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Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery #2
Bear Witness to Murder
As autumn air settles into the quaint small town of Silver Hollow, there’s nothing more popular than Sasha’s teddy bears—and murder in cold blood . . .
Silver Bear Shop and Factory manager Sasha Silverman is cozying up to the fall season by hosting Silver Hollow’s Cranbeary Tea Party, the opening event of the village’s Oktobear Fest—a too-cute celebration themed around teddy bears. She barely has a moment to agonize over the return of her former high school rival, Holly Parker, whose new toy and bookstore in town could spell big trouble for her the Silver Bear Shop and her cousin’s small bookstore . . .
But when Sasha discovers Holly’s shop assistant dead with a knife plunged in her body, the unpleasant woman suddenly looks like a real backstabber. So does Sasha’s ex-husband, rumored to have rekindled the fiery extramarital affair he once had with the victim. Now, before a gruesome homicide case takes the fun out of both the Fest and her personal life, Sasha must identify the true culprit from a daunting suspect list—or risk becoming as lifeless as one of her stuffed bears . . .
Silver Bear Shop and Factory manager Sasha Silverman is cozying up to the fall season by hosting Silver Hollow’s Cranbeary Tea Party, the opening event of the village’s Oktobear Fest—a too-cute celebration themed around teddy bears. She barely has a moment to agonize over the return of her former high school rival, Holly Parker, whose new toy and bookstore in town could spell big trouble for her the Silver Bear Shop and her cousin’s small bookstore . . .
But when Sasha discovers Holly’s shop assistant dead with a knife plunged in her body, the unpleasant woman suddenly looks like a real backstabber. So does Sasha’s ex-husband, rumored to have rekindled the fiery extramarital affair he once had with the victim. Now, before a gruesome homicide case takes the fun out of both the Fest and her personal life, Sasha must identify the true culprit from a daunting suspect list—or risk becoming as lifeless as one of her stuffed bears . . .
292 pages, Paperback
First published May 29, 2018
45 people are currently reading
565 people want to read
About the author
Meg Macy
11 books345 followersNational bestselling author Meg Macy is a reader first and foremost. She’s always found comfort, adventure, and connection in books—which might explain why she now writes stories that offer all three.
Best known for her Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery series (Kensington), several Christmas romance novellas with rescue pets, and as one-half of D.E. Ireland, the Agatha Award-nominated duo behind the Eliza Doolittle and Professor Higgins mysteries, Meg has long embraced the cozy end of fiction.
Now, she’s rewriting the rules with a new direction: LGBTQA+ romantic suspense—queer characters in a cozy setting with spice, intrigue, and plenty of emotional payoff. M/M or M/F, traditional or trailblazing, her stories are comfort reads with a twist.
Unique? Yep. Meg loves breaking the rules. She lives with her writing companion, Mr. Whiskers the cat, and prefers pages to parties any day.
Best known for her Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery series (Kensington), several Christmas romance novellas with rescue pets, and as one-half of D.E. Ireland, the Agatha Award-nominated duo behind the Eliza Doolittle and Professor Higgins mysteries, Meg has long embraced the cozy end of fiction.
Now, she’s rewriting the rules with a new direction: LGBTQA+ romantic suspense—queer characters in a cozy setting with spice, intrigue, and plenty of emotional payoff. M/M or M/F, traditional or trailblazing, her stories are comfort reads with a twist.
Unique? Yep. Meg loves breaking the rules. She lives with her writing companion, Mr. Whiskers the cat, and prefers pages to parties any day.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 116 reviews
May 4, 2018
Bear Witness to Murder by Meg Macy is the second book in the cozy Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery series. Set in a small town this series revolves around a main character running her family business, the Silver Bear Shop and Factory. The shop is about like a Build a Bear type of small business.
In this installment Sasha Silverman and her family are gearing up to participate in the numerous fall events in their small town when Sasha yet again stumbles upon a dead body in a parking lot. Calling the police Sasha believes the victim is her old high school nemesis that had just returned to town and opened a similar business but instead they find her assistant wearing Holly’s jacket. As the list of potential suspects grow and the investigation to those around Sasha start getting a bit close Sasha begins her own investigating again.
This series yet again has a very cute small town setting to enjoy along with likable characters to follow. But what I found yet again is that to me it feels like it can drag a bit here and there being a little overly detailed in places. There were also some things happening that I didn’t quite like for instance Sasha’s mother pushing to return to a cheating ex…why??? But overall the small town/store vibe and the mystery both are enjoyable enough to return to the series leaving me to rate them 3.5 stars.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
In this installment Sasha Silverman and her family are gearing up to participate in the numerous fall events in their small town when Sasha yet again stumbles upon a dead body in a parking lot. Calling the police Sasha believes the victim is her old high school nemesis that had just returned to town and opened a similar business but instead they find her assistant wearing Holly’s jacket. As the list of potential suspects grow and the investigation to those around Sasha start getting a bit close Sasha begins her own investigating again.
This series yet again has a very cute small town setting to enjoy along with likable characters to follow. But what I found yet again is that to me it feels like it can drag a bit here and there being a little overly detailed in places. There were also some things happening that I didn’t quite like for instance Sasha’s mother pushing to return to a cheating ex…why??? But overall the small town/store vibe and the mystery both are enjoyable enough to return to the series leaving me to rate them 3.5 stars.
I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.
For more reviews please visit https://carriesbookreviews.com/
June 22, 2018
Sasha Silverman enjoys her job at the family business, the Silver Bear Shop & Factory. But she's a bit frazzled. Autumn is the start of their busy season...the Cranbeary Tea Party and the Oktobear Fest get the holiday season started. This year there's a bit more stress because an old high school rival has returned to town and opened a gift and book shop, directly competing with the Silver Bear Shop and the local bookstore. Holly Parker seems to want to cause as much drama as possible, at least where Sasha is concerned. Old high school rivalries never die? When Holly's shop assistant is found dead with a knife in her back, Sasha tries to resist doing any sleuthing. It only gets her into trouble. But as other incidents start happening around town, she realizes this is more than old high school problems or jealous business owners. Sasha wants to solve the case before anyone else is killed and Oktobear Fest is ruined.
I love this series. I'm not sure if it's the teddy bear theme (I have collected teddy bears since I was 6 years old), or the mix of humor and mystery...or maybe both? Bear Witness to Murder is the second book in the Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery series. This book was just as enjoyable as the first book in the series. I like Sasha as a main character. She's getting her life back together following a divorce and works hard at the family business. She has a good relationship with her sister Maddie who also works for the teddy bear factory. However, I don't really care for her relationship with her parents. Her mother is always trying to push her into going back to her ex-husband, who was a womanizing jerk. Why would any mother do that? And her father never sticks up for her. Just seems like a weird family dynamic.
I liked the Oktobear Fest theme. The teddy bear theme didn't over power the mystery, but just added some flavor to the story. The mystery kept my attention and had some interesting twists and clues. There is a little bit of romance sprinkled in amongst the sleuthing and fall festival-ing...just enough to round out the characters. All in all, a "beary'' enjoyable cozy mystery! I'm definitely going to keep reading this series. :)
**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
I love this series. I'm not sure if it's the teddy bear theme (I have collected teddy bears since I was 6 years old), or the mix of humor and mystery...or maybe both? Bear Witness to Murder is the second book in the Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery series. This book was just as enjoyable as the first book in the series. I like Sasha as a main character. She's getting her life back together following a divorce and works hard at the family business. She has a good relationship with her sister Maddie who also works for the teddy bear factory. However, I don't really care for her relationship with her parents. Her mother is always trying to push her into going back to her ex-husband, who was a womanizing jerk. Why would any mother do that? And her father never sticks up for her. Just seems like a weird family dynamic.
I liked the Oktobear Fest theme. The teddy bear theme didn't over power the mystery, but just added some flavor to the story. The mystery kept my attention and had some interesting twists and clues. There is a little bit of romance sprinkled in amongst the sleuthing and fall festival-ing...just enough to round out the characters. All in all, a "beary'' enjoyable cozy mystery! I'm definitely going to keep reading this series. :)
**I voluntarily read an advance readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**
June 1, 2018
Dollycas’s Thoughts
It is time for Oktobear Fest in Silver Hollow, Michigan. The event starts with a Cranbeary Tea Party. Silver Bear Shop has several bears in attendance and Sasha and her sister Maddie are waiting tables. Sasha is surprised to see her high school rival and owner of the new toy shop in town, Holly along with her assistant Gina at one of the tables and even more surprised to see her ex, Flynn arrive and he and Gina rush over to the mayor’s table. They make a huge scene. It wasn’t bad enough the new store was stealing business, now they had to try to ruin this wonderful event too.
The ultimate surprise was Sasha and her dog discovering Gina’s body outside a local eatery early the next morning. At first, she thought it was Holly, because of the clothing. Was the killer confused too? Who was the real target? Gina? or Holly? And is Flynn involved? or heaven forbid the mayor? Sasha finds herself in a beary dangerous place as she tries to catch the killer and save the festival.
There is so much to love in this story. I really loved the idea about the Bears on Parade. You see in Madison, Wisconsin, and Dane County this summer they have a Bucky’s on Parade art event with 85 Bucky Badger statues transformed by 64 artists. People are having so much fun hunting them all down. In this story there are about a dozen bears, Maddie is transforming one and so is her boyfriend Kip. Sasha is also helping to transform another bear. The bear statues have sponsors and both parades will auction off the statues at the end of their events. I hope to see a few before summer is over.
All the characters I enjoyed in the first book are back. I have to say I am not a fan of Sasha’s mother though. She bugged me a bit in the first story, but I think by now she needs to realize Flynn and Sasha are through, finished, kaput! The man cheated on her and his suggestion of marriage in name only to Sasha almost made me lose my mind. For some reason her mom likes Flynn, I can’t imagine how any mom would want her daughter with a man like him. I just hope in the next story she really sees the light and supports her daughter and the man she wants to be with.
Oh, the author has given us a clever mystery. The victim has a past – meaning plenty of suspects, with different motives for wanting her gone. I was “beary” confused at first but soon I had an inkling as to who the culprit could be but then I read further and thought I was totally wrong. Those pages were really flying and so much was happening, there was no way I was going to put this book down until I reached the end. By the way, I was wrong and surprised by the ending. I loved it!
Both books in this series have been excellent reads. I do recommend reading them in order to get to know the characters and the setting.
Bring on Book #3, Ms. Macy! I can hardly wait!
It is time for Oktobear Fest in Silver Hollow, Michigan. The event starts with a Cranbeary Tea Party. Silver Bear Shop has several bears in attendance and Sasha and her sister Maddie are waiting tables. Sasha is surprised to see her high school rival and owner of the new toy shop in town, Holly along with her assistant Gina at one of the tables and even more surprised to see her ex, Flynn arrive and he and Gina rush over to the mayor’s table. They make a huge scene. It wasn’t bad enough the new store was stealing business, now they had to try to ruin this wonderful event too.
The ultimate surprise was Sasha and her dog discovering Gina’s body outside a local eatery early the next morning. At first, she thought it was Holly, because of the clothing. Was the killer confused too? Who was the real target? Gina? or Holly? And is Flynn involved? or heaven forbid the mayor? Sasha finds herself in a beary dangerous place as she tries to catch the killer and save the festival.
There is so much to love in this story. I really loved the idea about the Bears on Parade. You see in Madison, Wisconsin, and Dane County this summer they have a Bucky’s on Parade art event with 85 Bucky Badger statues transformed by 64 artists. People are having so much fun hunting them all down. In this story there are about a dozen bears, Maddie is transforming one and so is her boyfriend Kip. Sasha is also helping to transform another bear. The bear statues have sponsors and both parades will auction off the statues at the end of their events. I hope to see a few before summer is over.
All the characters I enjoyed in the first book are back. I have to say I am not a fan of Sasha’s mother though. She bugged me a bit in the first story, but I think by now she needs to realize Flynn and Sasha are through, finished, kaput! The man cheated on her and his suggestion of marriage in name only to Sasha almost made me lose my mind. For some reason her mom likes Flynn, I can’t imagine how any mom would want her daughter with a man like him. I just hope in the next story she really sees the light and supports her daughter and the man she wants to be with.
Oh, the author has given us a clever mystery. The victim has a past – meaning plenty of suspects, with different motives for wanting her gone. I was “beary” confused at first but soon I had an inkling as to who the culprit could be but then I read further and thought I was totally wrong. Those pages were really flying and so much was happening, there was no way I was going to put this book down until I reached the end. By the way, I was wrong and surprised by the ending. I loved it!
Both books in this series have been excellent reads. I do recommend reading them in order to get to know the characters and the setting.
Bring on Book #3, Ms. Macy! I can hardly wait!
October 28, 2019
Meg Macy’s Bear Witness to Murder is an okay read that is muddled with too many boring characters and a complex plot that is overcrowded with unnecessary plot points. This is the second book in the series and I don’t think it works as a standalone. I haven’t read the other books in the series and, after this experience, I don’t plan to.
Silver Bear Shop and Factory manager Sasha Silverman is preparing for Silver Hollow’s upcoming Oktobear Fest. However, she also has to contend with her old high school rival Holly Parker whose new toy and bookshop is set to compete with Sasha’s factory and her cousin’s bookstore. Then, Sasha stumbles across Holly’s shop assistant…murdered! While juggling work duties, Fest plans, and a suddenly heating up love life, Sasha must find the murderer.
I wanted to like this book because it seemed so cute. However, this book suffers from a case of too much of everything. The plot had the potential to be interesting but it’s bogged down with uninteresting scenes and unnecessary plotlines. I had to force myself to keep reading. I didn’t care about Sasha’s aunt and uncle relationship drama or Sasha’s mother’s weird obsession with Sasha’s slimy cheating ex-husband. I did like the book’s surprisingly memorable ending and the complex mystery. However, I really couldn’t appreciate them much because of the sluggishly paced and suspenseless plot and the implausible situations. I wish Macy had spent more time properly developing the important plotlines. I did like reading about the teddy bear factory as well as the Oktobear Fest although all the cutesy various activities were too much.
The book has a huge cast of characters and I had trouble keeping them straight. While I like Sasha’s dedication to her family and the factory, she is a dull and forgettable protagonist. I couldn’t even remember her name most of the time! I wish she had done some more snooping. Most of the other characters are unmemorable, inconsistent, and act really implausibly. I couldn’t keep track of Sasha’s workers, her friends, and fellow shop-owners. They are all interchangeable and boring. I also didn’t care about or connect with Sasha’s family and their various dramas. Some of the characters could have been cut in favour of properly developing the most important ones. Villainess Holly is really the only interesting and memorable character simply because she is such a destructive presence.
Bear Witness to Murder is an okay one-time read that had potential but really missed the mark. The mystery is interesting but the book’s inconsistent characters and unnecessary plot-points made this book a disappointing chore for me.
🧸 🧸 teddy bears out of 5!
Silver Bear Shop and Factory manager Sasha Silverman is preparing for Silver Hollow’s upcoming Oktobear Fest. However, she also has to contend with her old high school rival Holly Parker whose new toy and bookshop is set to compete with Sasha’s factory and her cousin’s bookstore. Then, Sasha stumbles across Holly’s shop assistant…murdered! While juggling work duties, Fest plans, and a suddenly heating up love life, Sasha must find the murderer.
I wanted to like this book because it seemed so cute. However, this book suffers from a case of too much of everything. The plot had the potential to be interesting but it’s bogged down with uninteresting scenes and unnecessary plotlines. I had to force myself to keep reading. I didn’t care about Sasha’s aunt and uncle relationship drama or Sasha’s mother’s weird obsession with Sasha’s slimy cheating ex-husband. I did like the book’s surprisingly memorable ending and the complex mystery. However, I really couldn’t appreciate them much because of the sluggishly paced and suspenseless plot and the implausible situations. I wish Macy had spent more time properly developing the important plotlines. I did like reading about the teddy bear factory as well as the Oktobear Fest although all the cutesy various activities were too much.
The book has a huge cast of characters and I had trouble keeping them straight. While I like Sasha’s dedication to her family and the factory, she is a dull and forgettable protagonist. I couldn’t even remember her name most of the time! I wish she had done some more snooping. Most of the other characters are unmemorable, inconsistent, and act really implausibly. I couldn’t keep track of Sasha’s workers, her friends, and fellow shop-owners. They are all interchangeable and boring. I also didn’t care about or connect with Sasha’s family and their various dramas. Some of the characters could have been cut in favour of properly developing the most important ones. Villainess Holly is really the only interesting and memorable character simply because she is such a destructive presence.
Bear Witness to Murder is an okay one-time read that had potential but really missed the mark. The mystery is interesting but the book’s inconsistent characters and unnecessary plot-points made this book a disappointing chore for me.
🧸 🧸 teddy bears out of 5!
April 26, 2018
Kids love them! Adults love them! Pets Love them! Teddy Bears❣️ Sasha Silverman is surrounded by adorable handmade teddy bears at the Silver Bear Shop & Factory she manages for her parents. Her sister, Maddie, keeps the office running smoothly. Oktobear Fest has arrived and the townspeople and tourists are excited about the many events taking place, such as Bears on Parade (which I loved), Hide the Bears in the Apple Orchard, the Haunted Maze, and More! To Sasha’s horror, she and her dog, Rosie, stumble across a dead body that Sasha mistakenly identifies as her long-time nemesis. The deceased is correctly ID’d soon, but it’s a race against time for Sasha and friends to piece together the patterns that will lead to the perpetrator before they kill again.
This story has the ‘wow factor’! The splendid entertainment makes the pages fly by. I had suspicions about a couple of the characters behavior, but motive was unclear until the malice was explained. The mystery and all the backstory revealed will keep you on the edge of your seat through the final showdown! Ms. Macy continues to build great characters and an appealing world for them to live and work in. I enjoyed this second story even more than I did the first, and eagerly look forward to book three.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington.
This story has the ‘wow factor’! The splendid entertainment makes the pages fly by. I had suspicions about a couple of the characters behavior, but motive was unclear until the malice was explained. The mystery and all the backstory revealed will keep you on the edge of your seat through the final showdown! Ms. Macy continues to build great characters and an appealing world for them to live and work in. I enjoyed this second story even more than I did the first, and eagerly look forward to book three.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington.
June 3, 2018
This series is just oozing charm. I love teddy bears so I was immediately attracted to this series. I loved the first book and this one is a great follow up.
The small town of Small Hollow, Michigan is once again rocked by a murder. This time Sasha Silverman, manager of the Silver Bear Shop and Factor, discovers her arch rival’s assistant dead. The victim also happens to be Sasha’s ex-husband’s former lover. Sasha and her sister are tops on the suspect list, but there are many others on that same list. The mayor of the town is even sitting prominently on that list. Sasha is determined to find the real killer.
This is another fast-paced mystery by Meg Macy complete with loveable characters. I didn’t see that ending coming at all. It was explosive to say the least. I will definitely be re-visiting the Silverman’s and Silver Hollow. These characters quickly become friends you want to know. I’ll be back! I’m looking forward to it.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
The small town of Small Hollow, Michigan is once again rocked by a murder. This time Sasha Silverman, manager of the Silver Bear Shop and Factor, discovers her arch rival’s assistant dead. The victim also happens to be Sasha’s ex-husband’s former lover. Sasha and her sister are tops on the suspect list, but there are many others on that same list. The mayor of the town is even sitting prominently on that list. Sasha is determined to find the real killer.
This is another fast-paced mystery by Meg Macy complete with loveable characters. I didn’t see that ending coming at all. It was explosive to say the least. I will definitely be re-visiting the Silverman’s and Silver Hollow. These characters quickly become friends you want to know. I’ll be back! I’m looking forward to it.
FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.
July 7, 2018
Bear Witness To Murder
Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery, Book #2
Meg Macy
5 Stars
Synopsis:
As autumn air settles into the quaint small town of Silver Hollow, there’s nothing more popular than Sasha’s teddy bears—and murder in cold blood . . .
Silver Bear Shop and Factory manager Sasha Silverman is cozying up to the fall season by hosting Silver Hollow’s Cranbeary Tea Party, the opening event of the village’s Oktobear Fest—a too-cute celebration themed around teddy bears. She barely has a moment to agonize over the return of her former high school rival, Holly Parker, whose new toy and bookstore in town could spell big trouble for her the Silver Bear Shop and her cousin’s small bookstore . . .
But when Sasha discovers Holly’s shop assistant dead with a knife plunged in her body, the unpleasant woman suddenly looks like a real backstabber. So does Sasha’s ex-husband, rumored to have rekindled the fiery extramarital affair he once had with the victim. Now, before a gruesome homicide case takes the fun out of both the Fest and her personal life, Sasha must identify the true culprit from a daunting suspect list—or risk becoming as lifeless as one of her stuffed bears . . .(Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. I like the fact that Sasha and her sister Maddie work together and they always look out for each other. In fact I like the fact that The Silver Bear Shop & Factory is family owned and operated. It makes for some stressful times and conflict but it also shows their family love, loyalty and pride. The family is quirky and at times crazy and they made me laugh a time or two. The secondary characters added a lot to the story and I was glad to get to spend time with everyone.
The writing style flows smoothly and it defined the characters clearly by their actions and words. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and I felt like I was watching all of the action taking place at the Oktobear Fest. I was drawn into the story and taken away on a BEARY nice trip.
The mystery was well plotted and moved along at a great pace. There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through and I liked all of the twists and turns thrown in.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I enjoyed book one and I am looking forward to book three.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery, Book #2
Meg Macy
5 Stars
Synopsis:
As autumn air settles into the quaint small town of Silver Hollow, there’s nothing more popular than Sasha’s teddy bears—and murder in cold blood . . .
Silver Bear Shop and Factory manager Sasha Silverman is cozying up to the fall season by hosting Silver Hollow’s Cranbeary Tea Party, the opening event of the village’s Oktobear Fest—a too-cute celebration themed around teddy bears. She barely has a moment to agonize over the return of her former high school rival, Holly Parker, whose new toy and bookstore in town could spell big trouble for her the Silver Bear Shop and her cousin’s small bookstore . . .
But when Sasha discovers Holly’s shop assistant dead with a knife plunged in her body, the unpleasant woman suddenly looks like a real backstabber. So does Sasha’s ex-husband, rumored to have rekindled the fiery extramarital affair he once had with the victim. Now, before a gruesome homicide case takes the fun out of both the Fest and her personal life, Sasha must identify the true culprit from a daunting suspect list—or risk becoming as lifeless as one of her stuffed bears . . .(Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well rounded and well developed. I like the fact that Sasha and her sister Maddie work together and they always look out for each other. In fact I like the fact that The Silver Bear Shop & Factory is family owned and operated. It makes for some stressful times and conflict but it also shows their family love, loyalty and pride. The family is quirky and at times crazy and they made me laugh a time or two. The secondary characters added a lot to the story and I was glad to get to spend time with everyone.
The writing style flows smoothly and it defined the characters clearly by their actions and words. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and I felt like I was watching all of the action taking place at the Oktobear Fest. I was drawn into the story and taken away on a BEARY nice trip.
The mystery was well plotted and moved along at a great pace. There were enough suspects to consider and clues to sift through and I liked all of the twists and turns thrown in.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I enjoyed book one and I am looking forward to book three.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
May 29, 2018
It’s October, and the town of Silver Hollow is getting ready for their Oktobearfest, a teddy bear themed Oktoberfest event for the entire family. Things are kicking off with a kid and teddy bear friendly tea that Sasha Silverman is helping with. She’s trying to avoid her high school nemesis, Holly Parker, when Holly’s assistant Gina interrupts the tea to announce she is suing the mayor. The next morning, Sasha finds a dead body. Despite vowing to stay out of it, she finds herself pulled into the investigation. Will she learn the truth?
There is a lot going on here, and it really pulled me into the story. I finished the book in just a couple of days, in fact. I kept switching what I thought was going on, but when we reached the climax, everything made perfect sense. I did catch a major timeline issue, however, something that always annoys me. The main characters, both series regulars and suspects, are strong and really drew me into the story as well.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
There is a lot going on here, and it really pulled me into the story. I finished the book in just a couple of days, in fact. I kept switching what I thought was going on, but when we reached the climax, everything made perfect sense. I did catch a major timeline issue, however, something that always annoys me. The main characters, both series regulars and suspects, are strong and really drew me into the story as well.
NOTE: I received a copy of this book.
Read my full review at Carstairs Considers.
November 24, 2019
Bear Witness to Murder was a delightful sequel to Bearly Departed with an intriguing mystery and some great character development.
Between preparing for the town's Oktobear Fest and managing the Silver Bear Shop, Sasha Silverman has time for little else. So when her old high school rival Holly Parker returns to town opening a new toy and bookstore, Sasha must find a way to confront the woman determined to put her and her family out of business. After Sasha finds Holly's assistant murdered with a knife to the back, Sasha is left wondering just how far Holly will go to get what she wants.
The death of Holly's assistant Gina was interesting and you're immediately left to wonder if the killer was really after Holly or if Holly herself may have been the culprit. When several people close to Sasha are considered as possible suspects, she can't help but begin to investigate on her own. I liked seeing Sasha's skills as an investigator improve from the first book and I enjoyed watching her work the case. It was also nice to see that while Sasha wanted to solve the case, she didn't let it overtake her life and instead worked on it when she had time. I did figure out who the killer was before the reveal, but I still enjoyed the motive given. The ending did surprise me as the author definitely went an unexpected route in my opinion but it worked well for the story.
The issue I had with the first book was that I had a hard time connecting with the characters which thankfully was not an issue in this book. I enjoyed learning more about Sasha's family and I found myself liking them more this time around. I liked the inclusion of a romance for Sasha and felt the chosen guy was perfect for her despite initially thinking there would be a romance between her and a different character. Ultimately my only issue regarding the characters was Sasha's mother constantly trying to convince her to get back together with her cheating ex-husband which I found to be completely unnecessary.
Overall I enjoyed Bear Witness to Murder more than the first book and I'm excited to see where the author takes the series in future books. I definitely recommend this series for fans of cozies with charming settings.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
Between preparing for the town's Oktobear Fest and managing the Silver Bear Shop, Sasha Silverman has time for little else. So when her old high school rival Holly Parker returns to town opening a new toy and bookstore, Sasha must find a way to confront the woman determined to put her and her family out of business. After Sasha finds Holly's assistant murdered with a knife to the back, Sasha is left wondering just how far Holly will go to get what she wants.
The death of Holly's assistant Gina was interesting and you're immediately left to wonder if the killer was really after Holly or if Holly herself may have been the culprit. When several people close to Sasha are considered as possible suspects, she can't help but begin to investigate on her own. I liked seeing Sasha's skills as an investigator improve from the first book and I enjoyed watching her work the case. It was also nice to see that while Sasha wanted to solve the case, she didn't let it overtake her life and instead worked on it when she had time. I did figure out who the killer was before the reveal, but I still enjoyed the motive given. The ending did surprise me as the author definitely went an unexpected route in my opinion but it worked well for the story.
The issue I had with the first book was that I had a hard time connecting with the characters which thankfully was not an issue in this book. I enjoyed learning more about Sasha's family and I found myself liking them more this time around. I liked the inclusion of a romance for Sasha and felt the chosen guy was perfect for her despite initially thinking there would be a romance between her and a different character. Ultimately my only issue regarding the characters was Sasha's mother constantly trying to convince her to get back together with her cheating ex-husband which I found to be completely unnecessary.
Overall I enjoyed Bear Witness to Murder more than the first book and I'm excited to see where the author takes the series in future books. I definitely recommend this series for fans of cozies with charming settings.
**I received an advance copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.**
June 4, 2020
This was such a fun Halloween season cozy! It wasn't really much about Halloween until the end, but the bear festival was cool to read about. The author did a great job of instilling some extreme dislike for the woman named Holly who came to town with a store that was a rival to both Sasha's teddy bear store and her cousin Matt's bookstore.
It had been almost three years since I read the first one (what made me wait so long I have no idea other than a constantly growing TBR!), so it took just a little bit to get reacquainted with the characters. I got a kick out of Aunt Eve and Uncle Ross bickering at one another. And for some odd reason, Sasha's mom was Flynn, Sasha's full-of-himself ex-husband's new number one fan. But Sasha had gotten close to a new guy, and I'm definitely on board for that, he's awesome! I was surprised at who the killer was, but the showdown was pretty exciting. I'm going to try not to let so much time pass before I read the next book.
It had been almost three years since I read the first one (what made me wait so long I have no idea other than a constantly growing TBR!), so it took just a little bit to get reacquainted with the characters. I got a kick out of Aunt Eve and Uncle Ross bickering at one another. And for some odd reason, Sasha's mom was Flynn, Sasha's full-of-himself ex-husband's new number one fan. But Sasha had gotten close to a new guy, and I'm definitely on board for that, he's awesome! I was surprised at who the killer was, but the showdown was pretty exciting. I'm going to try not to let so much time pass before I read the next book.
May 8, 2018
Meg Macy has the second book in her teddy bear mystery series coming out at the end of the month from Kensington and it is such a good read. This second book in the series doesn't disappoint and the relationship between Sasha and her Sister Maddie is a very good one, I like their dynamic and I like how this second part of the story unfolds. Sasha is a strong character who is easy to relate too, I love her dedication to the bear store and factory and to her little puppy. The story line was good and I did not truly have the whole thing figured out until the end but I did some of it coming, but I kind of enjoyed that. I loved the cuddly nature of the story and the theme of OktoBear Fest. Made me wish I truly lived in a small town with fun activities like this. A great read and a great series. I cannot wait for the next one. I hope it is Christmas themed!
May 9, 2018
Sasha and Maddie Silverman are working various events at Oktobear festival Holly Parker, Silver Hollow is celebrating Bears on Parade for their Oktobear Festival. Holly Parker, a high school enemy has opened a Gift and bookstore nearby and is causing problems. Sasha exercising her dog, Rosie when finding Gina Larson Holly's assistant stabbed to death in a parking lot. Sasha is worried about who will be arrested so begins to ask questions about the incident. Sasha ex-husband is back in town hoping to reconnect with her. Her Mother is supporting him. Sasha and Maddie are both making bear statues for sHears on Parade. Sasha is looking for answers before another death occurs. I highly recommend this book and series.
Disclosure: Many thanks to Kensington Press for a review copy The opinions expressed are my own.
Disclosure: Many thanks to Kensington Press for a review copy The opinions expressed are my own.
May 29, 2018
This book had my mouth hanging open during the conclusion! It was all so exciting and I didn't see it coming. I rarely ever do, but this one was particularly shocking, I thought.
The characters and the relationships between the characters are great. And the storyline was amazing. I blew through the book in a day and now only wish there was a 3rd!
All in all, highly recommended!
*5 Stars
**Special thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
The characters and the relationships between the characters are great. And the storyline was amazing. I blew through the book in a day and now only wish there was a 3rd!
All in all, highly recommended!
*5 Stars
**Special thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
May 5, 2018
BEAR WITNESS TO MURDER, the second book in the Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery series by Meg Macy is the most adorable cozy mystery out there! Combining a teddy bear factory, and a Cran-beary Tea Party celebrating Octobear Fest while mixing in a close-knit family and a rekindled romance provides Ms. Macy with a delightful hit in this newest release! The beary-fun puns add humor and wit while the Silver Bear Shop and Factory provides a unique setting in the small Michigan town. Sasha Silverman is a likeable protagonist and I enjoyed seeing her interact not only with her family but also with people that she didn’t care for… like her sleazy ex-husband, Flynn, and her high school nemesis. Flynn seems to be cozying up to Sasha’s mom and the reader has to wonder just what it is he is trying to accomplish. The subplots bring an added complexity to the story while the author has allowed Sasha to mature and grow in the face of adversity. The murder of her ex’s girlfriend brings out numerous suspects, including Sasha’s cousin along with her ex-husband and I was kept guessing until the final suspenseful reveal. I loved the first adorable book and I was more than delighted with this second installment in the series!
I was provided an advanced copy via Netgalley with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
I was provided an advanced copy via Netgalley with the hopes I would review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
June 2, 2018
Bear Witness to Murder by Meg Macy is the 2nd book in the Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery series, and another fun book. I enjoyed the first book in the series, Bearly Departed, and this one is equally as good. Sasha Silverman is the manager of her families Silver Bear Shop and Factory, and her sister, Maddie, also helps out at the factory and is an artist. Sasha's childhood nemesis Holly Parker returns to town and is determine to ruin Sasha, and her families business. When a murder takes place the mystery begins. I really loved this book, and can't wait to continue Sasha's adventures in the next book. Not only is this book fun, it has a great mystery also. There are twists and turns around every corner. I found this book to be a quick read, with a well developed plot and characters. If you love fun cozy mysteries, I strongly recommend this book.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.
July 5, 2018
Bear Witness to Murder by Meg Macy is the second book in A Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery series. Sasha Silverman manages her family’s Silver Bear Shop & Factory. Silver Hollow is kicking off their Octobear Fest with the Cranbeary Tea Party hosted by the Silver Bear Shop at the new Queen Bess Tea Room. Sasha is surprised that Holly Parker (her old high school nemesis) is attending the event with her shop assistant and publicity guru, Gina Lawson. Holly has opened Through the Looking Glass which sells Alice in Wonderland themed items along with teddy bears and storybooks. For the Octobear Fest Bears on Parade event, Maddie is creating an adorable Polka Bear and is assisting her new boyfriend, Kip O’Sullivan with his Hippie Bear. Kip keeps trying to perfect his creation and he might not get it completed on time (Maddie has her hands full with this one). Sasha is out walking Rosie early the next morning and stumbles across an individual with a knife sticking out of their back in the alley behind Fresh Grounds. At first Sasha believes it is Holly because of the jacket. The victim is later identified as Gina Lawson. When Mayor Cal Bloom on the suspect list, Judith Silverman wants Sasha to clear his name. The suspect list is lengthy due to Gina’s attitude and it includes Sasha’s ex-husband, Flynn Hanson. Can Sasha identify the killer before she becomes the next victim?
I thought Bear Witness to Murder was well-written and engaging. It has a steady pace and a conversational writing style which made the story easy to read. While this is the second tale in the series, it can be read alone. I like the Silverman family, though, I am puzzled by Sasha’s mother, Judith. I do not understand why she keeps trying to push Sasha and Flynn back together and it was never explained. Sasha is lucky to have escaped the cheating louse. She is fortunate to have a supportive father and sister. I enjoyed the humor provided by Eve and Ross. There are delightful descriptions of teddy bears (stuffed and resin) in Bear Witness to Murder along with teddy bear related facts. I thought it was clever to have Oktobear Fest (a great play on words). Silver Hollow would attract families with their theme. Silver Hollow is a charming small town with, for the most part, friendly residents and cute shops. Gossip spreads like wild fire in Silver Hollow which is helpful in gathering information on the suspects. The mystery was well-crafted, and I believe many readers will be surprised by the killer’s identity. There are several suspects, red herrings, and well-placed clues. While Sasha looks into the murder, she does not let it consume her like some amateur sleuths. There is some romance sprinkled through the story as Sasha gets to know Jay Kirby. I found Bear Witness to Murder more enjoyable than Bearly Departed (first book in the series). My rating for Bear Witness to Murder is 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). Join in on the Oktobear Fest festivities in Bear Witness to Murder.
I thought Bear Witness to Murder was well-written and engaging. It has a steady pace and a conversational writing style which made the story easy to read. While this is the second tale in the series, it can be read alone. I like the Silverman family, though, I am puzzled by Sasha’s mother, Judith. I do not understand why she keeps trying to push Sasha and Flynn back together and it was never explained. Sasha is lucky to have escaped the cheating louse. She is fortunate to have a supportive father and sister. I enjoyed the humor provided by Eve and Ross. There are delightful descriptions of teddy bears (stuffed and resin) in Bear Witness to Murder along with teddy bear related facts. I thought it was clever to have Oktobear Fest (a great play on words). Silver Hollow would attract families with their theme. Silver Hollow is a charming small town with, for the most part, friendly residents and cute shops. Gossip spreads like wild fire in Silver Hollow which is helpful in gathering information on the suspects. The mystery was well-crafted, and I believe many readers will be surprised by the killer’s identity. There are several suspects, red herrings, and well-placed clues. While Sasha looks into the murder, she does not let it consume her like some amateur sleuths. There is some romance sprinkled through the story as Sasha gets to know Jay Kirby. I found Bear Witness to Murder more enjoyable than Bearly Departed (first book in the series). My rating for Bear Witness to Murder is 4 out of 5 stars (I liked it). Join in on the Oktobear Fest festivities in Bear Witness to Murder.
August 17, 2018
Silver Bear Shop and Factory manager Sasha Silverman is welcoming in the fall season by hosting Silver Hollow’s Cranbeary Tea Party, the beginning of the village's October Fest, a celebration centered around teddy bears. But making things less than cuddly for her is the return of her former high school rival, Holly Parker, who has opened a new toy and bookstore in town, in competition with Sasha's Silver Bear Shop and her cousin’s small bookstore.
But the day after the tea party, Sasha discovers the body of Holly’s shop assistant dead with a knife plunged in her body. The police suspect Sasha's ex-husabnd, who had an affair with the dead woman while he and Sasha were married, and supposedly rekindled that romance.
Sasha is determined to find the real killer, but the investigation puts a damper on the festival, and takes another life.
This is the first book in the series that I've read, and I was a little nervous about reading a book set amongst cuddly teddy tears. I was afraid it would hurt my love for teddy bears, but it did not. This book is cozy, after all, and very enjoyable.
There is a wonderful cast of characters, none of which are of the cookie cutter variety. They are all different, which leads to a great read when you wonder what a character will say or do next. The fact that this book was not predictable kept me turning the pages, and wondering how Ms. Macy would put two and two together to come up with a satisfying ending.
And it was an ending that I didn't figure out until the very last, which makes it all the more enjoyable. I will definitely go back and read the first book in the series, and will look forward to the third one.
I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
But the day after the tea party, Sasha discovers the body of Holly’s shop assistant dead with a knife plunged in her body. The police suspect Sasha's ex-husabnd, who had an affair with the dead woman while he and Sasha were married, and supposedly rekindled that romance.
Sasha is determined to find the real killer, but the investigation puts a damper on the festival, and takes another life.
This is the first book in the series that I've read, and I was a little nervous about reading a book set amongst cuddly teddy tears. I was afraid it would hurt my love for teddy bears, but it did not. This book is cozy, after all, and very enjoyable.
There is a wonderful cast of characters, none of which are of the cookie cutter variety. They are all different, which leads to a great read when you wonder what a character will say or do next. The fact that this book was not predictable kept me turning the pages, and wondering how Ms. Macy would put two and two together to come up with a satisfying ending.
And it was an ending that I didn't figure out until the very last, which makes it all the more enjoyable. I will definitely go back and read the first book in the series, and will look forward to the third one.
I received a digital ARC of this book from the publisher through NetGalley.
June 5, 2018
Just the right mix of intrigue and cozy. I thought this was even better than the first book. I love the main character, the townspeople, and the longtime family-owned teddy bear/teddy accessories shop as the background. A genuinely likeable setting and I hope to return to it over and over as the series continues. It's even fun to hate the unlikable people! I think it's got an edge to it that actually keeps it from being shamelessly adorable, but I love that tagline. Octobearfest never sounded so good! I really recommend this to people who enjoy a good mystery, cozy or otherwise!
December 15, 2020
I absolutely love that this series is set in my home state of MI and love knowing the cities mentioned and sports teams. It's a lot of fun for me. This book had a lot going on as it starts the busy time of year for Sasha and Maddie at the bear shop. I loved all the mention of Alice in Wonderland from the new shop of Sasha's high school nemesis. The ending left me totally shocked where I had to reread it! I felt that was an original ending in a cozy mystery.
May 23, 2018
I loved everything about this book! The cover is vibrant and I loved the pumpkin teddy falling down the stairs.
The characters were fantastic in this book, they were witty and smart with just the right touch of sarcasm included.
Sasha is a strong, likeable character who works well with her sister Maddie.
Fall is my favorite time of year, so that made the book even more appealing.
An old high school nemesis, Holly Parker, is back on the scene and causing even more trouble as an adult.
I really disliked Holly and found myself yelling at her as I was reading. That is how I know it is a great book. For an author to create such a magical world, filled with teddy bear tea parties and murder, is a special talent and this book really outdid itself.
I volunteered to read and review an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
The characters were fantastic in this book, they were witty and smart with just the right touch of sarcasm included.
Sasha is a strong, likeable character who works well with her sister Maddie.
Fall is my favorite time of year, so that made the book even more appealing.
An old high school nemesis, Holly Parker, is back on the scene and causing even more trouble as an adult.
I really disliked Holly and found myself yelling at her as I was reading. That is how I know it is a great book. For an author to create such a magical world, filled with teddy bear tea parties and murder, is a special talent and this book really outdid itself.
I volunteered to read and review an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.
May 30, 2018
I have been looking forward to reading this book, since I read Bearly Departed the first book in this new series. I enjoyed this book as much as the first. Sasha is busy running her family bear factory and shop, trying not to let her rival or ex husband get in her way of making the Oktobear festival a success. Yet when her rivals assistant is murdered, Sasha must once again find out who the killer is. I enjoy Silver Hollow and all it's residents. The mystery had a great flow and some great twists and turns. This is a great series and I highly recommend it.
May 23, 2018
One always hopes that a second installment of a series doesn't fall flat, this one definitely doesn't. This has all of the charm of the first book, while adding to it by furthering the characters and a really solid mystery. The setting of the story is beautiful, the characters charming and the mystery doesn't disappoint. A well written story!
May 18, 2018
Another out of the park hit. I enjoy books from Meg Macy. This is the second in the series.
This can be placed in autumn themed books. A Cran-beary tea party celebrating Octoberfest- October bear!
There is humor, bear puns, and the such. Well crafted, engaging, and down right cute provides a smooth flow. This was a quick enjoyable read.
Set in Silver Hollow, MI at a family owned toy bear factory. Sasha and her sister, Maddie, are dedicated to keep the family business going. They get plenty of help and meddling from the family.
I had no problem reaching the end of the story in record time - Please keep them coming.
I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from the Kensinginton Publishing via Netgalley and these are my own opinions.
This can be placed in autumn themed books. A Cran-beary tea party celebrating Octoberfest- October bear!
There is humor, bear puns, and the such. Well crafted, engaging, and down right cute provides a smooth flow. This was a quick enjoyable read.
Set in Silver Hollow, MI at a family owned toy bear factory. Sasha and her sister, Maddie, are dedicated to keep the family business going. They get plenty of help and meddling from the family.
I had no problem reaching the end of the story in record time - Please keep them coming.
I received an Advanced Reader’s Copy from the Kensinginton Publishing via Netgalley and these are my own opinions.
May 17, 2018
Bear Witness to Murder by Meg Macy is a second book in Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery but it can be read as a standalone.
Sasha Silverman is Teddy Bear Shop owner and she just found out that Holly, her high school rival is back. Not only does she present a problem on personal level but she might become a possible problem on professional level as well. Her ex husband is back as well. With Octobear fest to organize Sasha does not have a spare moment to waste thinking about any of this until she finds Holly's assistand stabbed. To save herself and the Fest she must investigate and find out the culprit.
In the beginning I found it slightly hard to follow with many references to everything relating to bears. As the story unfolded it became easier to connect the dots and get into the story.
I liked the characters and how versatile they are. Family relations are another part of the book that I enjoyed as well as the cleverly presented mystery.
Sasha Silverman is Teddy Bear Shop owner and she just found out that Holly, her high school rival is back. Not only does she present a problem on personal level but she might become a possible problem on professional level as well. Her ex husband is back as well. With Octobear fest to organize Sasha does not have a spare moment to waste thinking about any of this until she finds Holly's assistand stabbed. To save herself and the Fest she must investigate and find out the culprit.
In the beginning I found it slightly hard to follow with many references to everything relating to bears. As the story unfolded it became easier to connect the dots and get into the story.
I liked the characters and how versatile they are. Family relations are another part of the book that I enjoyed as well as the cleverly presented mystery.
May 14, 2018
Really enjoyed this breezy paced small-town mystery. I thought it was well written and I enjoyed the author's writing style. It was filled with engaging characters like amateur sleuth Sasha and her sister Maddie who own a teddy bear business. I love the town and all the festivities they put on. Of course, there are some not so nice characters like Sasha's ex husband, Holly-her childhood tormentor, and even Sasha's mom who can't seem to wish Sasha's divorce hadn't happened. They give the story some of problems and conflicts to deal with. Good mystery, good writing and all in all good reading. This is book #2, so I need to put the first book on my TBR list. I am glad to have discovered this new to me author and look forward to more in the series. I received an ARC thru NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
April 26, 2018
Bear Witness to Murder is the second book in Meg Macy’s Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery series. The plot is well developed and most of the characters affable. The mystery is engaging with enough twists and turns to keep me guessing until the reveal. I enjoy this author’s writing style, which flows smoothly at a steady pace and I’m looking forward to reading the next installment in this series.
Sasha Silverman and her sister, Maddie, live in their family home, which is located in Silver Hollow, Michigan. The home also houses their teddy bear shop and their factory is located on the property. Sasha manages the shop and conducts tours of the facility, Maddie staffs the office, but hopes to open a boutique or graphic design company, their uncle, Ross Silverman, supervises the factory production, and Aunt Eve, Ross’s ex-wife, is taking over the office and helps in the shop. Their parents, who own a condo in Florida, are visiting. Their cousin, Matt Cooper, and his wife, Elle, own a bookstore, The Cat’s Cradle. Sasha and Maddie are busy hosting the Cran-beary Tea Party and preparing for Silver Hollow’s Oktobear Fest. Maddie is working on her resin and fiberglass bear for the Parade of Bears and helping her new boyfriend, Kip O’Sullivan, finish his bear. Sasha is upset when her high school rival, Holly Parker, moves back to town and opens a toy and bookstore, a toy and bookstore, and is concerned it will negatively affect their business and The Cat’s Cradle. Sasha and Jay Kirby, a local woodcarver, are attracted to each other, but her mom isn’t happy because she wants Sasha to get back together with her ex-husband, attorney Flynn Hanson, who has recently moved to town. Early one morning, Sasha stumbles upon a body in a foggy parking lot. The victim is identified as Gina Lawson, Holly’s shop assistant, but Detective Mason believes Holly may have been the intended victim and that Matt is the killer because people overheard him threatening her. Sasha vows to prove Matt is innocent and places herself in harm’s way.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
Sasha Silverman and her sister, Maddie, live in their family home, which is located in Silver Hollow, Michigan. The home also houses their teddy bear shop and their factory is located on the property. Sasha manages the shop and conducts tours of the facility, Maddie staffs the office, but hopes to open a boutique or graphic design company, their uncle, Ross Silverman, supervises the factory production, and Aunt Eve, Ross’s ex-wife, is taking over the office and helps in the shop. Their parents, who own a condo in Florida, are visiting. Their cousin, Matt Cooper, and his wife, Elle, own a bookstore, The Cat’s Cradle. Sasha and Maddie are busy hosting the Cran-beary Tea Party and preparing for Silver Hollow’s Oktobear Fest. Maddie is working on her resin and fiberglass bear for the Parade of Bears and helping her new boyfriend, Kip O’Sullivan, finish his bear. Sasha is upset when her high school rival, Holly Parker, moves back to town and opens a toy and bookstore, a toy and bookstore, and is concerned it will negatively affect their business and The Cat’s Cradle. Sasha and Jay Kirby, a local woodcarver, are attracted to each other, but her mom isn’t happy because she wants Sasha to get back together with her ex-husband, attorney Flynn Hanson, who has recently moved to town. Early one morning, Sasha stumbles upon a body in a foggy parking lot. The victim is identified as Gina Lawson, Holly’s shop assistant, but Detective Mason believes Holly may have been the intended victim and that Matt is the killer because people overheard him threatening her. Sasha vows to prove Matt is innocent and places herself in harm’s way.
I received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and voluntarily reviewed it.
October 19, 2019
Sasha Silverman is preparing for Silver Hollow’s autumn events while managing her family’s business, the Silver Bear Shop. Everything seems to be going well until Holly Parker, Sasha’s high school rival, returns to town and becomes her new business rival. While trying to put old drama behind her, Sasha stumbles upon Holly’s assistant’s body, and quickly finds herself in the middle of a brand-new murder mystery. Unfortunately for Sasha, Holly still has it out for her, and she finds herself torn between Oktobear Fest and trying to get to the bottom of the murder and Holly’s undeserved rage.
I picked this book up thinking it’d be an adorable cozy but instead found myself dragging along with the story because of the slow pace. There are good things about it, but it’s too weighed down by a very large cast that pops in and out of the story. I found the sheer number of characters confusing, especially because so many of them didn’t have anything memorable about them. It made it hard to keep who was who straight at times, but I was able to keep the core cast straight for the most part, so I guess that’s what matters.
I love that Sasha family oriented, an animal lover, and hard worker. However, she’s a bland character that didn’t get me excited about reading the book. I enjoyed when she was hanging out with her sister because Mattie is such a vibrant character. Otherwise, it seemed like Sasha didn’t have much of a personality and was somewhat emotionless at times. I think the most emotion we really saw from her was toward the end of the book, but otherwise, her emotions seemed to be set on mute. I also didn’t find her motivations for getting involved in the murder mystery believable until one of her family members was being eyed as the killer.
I thoroughly enjoyed the drama that Holly brought to the table because she’s such a vile character who has her fingers in all the pies. Holly really gets the story going because she has so many sides to her, and none of them are good. Unfortunately, the real mystery was Holly’s beef with Sasha and not the murder. I never really understood why Holly zeroed in on Sasha in the first place. I wish that’s something that was cleared up in a way that made sense by the end of the book, but I’m okay with accepting the explanation that was given. Holly is a character that is unhinged in many ways, so it’s understandable that her motivations don’t necessarily make sense to anyone but her.
The relationship between Sasha’s ex-husband, Flynn, and her mother is an odd one. There were times where I wondered if her mother had an affair with Flynn and no one has figured it out yet. It’s so odd that she would favor her cheating former son-in-law over her own daughter down to trying to get them back together. It makes even less sense when I think about what her thoughts were on the situation, as revealed by Sasha’s father, but now she’s Flynn’s number one fan. I understand that she likes Flynn and has remained friends with him after the divorce, but the rest is just strange.
All in all, I enjoyed some parts of the book, but the number of characters and slow pacing didn’t do it justice. I found Sasha a bland character that is not exciting to follow, and some of the relationships between characters odd, which didn’t help matters. I do think the mystery surrounding Holly’s venomous actions interesting and Oktobear fest cute, so that made it worth the read.
I picked this book up thinking it’d be an adorable cozy but instead found myself dragging along with the story because of the slow pace. There are good things about it, but it’s too weighed down by a very large cast that pops in and out of the story. I found the sheer number of characters confusing, especially because so many of them didn’t have anything memorable about them. It made it hard to keep who was who straight at times, but I was able to keep the core cast straight for the most part, so I guess that’s what matters.
I love that Sasha family oriented, an animal lover, and hard worker. However, she’s a bland character that didn’t get me excited about reading the book. I enjoyed when she was hanging out with her sister because Mattie is such a vibrant character. Otherwise, it seemed like Sasha didn’t have much of a personality and was somewhat emotionless at times. I think the most emotion we really saw from her was toward the end of the book, but otherwise, her emotions seemed to be set on mute. I also didn’t find her motivations for getting involved in the murder mystery believable until one of her family members was being eyed as the killer.
I thoroughly enjoyed the drama that Holly brought to the table because she’s such a vile character who has her fingers in all the pies. Holly really gets the story going because she has so many sides to her, and none of them are good. Unfortunately, the real mystery was Holly’s beef with Sasha and not the murder. I never really understood why Holly zeroed in on Sasha in the first place. I wish that’s something that was cleared up in a way that made sense by the end of the book, but I’m okay with accepting the explanation that was given. Holly is a character that is unhinged in many ways, so it’s understandable that her motivations don’t necessarily make sense to anyone but her.
The relationship between Sasha’s ex-husband, Flynn, and her mother is an odd one. There were times where I wondered if her mother had an affair with Flynn and no one has figured it out yet. It’s so odd that she would favor her cheating former son-in-law over her own daughter down to trying to get them back together. It makes even less sense when I think about what her thoughts were on the situation, as revealed by Sasha’s father, but now she’s Flynn’s number one fan. I understand that she likes Flynn and has remained friends with him after the divorce, but the rest is just strange.
All in all, I enjoyed some parts of the book, but the number of characters and slow pacing didn’t do it justice. I found Sasha a bland character that is not exciting to follow, and some of the relationships between characters odd, which didn’t help matters. I do think the mystery surrounding Holly’s venomous actions interesting and Oktobear fest cute, so that made it worth the read.
May 27, 2018
I love stuffed bears. Whenever I see one in a store, I always grab it and give it a hug. I never had a stuffed animal growing up, but I sure did look at them when I saw one in a store. If I could I would have a room full of them now. I so enjoyed reading about the Silver Bear Shop. The tea party was so much fun to read about. I imagined myself as a child sitting there at the table with my pretty bear. We would each take a sip of tea and laugh with the others girls at the table. The author does such a great job of describing the setting and all the wonderful foods and it was evident that everyone was having a great time.
Why did Sasha's ex-husband Flynn decide that barging in on a tea party and making a scene was a good idea ? I would have gone over there and ushered him out. The children were having a grand time and didn't need some silly man making a spectacle of himself. He seems to be chatting up Gina and the mayor. Not many people like Gina. She seems to be pushy and a bit snotty. When Sasha finds out who Flynn cheated with, she is non too happy. Well she needs to keep her mind on the upcoming Bears on Parade and Oktobear Fest. It is sure to be a success and the town is looking forward to it.
Sasha sure is not going to have a good day when she discovers a body in the parking lot where she left her car the night before. I thought it was pretty funny when at first she identified the dead person as Holly. When the body is turned over it is Gina laying dead. That starts a list of suspects right away. I loved how the author gives us a great story with intrigue and an abundance of suspects that all seem to be guilty. Looks like our deceased wasn't well liked.
Mystery lovers will enjoy this story filled with whimsical themes and fun characters that will have you wanting more. I adored the book and the authors style of writing. The ending is explosive and unexpected. I love when I can't figure out the mystery, because it shows how creative the author is. Don't miss this wonderful 2nd in a series cozy mystery series.
I received a copy of this book from The Great Escapes Virtual Book Tour. The review is my own opinion.
May 29, 2018
I thought Bear Witness To Murder was a good read. It took me a little while to get interested but once I did putting it down was hard. I wanted to see how it all turned out.
There was lots I really enjoyed about the book. I enjoyed the
story taking place around Halloween and the Oktobear Fest was a cute way to incorporate the theme. I loved the idea of the children
hunting for bear in the woods. A play on Teddy Bears Picnic.
I kind of felt like the author struggled a little in introducing people and some of plot. There were alot of descriptions like what people
were wearing, where they were or going and what they were doing that seemed a little overboard. It just didn't seem to flow for me.
Bear Witness To Murder is book 2 in the series and there were alot of references back to book 1. (which I have not had the pleasure to read). Book 2 is a stand alone and reads as one.
The author does include the references to book 1 which kind of seemed like teasers to me to draw me into reading book 1.
I was a little curious as to why Sasha's mom keep pushing her to forgive her cheating ex and try again. I won't give anything away but he's a real piece of work. So what is up with mom?
The ending is left with a bit of a cliff hanger in the romance department because Sasha's new boyfriend leaves town for a few months. He's hoping to re-kindle their budding romance in the New Year. I am left wondering hmm. With all the sniffing around the scoundrel of an ex is doing. Hurry home Jay!
The story/plot around the murder made the book a page turner.
I kind of had an idea of who was involved just by the way a couple of the characters were acting but there was a twist at the end that
threw everyone the townspeople and this reader off kilter.
As I turned the last pages I thought two things. I need to go back and read book 1. And how long do I have to wait for book 3?
Bear Witness To Murder was a good cozy read.
I received a complimentary copy.
There was lots I really enjoyed about the book. I enjoyed the
story taking place around Halloween and the Oktobear Fest was a cute way to incorporate the theme. I loved the idea of the children
hunting for bear in the woods. A play on Teddy Bears Picnic.
I kind of felt like the author struggled a little in introducing people and some of plot. There were alot of descriptions like what people
were wearing, where they were or going and what they were doing that seemed a little overboard. It just didn't seem to flow for me.
Bear Witness To Murder is book 2 in the series and there were alot of references back to book 1. (which I have not had the pleasure to read). Book 2 is a stand alone and reads as one.
The author does include the references to book 1 which kind of seemed like teasers to me to draw me into reading book 1.
I was a little curious as to why Sasha's mom keep pushing her to forgive her cheating ex and try again. I won't give anything away but he's a real piece of work. So what is up with mom?
The ending is left with a bit of a cliff hanger in the romance department because Sasha's new boyfriend leaves town for a few months. He's hoping to re-kindle their budding romance in the New Year. I am left wondering hmm. With all the sniffing around the scoundrel of an ex is doing. Hurry home Jay!
The story/plot around the murder made the book a page turner.
I kind of had an idea of who was involved just by the way a couple of the characters were acting but there was a twist at the end that
threw everyone the townspeople and this reader off kilter.
As I turned the last pages I thought two things. I need to go back and read book 1. And how long do I have to wait for book 3?
Bear Witness To Murder was a good cozy read.
I received a complimentary copy.
July 6, 2018
“BEAR WITNESS TO MURDER” by Meg Macy is the second book in the Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery series.
Sasha Silverman is the manager of the Silver Bear Shop and Factory in Spring Hallow, MI. As such, she is hosting Silver Hollow’s Cranbeary Tea Party, the opening event of the village’s Oktobear Fest, which is a celebration themed around teddy bears.
Holly Parker has moved back to town and opened up a toy and book store in direct competition with both Sasha and her cousin’s book store. It seems the rivalry from high school continues. However, that rivalry turns to suspect when Sasha and her dog finds Holly’s employee, Gina, murdered. Not only Holly, but also Sasha’s cheating ex-husband, Flynn, who seemed to be rekindling an affair with victim, and the mayor of Spring Hallow, who had been served legal papers at the tea by Gina and Flynn, are tops on the suspect list for this back stabbing crime.
Sasha is determined that the festival is going to on without a hitch and juggles her time between working the events, tending to her store and trying to clear some of the murder by finding out who the real killer is. Along the way, it seems she herself is in danger by getting too close to the truth.
This book is delightful and fun to read with plenty mystery and intrigue to keep you flipping the pages. If like me, you won’t figure out the killer, but when it’s revealed it all makes perfectly good sense. I can’t wait for book #3 in this series. Meg Macy’s books are as well written and fun to read as the covers are adorably cute.
Sasha Silverman is the manager of the Silver Bear Shop and Factory in Spring Hallow, MI. As such, she is hosting Silver Hollow’s Cranbeary Tea Party, the opening event of the village’s Oktobear Fest, which is a celebration themed around teddy bears.
Holly Parker has moved back to town and opened up a toy and book store in direct competition with both Sasha and her cousin’s book store. It seems the rivalry from high school continues. However, that rivalry turns to suspect when Sasha and her dog finds Holly’s employee, Gina, murdered. Not only Holly, but also Sasha’s cheating ex-husband, Flynn, who seemed to be rekindling an affair with victim, and the mayor of Spring Hallow, who had been served legal papers at the tea by Gina and Flynn, are tops on the suspect list for this back stabbing crime.
Sasha is determined that the festival is going to on without a hitch and juggles her time between working the events, tending to her store and trying to clear some of the murder by finding out who the real killer is. Along the way, it seems she herself is in danger by getting too close to the truth.
This book is delightful and fun to read with plenty mystery and intrigue to keep you flipping the pages. If like me, you won’t figure out the killer, but when it’s revealed it all makes perfectly good sense. I can’t wait for book #3 in this series. Meg Macy’s books are as well written and fun to read as the covers are adorably cute.
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