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A Cats and Dogs Cozy Mystery #5
A Villa in Sicily: Orange Groves and Vengeance
A VILLA IN SICILY: ORANGE GROVES AND VENGEANCE is book #5 in a charming new cozy mystery series by bestselling author Fiona Grace, author of Murder in the Manor, a #1 Bestseller with over 100 five-star reviews!
Audrey Smart, 34, has made a major life change, walking away from her life as a vet (and from a string of failed romances) and moving to Sicily to buy a $1 home—and embark on a mandatory renovation she knows nothing about. She finds herself busy running the town’s new shelter, while also renovating her own problematic home—and dating again.
When Audrey gets a call to find an injured stray in an orange grove at an old estate, the last thing she expects to find is love. The estate owner is charming, handsome—and like no one she’s met before. Might he be a Mafiosi?
It seems like the surprises never end, until she finds one more thing on her way out of the grove: a dead body.
A laugh-out-loud cozy packed with mystery, intrigue, renovation, animals, food, wine—and of course, love—A VILLA IN SICILY will capture your heart and keep you glued to the very last page.
Audrey Smart, 34, has made a major life change, walking away from her life as a vet (and from a string of failed romances) and moving to Sicily to buy a $1 home—and embark on a mandatory renovation she knows nothing about. She finds herself busy running the town’s new shelter, while also renovating her own problematic home—and dating again.
When Audrey gets a call to find an injured stray in an orange grove at an old estate, the last thing she expects to find is love. The estate owner is charming, handsome—and like no one she’s met before. Might he be a Mafiosi?
It seems like the surprises never end, until she finds one more thing on her way out of the grove: a dead body.
A laugh-out-loud cozy packed with mystery, intrigue, renovation, animals, food, wine—and of course, love—A VILLA IN SICILY will capture your heart and keep you glued to the very last page.
179 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 29, 2021
160 people are currently reading
209 people want to read
About the author
Fiona Grace
516 books731 followersDebut author Fiona Grace is author of the LACEY DOYLE COZY MYSTERY series which includes MURDER IN THE MANOR (Book #1), DEATH AND A DOG (Book #2) and CRIME IN THE CAFE (Book #3). Fiona would love to hear from you, so please visit www.fionagraceauthor.com to receive free ebooks, hear the latest news, and stay in touch.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews
June 21, 2022
Continuation of a cozy series where veterinarian, Audrey Smart, has purchased a villa in a small Sicilian town for $1. She continues to make her home livable while serving the community and their pets. She is simultaneously searching for her father and trying to determine which of her two suitors to build a romantic relationship. Entering into this installment, a mafia murder, and a new handsome gentleman. After finding yet another body, can Audrey clear herself yet again, avoid a mob hit and save the day? Duh. Of course she can. Silly, mostly ridiculous and an easy listen.
June 12, 2024
I'm really enjoying this series. I love escaping into cozy mysteries, and these have all the necessary tropes. Dead bodies, loveable heroine, potential love interest, exotic foreign location. And they're well-written with no typos. That's so important to me!
November 25, 2021
Five volumes into this series, and Dr. Smart is running into mafia connections in her small town in Sicily. When a man is shot on the grounds where the heir to a mafia family is living, she is again under suspicion from the local police force so she decides to conduct her own investigation. As usual she puts herself at risk and finds herself torn between 3 different suitors. 3.5 stars
April 29, 2022
Audrey receives a mysterious phone call saying that there is an injured animal in the orange grove behind her house. She first meets the handsome new owner of the estate and is invited for lunch, then stumbles over another dead body as she heads home. Of course once more she is suspected of being the killer and the entire town suspects her again. Her patients all cancel.
It turns out that there is some truth to the rumours that the orange grove estate is owned by the mafia. Oddly enough, they all turn out to be pretty nice guys.
As always, Audrey once again suspects all the wrong people, and charges at murder suspects full on.
It turns out that there is some truth to the rumours that the orange grove estate is owned by the mafia. Oddly enough, they all turn out to be pretty nice guys.
As always, Audrey once again suspects all the wrong people, and charges at murder suspects full on.
December 13, 2022
This series is an easy read, cute, light stories. However, for the last two I listened to the audio version and it was awful. Just awful. You have an American vet who left Boston and the narrator has a British accent. There’s just one narrator, and when she tries to do the different characters, the voices are terrible. It would seem to me that a successful writer like Fiona Grace would have more editorial control over who does the narration. At minimum have two narrators, one male and one female, or choose one that has better skills at mimicking multiple voices. This narrator was distracting and disappointing.
October 11, 2024
A Villa in Sicily: Orange Groves and Vengeance (A Cats and Dogs Mystery #5) — Fiona Grace/Narrator: Katie Silverthorne -- Feb. 15, 2024
Audry goes to an orchard to help a stray and possibly finds true love. He’s everything she is looking for, but is she also Mafiosi? Then, after leaving the home, she discovers another dead body.
I am happy that the red fox is still a part of the story. And Audry has enough men in her life to choose from, too.
This series is starting to feel the same old, same old. I will read the following story and decide if I will continue with it. (But I bet the red fox will draw me right back in!)
Narrator review: Decent English-accented narrator.
Four stars.
Audry goes to an orchard to help a stray and possibly finds true love. He’s everything she is looking for, but is she also Mafiosi? Then, after leaving the home, she discovers another dead body.
I am happy that the red fox is still a part of the story. And Audry has enough men in her life to choose from, too.
This series is starting to feel the same old, same old. I will read the following story and decide if I will continue with it. (But I bet the red fox will draw me right back in!)
Narrator review: Decent English-accented narrator.
Four stars.
February 15, 2022
This entry fell flat for me. I'm getting tired of the "which man will I choose" device and then a third man is thrown into the mix to make it even more annoying. This is also not the first time Audrey has been lured by a phone call about an injured animal. Sigh.
To add to the issues, the new narrator is astonishingly bad with American accents. These things don't normally bother me too much but it sure did here, especially Mason. Sigh.
The Sicilian setting is still charming and the characters mostly enjoyable, just stop relying on the same old, same old quite so much.
To add to the issues, the new narrator is astonishingly bad with American accents. These things don't normally bother me too much but it sure did here, especially Mason. Sigh.
The Sicilian setting is still charming and the characters mostly enjoyable, just stop relying on the same old, same old quite so much.
June 29, 2021
There's another murder and guess what!!! Audrey found the body!!! SURPRISE!! LOL! This time Cosa Nostra is rumored to be involved. And on top of all of that, Audrey has to choose between Mason and G! What is a girl supposed to do? This was a rollicking good read. Lots of intrigue and plenty of angst. Love that we are seeing more of the town and meeting more of the people.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
November 28, 2021
5th book in this series. While cozy mysteries are not my typical preference, these aren't so cozy they are sappy. Enjoyable, especially this time of year and short/sweet listening while you complete holiday preparations. Aside from the problem that all the eligible hunky men in this small town are utterly in love with the main character who never had any romance in her life in Boston.....oh well!
June 30, 2021
The fifth book in the A Cats and Dogs Cozy Mystery series a well written story with a good storyline that kept me turning pages. This book had me laughing as I read, Audrey is doing it again, another murder to solve. Well worth reading. I received a copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
July 11, 2021
Living in a paradise can have its drawbacks.
Falling for a house for one dollar sale, well too good to be true, but falling over bodies and having to find the real murderers to clear your name while deciding which man to date, where to eat, and how to keep your business running is fascinating.
Falling for a house for one dollar sale, well too good to be true, but falling over bodies and having to find the real murderers to clear your name while deciding which man to date, where to eat, and how to keep your business running is fascinating.
June 10, 2022
I find this series enjoyable. I think I like her pet fox Nik the most though. They are becoming repetitive and I find Audrey a bit naive and one who doesn't learn her lesson. This would not happen to anyone in real life but I understand wanting to keep your audience captivated.
Its just getting old and fizzling out....it just went on too long.
Its just getting old and fizzling out....it just went on too long.
January 2, 2023
A Villa in Sicily: Orange Groves & Vengeance (5)
Really really great reading. I started reading with a little bit of remorse because I get tired of reading the same basic story when reading a series. This book within the series has been the very best! I loved it from beginning to end!
Really really great reading. I started reading with a little bit of remorse because I get tired of reading the same basic story when reading a series. This book within the series has been the very best! I loved it from beginning to end!
March 9, 2023
Farfetched
I am disappointed that each book has the same plot. A murder that the main character stumbles over again and again is really not believable. The stupid chances she takes are ridiculous coming from someone smart enough to become a veterinarian. What could become a great romance theme is not developing either. Sorry I bought entire series.
I am disappointed that each book has the same plot. A murder that the main character stumbles over again and again is really not believable. The stupid chances she takes are ridiculous coming from someone smart enough to become a veterinarian. What could become a great romance theme is not developing either. Sorry I bought entire series.
September 30, 2023
The neighboring estate of Tivoli is home to a large orange grove owned by a handsome bachelor who might be part of a mafia family. Audrey gets an anonymous phone call about a wounded animal in the orchard. When she arrives she finds not a wounded animal but a a dead body. Once again Audrey becomes a prime suspect in murder and she takes on the task of proving her innocence.
August 10, 2021
Audrey Does it Again
Just when I think Audrey couldn’t be so dumb as to get involved in another murder, she does it again, and I have to see how it comes out! Another fast paced and fun read through the streets of small town Italy.
Just when I think Audrey couldn’t be so dumb as to get involved in another murder, she does it again, and I have to see how it comes out! Another fast paced and fun read through the streets of small town Italy.
August 31, 2021
The mob has come to town! And a murder takes place at the old orange grove at the edge of town. Just when you thought you had it figured out- and of course audrey is accused of murder! She solves it and things get safe again!
February 4, 2022
This series is really enjoyable to read. The characters are realistic and believable, yet each story goes off in a totally new direction.
This book was a great read, with the body being discovered quite early with no character build up needed prior!
This book was a great read, with the body being discovered quite early with no character build up needed prior!
Read
August 9, 2022AWFUL! The 5th Book in the series where does vet find the body, the police suspect she was the murderer, and she takes it upon herself to solve the mystery because“, we can’t trust the police to figure it out themselves“. Even the writing is awful! Nothing positive to say.
January 1, 2024
Good Clean Read
I have been enjoying, this cozy mystery series, very much. Once you start reading, it is very difficult to put the book down. The story is very fast paced, with many twists and turns.
I have been enjoying, this cozy mystery series, very much. Once you start reading, it is very difficult to put the book down. The story is very fast paced, with many twists and turns.
June 4, 2024
An anonymous call brings Audrey to a mysterious orange grove and a murder scene. This time her small Sicilian village confronts the mafia. Sit back and enjoy the veterinarian's sleuthing under the sunny canopy in Sicily.
September 9, 2021
Fox, Romance & Mafioso
Page turner all the way. So many men💌, one dead body and the fun begins. Wonderful ending! I Loved it!!
Page turner all the way. So many men💌, one dead body and the fun begins. Wonderful ending! I Loved it!!
October 10, 2021
I'm enjoying this series. Being Sicilian, I totally enjoy taking the tour of Mussomeli. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series. Great job!
December 13, 2021
This was an interesting spin for this series
Unlike the books before this one was less predictable and a little more fun to read although I love all of the characters anyhow!!
Unlike the books before this one was less predictable and a little more fun to read although I love all of the characters anyhow!!
April 25, 2022
Very suspenseful
The story is very suspenseful, you never knew what would happen next. I was reading and didn't want to put it Down until the story was finished.
The story is very suspenseful, you never knew what would happen next. I was reading and didn't want to put it Down until the story was finished.
April 28, 2022
Terrible new narrator
June 10, 2022
super
Yet another fantastic book was quite fast paced and had a few twists and turns can’t wait for the next one which is the last in this series of books 😥
Yet another fantastic book was quite fast paced and had a few twists and turns can’t wait for the next one which is the last in this series of books 😥
June 13, 2022
3.5 🌟 This one is definitely better than the last two. Finally a plot that kinda makes sense on why there are so many murders!
August 25, 2022
A charming read, foolhardy but fun for the imagination as I pictured Audrey lost in orange Grove, getting tangled with the mafia, casing poachers in sketchy markets.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 42 reviews