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Juniper Junction Holiday Mystery #3
Be My Valencrime
It’s Valentine’s Day in Juniper Junction and love is in the air. Or is that just a dark cloud?
Lilly’s shop assistant, Harry, is about to pop the question to his girlfriend, Alice Davenport. He’s got the ring, he’s planned a romantic dinner, and he’s even thought of a gracious escape if Alice says no.
The only thing missing is…Alice.
Lilly wants to do all she can to help find Alice, even if that means interfering with a police investigation. But as she begins to learn more about Harry’s sweet, unassuming girlfriend, she discovers that Alice is hiding a shocking secret that will complicate everything.
And when Lilly suffers a lapse in judgment, the consequences are swift and painful. Can she pull herself together enough to help her daughter through a tunnel of teenage angst, deal with her mother’s dementia-related wanderings, and still help Harry find his Happily Ever After?
Lilly’s shop assistant, Harry, is about to pop the question to his girlfriend, Alice Davenport. He’s got the ring, he’s planned a romantic dinner, and he’s even thought of a gracious escape if Alice says no.
The only thing missing is…Alice.
Lilly wants to do all she can to help find Alice, even if that means interfering with a police investigation. But as she begins to learn more about Harry’s sweet, unassuming girlfriend, she discovers that Alice is hiding a shocking secret that will complicate everything.
And when Lilly suffers a lapse in judgment, the consequences are swift and painful. Can she pull herself together enough to help her daughter through a tunnel of teenage angst, deal with her mother’s dementia-related wanderings, and still help Harry find his Happily Ever After?
- GenresCozy Mystery
318 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 4, 2020
54 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Amy M. Reade
20 books251 followersAmy M. Reade is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling mystery author who practiced law until she realized it was way more fun writing fiction.
She writes cozy and Gothic mysteries under the name Amy M. Reade and historical mysteries under the name A.M. Reade. She lives in New Jersey with her family and loves reading, cooking, traveling, playing with the dog, quilling, counted cross-stitch, chocolate, wine, and cheese, though not necessarily in that order.
If you're looking for her and she's not in her office, check the kitchen. If she's not there, she's definitely in the laundry room.
To find out when her next book is coming out and to grab some fun freebies, sign up for her mailing list at www.amymreade.com.
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She writes cozy and Gothic mysteries under the name Amy M. Reade and historical mysteries under the name A.M. Reade. She lives in New Jersey with her family and loves reading, cooking, traveling, playing with the dog, quilling, counted cross-stitch, chocolate, wine, and cheese, though not necessarily in that order.
If you're looking for her and she's not in her office, check the kitchen. If she's not there, she's definitely in the laundry room.
To find out when her next book is coming out and to grab some fun freebies, sign up for her mailing list at www.amymreade.com.
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/amy-m...
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amreadeauthor
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/readeandwrite
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/amreade
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amymreade
Thanks for visiting!
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Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 10, 2020
I highly recommend "Be My Valencrime" by Amy M. Reade, the third book in the Juniper Junction Holiday Mystery series.
The three major elements in a novel are plot, setting and character and the author did an excellent job in all three areas. But what I loved most about the book (as with the first two in the series) was the main character.
Lilly, the mother of two and the owner of her own business, will do whatever it takes to protect the people she loves. An intelligent, rational woman, she sometimes lets her emotions override her common sense when someone she cares about is in trouble, impulsively placing herself in dangerous, even life-threatening situations. Because I cared about what happened to her, I couldn't stop turning the pages.
The three major elements in a novel are plot, setting and character and the author did an excellent job in all three areas. But what I loved most about the book (as with the first two in the series) was the main character.
Lilly, the mother of two and the owner of her own business, will do whatever it takes to protect the people she loves. An intelligent, rational woman, she sometimes lets her emotions override her common sense when someone she cares about is in trouble, impulsively placing herself in dangerous, even life-threatening situations. Because I cared about what happened to her, I couldn't stop turning the pages.
February 26, 2020
Jewelry shop owner, Lilly Carlsen is set for a big sales day this Valentine's Day, as customers flock in to buy their perfect gift. Her shop assistant Harry has an engagement proposal on his mind--will his girlfriend Alice accept? Lilly has her own special gift planned for her love interest, Hassan--will they take their relationship to the next level this Valentine's?
Problems on the home front may interfere with the romantic plans as Lilly's mother, Bev, who suffers from dementia, and her daughter, Laurel, experience health and relationship setbacks. When Harry's girlfriend Alice is a no show to their planned Valentine's dinner, everything starts to unravel, and a missing persons investigation is initiated. Lilly is determined to help her friend Harry, but her police officer brother, Bill begs her not to get involved. A hidden lifestyle shocks those who know Alice, and may be the reason she disappeared. As the days pass, the hope for her survival dwindles.
Secrets and family drama muddy Lilly's investigative attempts, putting her close relationships at risk, and her life in danger. Unexpected twists and turns make this story a delightful who-dun-it read. I really enjoy Author Reade's engaging style and characters--and those recipes at the end were a treat. I now have another cozy mystery series to enjoy, a delightful read, highly recommended!
Problems on the home front may interfere with the romantic plans as Lilly's mother, Bev, who suffers from dementia, and her daughter, Laurel, experience health and relationship setbacks. When Harry's girlfriend Alice is a no show to their planned Valentine's dinner, everything starts to unravel, and a missing persons investigation is initiated. Lilly is determined to help her friend Harry, but her police officer brother, Bill begs her not to get involved. A hidden lifestyle shocks those who know Alice, and may be the reason she disappeared. As the days pass, the hope for her survival dwindles.
Secrets and family drama muddy Lilly's investigative attempts, putting her close relationships at risk, and her life in danger. Unexpected twists and turns make this story a delightful who-dun-it read. I really enjoy Author Reade's engaging style and characters--and those recipes at the end were a treat. I now have another cozy mystery series to enjoy, a delightful read, highly recommended!
July 7, 2024
Fantastic Story
I've really become quite fond of the characters in this series.
I find the characters to he genuine and the author does a good job of bringing reality into the story.
I'm glad to have found a new author that writes a great series.
I've really become quite fond of the characters in this series.
I find the characters to he genuine and the author does a good job of bringing reality into the story.
I'm glad to have found a new author that writes a great series.
March 29, 2020
I've read the first Juniper Junction and first J.J. Holiday books as well and enjoyed them very much. In Be My Valencrime, I was happy to get back to the village, Lilly, and the goings-on with the Carlsen family. I liked getting to know Harry a little more in this story as the crime comes ever closer to home. Developments and events surrounding other characters: Hassan, Lauren, Noley, Bill, and Bev, touch on issues we all have to deal with from time to time. Most readers will identify with Lilly in some way as she does her best with job, children, elderly parent, boyfriend. Lilly makes mistakes, she sometimes acts without thinking, she struggles with life's daily problems while still managing to nose in on the investigation and lend her observations to help solve the murder. I'm certain I'll enjoy my next visit to Juniper Junction as much as I have the past three!
February 16, 2020
A cozy mystery is supposed to be …. cozy, right? Yes, a murder or two might be in the story, but the main character is generally a 'real' person with real problems, small problems that get taken care of sweetly as the story progresses. What I like about an Amy Reade cozy mystery is that the author's writing is easy reading, the characters are all likable (except perhaps the characters who might be the murderer) and the setting is lovely. But Reade goes beyond these cozy attributes and gives real-life problems to her main character, Lilly, a single mom of teenagers as well as the daughter of an aging mom who is showing signs of dementia. Lilly is, essentially, part of the sandwich generation, taking care of her children and a parent, running a business (a jewelry store), sharing sibling worries with her brother, and working on a new relationship that makes love seem possible despite all of her life's challenges. I enjoyed this book (I've read all of Reader's cozies and recommend them each in the series, though it's not necessary to read one to "get into" another). And I like Lilly enormously as I follow her path in dealing with life's issues while solving a murder or two, and finding joy within it all.
March 29, 2020
“Be My Valencrime” by Amy M. Reade kept me entertained while staying home during the pandemic.
Lilly owns a jewelry store and has one employee, Harry. This mystery begins on Valentine’s Day when Harry is going to propose to the love of his life, Alice. The problem is that Alice has disappeared.
Lilly, who loves a challenge, is determined to find Alice, regardless of warnings from the police to stay out of the situation. Unfortunately, Alice has a secret that complicates matters and leads Lilly to places she’d rather avoid.
Ignoring the police warnings, she attempts to garner information from acquaintances of Alice’s and in the process puts her own life on the line. In the meantime she has to deal with her daughter and some teenage issues. Adding to everything else, her mother, who’s in the beginning stages of dementia, wanders off. Issues are coming at her from every direction.
In addition to a good mystery, I appreciate the way Ms. Reade deals with her mother’s mental issues and her daughter’s dilemma. I highly recommend this story to people who enjoy mystery and character-driven stories.
Lilly owns a jewelry store and has one employee, Harry. This mystery begins on Valentine’s Day when Harry is going to propose to the love of his life, Alice. The problem is that Alice has disappeared.
Lilly, who loves a challenge, is determined to find Alice, regardless of warnings from the police to stay out of the situation. Unfortunately, Alice has a secret that complicates matters and leads Lilly to places she’d rather avoid.
Ignoring the police warnings, she attempts to garner information from acquaintances of Alice’s and in the process puts her own life on the line. In the meantime she has to deal with her daughter and some teenage issues. Adding to everything else, her mother, who’s in the beginning stages of dementia, wanders off. Issues are coming at her from every direction.
In addition to a good mystery, I appreciate the way Ms. Reade deals with her mother’s mental issues and her daughter’s dilemma. I highly recommend this story to people who enjoy mystery and character-driven stories.
February 14, 2020
It’s Valentine’s Day in Juniper Junction, but the lovebirds don’t feel like singing.
Everything seems to be going wrong on this holiday meant for lovers: a break-up, a stand-up, a quarrel. And now the love of Harry’s life - the woman to whom he was about to propose - has gone missing.
Amy Reade has done again what she does so well. She has produced a comfortable and enjoyable casserole of a cozy consisting of one part mystery, one part humour, and one part romance, with some delicious recipes thrown in for good measure. And, of course, a happy ending. All carefully stirred and cooked to perfection.
Everything seems to be going wrong on this holiday meant for lovers: a break-up, a stand-up, a quarrel. And now the love of Harry’s life - the woman to whom he was about to propose - has gone missing.
Amy Reade has done again what she does so well. She has produced a comfortable and enjoyable casserole of a cozy consisting of one part mystery, one part humour, and one part romance, with some delicious recipes thrown in for good measure. And, of course, a happy ending. All carefully stirred and cooked to perfection.
March 11, 2020
I am enjoying this mystery series very much. In book number three, Lilly is stressed on several levels. Her shop assistant, Harry, is ready to propose to his girlfriend, Alice, on Valentine's Day. The drama with her mom's dementia continues, and Laurel is going through a rough patch of teenage angst. Can Lilly handle it all, especially when Alice turns up missing? With her best friend, Noley, and her brother, Bill, the policeman, she should be able to solve this latest mystery. That is, if her love interest, Hassan, doesn't bail out on her or run into danger in a foreign country.
January 24, 2021
Wonderful mystery
When Lilly decides to help Harry find Alice, she has no idea what she's getting herself into. The third book in the series had me guessing to the very end, and I loved it!
When Lilly decides to help Harry find Alice, she has no idea what she's getting herself into. The third book in the series had me guessing to the very end, and I loved it!
February 2, 2024
I thought this was going to be cute, but there were a LOT of things going on in here with family drama and excess family issues that took away from the mystery. I was disappointed with it.
December 11, 2024
In this cozy mystery novel, Harry is going to propose to Alice on Valentine’s Day, but Alice goes missing. Lilly can’t help but poke her nose into the police investigation. Recommended.
January 11, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews