They're opening no matter what. A dead body won't stop them.
Determined to open Read Wine on schedule, Trixie Pristine won't let anything stop her and friends, Sally and Cora from opening their dream business in small town Romero. A bookstore with wine, coffee, and pastries is every woman's dream, and these three ladies refuse to relinquish their dreams.
Just as they're on the brink of opening Read Wine, there's a wrench thrown into the plan. How can they open for business when a dead body is on the floor? Not only does it ruin the ambiance, but it also wasn't in their business plan. As suspicions rise, their friendship gets tested. Everyone knows that you must keep your friends close and your enemies closer. But, this particular dead body belongs to Sally's most despised enemy.
Can the girls band together to uncover the secret to the murder without destroying their business before the Grand Opening?
***Previously published under author name Laina Turner
As a child, Laina thought she would either be a truck driver (thanks to Jerry Reed in Smokey and the Bandit) or work at Taco Bell (her favorite restaurant as a child). As she grew older, she realized her talents lay in other areas, and for the last several years has been a college professor teaching business and English.
Through all her career choices, she has continued to have a passion for writing stemming from childhood, where, as an only child, she developed a vivid imagination.
She is proud of her vast experiences in life from barrel racing, to being on the dance team for a semi-pro basketball team, to being a mom of 2 amazing kids.
She decided to follow her dream as an author in 2009 and has worked her way up to having 5 fans (maybe 6 now). She often tells her family and friends that no one is safe from his or her ventures slipping into her books. Her blog, In Pursuit of Fabulous, was launched to share the daily fun in her life as a Real Midlife Housewife of the Midwest.
To find out more information about Laina and her books, check out her website at http://www.lainaturner.com/
I would strongly advise reading Friends and Foes first. This book starts right where book 1 left off and I think you’d have a hard time understanding everything if you didn’t read that first.
This was a pleasant read! Suspenseful, I-want-to-read-more-y. I really liked it!
There are two cases, really. One is solved, the other still wide open. So you might want to read book 3 immediately after this one!
Now that Read Wine is up and running, Trixie is eager for her new life as a bookstore co-owner alongside Sally and Cora. That all changes when, on opening day, the three new shopkeepers are confronted with a body in their new place of business. If only it wasn't the new love interest of Sally's ex-husband.
I like this series so far but the main characters seem determined to get themselves thrown in jail. I could almost (almost) countenance it if they had opened a PI firm, but no, these are regular members of the community who run a shop. And, clearly, they know so much more about running investigations than the police, er, no. Suspension of disbelief gets me through these stories. Then again, they are told in quite a compelling manner. Really, I can't wait to see what they get up to next.
While the main plot of this story is settled, there is a long story arc that hasn't been resolved at the end of this book. I'm not bothered because I plan to read on in the series. Someone reading Snowglobes and Secrets as a stand-alone would be vexed, however.
NOTE: This review is for the updated version, Snowglobes and Secrets. In the newer version, Berklie is Sally.
Snowglobes & Secrets
The book starts off with a bang with a 911 call to report a dead body. Read Wine has not even opened yet, but the owners found a dead body who is well-known to them. It is the woman whom Sally's husband left her for. This, of course, makes Sally suspect number one in the women's murder. Her friends and fellow co-owners, Trixie and Cora, do not believe but she would be capable of it and seek clues that will track down the real killer. Trixie is still being stalked by the killer who wants the money.
Who killed the woman? Will the killer get what he wants? What lengths will the women go to on both counts?
I am of several minds about this book. I’ve read a lot of this author’s books lately, and I can see an improvement in her writing style around the depth of characterization and more solid narrative prose. That being said, she really needs to hire a good editor or proofreader--or replace the one she has--as this book is really flawed in terms of grammar, punctuation, and usage. I also thought that she had Trixie do something that was stupid and dangerous, and something that I am not sure fits with the character that we've seen in the prequel and previously in this book. In general, too, I'm not a fan of serialized books unless that stated clearly. That is not the case in this series. Supposedly this series is a prequel, book 1, and book 2, but really they’re more like episodes in a longer work. I prefer to know these kinds of things at the beginning.
I received a free copy of this book, but that did not affect my review.
I would strongly advise reading the prequel Friends and Foes first. This book starts right where the prequel left off and I think you’d have a hard time understanding everything if you didn’t read that first.
This was a pleasant read! Suspenseful, I-want-to-read-more-y. I really liked it… but there were some negatives that lowered the score to ‘just’ like. The mystery at hand was solved. But there was something else, and that was left open.
*** MINOR SPOILER ALERT ***
I didn’t really like the end all that much. That has two reasons. 1. I’m not big on reading about organized crime, drug gangs and their threats; too dark and too elusive. 2. There are two cases, really. One is solved, the other still wide open. For a teaser it was too long. This felt more like a cliffhanger and personally, I don’t like cliffhangers in a mystery. Now I have to remember all this for when I get the chance to read the next book. It reads as a serial, not a series and I prefer series. I do want to read the next episode. Like I said, I did like it!
A good plot but just a shame it leaves it on a cliffhanger. Not my kind of ending for a cozy mystery. A decent plot but really had a few too many schemes running through it whilst the characters just seemed a bit flaky - which didn't come through in the last book. The store is close to opening - well it was until they found a dead body in the store. Now her BFF is under suspicion as the dead woman was her ex-husband's new lover. Well actually one of them. Add in snow globes, a mob connection, new identities and a backpack full of money. Will the three women get the store open? Will they find the killer? Will the mob threat now cease?
This is one of those stories where the title is perfect for the storyline !! I would strongly suggest that you read the prequel first. Its not a good sign to find a dead body in the business you and your friends are opening in 2 days..especially when its the body of your ex hubbys girlfriend. I really enjoyed this book mainly because the main character, Trixie is not a whimp like in some other stories. She is a strong woman who thinks fast on her feet in difficult situations. This is one of those mysteries with good suspects that will surprse you with their secrets! Very well written and a smooth fast read. Highly recommend this to everyone tbat likes a great mystery.
This was a good book - entertaining with a mystery that was not easy to figure out. The three characters are interesting and fun A light, easy read.
Amazon synopsis: Trixie, Sally, and Cora are determined to open Read Wine on schedule. After all, this is their dream–opening a bookstore in their small town.
But you can’t open for business when there’s a dead body on the floor. Not only does it ruin the ambiance, but it definitely didn’t appear anywhere in their business plan.
Can the women band together to uncover the secret to the murder without destroying their business before the grand opening?
I read this under the book name, Snow Globes and Secrets. The names of Trixie’s friends were different in this book, but it’s the same one I need to review.
I’m really enjoying this series. I like that it’s more than just the murder to figure out. There are secrets everywhere! I would have given a 5 (the story is good) but the messing up of a name and grammatical and spelling errors were pretty messed up.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
The trio of friends, Trixie, Cora and Sally, are finally opening their new bookstore/coffee&wine bar. Unfortunately, the body of Sally’s ex-husband’s mistress is found close to opening. The opening is delayed for a few days but business seems good once they do open. Trixie tries to investigate the murder as additional problems surface.
I enjoy the characters in this series. I love the concept of a bookstore/wine bar. My one gripe is having the books end on cliffhangers.
I'm about halfway through this book, which I am reading mostly because I am waiting for a book to get to the library for pick-up so I googled "cozy mysteries" and found this series. It sounded kind of cute and fun (and the price was right). Now, this series (so far) isn't awful, but at this point part of what is keeping me reading is just to see what Sally will say or do next! The main character is pretty calm and level-headed, but Sally? Sally is a mess.
In the previous book, we learn that Sally is mad because her soon-to-be-ex-husband cheated on her, which is understandable. But what does she do? She finds out that he is cheating on his new woman and then extorts money and other things from him, which is how these ladies have a space for a bookstore to begin with.
The plot of this book is finding out who murdered Sally's ex-husband's (Tom? Honestly all the men and women have such basic names I can't keep the men straight) woman (the one he cheated on Sally with). At one point, Sally is questioned about the murder. Due to her behavior in the first book, this makes total sense. Somehow Tom's receptionist, Vicki with an i, ends up being questioned and blames Sally, which starts some childish rivalry between these two. Sally's ex is revealed to be even more of a scumbag as he was hiding money from her so she wouldn't get it in the divorce.
Just some of the dumb/ridiculous things Sally does:
The police are investigating the crime scene and Sally decides to GO TO TOM'S HOUSE to tell him that his woman is dead. How she doesn't get in trouble for this is beyond me.
Sally takes a lawyer out for drinks and crosses her fingers behind her back when said lawyer asks her not to say anything if he tells her a secret. Sally is a grown a$$ woman, but she crosses her fingers behind her back while she promises not to say anything!
Sally then proceeds to threaten her ex with this information and tell her best friends all about it.
When telling her friends about it, she makes a comment about killing her ex. Ma'am, be careful what you say because you were already questioned by the police about a murder!
Sally is also constantly causing a scene in the bookstore, when the ladies go out in public - basically all the time.
I don't know that the author intended for the audience to dislike Sally, but I do and this is what is keeping me reading at this point. What will she do next or what will someone do to her or her property next? Don't get me wrong! Sally's ex is a real piece of work, but Sally is slightly unhinged herself.
Technically the first book in the series, it begins where the prequel left off. As the ladies are trying to move forward with their business, they find that everyone has secrets. This book is filled with sisterly love and complicated personal relationships. This trio will do anything to protect one another. I'm sure that the next book in the series will be just as good.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Sally’s ex’s mistress is killed in the bookstore. All of the significant men in Sally’s, Trixie’s, and Cora’s lives are keeping secrets. The women are involved in trying to solve Sylvia’s murder, however, there are many clues that are difficult to connect.
My quibble with the prequel—that the author left us with a cliffhanger—is true as well in this book. I didn’t consider this book finished. I won’t be continuing with this series.
Obviously there was an update of this book because the covers are different and the characters names are also different. Trixie, Sally & Cora co-own a bookstore, coffee shop, & wine bar. Sally’s almost ex-husband’s girlfriend Is found dead in their shop but why was she there in the first place? There are a few secrets and some twists that kept me engaged. The cozy mystery is solved but the book ends with a cliffhanger to entice you to read the next book and it works!
Trixie, Sally and Cora are working hard to open their new wine cum bookstore on time but the dead body of Sylvia on the premises might put a spanner in the works. The fact that the murdered lady is the mistress of Cora's ex-husband, doesn't make it easier.
But what secrets did Sylvia run away from and why was she so obsessed in making beautiful snowglobes?
Many things are shrouded in mystery and only revealed at the end.
This was a good book. Boy, there were a lot of twists and turns. Sally got on my nerves in the beginning, poor Sylvia couldn’t catch a break and Trixie was good until the last chapter. I just shook my head at her. Also, she has a ton of trust issues. Jack needs to watch out.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A Little Better Than The Last One This is the second episode in a new series. This installment answers the cliff hanger from Book 1, But, it has its own cliffhanger ending. The story isn't too bad. There are a couple of sub-plots going on and not all of them get solved by the end. I received this ARC book for free from Booksprouts and this is my honest review.
I like cozy mysteries as they are often a quick and satisfying. I do not like coming to the of a book to find the story leaves you hanging. Part of the mystery was solved but left you with more questions unanswered. Some “mystery” parts were very obvious where the story was going.
A high octane cozey murder mystery with vivid caracters dastardly deads and highjinks. Trixie, Cora and Sally three long time friends decide to open a book shop that serves coffee, baked goodies and wine.What could possibly go wrong?Aquier a copy of " Snow Globes and Secrets" and find out what happens for yourself. 🤔😮 Kat
Really enjoyed this ebook. I have read others and was familiar with the very likable characters. This one took a couple of unexpected twists, but I love it when I can’t figure out the mystery until the end!
This is a really good start to what I hope is a long series. I dont do spoilers...sorry but the characters are strong and the background is very descriptive. I highly recommend this series.
I read the prequel to the series, wasn't very happy with it but it ended in a cliffhager so I figured I would read the next book. What a mistake. The first book was filled with editing errors and this one actually had words crossed out. The story was rediculous. A murder in a small town. Trixie owns a bookstore coffee shop with 2 friends. At the end of the prequel they enter their shop to find a dead body on the floor. In this story, Trixie decides to try to solve the murder. Sylvia who was killed and her brother changed their identities to hide from a drug family wanting to kill them. Trixie finds a backpack with 50000 dollars in it and gives it to the police. So then Linda, a lady who knew Sylvia breaks into Trixie's house holds a gun on her and explains that Sylvia stole customers from her and she said Trixie had the list. Linda was going to kill Trixie if she didn't give her the list (Linda also killed Sylvia, what all this for a customer list? Anyway while Linda is holding the gun on Trixie, Trudy from next door comes in (shes elderly) distracts Linda so Trixie can get the gun. Later that night Trixie gets a call from a man wanting his money back. He threatens to hurt one of her friends if he doesn't have the money by tomorrow night. So what does Trixie do? What any normal person would do, she steals the money from the evidence room of the police department. Have you heard enough to keep you from wasting your time? I hope so, no one should lose the time on this book.
Early in this book Trixie, Berklie, and Sophie find a dead woman in their shop prior to it's opening. With their shop the scene of a crime the girls are determined to figure out what happened. Especially when it looks like Berklie is on the line for the murder due to a relationship with the murdered victim when her cheating husband had an affair with the victim.
It doesn't take long for their shop to reopen but the big question being who killed Sylvia? Slowly they begin to peice Sylvia's life together.
This book was a great journey that we get to see Trixies, Berklie, and Sohpie and what they are up to and how they handle this latest mystery. It's great connecting with a series that isn't laden with sex or heavy gore that seems to be with lots of books lately. Can't wait to see what is next with this series!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.