Summer Snoops and Cozy Crimes

by Judith Lucci, Cindy Bell, Colleen Mooney

Help Us Help Pets!

Have a howlingly good read during the dog days of summer with a dozen cozy mysteries from Wall Street Journal, USA Today and Amazon best-selling authors. Murder lurks in every corner during the dog days of summer. Solve the mystery as our snoops leash the criminals – at the beach, at the farm, on the mountain – everywhere! All profits from this pack go to support NO KILL animal charities! Fetch it now! And help us help pets!

'Summer Snoops and Cozy Crimes’ includes never before published books

** WSJ Bestselling Author Judith Lucci - Gawd Almighty & the Corn

** WSJ Bestselling Author Cindy Bell - Murder at Pawprint Creek

** WSJ Bestselling Author Colleen Mooney - Dog Gone and Dead

** USA Today and WSJ Bestselling Author Amy Vansant - Summer Teeth

** WSJ Bestselling Author Colleen Helme - A Midsummer Night's Murder

** WSJ Bestselling Author Kim Hunt Harris - The Murder of Bandera Bandito

** USA Today Bestselling Author Anna Celeste Burke - A Body on Fitzgerald's Bluff

** Ava Mallory - A Dream Stray-Cation

** Sandi Scott - Croquembouche Murder

** Susan Boles - Death on the Beach

** USA Today Bestselling Author Sam Cheever - Toxic Tech

** Anne R. Tan - Just Lost and Found

Bonus recipes from the authors are included!

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Anthologies, Amazon, Fiction

1291 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 24, 2018

About the author

Dr. Judith Lucci is an Amazon bestselling author who writes what she knows. She is the author of the Alex Destephano Medical Thriller Series and the soon to be released Michaela McPherson, Private Eye, a series centered on a retired homicide detective from Richmond, Virginia who really can’t retire.

“Before I wrote fiction, I was an academic writer who published research, theoretical works, text books and just about anything a nurse or college professor needed to publish to survive. The differences in academic writing and writing fiction are dramatic. Writing what I know propels me to pull from my clinical experiences, some good, some not and use popular fiction as a means to teach and advocate for others. My books have three purposes, to engage the reader, to entertain them and to educate about healthcare and perhaps, the darker side of hospital life.

I am a nurse and hold graduate and doctoral degrees from Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Virginia. I have always been a reader and a writer and I love it. I am a member of the Virginia Writers Club, The Shenandoah Valley Writers and Sisters in Crime.

When I’m not writing I am probably teaching, paining on silk as I am a multi-media artist or playing with my many dogs. Please feel free to contact me at judithlucciwrites@gmail.com. I am excited about meeting you!

Reviews

[JoAn · Rating 4 out of 5]

A Body on Fitzgerald's Bluff by Anna Celeste Burke was a great beginning to what I hope will be a long running series. Ms. Burke's descriptive writing had me want to move to Seaview Cottages and meet the residents. Each one of the senior women of the Grand Old Lady Detectives are vibrant, active and quirky as they bring their own special talents to discovering who murdered the victim. The swiftly paced plot kept me turning the pages. 5*
Gawd Almighty and the Corn by Judith Lucci was an interesting little mystery packed with lots of information regarding agricultural espionage and theft. Also a fascinating introduction to the Hillbilly Mafia. 3*
Murder at Pawprint Creek by Cindy Bell was a quick paced cozy with a nice little twist and a peek at life in a small town. 3*
Dog Gone and Dead by Colleen Mooney was a smoothly paced plot and enough details about Brandy and Jif that made me interested in checking into more of the previous books. 4*
Summer Teeth by Amy Vansant was cute and I really enjoyed meeting Darla, Mariska and Frank as they followed the clues as to who could have killed the park board members. 3*
A Midsummer Night's Murder by Colleen Helme was an interesting little cozy but I found it hard to relate to Shelby with her mind-reading abilities although they did come in handy while tracking down the murderer. There were also some very humorous moments. 3*
Murder of the Bandero Bonita by Kim Hunt Harris was a very short little mystery that I actually found to be rather boring. 1*
A Dream Straycation by Ava Mallory was another short little mystery and I never felt a connection to the main character, Michelle. 1*
Croquembouche Murder by Sandi Scott had a fast paced plot and I liked both Ashley and Patty. I did guess who the murderer was before the reveal but it did take me quite some time before I put the clues together. I would check out more of these cozies. 4*
Death on the Beach by Susan Boles intrigued me from the first chapter since Lilly Gayle and Dixie get into trouble from the first chapter. I like both of these characters and enjoyed the fast paced little mystery. 4*
Toxic Tech by Sam Cheever drew me into the mystery from the first page. Blaise and Dolfe seem to be the perfect couple and they definitely can solve a mystery. I want to read more about the Honeybun family now. 4*
Just Lost and Found by Anne R. Tan was cute and quite a twisted little story with a golden Monkey King treasure, a mysterious newspaper reporter and catnapping to keep Lucy Fong busy to help save her small town. 3*

My rating all together would be 4 stars.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book contains 12 stories. I will review each one individually. My reviews are long so I will put them in spoiler boxes just to save space.

Gawd Almighty and the Corn: An Artz Chicks Mystery Book 1 by Judith Lucci DNF
I didn’t care for any of the human characters in this novel or the setting. The protagonist seems to be based on the author. There was WAY too much in the beginning about wine slushies and a very unpleasant woman who runs the winery. Then it descended into farce with a ridiculous tame opossum and hillbilly bumpkin villains. I took a hard pass on this one.

Murder at Pawprint Creek: A Wagging Tail Cozy Mystery Prequel by Cindy Bell
2.75 stars

Nikki Green comes to the idyllic town of Pawprint Creek, where her friend Hannah has settled, to dog sit a couple of adorable pugs. Their owner, Jackson Nule, rushes off on business without even telling Nikki where he’s going or where he’s staying. Jackson falls under suspicion when the sleepy town is shaken up by a murder! No one in town is sad to see Rocky Carter dead. Rocky was a chef/entrepreneur who would stop at nothing to run his empire, enraging the locals along the way. Was that enough for someone to be mad enough to kill? Nikki plans to find out.

Other than Nikki being nosy, I found her likable enough. Her friend Hannah is described as sweet a lot but she isn’t in the story much. She seems a little naïve and shy. I liked her. The neighbors are not so friendly to outsiders. They are suspicious because the last outsider was Rocky. Rocky did something to wipe their small town out and they’re angry so I can’t fault them for that. Everyone seemed suspicious! Shawn seems like he’s kinder than Rocky but is he really? What happens when it comes down to business versus small town neighborliness? The dogs are adorable but they don’t have much to do except act like dogs. They don’t uncover clues or anything other than run around.

I don’t know WHY Nikki has to investigate the mystery. She seems under the impression the local law enforcement is incompetent because it’s a small, sleepy town where nothing much happens. She also seems to feel she has to protect her employer though she doesn’t know him and his actions certainly seem suspicious. The mystery was engaging enough to read the whole thing and I loved the cozy small town setting. It’s too bad the writing was mediocre or I would rate this book very highly. It’s similar to but not as well done as the Paws and Claws mysteries by Krista Davis.

Dog Gone and Dead : A New Orleans Go Cup Mystery by Colleen Mooney
1 star

While private detective Brandy is vacation in Florida with her boyfriend Jiff, they discover a dead woman floating in the water. Jiff, a lawyer, is naturally suspicious. The woman seems to have been strangled with her dog’s leash. Brandy recognizes the custom leash featuring a Schnauzer, the breed she rescues and rehomes. She is determined to find the little guy and return him to the family or find him a new, loving home. Soon Brandy and Jeff are in deep into a mystery that seems to involve New York mafia and the Florida connections. The undercover Special Forces cop on duty seems to be doing little so that leaves Brandy to find the clues that the police seem to be missing.

First of all, this book doesn’t qualify as a cozy. The main character assists the police and not in a nosy neighborly sort of way. She apparently has a gift for seeing and putting together details no one else can. The story is gritty and dark.

The murder happens right in the prologue on page and I absolutely did not like that. I also did not like that the dog is apparently the lynchpin of the story but he is barely in it and doesn’t do anything except yield a clue. I skimmed a lot of the details. I hate the beach and I don’t want to read about a hot climate this time of year.

I didn’t care for Brandy. I didn’t like her matter of fact narration or her details on the superficial like how good she looks in her new swimsuit and riding on yachts. UGH! I prefer my heroines single, broke and cookie eating. She’s on vacation with her boyfriend at his family home yet he hasn’t said “I love you” yet. Brandy just finished a disastrous relationship and she seems to have moved on very quickly. Jiff is boring and her ex was a workaholic because he has a demanding job in law enforcement. Brandy and Jeff get a little too buddy buddy with Daniel too quickly. Jiff admits he doesn’t know anything about Daniel other than they both studied law at the same time so I didn’t see why they trusted him so quickly. He seems like one of those charming guys but he runs a charter yacht so I didn’t quite warm up to him. The victim didn’t deserve to die even if she was or was not an airheaded, lazy wannabe fashion designer. Her sister sounds like a more decent person but weak if she let her sister bully her into doing all the work. Still, she didn’t deserve to die either. The bad guys are really bad and really dumb.

Content: Scene at a male strip club, violence, crime
I don’t have any interest in reading more about these characters.

Summer Teeth : A Pineapple Port Mystery by Amy Vasant
4 stars

While Charlotte is out walking her adorable Wheaten [there’s a typo in the book. BIG mistake for a dog lovers series] Terrier Lucy with Darla, Mariska and their pups, Abby discovers some loose teeth that look decidedly human to Charlotte. Nearby Charlotte discovers a hole excavated by the town to erect a new monument. Upon further inspection Charlotte finds a foot sticking out of the hole- a food that is definitely not hers. Since Charlotte has just gotten her private detective license she takes it upon herself to investigate the crime.

I liked the mystery better than the first book in the series. This is more of a short story that is resolved very quickly.

Abby acts like a dog and in doing so uncovers a clue. I love it when the dogs are involved in the mystery and not just an afterthought. The mystery kept me guessing and I didn’t figure it out. I didn’t have the benefit of knowing the reference that helped Charlotte solve the mystery. I liked how she didn’t have to twist Frank’s arm and made sure he was OK with what she was doing. Darla and Mariska are amusing sidekicks though I’m not generally fond of old ladies who try to act younger than they are. I may give this series a second chance.

Murder of the Bandera Bandito : A Bee-side Inn Sitters Cozy Mystery Prequel Novella by Kim Hunt Harris
1.5 stars?

Willow discovers the body of a man the inn employees called “Mariachi Mike” with a knife in his back. Who killed him and why? The new sheriff in town is young and incompetent. It’s up to Willow and the man she plans to marry (after just laying eyes on him once) to solve the mystery.

This story was WAY too complicated. I didn’t understand half of what was going on. I picked up on something I thought might be a typo. It’s confusing to wonder whether the author meant Tio or Tito. One letter makes all the difference.

I never got a sense of who Willow is or really why she’s at this crumbling ranch/inn place. She’s a free spirit, that’s all I gather. I do not believe in love at first site and I really hated the romance with Clay. I really liked Clay. Love at first sight notwithstanding, he seems to be a decent, hardworking man who knows what he wants. I feel I know him better than Willow.

All the inn guests and employees are suspects. Cranky Marta who runs the place with her brother Tito can’t possibly be good for business. She’s all honey with guests when she wants to be but her crazy brand of meanness just won’t win her any employees in the long run. Tito seems lazy or too old to work anyway. I didn’t understand the story of the Badera Bandito, a Robin Hood figure in Texas linked to the inn property. It’s a very flimsy tale that people actually believe. Sabra has secrets and a chip on her shoulder. I didn’t like her. I felt sorry for Nick and Angie. At least he’s trying. Does she have postpartum depression or is she just exhausted from motherhood? She is not very likable yet sympathetic at the same time.

Mariachi Mike doesn’t seem like he was much of a prize. Who hires someone off the streets without finding out who they are and checking references? Who takes a job without knowing what they’re getting into? Hayes, the sheriff, is young, stupid and incompetent but I feel bad for him because he’s never had to solve a murder before and he’s in over his head.

This mystery only marginally fits the animal theme. There’s a homeless cat towards the end. She feels tossed in randomly, as is her human friend who just complicates the story.

I don’t have any interest in reading about Willow again.

A Body on Fitzgerald’s Bluff : A Seaview Cottages Cozy Mystery #1 by Anna Celeste Burke
3.5 stars

Recent widow Miriam Webster (no she didn’t write the dictionary), an aspiring writer has recently moved into a 55+ retirement community on the California coast with her Dalmatian Domino. While out walking with Domino and some friends, the ladies discover the body of a woman on the bluffs. When the sheriff doesn’t believe them because the body has disappeared, the ladies form their own detective band “The Grand Old Lady Detectives” to solve the mystery of the missing dead woman and the stalker they spy snooping around.

This story is a real cozy mystery except that it’s LONG. At first I was confused by all the characters and the setting and I never really did figure them all out but I enjoyed the fun mystery. The suspects were obvious but which one did it was never fully clear to me. I wasn’t surprised by most of the reveal though. I liked how the dog discovers the dead body and important clues yet all while acting like a normal dog.

Miriam is a likable character. I feel bad that her husband left her in dire straits but not so bad because she could have taken an interest in their finances earlier. I loved that she enjoys baking and she’s a dog lover. I can relate even though she’s a good decade older. A 50 year old would not have to dye their roots to appear gray unless she’s lucky. I loved Miriam’s relationship with Domino. I did not like how she had to go sleuthing and how stupid that was. Bonus points for living in Austen cottage!

The other residents are quirky and funny, especially Edgar, the victim’s former sugar daddy. Yet some of the comments the men made were really derogatory and the author should NOT have written them down. It’s a sign of the age of the characters that they find joking like that acceptable but NO MORE will women stand for that and Miriam and her friends do kind of give the men dirty looks.

The victim and the suspects were really horrid. The suspects I get were either angry because Dee wronged them or greedy. That doesn’t make them likable or sympathetic.

The setting is nice. It’s beachy but not beachy. I probably will shelve this series as TBR when I’m older and ready to read about retirees. Right now I want to read about young singles. There may be a hint of later in life romance for Miriam though which I am sure I will appreciate later. I recommend this series to fans of mysteries featuring quirky senior citizen amateur sleuths.

A Dream Straycation by Ava Mallory
2 stars?

Michelle Ainsley is looking forward to discovering herself after breaking up with her fifth husband during a retreat on the tiny island Isla Moreno. Michelle is super excited about leaving the e United States for the first time even if it comes at the expense of a broken heart. The other guests are not so thrilled to be vacationing with talkative Michelle, especially the diva Paula. After taking a wrong turn escaping the healthy hike, Michelle discovers the dead body of Paula. Technically it was a small dog who led Michelle to the body but the dog disappears and a strange man appears on the scene. Is he a murderer? Michelle is determined to get to the bottom of the drama and find out what happened.

This story is confusing. I don’t understand why Michelle promptly forgot the dog and doubted Pete. The mystery is solved too quickly and it was a bit odd. The story is too short for such a complicated plot. There’s not enough time to really get to know any of the characters well and none of them were all that appealing. Pete seems like he could be a decent guy because he rescues homeless animals. Michelle talks too much and is crazy. Lulu is a knock-off of Lola in the Stephanie Plum mysteries. I wanted more Paco! The rest is forgettable. This may be a prequel novella for a series that may be enjoyable.

Croquembouche Murder by Sandi Scott
4.75 stars

Ashley and Patty are excited to travel to Jackson Hole, Wyoming to cater a wedding at a dude ranch for one of their best customers, Mr. Musgrave. Dizzy reluctantly accompanies them to the ranch, a haven for horses and other animals in need of a home. Right away the trip gets off to a rough start when the only road to the ranch is washed out. Ashley and Patty quickly get to work despite the lack of kitchen staff but trouble soon follows.

The vet, Dennis Longley and his assistant Sabrina are seen arguing about whether the horses actually have a virus. Which one is to be believed? Dennis is a longtime friend of the family and grew up with Mr. Musgraves’s niece Viv, the bride, and the best man, Evan. The wedding rehearsal then goes awry and Dennis is a no-show. Dennis is next seen slumped dead in the back of a horse stall! Mr. Musgrave is willing to consider the death natural- a heart attack or something, but Ashley isn’t so sure. When Ashley discovers the sea plane is out of order and the police can’t arrive for 4-5 days (!) she knows she has to investigate on her own. If she waits for the police, she’ll miss her cruise with Ryan; the first step towards a closer relationship.

This is a great mystery! Mystery wise it is very complicated. There are several suspects and I never guessed specifically who did it until a little teeny tiny subtle clue happened. It wasn’t obvious though and I still wasn’t sure. Romance wise, this book is light on the romance. Ryan is back in Louisiana and only appears on the other end of Ashley’s phone and at the end. They seem to be progressing nicely as a couple. A cruise is a great way for them to be together and figure out if they want to take that next step.

I didn’t mind the lack of romance because Dizzy more than makes up for it. She almost has as large a role here as she did in the first book. Dizzy is just so cute and funny! She steals every scene she’s in. Her new cat companion, Bebe (pronounced the French way) is sweet and Cocoa the horse cracked me up. The animals are the real stars of this mystery. Ashley and Patty are OK. Patty is delegated to the kitchen and not really involved in the mystery. The lively cast of animal characters was worth the 99 cents for this collection and even just for this book.

Everyone else is a new character and at the ranch for the wedding. The bride, Viv and her groom Leo come from Hollywood and I don’t understand why Viv puts up with such a shallow place when the ranch is more her true home. Leo, the peacemaker, seems like a nice guy but the fairytale romance doesn’t work for me. I prefer Evan, the best man. He seems down-to-earth but not so perfect. Dennis is rather eccentric but he didn’t deserve to die. I felt a bit sorry for him. Mr. Musgrave seems like a hearty, fun gentleman but he has money and ties to Hollywood so I don’t fully trust him. Sabrina, the vet assistant, is a bit moody and I don’t care for that. The party guests are all super shallow and annoying.

I highly recommend this mystery!

Death on the Beach by Susan Boles
2.5 stars?

Dixie and her friend Lily Gayle are looking forward to a vacation in Destin, Florida. Unfortunately Google Maps routes them through a state forest in Alabama and they’re running out of gas. Luckily Dixie’s cousin Ben is a state trooper in their home state of Mississippi and is able to send in the troops to rescue a lady. Before Ben’s rescue can arrive, a handsome man tries to come to the rescue. The ladies run into him again at the condo in Florida. Alex is friendly and Dixie is eager to get to know him but Lily Gayle is wary. When Dixie discovers Alex’s secret reason for wanting to get to know her, she’s angry and feels like murder. Then Alex turns up dead with Dixie’s hat pin in his neck and she becomes the prime suspect.

Not having read the previous books in the series, I didn’t know what the genetic anomaly was but from the name Vlad I’m guessing it’s something to do with vampires. If that had been made clear, I would have skipped the story but luckily it doesn’t get specific. However, not being familiar with that plot and the character Vlad did make the story a bit confusing. The adventure took a long time to set up and is pretty zany. The animal rescue theme was shoved into the end randomly just to fit the theme of the collection. I could be wrong but it seems like there are a lot of southern stereotypes in this story.

I liked Dixie enough to not want her to get arrested for murder or killed but not enough to want to read more about her. She’s ditzy and apparently always getting into trouble. Dixie’s cousin Ben has a right to be angry with her for her thoughtlessness at times. Lily Gayle is a good friend and has great instincts about people. Vlad is not a good friend to get Dixie accidentally involved in this situation. Alex didn’t deserve to be killed. His story is a bit of a mystery even at the end but he didn’t seem like a villain.

Part 2 coming in the comments...

[Laura Thomas · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m working my way through this fun collection and wanted to share a review of one of the featured books.. I’ll be sure to share reviews of the rest as soon as I get done reading them.

A Body On Fitzgerald’s Bluff

by Anna Celeste Burke

My Review

While performing their ritual morning walk, the group known as The Seaview Cottages Walkers Club spot a dead woman’s body at the bottom of Fitzgerald’s Bluff. Having no faith that their lazy Deputy Sheriff, Darnell Devers, will sort it out, they hitch their wagons and begin their own investigation. A community of retirees, they have plenty of spare time to stick their noses in where they don’t belong.

One of them, Miriam, has a secret. One that could blow her world apart. No, she’s not the killer, but her pals are sniffing for clues to who killed the girl they found at the bottom of the bluff, and her secret might come to light.

This was a fun whodunit with a truly quirky bunch of characters, including some furry ones. Lots of puns and snort worthy dialogue kept me smiling. I had my hopes up for a spark of romance between a certain someone and lead detective Hank Miller. And it was a pleasure to come across a mystery not easily solved. I was in the dark until right near the reveal.

I received a complimentary copy. My review is voluntarily given.

[Judy Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

If any or all of the authors aren't enough to draw you to this box set, the wonderful cause it is supporting should. I have read stories by almost all of these authors before, and the all of the contributions here are NO letdown. Such an abundance of talent all in one place! If you have to pick a story to read first, or are looking for a quick, fun read, open to Toxic Tech by Sam Cheever. (No Spoilers) The Blaise Runa and Dolphe Honeybun team (and the pets) are together again to solve a murder at the Pet Clinic that for both of them hits super close to home. A well told story told with snarkiness and humor, chock full of characters you just love to love and no shortage of those that you LOVE TO HATE, with an ending that is completely unpredictable. This cozy leaves a smile on your face as well as completely satisfied with a story well done. Even if you only read one book a day, start with this one, and you'll find yourself going back to look for more books by this wonderful author.

[RO G'ma · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love reading anthologies. They give me the opportunity to meet new authors and I’ve added a couple to my “must read” list. While I haven’t read all of the stories in this compilation, I’ve enjoyed the ones that I’ve read so far. This is a great collection of stories written by some very talented authors and they have all generously agreed to donate all their profits to no kill animal charities.

A Body on Fitzgerald’s Bluff by Anna Celeste Burke is a quick and easy read. The storyline is well plotted, and the characters are well developed. Red herrings, and twists and turns are abundant, and there’s no shortage of viable suspects to keep the reader engaged and guessing until the reveal. As always, Ms. Burke has given readers a clean read with delightful and three-dimensional characters and vivid descriptions that made me feel like I was involved with the action and enjoying the delicious food along with the characters. Even though a murder is involved, there is a personal and humorous side to this wonderful story.

Recently widowed, Miriam Webster, who aspires to be a writer, has a background in bookkeeping, is a talented baker, and resides in Hemingway Cottage with Domino, her high-spirited Dalmatian. When Miriam’s husband passed away, she learned that his wild schemes had nearly bankrupted them. Before he passed, Miriam’s husband, Peter Webster, purchased Hemingway Cottage, which is part of Seaview Cottages, one of the many “circles” that comprise an active adult retirement community for the fifty-five plus crowd just north of Santa Barbara in California’s Central Coast. The residential “circles” that comprise the community honor authors, artists, crafts persons, and luminaries of the theater and cinema. Miriam, who is only fifty-years-old, hopes no one will discover her true age or that Peter is deceased. Miriam and Domino were walking behind the Fitzgerald Cottage, when Domino made the gruesome discovery of a woman’s body on the bluff. Marty Monroe, Midge Gaylord, and Penelope “Charly” Parker, members of the Seaview Cottages Walkers Club, responded to Domino’s barking, and due to poor cell service, everyone rushed to the community clubhouse to use the landline to report the body. Midge, who has a medical background, believes the woman was strangled. When Deputy Sheriff Darnell Devers arrives, the body is gone, but one shoe and some personal effects remain close to where the women saw the body. Darnell receives a call that a body has been found a short distance away in Blue Haven and he tries to dismiss the original sighting, but the ladies insist they saw what they reported and that there is probably only one body. Everyone feels better when Henry “Hank” Miller is called in as the lead Detective, placing Darnell, who all the locals have various pet names for due to his “do as little as possible” attitude, as second in command. The victim is identified as Diana Durand. Diana was a beautiful young woman who used to perform as a singer at clubs in and around San Francisco, and had men clamoring for her attention, but she used men, cheated on them, and had a reputation for hurting people for her own gain and there seems to be no shortage of viable suspects. Miriam, Charly, Marty, Midge, and Cornelia “Neely” Conrad decide to band together as the “Grand Old Lady Detectives” and investigate on their own to help Hank. Carl Rodgers and Joe Torrance, who are also Seaview Cottages residents, also band together to investigate and keep an eye on the ladies, dubbing themselves as Charly’s angels.

A Midsummer Night’s Murder by Colleen Helme is a fast paced, well-plotted mystery, with great characters. Shelby Nichols has the unique ability to read minds and Detective Drew Harris is one of the few people who know and sometimes calls upon her to consult on his cases. Shelby wasn’t born able to read minds, but after a bullet hit her in the head, she was able to hear people’s thoughts. This time, Molly May is a murder victim and the police suspect her boyfriend, Angel Molina, is responsible due to an argument a neighbor overheard, but he insists he’s innocent. Shelby’s convinced Angel is innocent and asks husband, Chris, to represent him. She and her husband had a history with the prosecuting attorney, James Strickland, and Chris, who knows about her ability, views her as a secret weapon to use against James.

Dog Gone and Dead by Colleen Mooney is an interesting whodunit with likeable characters. Brandy Alexander, who does Schnauzer rescues, and her boyfriend, Jiff Heinkel, a criminal defense attorney, are spending a long weekend alone at his family’s condo on the Florida side of the Gulf of Mexico. While out on the beach early their first morning there, they discover a woman’s body with a leash wrapped around her wrist, but the dog is missing. Brandy looks at the lease and discovers the dog is probably a Schnauzer named Rascal. Brandy is determined to find the missing dog and hopes to learn who murdered the woman. The woman is identified as Abigale Westlake. After they find Rascal, Brandy notices an odd bulge in his collar that turns out to be multiple flash drives. Brandy and Jiff don’t think things add up and can’t resist helping the authorities with their investigation.

Gawd Almighty and the Corn by Judith Lucci is a fun read, with an intriguing mystery and fun characters. Ms. Lucci is well known for her medical, thriller, suspense books and now she has entered the cozy mystery genre. LauraLea is the owner of the Artisans Gallery Art and Gift shop located on Resort Drive at Massanutten in the Virginia mountains, and is an artist who focuses on wildlife drawings. Lily is a nurse, college professor, and artist who writes medical thrillers and cozy mysteries; Diane is the main sales person, chief cook, and candy maker. Tammy Lynn is a country music queen and mixed-media artist. Lily’s main job is to smile, be nice, and take care of the gallery critters: Vino a yellow lab rescue who loves wine, a cat that scares snakes, and Gawd Almighty, a possum with a sleep disorder. When the possum goes missing, Lily is devastated and determined to find him. When Professor Rutledge, a Virginia Tech professor and botanist who had rented the Mountaineer Conference Center for a meeting regarding his genetically modified corn is murdered, Dr. Kenzie Zimbro, the medical examiner, and Benson, the chief investigator, try to find the murderer. Lily and LauraLea stumble upon valuable information regarding the murder while searching for Gawd Almighty.

Just Lost and Found by Anne R. Tan is a quick read with likeable characters and an interesting and well-plotted mystery. Lucy Fong, who’s allergic to cats, somehow gets roped into taking care of her sister’s Maine Coon, Raspberry. While Lucy and her cousin, Stella, are visiting the lighthouse in Morro Cliff Village, California to see if it can be made into a tourist destination, Raspberry runs off and when Lucy follows him into the lighthouse keeper’s cottage and falls through the floor, fracturing her wrist in the process. She finds a treasure chest with a gold monkey statute and ancient Chinese coins inside. Lucy’s foster cousin, Raina Sun, is working on her master’s degree in ancient Chinese history, says the statute is very valuable … if it isn’t a replica. When Lucy receives a ransom note for the return of Raspberry for the statute, her PI genes kick in and she starts looking for the cat napper.

Murder at Pawprint Creek by Cindy Bell is a cute whodunit, with a well-plotted mystery, and great characters. Nikki Green, a dog sitter, agrees to spend a week looking after Jackson Nule’s precious pug, Sunny and Stormy, in Pawprint Creek where her friend, Hannah, lives. On the day she arrives, the body of Rocky Carters, a restaurateur, is found behind the farmers market. It’s the first murder in Pawprint Creek in twenty or so years, but the choice of victim isn’t surprising since Rocky had greedily diverted the town’s largest water source for his benefit. After a visit from Detective Spade, Nikki becomes concerned Jackson might be a suspect and decides to look into it and as she does, she finds several people she thinks could be the guilty party.

Summer Teeth by Amy Vansant is a quick read with likeable characters, an intriguing mystery, and a few humorous scenes. Charlotte Morgan recently became a private investigator and even though she’s only twenty-six years old, she lives in the Pineapple Port retirement community in Charity, Florida where she grew up. Charlotte, her two friends, Mariska and Darla, and their dogs are out for a walk in Ripley Park when Charlotte’s dog, Abby, finds some human teeth and then some blood, which leads them to the future location of Timothy Alabastor’s memorial obelisk, one of the park’s founding members who recently passed away. While looking into the hole, she falls in and discovers the body of a woman who is later identified as philanthropist Janine Tucker, one of the park’s founding members. Even though she hasn’t been hired to look into the death, she wants to find the murderer and hopefully give her new career a boost.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.

[Texas · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sam Cheever, Toxic Tech - Another interesting story with the added bonus of a large amount of animals, and even a reptile as a major character. Intriguing with suspense and the usual humor found from this author blend well with the characters to keep the reader immersed in the story.

Another good addition to the Honeybun and Runa series. There's a overview to let the reader know what the story is about, which I always appreciate. I purchased this set to support the authors' cause since they did so well with 12 Slays of Christmas. 4*

Kim Hunt Harris, Murder of the Bandera Bandito - I had a lot of fun reading this little story. The main and the supporting characters were interesting; it looks like several will be part of future stories and I see them growing with each book. Well written, intriguing and filled with humor, plus I love the Texas speak. Nothing stupid, just the way we talk.

Clay and Willow are going to be fun to watch since they're not the typical couple you find in other books. He's levelheaded and finds solutions, and she's caring and does for others from the kindness of her heart. So far this is a good start to Ms. Harris' new series and it's looking like it will be as successful as her Trailer Park Princess series. 5*

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

A super sleuth collection of animal themed stories from some of my favorite authors!

I really enjoyed another tale from Judith Lucci.

Blaise and Dolph seem like an adorable couple.

The perpetual temp Blaise and her ex cop, now PI fiance Dolph are a strange match, but a total power couple.

Super sleuths when united, and the rest of his family has the muscle.

This time, the adventure is set, unfortunately, at a veterinary office.

The victim was a talented tech, who was apparently a short on funds former veterinary student, who apparently gave up her DVM studies due to her shortage of funds.

The debate rages about finite medical resources and supplies going to animals,
especially when affordable people care is scarce.

This dynamic duo is fun to see in action, and I really enjoy their wacky circle of family and friends.

Looking forward to seeing them again!

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I also bought this book to help support pet rescue!

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just Lost and Found - Lucy Fong Mystery by Anne R Tan
A short novella - Lucy is pet sitting her sister's cat Raspberry when she gets roped into the town's historical society possible restoration of the old lighthouse. There has often been legends of pirates and treasure being that Morro Cliff Village is on the coast so it was no surprise that when a possible treasure chest turns up, the excitement in town is palpable. And Raspberry is missing...….

I always enjoy Anne's stories, they are run and her characters are well written, so much so you feel that it could be an account of someone in your own extended family. Looking forward to Lucy's next adventure! I received an ARC and this is my honest opinion

[Debi Paglia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great boxed set! I really enjoyed all of these, but my favorite was “Just Lost and Found” by Anne R. Tan. This is #1.5 of her new series with Lucy Fong, who has gone back to her hometown to help her estranged mother. The setting is a small town off the California coast. The characters are interesting. The storyline is fast-paced and intriguing with a lot of humor. There are a lot of hints for discovering the villain, but then there’s the surprise ending! If you like good, clean, intelligently written cozy fun, then you’ll love this new series by Anne R. Tan (The first book is “Just Shoot Me Dead”.)

[Jan · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far I've only read Just Lost and Found, a Lucy Fong hysterical mystery by Anne R Tan. Trying to do a favor for her sister, Lucy is pet sitting for the cat despite being highly allergic. Enter Mel Brooks/Marx Brothers/Chevy Chase. First she falls through the floor of a local landmark and is injured but finds a historic Chinese artifact, then she gets a ransom note from catnappers. And the laughs just keep on coming. I wish I weren't having The Summer of Reading As Many of TBR as possible! Then I could read more of this!
Well, at least I contributed a bit to the No Kill shelters.

[Jeanie Jackson · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to stop and share before I went any further!

For fans of Shelby Nichols and Colleen Helme, Midsummer Night’s Murder is an exciting bonus visit with a set of characters that we have come to love. For readers new to the series, what an opportunity the cozy collection offers to get to know this awesome series and fantastic author. Naturally this novella was the first thing I read but I look forward to checking out all the other books in the new twelve-book anthology, Summer Snoops and Cozy Crime!
When Dimples asks Shelby to sit in on an interview that looks like a slam dunk but feels off, she begins one of the most dangerous investigations of her career. Dimples is not surprised but neither is he pleased when she turns to Ramos for back up. Excitement, danger, romance, and Ramos…what a magnificent combination!

[Leslie aka StoreyBook Reviews · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I haven't read all of the stories in this compilation, I have enjoyed what I have read so far. I think my favorite was Toxic Death by Sam Cheever. I was totally surprised when the murderer was revealed, did not see that one coming at all! And of course there were dogs involved and I love any story involving dogs.

All of these shorter stories gave me a taste of what the authors normally write and if I haven't picked up their books before, I'm adding them to my towing TBR pile because I got caught up in some of the characters and want to know more about them and the crimes they help solve.

This is a great way to get a little taste of some potentially new cozy authors to you and could get you hooked on a few new authors.

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall, I give the book 4 Stars. The entire anthology needs a good proofreading.

**Gawd Almighty and the Corn by Judith Lucci--- 4 Stars

A new series set on Massanutten Mountain, VA. I liked Lily and LauraLea, the two main characters in the Artzy Chicks series. Gawd Almighty was an interesting character as was Vino. It was nice to see Kenzie and Benson from The Golden Rings of Christmas. I look forward to reading more books in this series.



**Murder at Pawprint Creek by Cindy Bell---3 Stars

This was an okay story. I never really understood why Nikki felt it was her responsibility to solve the murder or why she cared. No one in town seemed to care that a murder had occurred but a stranger with no ties to the crime thought it was important for her to solve instead of leaving it to the police.



**Dog Gone and Dead by Colleen Mooney---4 Stars

This is the 2nd book I've read in The New Orleans Go Cup Chronicles series. I enjoyed them both. Brandy and Jiff don't go looking for trouble but it seems to find them anyway. This story contained twists and turns and kept me guessing as to how it all tied together and who was guilty of what crime.



**Summer Teeth by Amy Vansant---4 Stars

This is another delightful book in A Pineapple Port Mystery series. Charlotte is a newly minted PI and solves a series of murders after she stumbles upon a body in the park. This story was light on details and Mariska and Darla didn't play very big roles. I enjoy the interactions between Charlotte, Mariska, and Darla.



**A Midsummer Night's Murder by Colleen Helme---5 Stars

This was an interesting addition to the Shelby Nichols Mysteries series. Once again, without even trying, Shelby finds herself in the thick of trouble. Lucky for her, she has friends in high places on both sides of the law. I love the fact she has found out she can communicate with dogs and it appears a dog will soon join the Nichols' household.



**Murder of the Bandera Bandito by Kim Hunt Harris---3 Stars

A cute murder mystery with numerous twists and turns.
I love this exchange. It sets the tone for the entire story.
"...Women can get mad at a man and not lose their minds. We do it all the time."
"Is that so?" the sheriff asked.
"You're still alive, aren't you?"



**A Body On Fitzgerald's Bluff by Anna Celeste Burke--- 5 Stars

A delightful new series from the talented Anna Celeste Burke. The GOLD ladies and Charly's angels are a very interesting set of characters. They each bring a different set of talents to bear in solving crimes that makes them unstoppable as a group. Miriam is by far the youngest and most staid member of the group. The rest of the ladies are teaching her how to let loose and get more joy out of life. There are numerous suspects and plenty of twists and turns. Seaview Cottages are chock-full of quirky, eccentric characters who are sure to bring havoc and mysteries to the group for them to solve. I look forward to the next book in this series. I recommend all of this author's books.



**A Dream Straycation by Ava Mallory---3 Stars

An okay story. It felt like the author was trying for comedic but never quite hit the mark. The characters were interchangeable, except for Lulu.



**Croquembouche Murder by Sandi Scott---5 Stars

A simple catering job turns into a murder mystery for Ashley, Dizzy, and Patty. There are plenty of twists and turns, as well as numerous suspects, to keep you guessing until the end. This is my 1st Seagrass Sweets Mystery but I look forward to reading more. I also enjoy the author's Pet Portraits series.



**Death On The Beach by Susan Boles---3 Stars

I enjoyed this mystery. Lily Gayle and Dixie are interesting characters. I couldn't get a handle on their ages. Sometimes I felt like they were in their 30s and at other times I felt like they were old ladies. I wasn't thrilled with all the colloquialisms used. It was a bit much--even for Mississippi.



**Toxic Tech by Sam Cheever---5 Stars

An interesting well-written murder mystery with likable characters, plenty of suspects, and lots of twists and turns. This is my first book by Sam Cheever but it definitely won't be my last.



**Just Lost and Found by Anne R Tan---5 Stars

A well-written story with likable characters. I look forward to reading more stories by Amy R Tan.

[Tara Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

I pre-ordered "Summer Snoops and Cozy Crimes: 12 Mysteries for the Dog Days of Summer." When release day finally arrived, I was ready! Yayayy! Not only is this amazing set of mysteries filled with new goodies from all our favorite best-selling authors, but our purchases also support No-Kill animal shelters. C’mon! Let's show some love! Jam-packed with lovable sleuths and man's best friends, there's something here for all to enjoy! So, put on your detective cap, we've got some puzzling mysteries here that need a-solving!

I started off with "Body on Fitzgerald's Bluff" by USA Today's best-selling author Anna Celeste Burke. Like any good detective, having all pertinent information at our fingertips is absolutely necessary if we want to solve the case. With all the details laid out for me right at the beginning of the book, I knew this was going to be a wild ride! Packed with a cast full of characters, I was immediately engaged and jumped right in to the brand new "Seaview Cottages Cozy Mystery Series!"

Let's start with the characters….
-Are they funny? Hilarious!
-Are they entertaining? An absolute riot!
-Do I feel like I've known them my whole life? We are like family!

Now, the plot…
-Is it engaging? Captivating!
-Is it believable? Hello...I now live in one of the cottages in the Writer's Circle Community!
-Does it keep you guessing? Guessing is right!! Let's just say I need to touch up on my sleuthing skills!

The lively banter and constant turn of events placed me in each scene and kept me completely involved in the storyline. This might be Anna Celeste Burke’s best work yet. She really out-did herself! I had the absolute best time making the rounds with Carmel Schneider and Tara Brown (between us...these two are the best! Ohhhh, and those scones!). Together, we planned, plotted, and made surprising discoveries. As I stated earlier, I am now part of this close-knit Writer's Circle Senior Community where everyone lives in their own brilliantly-named cottage. The name of mine? I live in The Burke Bungalow, of course! :-)

As you can probably tell from the title, alone, Anna Celeste Burke has no problem showing off her witty, humorous side. Whether you are a lover of language, a fan of fine literature, or a detective in the making, you will definitely recognize and appreciate the numerous references made throughout the story to the many “big names” who inspire and excite so many people today.

From Fitzgerald & Webster to Hemingway & Brontë, I have no doubt you will find something, or someone, to suit your fancy. Who knows? You might even feel the urge to dust off those old books that have been sitting on your shelves since college...a little Gatsby, perhaps? If not, you'll definitely want to watch some re-runs of Charley’s Angels...no worries, this will all make sense in good time. You must make sure to not get distracted with all the fun you're having, though! You are here to solve a murder, after all!!

Hands down, I award Body on Fitzgerald’s Bluff by Anna Celeste Burke a well-deserving 5/5 stars! I cannot wait for the next in series: "Shakespeare's Ghost." These Grand Old Lady Detectives are quite a hoot!

If "Body on Fitzgerald's Bluff" is any indication of how good the rest of the books in "Summer Snoops and Cozy Crimes: 12 Mysteries for the Dog Days of Summer" are going to be, I'd say you don't want to miss out! Not only is this collection sure to keep you entertained and smiling for hours, but you'll finally get to put your own sleuthing skills to the test! Now, get out there and find those suspects!

Thank you for reading my review. I hope it was helpful. :-)

[Andrea Stoeckel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although I haven’t read the whole box set yet, I have read Anna Celeste Burke’s contribution and find my review below:

“Things don’t always work out as you plan, do they?”

Just ask Miriam Webster, widow of Pete Webster, who had invested in a small resort near the water in California. In order to clear her husband’s debts and estate, Miriam, a bookkeeper for a now defunct bakery, left after downsizing and selling ther house, and she and her Dalmatian fur baby Domino moved into Hemingway Cottage after she found she couldn’t easily rent it.

Her biggest concern at present was hiding her age from the HOA because without Pete, she didn’t qualify for the community.

As with every community, there are friendships, backstabbing, cheating and anger...but murder? Miriam and her new friends are front and center to find the remains of a murder on the beach. The question is, who believes it as the body quickly disappears. The local deputy does not believe anything/anyone was found, but when the body washes up in the next resort, he has to backpeddle as the County police are called in.

So many secrets buried in more than just the sand as the Grand Old Lady Detectives are born. Question is, will they die before they find the answers?

This is the first in a new series by Anna Celeste Burke, who is known for her quirky puzzling characters in entertaining situations. Sit back, put your feet up, grab a cup of tea and a scone or two and come visit the Seaview Cottages, you will be glad you did. Highly Recommended 5/5

[Sharon Grow · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Midsummer Night’s Murder (Shelby Nichols Adventure) by Colleen Helme – In Summer Snoops & Cozy Crimes: 12 Mysteries for the Dog Days of Summer

Shelby Nichols is your average American housewife, one husband, two children…oh, except for the fact that she can read minds! Shelby was injured when she was on her way to the store to buy carrots (which is the appropriate name of the first book in this wonderful series). She interrupted a robbery at the bank, in the store, and a bullet grazed her head. Since that time, she has been able to read minds. Trouble seems to follow Shelby around as she assists the police with investigations and also works (unwilling at first) for mob boss “Uncle” Joey…and then there is hit-man Ramos (yum). In this adventure, Shelby is assisting “Dimples” (her nickname for her favorite cop) in the murder investigation of a young woman. The woman’s boyfriend has been charged with the murder and Shelby knows that he is innocent. Ms. Helme writes such unique stories with humor and engaging characters, characters that have continued through the series. Another great read in the Shelby Nichols Adventures. This book is part of the “Summer Snoops & Cozy Crimes: 12 Mysteries for the Dog Days of Summer” anthology. I received a free copy of Ms. Helme’s book and voluntarily chose to give an honest review. (by paytonpuppy)

[Disney14604 · Rating 5 out of 5]

This review is for one of the books in this set. Toxic Tech by Sam Cheever.

Great fun read. Read it in hours, was surprised. it moved so fast. Had no inkling who was responsible. Noe job when I have to wait till end to see who it is. We all read mysteries to see if we can figure it out. You got me.

This is obviously part of a series since the characters are well developed and know each other. However, the since this is my first in this series , I can honestly say that the book can be read as what they call a standalone.

I did notice the Honeybuns have strong first names. Will have to read the past books to see if my theory as why that might be is true. Also want to see why she is looking for perfect job? Love the animals. Why is the puppy named Badly? See all these questions just need to be answered by reading the previous books. I have them all from just reading this one and I am hooked , looking for more but will catch up on the past while I wait.
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I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a honest and freely given review.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am working my way through this box set, but had to review the first read - Just Lost and Found by Anne R. Tan. I have read all of Anne's mysteries so far and she continues to come up with fun story lines for the amateur sleuths leading the story. This is the second book in the Lucy Fong mystery series. Lucy comes across treasure that can help save the town while losing her sister's cat Raspberry in the process. Feeling guilty about losing her sister's beloved pet, she knows she has to solve the mystery of the treasure and the Cat-napping. The story is light and funny. Lucy has a comical sidekick in her older cousin, Stella. Rumors travel fast in a small town, so Lucy needs to work faster and get through all the craziness to solve the crime and get Raspberry back. If you have read Anne's Raina Sun series, you will love Lucy. She is trying to follow in Raina's footsteps and make a name for herself in the PI business left for her to run. Can't wait to see where Lucy's stories in the future go as well.

Great Summer Reads for a Great Cause!

[Gracie Bradford · Rating 4 out of 5]

MY 4-STAR REVIEW. I like the plots in the books. Fair warning! When my iPad showed the length of 16781 pages, I freaked. The cute cover grabbed my attention with the dogs wearing the red sunglasses. I am an author that writes about dogs. However, the beauty of this box is that you can click on each book separately, and they aren’t necessarily about dogs, but there are character pets in some of the stories. A huge bargain. The bundle/box is a collection of about 13 books by different authors. Each story is equally as entertaining as the other. Some were better than others. I like the recipes at the end that each author contributed such as Death by Chocolate Cake or Matcha Yogurt Popsicles. Each story stands alone as a book. If you are a mystery and murder lover who likes some romance sprinkled into the story, you probably will enjoy these books. I am a traveler, so I found that the books hold my attention on a long train ride or a long airplane ride. I was able to read several of the books on a one-way flight.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can a reader fall in love with a book? With a series of books?

I adored the Honeybun men, and their women, from previous books, and this novel was no different.

The book blurb, description and synopsis give enough detail about the story to get a reader interested, without giving too much away. The depth of the story comes from a well researched background, supportive of wonderfully written charismatic and realistic characters. As with all Ms Cheever’s works, this book is extremely well written and full of characters and situations you’ll find yourself either loving or hating, as the writer dictates. Ms Cheever brings humour to her writing and I often laughed aloud; glancing hurriedly about to see who was watching the crazy laugh-out-loud lady read.

These books can be read alone, without any loss to the storyline, but I appreciate that knowing the characters can add that extra something, that deeper emotive connection.

Well done, Ms Cheeveer, for another excellent piece of literary escapism. Loved it!

[Shannon M · Rating 5 out of 5]

The fact that the proceeds from this set of cozy mystery stories go to No Kill shelters made me even more excited about reading them and I honestly wish I could purchase it over and over again. I was lucky enough to adopt a senior who was days away from being put down because no one wanted to adopt an older dog with medical issues. The two and half extra years we had together was filled with lots of fun and love and she made all the difference in my life.

For readers who enjoy Cindy Bell's other series, they will be thrilled with the introduction of a new protagonist, Nikki, in Murder at Pawprint Creek. Her spirit draws you in immediately and her obvious love of animals makes you love her and want to root for her right from the start. She's plucky, loyal and just a tad bit nosy so she fits right in to what I love about Ms. Bell's other protagonists. While this is the only story I have read so far, I will be diving right into this amazing book and I'm looking forward to reading authors new to me.

[Cinda Inman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read all of the books in this box set, I would like to leave a review for Murder at Pawprint Creek by Cindy Bell.
Nikki Green leaves her hometown of Dahlia for a short visit to Pawprint Creek to see her old friend, Hannah, and dog sit two pugs (Sunny and Stormy) for Jackson Nule. She is enjoying catching up with her friend when the owner of a local restaurant is found dead.
Nikki finds some inconsistencies in Jackson's story of where he is going and what he is up to. When the local detective begins questioning her, she knows she needs to find the answers and the real killer before it is to late.
This is a quick, fun read and I highly recommend it.

[Leslie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a review of One of the books in the series. Murder at Pawprint Creek by Cindy Bell. Nikki is a dog walker/sitter. She got a call from out of the area for dog sitting. She went to spend a week in pawprint creek looking after two dogs and spending time with her friend that lives there. She learns of a murder and finds out the guy she is sitting dogs for is a person of interest in murder. Nikki does a little investigating on her own and finds out all sorts of things about her employer. It seems he has a history of ruining businesses and there just might be merit as a culprit. She also finds several people that could be a guilty party. I enjoyed reading as she narrowed them all down.

[Misty Goan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A enjoyable collection of 12 unique authors and their stories of pets and saving them from various different situations.

Sam Cheever Toxic tech a story in the collection

A well written short Intriguing and suspenseful drama with added humor as Blaise working at the front desk of a veterinary clinic finds herself caught in the eyes of a killer. Trying to solve the mystery of who is poisioning the animals. I was so surprised at the murder making all the more enjoyable.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Stephanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Blaise works in a veterinarian's office as the receptionist and her friend Alicia gets killed so her and her boyfriend pi dolfe honeybun decide to in investigate the crime. More information comes to light and more suspects come to the front but none that fit the bill. One of the perks of Blaise's job is she gets to take Ms Ivy to work with her and ivy likes the snake but the snake sees dinner. I loved this book and I hope there is more.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

[Pete · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far, I have read 2 books from this collection, 'Toxic Tech' by Sam Cheever and 'Murder of the Bandera Bandito' by Kim Hunt Harris. both are excellent short mysteries which have been written specially for this collection. Toxic Tech is a fun mystery which features guest appearances by characters from her Silver Hills series. I had never read anything by Kim Hunt Harris before, but I will certainly read more of her work now.
Either of these books would be worth the cost of this collection on their own, and as the proceeds are going to good cause the price is an absolute steal.

[Michele · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have read and loved books from many of the author's below. I'm in the midst of reading them all and I can already tell you that this is a box set you don't want to miss!! I love that all the proceeds are going to go to 2 animal shelters (see pic above for the names). In addition there is a giveaway being graciously given by one of the authors for all of you. One winner will receive a $25 Amazon GC or a $25 PayPal. Two additional winners will win a copy of the box set (e-book). A win for the animals and a win for three of you!!
Summer Snoops and Cozy Crimes: 12 Mysteries for the Dog Days of Summer

[Shana Bae · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good deeds and good reads! What is better than reading fun mysteries while helping pet shelters? Sometimes a box set of quick read cozy mysteries is exactly what you need to relax... and what a bonus that proceeds will go to help shelter animals! Thank you to these authors for giving such a generous and fun gift.

[Valerie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ancient Treasure

This was a quick, great read. Lucy is wanted by the town to help build tourism. The old lighthouse is a point to consider. She is also babysitting her sister's cat. When the cat is catnapped, her cousin Stella and her are on the case.
I voluntarily agreed to review this book. My review is my own honest opinion.

[Bella · Rating 5 out of 5]

Review of Sam Cheever's Toxic Tech (part of this collection):
A really terrific book in this enjoyable series by talented author Sam Cheever. I love how fluid the writing is, how interesting the plot lines always are, and how diverse the characters are as well. This was a particularly enjoyable book, with some hilarious scenes involving mischievous puppies and some thrilling plot twists.