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A Jane Ladling Mystery #1
Romancing the Gravestone
She suspects everyone of everything. Sometimes she gets it right.
Jane Ladling is the sole proprietor of her family's landlocked cemetery, Garden of Memories. She's responsible for the, er, guests, but there's a slight problem. Well, besides her moody cat, Rolex, and her sixty-two-year-old best friend's unrequited crush on the sheriff. An extra body now rests in Plot #39.
Enter Special Agent Conrad Ryan. He's gruff, he's gorgeous, and oh, yes, he kind of suspects her of murder. What's an innocent—and very single, not that it matters—girl to do? Solve the crime herself. Even if she must turn the small town of Aurelian Hills, Georgia upside down.
The only line she won't cross? Falling for the first man to make her heart flutter. Nope, not happening. Not even a little.
Jane Ladling is the sole proprietor of her family's landlocked cemetery, Garden of Memories. She's responsible for the, er, guests, but there's a slight problem. Well, besides her moody cat, Rolex, and her sixty-two-year-old best friend's unrequited crush on the sheriff. An extra body now rests in Plot #39.
Enter Special Agent Conrad Ryan. He's gruff, he's gorgeous, and oh, yes, he kind of suspects her of murder. What's an innocent—and very single, not that it matters—girl to do? Solve the crime herself. Even if she must turn the small town of Aurelian Hills, Georgia upside down.
The only line she won't cross? Falling for the first man to make her heart flutter. Nope, not happening. Not even a little.
195 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 25, 2021
156 people are currently reading
2866 people want to read
About the author
Gena Showalter
263 books27.8k followersGena Showalter is the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of over seventy books, including the acclaimed Lords of the Underworld series, the Gods of War series, the White Rabbit Chronicles, and the Forest of Good and Evil series. She writes sizzling paranormal romance, heartwarming contemporary romance, and unputdownable young adult novels, and lives in Oklahoma City with her family and menagerie of dogs and cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 318 reviews
November 8, 2022
This was such ban easy and quick read but I absolutely loved the overall mystery of this book. I loved the mc and the romance that made me blush a little. I also really liked the focus on friendship in here and the cat aka rolex was funny.
October 2, 2021
2 Stars
Unbelievably boring. Hardly any romance. Lacking development. Pass on the rest of the books.
Safety: safe
No deets really on their pasts
No ow/om drama
Unbelievably boring. Hardly any romance. Lacking development. Pass on the rest of the books.
Safety: safe
No deets really on their pasts
No ow/om drama
October 31, 2025
This is an entertaining, well-written cozy mystery. It has a likable female protagonist, engaging secondary characters, a great cat, wit, humor, a slow burn romance, murder, and a satisfying conclusion. I especially enjoyed the quirky chapter headings. Ms. Kelli Tager does an outstanding job narrating the audiobook.
January 9, 2023
I'm going to be frank and say that the authors made Beau way too appealing to me to not be the final choice. I would run out in traffic for this man. I would wake up at 7am on the dot every single morning to make this man's toast. If he asked me to crawl - okay, now we're just getting kinky so I'll stop that train of thought.
Beau had my attention since the first page when he came lumbering in. He's the quiet, golden retriever type and I fucking ate that shit up. Forgot Connor. He was good up until you put this perfect specimen of a man in Jane's cemetery installing security equipment FOR FREE (do you guys know how much that glass break equipment costs? It's not fucking cheap. Beau was giving that shit up for free! He's just over here showering her in cash and you expect me to ignore that?! Am I BLIND?!?!)
This book is all second lead syndrome to me. I had it so bad that every time Jane mentioned Connor I started fuming. For the love of God, LOOK AT MY BOY BEAU!!! HE'S ADROABLE!
This is honestly just me though. Jane and Conrad were cute. BUT JUSTICE FOR MY BOY!!!
Beau had my attention since the first page when he came lumbering in. He's the quiet, golden retriever type and I fucking ate that shit up. Forgot Connor. He was good up until you put this perfect specimen of a man in Jane's cemetery installing security equipment FOR FREE (do you guys know how much that glass break equipment costs? It's not fucking cheap. Beau was giving that shit up for free! He's just over here showering her in cash and you expect me to ignore that?! Am I BLIND?!?!)
This book is all second lead syndrome to me. I had it so bad that every time Jane mentioned Connor I started fuming. For the love of God, LOOK AT MY BOY BEAU!!! HE'S ADROABLE!
This is honestly just me though. Jane and Conrad were cute. BUT JUSTICE FOR MY BOY!!!
October 9, 2021
I struggled to finish this, it was terrible! I usually love Gena Showalter books, but this missed the mark big time!
The main character was the most immature person I’ve ever had to read about- she legit acted like she was 12 and not 26…The plot was rushed and sorely lacking in any actual mystery. The dialogue was so so bad and I cringed through most of the conversations and Jane’s internal thoughts…Overall this was not a good read and I’m definitely not going to read the next one.
The main character was the most immature person I’ve ever had to read about- she legit acted like she was 12 and not 26…The plot was rushed and sorely lacking in any actual mystery. The dialogue was so so bad and I cringed through most of the conversations and Jane’s internal thoughts…Overall this was not a good read and I’m definitely not going to read the next one.
March 4, 2022
Mystery novels are not something I have ever read before. As an avid reader of Gena Showalter, I decided to give this novel a try. In this book, we are introduced to Jane Ladling, your not so typical graveyard caretaker who finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation.
Jane’s character is a little bit socially awkward which brings a realistic feel to her development. Pair that with Jane’s over abundance of confidence in her nonexistent detective skills, and you get a fun filled ride from start to finish. Readers get to hear Jane’s inner monologue and, if you’re like me, cringe slightly to yourself as you watch her say things that make you experience second hand embarrassment.
This book is a fun, light hearted mystery that has all the “who done its” without the over analyzed crime scenes and suspects. We get to enjoy the character development of Jane and get to know her maybe but not really but ok maybe love interest Conrad.
This book has sparked my interest in mysteries and I can’t wait for the next one.
Jane’s character is a little bit socially awkward which brings a realistic feel to her development. Pair that with Jane’s over abundance of confidence in her nonexistent detective skills, and you get a fun filled ride from start to finish. Readers get to hear Jane’s inner monologue and, if you’re like me, cringe slightly to yourself as you watch her say things that make you experience second hand embarrassment.
This book is a fun, light hearted mystery that has all the “who done its” without the over analyzed crime scenes and suspects. We get to enjoy the character development of Jane and get to know her maybe but not really but ok maybe love interest Conrad.
This book has sparked my interest in mysteries and I can’t wait for the next one.
January 27, 2022
This book this genre the writing - all of it was just not for me. Cute cover though!
November 11, 2025
Entretenido cozy mystery que nos traslada a un tranquilo cementerio familiar donde se comete un asesinato.
Jane es la propietaria y única cuidadora del cementerio, también es quien encuentra el cadáver, así que será sospechosa.
Conrad es el agente especial encargado del caso y parece tener un interés especial en esta sospechosa.
Beau es un antiguo amigo que ha vuelto al pueblo y va a encargarse de poner seguridad en el cementerio. Porque no hay ninguna y eso, no puede seguir así. Porque él es como un mejor amigo de Jane y hará lo necesario para protegerla.
A mi la dinámica entre los tres me resulta confusa. No sé hacia dónde va porque en todo el libro no se resuelve nada.
Pero la lectura es entretenida y se lee rápido. No está mal.
Jane es la propietaria y única cuidadora del cementerio, también es quien encuentra el cadáver, así que será sospechosa.
Conrad es el agente especial encargado del caso y parece tener un interés especial en esta sospechosa.
Beau es un antiguo amigo que ha vuelto al pueblo y va a encargarse de poner seguridad en el cementerio. Porque no hay ninguna y eso, no puede seguir así. Porque él es como un mejor amigo de Jane y hará lo necesario para protegerla.
A mi la dinámica entre los tres me resulta confusa. No sé hacia dónde va porque en todo el libro no se resuelve nada.
Pero la lectura es entretenida y se lee rápido. No está mal.
October 8, 2022
I want to use this review to talk about a big problem we have with books. This is a very big problem and I find it in mostly ALL the books, and so do you. It became such a big problem that even when it is not in the author's plan to use it in the book you are still expecting it and you are afraid to read it and cringe about it, BECAUSE IT IS A BAD PLOT/TROPE/THING TO USE. If any author uses this trope, I immediately see that book as worse than it actually is.
That being said, we need to talk about HEALTHY PLATONIC RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN. If I ask any person to give an example of a healthy platonic relationship from a book, any book, it would be so hard to come up with one, BUT IF YOU ASK ABOUT AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP that the author wants to sell as a love story, we have 10000 books to pick from. How did the world get so fucked up?
When Beau was first introduced to the story and he started to seem as most than a side-forgotten character I WAS SHITTING MYSELF. I was really afraid this book will go that road and annoy and piss the fuck out of me and make me not enjoy this book at all. BUT IT DID NOT.
The road I was expecting it to go was a fucking lame love triangle in which the male that was 100% not the one the main character is going to end up with loving the F character and really, the bad drama that has nothing to do in SO MANY BOOKS. This trope has been such a used one that I expect it to appear everywhere and ruin everything, but it did not. I was so surprised and happy! The fact that this trope didn't let me enjoy this book from the beginning is horrible.
I want platonic friends between F & M to be normal. I want platonic friendships between EVERY GENRE TO BECOME A THING IN BOOKS. I want romance books to also have characters that are truly friends and have friendships, not only romantic BF/GF or romantic prospects from all the other people in those books.
BRING BACK THE PLATONIC FRIENDSHIPS. NOT EVERYONE HAS TO FUCK AND WANTS TO FUCK EACH OTHER IN BOOKS.
At this point this book could have been shit I wouldn't care, this is a 5-star for the friendships. The romance is so slow AND FUCKING LOVELY. None is fucking toxic as every fucking romance there is in this world at this point.
The crime plot is funny and interesting and the characters tight-knit makes everything better. I FUCKING LOVE THIS.
That being said, we need to talk about HEALTHY PLATONIC RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN A MAN AND A WOMAN. If I ask any person to give an example of a healthy platonic relationship from a book, any book, it would be so hard to come up with one, BUT IF YOU ASK ABOUT AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP that the author wants to sell as a love story, we have 10000 books to pick from. How did the world get so fucked up?
When Beau was first introduced to the story and he started to seem as most than a side-forgotten character I WAS SHITTING MYSELF. I was really afraid this book will go that road and annoy and piss the fuck out of me and make me not enjoy this book at all. BUT IT DID NOT.
The road I was expecting it to go was a fucking lame love triangle in which the male that was 100% not the one the main character is going to end up with loving the F character and really, the bad drama that has nothing to do in SO MANY BOOKS. This trope has been such a used one that I expect it to appear everywhere and ruin everything, but it did not. I was so surprised and happy! The fact that this trope didn't let me enjoy this book from the beginning is horrible.
I want platonic friends between F & M to be normal. I want platonic friendships between EVERY GENRE TO BECOME A THING IN BOOKS. I want romance books to also have characters that are truly friends and have friendships, not only romantic BF/GF or romantic prospects from all the other people in those books.
BRING BACK THE PLATONIC FRIENDSHIPS. NOT EVERYONE HAS TO FUCK AND WANTS TO FUCK EACH OTHER IN BOOKS.
At this point this book could have been shit I wouldn't care, this is a 5-star for the friendships. The romance is so slow AND FUCKING LOVELY. None is fucking toxic as every fucking romance there is in this world at this point.
The crime plot is funny and interesting and the characters tight-knit makes everything better. I FUCKING LOVE THIS.
December 26, 2023
I was pulled in by the cute cover but unfortunately I didn't get hooked :(
did-not-finish
July 18, 2025DNF at 11%.
The humor isn't doing it for me. This book is trying VERY hard to be funny and it's not.
The humor isn't doing it for me. This book is trying VERY hard to be funny and it's not.
November 3, 2021
I have to admit, I placed an extra order with Amazon.de because I forgot to order this book. It's a pity that the Amazon paperbacks are not all available on the Dutch Amazon, but at least it's a good excuse to get more books. And I really really really wanted to read this one! I love Gena Showalter, although I have a lot of catching up to do, and I love the more cozy and romantic mysteries, so I was very excited about this book.
And rightly so! This book was exactly what I had hoped it would be. It was a quick and easy read that helped me forget the time. The mystery in the book wasn't too heavy, although there was an epic and quite spectacular finale eventually. It was the fun kind of mystery, the kind where the girl doing the detectiving isn't too good at it and for sure not organized enough to get it done, which always gives me the feeling that it could go like this if I'd give it a try.
However, it takes the right kind of character to make a not so serious and slightly chaotic search like this work. And our leading lady for sure was that right kind of character. She was light hearted, funny, she was blabbering quite a lot and she had a mind going a thousand miles a minute, but mostly going nowhere. I loved how she just followed her gut, how she was emotional and how she was even slightly naive. She made this story entertaining and special.
Well, she and her two guys. I have no clue what kind of ending these authors have in mind for this series eventually. I can see this end in a menage (or maybe even a reverse harem if more guys are added) and I secretly might hope a little it does. Mostly because both guys are amazing, even though they're quite different. They're for sure both a perfect match for our heroine, having certain personality traits to balance hers out.
I already can't wait for the next book!
And rightly so! This book was exactly what I had hoped it would be. It was a quick and easy read that helped me forget the time. The mystery in the book wasn't too heavy, although there was an epic and quite spectacular finale eventually. It was the fun kind of mystery, the kind where the girl doing the detectiving isn't too good at it and for sure not organized enough to get it done, which always gives me the feeling that it could go like this if I'd give it a try.
However, it takes the right kind of character to make a not so serious and slightly chaotic search like this work. And our leading lady for sure was that right kind of character. She was light hearted, funny, she was blabbering quite a lot and she had a mind going a thousand miles a minute, but mostly going nowhere. I loved how she just followed her gut, how she was emotional and how she was even slightly naive. She made this story entertaining and special.
Well, she and her two guys. I have no clue what kind of ending these authors have in mind for this series eventually. I can see this end in a menage (or maybe even a reverse harem if more guys are added) and I secretly might hope a little it does. Mostly because both guys are amazing, even though they're quite different. They're for sure both a perfect match for our heroine, having certain personality traits to balance hers out.
I already can't wait for the next book!
September 23, 2021
Absolutely loved this. It was my first mystery book and it was amazing. Getting to see Jane’s quirky but confident side was so fun and witnessing her character development as well as her protectiveness of Rolex and the cemetery gave the book a relatable feel. The sprinkle of romance just kept me on the edge of my seat almost as much as wanting to know who did the crime! Gena and Jill crushed this book and I cannot wait for the next one!
November 6, 2021
Let's just say it was the lowest pitch at a mystery novel series to date.
Enter our heroine, Jane Ladling, aka Cemetery Girl, finding a dead body in her, you guessed it, cemetery, then enter our hero, Special Agent Ryan, Conrad, a beef cake (the only thing he's good at in this book), being tasked with the mission to solve his case - except not once ever seen solving it. Not ONCE. And he's supposed to be a Special Agent. Right.
Jane Ladling has the personality of a six-year-old and she wonders why nobody notices her quirky-hat-lovin'-dumbass in her small town in Georgia. We get it. You like hats. Move on already. She's seen running around trying to solve the case in the most unexciting ways, I could've fallen asleep a thousand times. Except I did. The only reason why I urged on is because maybe I thought it'd get better. Little clues here and there to stir the reader on. Nope. The blandest mystery/romance novel to date. Which is funny, because there is hardly any mystery, if there is, it's poorly executed, and hardly any romance.
The plot is that there's a town doctor whose dick is so super fresh that every married women in his vicinity wants to fuck it. Yikes. Dude gets "mysteriously" killed. And now it's for Conrad-- Err, Jane, to solve the murder in her cemetery, because our girl here lacks so much personality that, honestly, if she wasn't given the role as the "supposed" detective, her character would've been rendered utterly useless in the story. At one point, I couldn't believe why she couldn't simply work alongside Conrad and have them solve the crime as a team? Have their minds convolute the smartest of tactics and plans to catch the killer? But nooo, our girl here had something to prove. What, though, I haven't the slightest clue. That she could be anything if she put her mind to it? Even a detective when she had no former training and education in said respective field? Oooh. Nonetheless, she didn't prove anything except the fact that she was annoying, intrusive, and would obstruct justice to get what she wanted. A hard pass.
Now, coming to the romance, I wish it had been smartly written. Since this's a series, a slow burn would have been the right route for the novels, but once again, our six-year-old heroine here gets an instant crush on our beef cake, whos equally as nonsensical attraction to her is not shown but rather told in a 'omg, does he like me?!?!?!' manner, which is not something you want for a story. Instead of building the romance from the ground up, we are tossed into superfast, instant crush mode. But what is odder is that they don't even kiss??? Hardly any action for their "supposed" sizzling attraction for each other. I mean, maybe it would've kind of worked if Conrad was given his perspective. But he wasn't.
So not only was one of our main characters dismissed and rendered to nothing but a sex object, he was utterly sidelined and not properly utilized for his many talents. If you're going to put in an actual Special Agent/Detective into the story but not USE them in any helpful manner that would've moved the story along, ESPECIALLY a mystery novel, then that already is a story meant for failure.
The Ladling family curse. I mean, I don't even want to get into that. No relation whatsoever to the story. Nada. Maybe put there for some extra drama, which was completely needless, because even with the "extra" drama, the story remained nothing short of boring. Moving along.
The cliffhanger-not-cliffhanger by the end of the book was the final blow. It made me realize I was only fooling myself into thinking something gripping, a clue, some foul play, would leave me at the edge of my seat and maybe even beg for the next mystery, since, yknow, its a mystery novel series?
Unfortunately, it only made me smile that I could finally put this hell of a book behind me and move on.
Listen, I don't want an Agatha Christie level mystery novel, but do the genre justice. Do your characters justice. Her alien series knew how to play with our nerves (in a good way), so I don't understand why this story fell so short in delivering the same blows.
Suffice it to say, would not be coming back for more.
Enter our heroine, Jane Ladling, aka Cemetery Girl, finding a dead body in her, you guessed it, cemetery, then enter our hero, Special Agent Ryan, Conrad, a beef cake (the only thing he's good at in this book), being tasked with the mission to solve his case - except not once ever seen solving it. Not ONCE. And he's supposed to be a Special Agent. Right.
Jane Ladling has the personality of a six-year-old and she wonders why nobody notices her quirky-hat-lovin'-dumbass in her small town in Georgia. We get it. You like hats. Move on already. She's seen running around trying to solve the case in the most unexciting ways, I could've fallen asleep a thousand times. Except I did. The only reason why I urged on is because maybe I thought it'd get better. Little clues here and there to stir the reader on. Nope. The blandest mystery/romance novel to date. Which is funny, because there is hardly any mystery, if there is, it's poorly executed, and hardly any romance.
The plot is that there's a town doctor whose dick is so super fresh that every married women in his vicinity wants to fuck it. Yikes. Dude gets "mysteriously" killed. And now it's for Conrad-- Err, Jane, to solve the murder in her cemetery, because our girl here lacks so much personality that, honestly, if she wasn't given the role as the "supposed" detective, her character would've been rendered utterly useless in the story. At one point, I couldn't believe why she couldn't simply work alongside Conrad and have them solve the crime as a team? Have their minds convolute the smartest of tactics and plans to catch the killer? But nooo, our girl here had something to prove. What, though, I haven't the slightest clue. That she could be anything if she put her mind to it? Even a detective when she had no former training and education in said respective field? Oooh. Nonetheless, she didn't prove anything except the fact that she was annoying, intrusive, and would obstruct justice to get what she wanted. A hard pass.
Now, coming to the romance, I wish it had been smartly written. Since this's a series, a slow burn would have been the right route for the novels, but once again, our six-year-old heroine here gets an instant crush on our beef cake, whos equally as nonsensical attraction to her is not shown but rather told in a 'omg, does he like me?!?!?!' manner, which is not something you want for a story. Instead of building the romance from the ground up, we are tossed into superfast, instant crush mode. But what is odder is that they don't even kiss??? Hardly any action for their "supposed" sizzling attraction for each other. I mean, maybe it would've kind of worked if Conrad was given his perspective. But he wasn't.
So not only was one of our main characters dismissed and rendered to nothing but a sex object, he was utterly sidelined and not properly utilized for his many talents. If you're going to put in an actual Special Agent/Detective into the story but not USE them in any helpful manner that would've moved the story along, ESPECIALLY a mystery novel, then that already is a story meant for failure.
The Ladling family curse. I mean, I don't even want to get into that. No relation whatsoever to the story. Nada. Maybe put there for some extra drama, which was completely needless, because even with the "extra" drama, the story remained nothing short of boring. Moving along.
The cliffhanger-not-cliffhanger by the end of the book was the final blow. It made me realize I was only fooling myself into thinking something gripping, a clue, some foul play, would leave me at the edge of my seat and maybe even beg for the next mystery, since, yknow, its a mystery novel series?
Unfortunately, it only made me smile that I could finally put this hell of a book behind me and move on.
Listen, I don't want an Agatha Christie level mystery novel, but do the genre justice. Do your characters justice. Her alien series knew how to play with our nerves (in a good way), so I don't understand why this story fell so short in delivering the same blows.
Suffice it to say, would not be coming back for more.
September 22, 2021
Jane Ladling’s family had looked after the Garden of Memories cemetery for generations. She was not expecting a new body in Plot 39. This is the start of a new series of cozy mysteries with a wonderful central character who’s investigation into the doctor found in her cemetery leads her to Special Agent Conrad Ryan. Conrad with a C who she has to resist due to the curse on her family. There are plenty of extra quirky characters who really come alive in this first book in the series. This is a series that makes you smile and feel good with every page you read and l cannot wait for the next one. Gena Showalter has been a favourite author of mine in the fantasy genre. This is my first cozy mystery of these 2 authors and it does not disappoint. Big thanks for an Arc from Gena and Jill.
September 27, 2021
This is my 1st cozy mystery I've ever read. It had me giggling throughout the whole book. I love Jane's quirkiness. It was a great read that everyone should check out!💜💜💜💜
October 21, 2021
This was soo Adorable and fluffy and cute and silly funny🐈⬛
September 23, 2021
*I received an ARC of this to read and leave an honest review.*
I absolutely adored this book! I love cozy mysteries and this one is a new favorite. All the characters in here are absolutely amazing and I fell in love with every single one of them. I love the romance element and I can't wait to continue on in with the story. Such a great book from Gena, who is one of my favorite writers, and Jill, who is a new author to me!
I absolutely adored this book! I love cozy mysteries and this one is a new favorite. All the characters in here are absolutely amazing and I fell in love with every single one of them. I love the romance element and I can't wait to continue on in with the story. Such a great book from Gena, who is one of my favorite writers, and Jill, who is a new author to me!
December 22, 2021
So this was a random pick, very much outside my usual romance/erotica tropes (honestly, I wonder what sort of trauma I went through in a previous life which has my favourite trope mafia/kidnapping novels *hides face*), but it was entertaining in a quirky sort of way. The romance was very mild, with no erotic content at all, so younger teenagers can definitely read this if they're looking for a quick and fun novel. 3.5 stars
May 13, 2024
This was the very definition of a cosy mystery…a simple story that raced along, with little attempt to flesh out the characters.
Our main character is Jane Ladling and she is the proprietor of the town’s oldest cemetery. When a body is discovered on the grounds she embroils herself in the investigation. Along the way she cares for her psycho cat, gets reacquainted with an old friend and indulges in a bit of flirting with the detective sent to investigate the murder.
From start to finish this was the reading equivalent of eating a Galaxy. Easy, momentarily enjoyable but leaving little behind! Still, it fulfils a prompt for a group reading challenge and I can safely say I shan’t be bothering with the rest of the series.
Our main character is Jane Ladling and she is the proprietor of the town’s oldest cemetery. When a body is discovered on the grounds she embroils herself in the investigation. Along the way she cares for her psycho cat, gets reacquainted with an old friend and indulges in a bit of flirting with the detective sent to investigate the murder.
From start to finish this was the reading equivalent of eating a Galaxy. Easy, momentarily enjoyable but leaving little behind! Still, it fulfils a prompt for a group reading challenge and I can safely say I shan’t be bothering with the rest of the series.
December 16, 2023
Tehehehehehe I loved this. I knew I was gonna be hooked as soon as I read the synopsis because romance and murder mystery??? I’ve only ever read one other book of this genre and I absolutely adored it so I knew I would love this and I did. I loved Jane and her curiosity even though she was extremely reckless. I loved Conrad and his protectiveness but also his affection. I loved Beau and his grumpy but protective older brother role and Fiona is such a cutie honestly she needs to bag the Sheriff. Eagerly starting the next book!! 💙💀 🪦
October 30, 2025
Cute and easy listen that’s perfect for spooky season! The audiobook is about 5 hours which made it easy to listen in a morning! Kelli Tager is the narrator and did a great job with all the characters and the accents.
This was a mystery first and barely a romance book; which is fine but the cover and name made me go into it thinking it was a romance.
This was a mystery first and barely a romance book; which is fine but the cover and name made me go into it thinking it was a romance.
September 21, 2021
In the delightful introduction to this new series, Jane is taking her daily tour of the family cemetery, but something is a amiss. A grave is open and an extra fresh body is inside.
When we find out who the murder victim is, the town doctor, Jane is a suspect. Not liking that idea at all, she decides to solve the crime herself.
To the chagrin of Conrad, the handsome detective, Jane starts snooping. He's attracted to her, but he also wants to stash her away someplace safe.
This story is lighter on the mystery and heavier on the romance. Yes there are a bevy of suspects, but you find yourself more keyed into Jane's chemistry with Conrad, the detective. You also wonder if her best friend Beau is secretly carrying a touch for her, but Jane is clueless.
These are quirky, delightful characters and I look forward to the next book in the series.
Thank you to Gena Showalter for the advanced copy.
When we find out who the murder victim is, the town doctor, Jane is a suspect. Not liking that idea at all, she decides to solve the crime herself.
To the chagrin of Conrad, the handsome detective, Jane starts snooping. He's attracted to her, but he also wants to stash her away someplace safe.
This story is lighter on the mystery and heavier on the romance. Yes there are a bevy of suspects, but you find yourself more keyed into Jane's chemistry with Conrad, the detective. You also wonder if her best friend Beau is secretly carrying a touch for her, but Jane is clueless.
These are quirky, delightful characters and I look forward to the next book in the series.
Thank you to Gena Showalter for the advanced copy.
September 25, 2025
The fmc and her internal thoughts sucked the fun right out
November 20, 2025
This was an impulse read that I ended up thoroughly enjoying, and now I have to read the rest of the series.
October 5, 2021
4.5 stars
Read this review on Got Fiction? Book Blog
I enjoy cozies, and to see one penned by Gena Showalter and Jill Monroe was an automatic YES!
This was a fun romp. Jane Ladling runs an old cemetery that’s been in her family for centuries. A murder on the property leads to some wild investigating. On Jane’s part only. Everyone else is fairly levelheaded and on task. But Jane is one of a kind.
Conrad is sexy, for sure, and I love how she just…mystifies him. In a cute way. Conrad is just blindside by Jane. And I’m loving Beau and Jane’s relationship. And every interaction between Conrad and Beau has me falling deeper into this world.
I find it funny that things that would irritate me normally in a book didn’t bother me here. The writing was just that fun! Jane has zero investigative skills. None. Zip. Yet she insists on “investigating” and I think I found it cute and funny because she’s not subtle, everyone is on to her, and yet she still does an excellent job, figures some things out, and catches the bad guy!
With Gena Showalter and Jill Monroe at the Helm, this book is sure to delight! Fun and cute, the romance is just beginning!
***I bought this book
Read this review on Got Fiction? Book Blog
I enjoy cozies, and to see one penned by Gena Showalter and Jill Monroe was an automatic YES!
This was a fun romp. Jane Ladling runs an old cemetery that’s been in her family for centuries. A murder on the property leads to some wild investigating. On Jane’s part only. Everyone else is fairly levelheaded and on task. But Jane is one of a kind.
Conrad is sexy, for sure, and I love how she just…mystifies him. In a cute way. Conrad is just blindside by Jane. And I’m loving Beau and Jane’s relationship. And every interaction between Conrad and Beau has me falling deeper into this world.
I find it funny that things that would irritate me normally in a book didn’t bother me here. The writing was just that fun! Jane has zero investigative skills. None. Zip. Yet she insists on “investigating” and I think I found it cute and funny because she’s not subtle, everyone is on to her, and yet she still does an excellent job, figures some things out, and catches the bad guy!
With Gena Showalter and Jill Monroe at the Helm, this book is sure to delight! Fun and cute, the romance is just beginning!
***I bought this book
September 22, 2021
OMG!!! Gena and Jill are so amazing! I was so addicted to this story that I couldn’t stop reading! Jane is added to my favorite characters list. She is quirky, strong, confident (despite her second guessing herself at times), sassy, and by far an entertaining character because of her theatrics. I was laughing with every interaction she and the other characters had with each other.
This story has zero paranormal in it. It’s about a murder that happens in Jane’s family’s cemetery and much to the dismay of the Agent assigned to the case, she leads her own investigation as well as helping Conrad (the agent) solve the case.
This story has humor, adventure, mystery, murder, a cemetery, a sexy men, and a fun journey to solve a case.
This story has zero paranormal in it. It’s about a murder that happens in Jane’s family’s cemetery and much to the dismay of the Agent assigned to the case, she leads her own investigation as well as helping Conrad (the agent) solve the case.
This story has humor, adventure, mystery, murder, a cemetery, a sexy men, and a fun journey to solve a case.
January 7, 2022
If you are looking for a cozy mystery with a little romance sprinkled in, look no further! The main story revolves around the quirky yet lovable June, the owner and caretaker of a historical cemetery. When a body is found on the premises, Jane stops at nothing to solve the crime and clear her name! While playing the part of investigator, two handsome men tumble into her life: Conrad, the dashing Special Agent and Beau, a blast from her past.
This was a very easy and enjoyable read. Showalter and Monroe seamless weave together a feel good mystery with just enough romance to keep the reader wanting more. June’s inner monologue is charming and hilarious. She is a little, or maybe a lot, socially awkward but that makes her all the more adorable and relatable. There is also great tension and build up between Jane and Conrad and maybe even Beau...? I’m excited to see where their relationships go! Looking forward to the next one!
This was a very easy and enjoyable read. Showalter and Monroe seamless weave together a feel good mystery with just enough romance to keep the reader wanting more. June’s inner monologue is charming and hilarious. She is a little, or maybe a lot, socially awkward but that makes her all the more adorable and relatable. There is also great tension and build up between Jane and Conrad and maybe even Beau...? I’m excited to see where their relationships go! Looking forward to the next one!
December 18, 2021
What a silly book!
The main character is totally ridiculous. Who tries to find a murderer when they aren't trained to do so? Jane has no skills or background in crime solving. She acts like a spoiled child that does whatever they want despite any danger. I can't believe Showalter took the time to write this instead of writing a freaking Lords of the Underworld book! Finish THAT series and stop starting new crappy ones. I returned this dumb a$$ book afterwards because I want my time back and since I can't get it, I'll take my money back.
The main character is totally ridiculous. Who tries to find a murderer when they aren't trained to do so? Jane has no skills or background in crime solving. She acts like a spoiled child that does whatever they want despite any danger. I can't believe Showalter took the time to write this instead of writing a freaking Lords of the Underworld book! Finish THAT series and stop starting new crappy ones. I returned this dumb a$$ book afterwards because I want my time back and since I can't get it, I'll take my money back.
September 29, 2023
3.5⭐️
this book was just… okay. i loved all the side characters but the main character was just insufferable. she acted like she was 12 when she’s 26. i LOVED conrad though. he was the only reason i finished this book. i will also be reading the second book in the series, hoping it gets better. i need me some more conrad.
this book was just… okay. i loved all the side characters but the main character was just insufferable. she acted like she was 12 when she’s 26. i LOVED conrad though. he was the only reason i finished this book. i will also be reading the second book in the series, hoping it gets better. i need me some more conrad.
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