone?!
The mystery aspect of the book was masterfully done. My mind was going crazy right along with Heidi and Soren's trying to figure out who did it and why. Just when I thought I had it all figured out, PLOT TWIST! I finally just gave up and went with the flow. I do have to say that I was just as shocked as Heidi and Soren was when all was said and done. I love it when a book can do that to me!
I seriously loved every single thing about this book. It was so satisfying and it had every aspect that I have come to love in the books I read. It was so much more than just a romance, so much more than just a mystery, so much more than just self discovery, so much more than just a relationship. It had all of that and more tied up with most perfect bow you can imagine on your most cherished present. Ms. Mitchell has made a fan for life. I can't wait to see what she has planned next!
As for my casting, I know he was a given, but I still love these two! What do you think?!
May 28, 2025
4 ★ | 15-16+
heidi lucy loses her mind | gracie ruth mitchell
⇨ 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
not gonna lie its been awhile since ive read this so it wont get the review it deserves 😭 but I really liked this book! The audiobook was narrated well, and the characters were very funny as usual with gracie’s books. I definitely liked the first book in the series more (Juniper Bean Resorts to Murder) but this was still a fun read.
⇨ 𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭
I loved the friends-to-lovers, reader x writer dynamics, but other than that the plot fell flat for me 😭 I’m sorry but who cares about how this old lady died? It might sound insensitive of me, but I didn’t care. I can’t even remember how it all ended, I just remember being underwhelmed and annoyed that it ended that lamely.
⇨ 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
It was cute! Really all i remember is that it was blush-inducing, and jaw dropping sometimes (as gracie’s romance always is)
100% closed door and no spice, just a little steamy
⇨ 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠
Loved the bookshop and the springs, nothing else was very memorable
(BUT WE GOT A CROSSOVER AND SAW JUNIPER AND ADEN SO I’M HAPPYYYYYY)
⇨ 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
Heidi
first of all: I LOVED HER NAME. Heidi is such a cute name that I see nowhere! I liked Heidi a lot, she was a good fmc. Don’t really have anything else to say about her though.
Soren
I like his name a lot too haha. Soren was chill. Nice writer dude. Hot. Treated Heidi amazingly
the old lady that died
I didn’t like her. I don’t get the fuss over her death.
I thought it was weird how much the characters cared about her “dark secrets”
I do feel kinda bad that she missed her husband and that’s why she was lonely and cranky, but other than that I didn’t care for her character or her role in the story
content considerations:
romance: 3/5 (descriptive, heated kisses)
language: 1/5 (maybe?) (like h*ll and d*mn)
other: obviously murder, but also light violence, mentions of an affair (they find picture proof of the people in the *ahem* act)
heidi lucy loses her mind | gracie ruth mitchell
⇨ 𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬
not gonna lie its been awhile since ive read this so it wont get the review it deserves 😭 but I really liked this book! The audiobook was narrated well, and the characters were very funny as usual with gracie’s books. I definitely liked the first book in the series more (Juniper Bean Resorts to Murder) but this was still a fun read.
⇨ 𝐩𝐥𝐨𝐭
I loved the friends-to-lovers, reader x writer dynamics, but other than that the plot fell flat for me 😭 I’m sorry but who cares about how this old lady died? It might sound insensitive of me, but I didn’t care. I can’t even remember how it all ended, I just remember being underwhelmed and annoyed that it ended that lamely.
⇨ 𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞
It was cute! Really all i remember is that it was blush-inducing, and jaw dropping sometimes (as gracie’s romance always is)
100% closed door and no spice, just a little steamy
⇨ 𝐬𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠
Loved the bookshop and the springs, nothing else was very memorable
(BUT WE GOT A CROSSOVER AND SAW JUNIPER AND ADEN SO I’M HAPPYYYYYY)
⇨ 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬
Heidi
first of all: I LOVED HER NAME. Heidi is such a cute name that I see nowhere! I liked Heidi a lot, she was a good fmc. Don’t really have anything else to say about her though.
Soren
I like his name a lot too haha. Soren was chill. Nice writer dude. Hot. Treated Heidi amazingly
the old lady that died
I didn’t like her. I don’t get the fuss over her death.
I thought it was weird how much the characters cared about her “dark secrets”
I do feel kinda bad that she missed her husband and that’s why she was lonely and cranky, but other than that I didn’t care for her character or her role in the story
content considerations:
romance: 3/5 (descriptive, heated kisses)
language: 1/5 (maybe?) (like h*ll and d*mn)
other: obviously murder, but also light violence, mentions of an affair (they find picture proof of the people in the *ahem* act)
December 17, 2023
This is the type of murder mystery I can get into! It's sweet and swoony with the perfect amount of thrill. I loved that there was already an established relationship between Heidi and Soren when the book started. Their chemistry was fabulous, and the progression of their friendship into romance was well-paced and satisfying. The same can be said of the mystery. I never got bored waiting for the next piece of the puzzle to fall into place. Mitchell did an amazing job making me feel sympathetic to the deceased in the story; I had to keep reminding myself that she wasn't a real person!
If you enjoyed Juniper Bean Resorts to Murder, or even if you just enjoy murder mysteries in general, I think you will enjoy this!♡
If you enjoyed Juniper Bean Resorts to Murder, or even if you just enjoy murder mysteries in general, I think you will enjoy this!♡
November 6, 2023
Just so cute! I absolutely love this book. From Soren to Heidi to the mystery around them all, this book hooked me and didn’t let me go. (It might even be better than Juniper? But I’m not sure 🤣) I hope we get more murder mystery romcoms from Gracie Ruth, because they’re just that great!
October 11, 2023
Felt a bit repetitive and the murder mystery storyline was anticlimactic for me.
April 16, 2024
i was far more interested in the mystery than the romance
June 3, 2024
Oy! Enough with the face licking already.
July 18, 2025
Slightly disappointed with Heidi's character when it comes to Soren and her feelings, but I really liked the message Carmina's story gave to the storyline overall!
Proper review to come assp! 💗
December 6, 2025
This was a fun, lighthearted romcom murder mystery :) not what I was expecting but very entertaining and quirky and all the good things. I love this author!
October 10, 2023
RTC but ADORED this one - put it on your tbr! Mystery, romance - all the things - it's perfect!
Quick review:
I don't know how it's possible, but I loved this book even more than her first killer romcom (but let's be real, Juniper Bean is so so good too!!)
If you like any of these things, pick this one up asap:
-romance with a side of murder mystery
-a gentle patient cinnamon roll guy + a sweet girl trying to figure out her emotions
-a coffee shop book store that you want to be real
-a slowwwwww burn (always worth it)
-he falls first
-friends to more
Just read it please, because I absolutely adored it!!
Quick review:
I don't know how it's possible, but I loved this book even more than her first killer romcom (but let's be real, Juniper Bean is so so good too!!)
If you like any of these things, pick this one up asap:
-romance with a side of murder mystery
-a gentle patient cinnamon roll guy + a sweet girl trying to figure out her emotions
-a coffee shop book store that you want to be real
-a slowwwwww burn (always worth it)
-he falls first
-friends to more
Just read it please, because I absolutely adored it!!
July 3, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: cozy mystery romcom
Content: makeouts, non-gory murder on page, mention of infertility
I love this mashup of genres that Gracie Ruth Mitchell has created in the Happily Ever Homicide series! Idk if writers truly have the intense feelings of doubt that Soren does in the story but Gracie, I AM HERE FOR ANY BOOK YOU WRITE!
Heidi- strong, independent, trying to figure out what she wants
Soren- steady, patient, so gone for Heidi Lucy 😍
So much to love:
❤️ the dedication
📖 the chapter titles
🍦 the ice cream scene!!!!
🥰 Heidi’s possessiveness “you’re mine, all right?”
👀 seeing Aidiper from Juniper Bean
🦜 the parrot and his quotes
Favorite Quotes:
🦴And look. I am normally a calm, composed woman. But I am teetering on the edge of some sort of breakdown here. I can feel it in my calm, composed bones.
🏠 And I find myself wondering, not for the first time, if there's a word for when a place that used to feel like home no longer seems familiar.
👱🏻♀️She expects life to go her way, because she will bend the universe to her will.
💋 "If you and I ever kiss" —he moves until his mouth is no more than a hair's breadth away from my ear—“and I do believe we will," he adds, making my heart stop midbeat."There will be nothing accidental about it."
🪞 I don't think we look into crystal balls to see our future. We look into mirrors. We turn our heads right and left, examine the little bits of our souls we can see leaking from the eyes of our reflections. We hold those reflections up to the light, searching for familiar patterns, for our mother's curly hair or our father's Cupid's bow.
⚓️ “Before a woman is ever meant to be someone's wife or someone's mother or anything else, she is meant to be herself. That is where we anchor ourselves. We can add the rest on, but they're not where we begin. You are yourself first and foremost."
😄 Most people crave some sort of connection, whether big or small. And another thing I've discovered? It is incredibly easy to make someone smile. What an amazing power that is. There's something deep in my bones, in my soul, that recognizes that part of my purpose in life is to provide comfort, to provide a safe place, to help people smile more.
Genre: cozy mystery romcom
Content: makeouts, non-gory murder on page, mention of infertility
I love this mashup of genres that Gracie Ruth Mitchell has created in the Happily Ever Homicide series! Idk if writers truly have the intense feelings of doubt that Soren does in the story but Gracie, I AM HERE FOR ANY BOOK YOU WRITE!
Heidi- strong, independent, trying to figure out what she wants
Soren- steady, patient, so gone for Heidi Lucy 😍
So much to love:
❤️ the dedication
📖 the chapter titles
🍦 the ice cream scene!!!!
🥰 Heidi’s possessiveness “you’re mine, all right?”
👀 seeing Aidiper from Juniper Bean
🦜 the parrot and his quotes
Favorite Quotes:
🦴And look. I am normally a calm, composed woman. But I am teetering on the edge of some sort of breakdown here. I can feel it in my calm, composed bones.
🏠 And I find myself wondering, not for the first time, if there's a word for when a place that used to feel like home no longer seems familiar.
👱🏻♀️She expects life to go her way, because she will bend the universe to her will.
💋 "If you and I ever kiss" —he moves until his mouth is no more than a hair's breadth away from my ear—“and I do believe we will," he adds, making my heart stop midbeat."There will be nothing accidental about it."
🪞 I don't think we look into crystal balls to see our future. We look into mirrors. We turn our heads right and left, examine the little bits of our souls we can see leaking from the eyes of our reflections. We hold those reflections up to the light, searching for familiar patterns, for our mother's curly hair or our father's Cupid's bow.
⚓️ “Before a woman is ever meant to be someone's wife or someone's mother or anything else, she is meant to be herself. That is where we anchor ourselves. We can add the rest on, but they're not where we begin. You are yourself first and foremost."
😄 Most people crave some sort of connection, whether big or small. And another thing I've discovered? It is incredibly easy to make someone smile. What an amazing power that is. There's something deep in my bones, in my soul, that recognizes that part of my purpose in life is to provide comfort, to provide a safe place, to help people smile more.
May 29, 2024
Second read-through: perfect late night reading as my husband sleeps next to me; still love this story a lot, Soren is the best.
First read-through: I’ve often joked about how I love a morally gray man. You know, the villain with an honorable streak who falls hard for the heroine and finds himself saying things like, “touch her and you die,” much to my joy and his consternation. And I still enjoy those stories, probably because it takes me back to my high school days when I had thoughts like, “Oh, I can fix him, he’s not that bad.”
But y’all know what’s even sexier?
A mature man with wit and mischief who has a favorite spot in a cafe/bookshop to write the next great American novel (he’s a little insecure about his work, no one’s perfect), knows what he wants (in this case, it’s the cute cafe/bookshop owner), *and yet* respects her enough to do everything on her timetable (bless her heart, she’s got secrets and hang-ups) because he’s not afraid to wait.
Be still, my almost 36 year old heart.
Ms. Mitchell has crafted a precious romance about two adults (this designation matters– no dumb teen crap here!) who communicate and grow and eventually kiss the sweet heck out of each other (closed door) while also solving two mysteries: why can’t Heidi remember what happened after her head got hit and does it have anything to do with why [redacted] dropped dead at her cafe/bookshop?
First read-through: I’ve often joked about how I love a morally gray man. You know, the villain with an honorable streak who falls hard for the heroine and finds himself saying things like, “touch her and you die,” much to my joy and his consternation. And I still enjoy those stories, probably because it takes me back to my high school days when I had thoughts like, “Oh, I can fix him, he’s not that bad.”
But y’all know what’s even sexier?
A mature man with wit and mischief who has a favorite spot in a cafe/bookshop to write the next great American novel (he’s a little insecure about his work, no one’s perfect), knows what he wants (in this case, it’s the cute cafe/bookshop owner), *and yet* respects her enough to do everything on her timetable (bless her heart, she’s got secrets and hang-ups) because he’s not afraid to wait.
Be still, my almost 36 year old heart.
Ms. Mitchell has crafted a precious romance about two adults (this designation matters– no dumb teen crap here!) who communicate and grow and eventually kiss the sweet heck out of each other (closed door) while also solving two mysteries: why can’t Heidi remember what happened after her head got hit and does it have anything to do with why [redacted] dropped dead at her cafe/bookshop?
December 27, 2023
I loved the first book in this series and I somehow love this one even more.
RomCom romance meets who done it? I loved figuring this mystery out with Heidi Lucy and Soren.
I love how the book is a serious mystery, but so much lightness and humor is mixed in as well. Like their meet cute! It’s unforgettably funny.
The stakes are high after Heidi looses her memory of an entire day and leaves a very concerning voicemail with Soren. Can they figure out the mystery before it’s too late?
There’s so much I want to say, but how do you share about a mystery without giving anything away? Suffice it to say I was hooked. Hooked on the main characters. Hooked on the romance. Hooked on the corky towns people. And hooked on figuring out the mystery. I absolutely enjoyed this one. So much so that I read it all in one day.
RomCom romance meets who done it? I loved figuring this mystery out with Heidi Lucy and Soren.
I love how the book is a serious mystery, but so much lightness and humor is mixed in as well. Like their meet cute! It’s unforgettably funny.
The stakes are high after Heidi looses her memory of an entire day and leaves a very concerning voicemail with Soren. Can they figure out the mystery before it’s too late?
There’s so much I want to say, but how do you share about a mystery without giving anything away? Suffice it to say I was hooked. Hooked on the main characters. Hooked on the romance. Hooked on the corky towns people. And hooked on figuring out the mystery. I absolutely enjoyed this one. So much so that I read it all in one day.
October 31, 2023
I didn’t really care for this one. The romance was a little … weird to be honest and while the first book managed to balance the romance and mystery pretty well, this one didn’t. I had a really hard time distinguishing between the POV voices and there were also a lot of things that just didn’t make sense in the plot.
January 26, 2024
I listened to this book and I loved it. So much. It was fun and that bit of mystery just made everything more exciting.
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