It's best to keep the past dead and buried...unless forgotten secrets threaten Ravenwood Cove's future.
Amanda loves her old-fashioned beach town, but when a grisly discovery uncovers an old mystery, she begins to wonder just how many secrets her friends are keeping from her.
I've been writing and making stories in my head as early as I can remember. In third grade I came home, set my lunchbox down, and told my mother I wanted to be a writer. Luckily, Mom was supportive.
I've been a published author for a while now, under different names and genres, but the thought of writing about a small coastal town in Oregon, and about its loves and mysteries and holidays and people has been with me for years. To be honest, I am a bit scared to dump those ideas onto the written page, but hope you'll enjoy getting to meet the people who inhabit my imagination.
In real life, I'm married with kids, live on the West Coast of the US, and own a hobby farm just outside of my favorite small town. I love to travel, and can often be found strolling down a windy Oregon beach, holding onto the string of a high-sailing dragon kite.
In the 6th book, Sun, Sand, & Secrets, of the Ravenwood Cozy Mystery series published in 2017 by Carolyn L. Dean, Amanda ponders the question of what it will mean to marry her sweetheart, James, a local police detective. In the course of her analysis, Madeline Wu, a local shopkeeper we've met before, goes missing, then someone turns up dead. Along the path, a neighboring town's mayor gets involved, and some new romances might be brewing around the lovely little Oregon town.
I enjoy reading about the comings and goings of Amanda's renovated bed and breakfast / inn. This book felt more like a mini-edition, prepping us for Amanda's upcoming nuptials, rather than a full-on mystery. While it was fun, cute, and cozy, the mystery was very light - much more than usual. I enjoy light mysteries, but the crime didn't happen until about 50% into the book, and there wasn't a lot of investigating in the second half. It was a good read, but not a standout in the series. Still worth taking on, as it's under 2 hours... and I really do love the interactions Meg, Truman, Gram, and all the other wonderful characters.
I like inserting these types of books into bigger thrillers so I get a break from major analytical thinking, but I still have some puzzles to solve and the comfort of a fun, warm and interesting setting. It's not a complete week unless I've sneaked in a cozy of some sort!
3 stelle e mezza In questo libro si parla più della vita della protagonista che di altro. Intendiamoci, la cosa non mi è dispiaciuta (l'escursione in kayak mi ha fatto venire voglia di provarlo anch'io), ma la storia gialla è rimasta molto nel sottofondo e non mi ha preso per niente, quasi non ho capito la soluzione...
I really enjoy this series of Carolyn Dean's cozy mysteries. Amanda and the town's characters just pull me in. I love the twists and turns and I am usually surprised at the ending. This particular book felt like a rushed story to meet deadlines. I felt her first books in this series were much more planned out and developed. I would also like to see more editorial participation. The grammatical errors stop me in my tracts for a few moments. This just wasn't my favorite of the books but I still love to revisit this town and people.
I've become addicted to Carolyn Dean's cozy mystery series. While I really enjoyed this particular one, I have to admit, it didn't feel quite as up to her high standards as the previous installments. It felt a bit like a filler story instead of the highly developed mystery plot I've come to expect from her.
The good news is that the book still featured the same delightful cast of characters, the same adorable setting, and pleasant writing style that can be found in all of Ms. Dean's books.
So enjoying the mystery but right now I'm anxious about the wedding of James and Amanda! They are a great couple and I can understand her concerns about their roles as a married couple. Carolyn l dean, do you promise more after book nine ? I'm getting so close and I don't want this to end!!!!!
I enjoy reading this series by Carolyn L. Dean it is easy reading and heart warming tales of Ravenwood Cove with a delightful heroine and inn owner it has romance and mystery looking forward to the next book in the series
This one was just so much fun! The mystery was great too. I’m so attached to all the characters in this series now! I’m off to pick up the next one now...
The book was okay but I’m sort of getting tired of the ending always being the same. Again, as in other books, Amanda finds herself about to be killed. She’s able to escape after fumbling around looking for her car keys, then drives away, after seeing the killer on the road behind her. Then, as usual, she digs out her cellphone and dials 911 saying it’s an emergency as she’s driving away. Too repetitive! I’d prefer the ending to have a little more originality! Also, I wish authors wouldn’t just rely on spellcheck as the word may be spelled right but not used correctly can give a sentence an entirely different meaning.
Amanda's newly engaged to James, but before she can celebrate, her friend Madeleine goes missing. While she and her fiance search for her, other events lead the reader down the trail with many twists. It's a fun, fast-paced mystery, looking forward to the next installment of life in Ravenwood Cove.
I have read 6 of these books in this series in three days. When I read I create what the characters and settings look like in my mind, almost like a movie. I have so enjoyed this series and can’t wait to start book 7! I highly recommend this series.
It's always nice to check in on my "friends" in Ravenwood Cove. I learned that old Mrs. Granger doesn't approve of oysters on pizza ("I'd rather take off my own shoes and eat them with ketchup"), and this time the mystery centered around fishmonger Madeline Wu. Although it's not my favorite in the series, it was another good and cozy mystery.
I like the author and love the characters in the town. This book seemed to be cut short to me. Almost like the cartoon where the sign falls down stating "That's All Folks!" I read this book in about three hours so it was not very long. I hope the next books are more involved and LONGER!
I enjoyed this book immensely. It was a continuation of a wonderful series with interesting characters. The small town life reflected causes you yearn for close neighbors.
I have been going through this series so fast but I can’t put them down! The stories are such a delight and I enjoy relaxing with a fun book. Amanda and gang are entertaining along with whatever mystery turns up!
Amanda and James work together solve another mystery. I love Ravenwood Cove and all inequity citizens. Truman is a character you won't easily forget. I recommend this book to those who love cozy mysteries.
An enjoyable read, cozy mystery set in Ravenwood Cove.
Amanda has said Yes to James, owner of the Ravenwood Inn marrying the local Police Detective. However, will things change between them, wil he expect her to change for him?
There is a mystery in this book when one of the residents of the town goes missing, then someone is found dead. However, each book in this series is getting shorter, this book being under 100 pages, so not much time to get involved in the story.
I'm giving the book 5 stars as I did enjoy it but I'm hoping future books will be longer.
Each book is a standalone story but the books are best read in order of publication to preserve continuity of the characters and series.