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Three Tomes Bookshop #1
Tomes Scones and Crones
At forty-eight, Jacqueline Finch has a nice, easy life with few responsibilities: she’s been a librarian in Chicago for twenty-five years, she doesn’t have a husband, children, or pets, and she’s just coasting along, enjoying her books and a small flower garden now that she’s over the hill.
That is, until the Universe (helped by three old crones) has other ideas.
All at once, Jacqueline’s staid (and boring) life is upended, and the next thing she knows, she’s heading off to Button Cove to start a new life as the owner of Three Tomes Bookshop.
The bookstore is a darling place, and Jacqueline is almost ready to be excited about this new opportunity…until Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. Danvers show up. Somehow, the literary characters of Sherlock Holmes’s landlady and Rebecca deWinter’s creepy and sardonic housekeeper are living persons who work at the bookshop (when they aren’t bickering with each other). Not only does Jacqueline have to contend with them—and the idea that people regularly eat pastries while reading books in her store!—but the morning after she arrives, the body of a dead man is found on her property.
Things start to get even more strange after that: Jacqueline is befriended by three old women who bear a startling resemblance to the Witches Three from Macbeth, an actual witch shows up at her bookshop and accuses Jacqueline of killing her brother, and the two women who own businesses across the street seem determined to befriend Jacqueline.
And then there’s the police detective with the very definite hot-Viking vibe who shows up to investigate the dead body…
The next thing Jacqueline knows, her staid and simple life is no longer quiet and unassuming, and she’s got crones, curses, and crocodiles to deal with.
And when a new literary character appears on the scene…things start to get even more hairy and Jacqueline is suddenly faced with a horrible life and death situation that will totally push her out of her comfort zone…if she’s brave enough to let it.
After all, isn’t forty-eight too late for an old dog to learn new tricks?
From the bestselling author of the Wicks Hollow series, Tomes, Scones & Crones is the first book in a new paranormal women’s fiction series about coming into one’s own when you’re over the hill, and owning one’s “croneness.”
That is, until the Universe (helped by three old crones) has other ideas.
All at once, Jacqueline’s staid (and boring) life is upended, and the next thing she knows, she’s heading off to Button Cove to start a new life as the owner of Three Tomes Bookshop.
The bookstore is a darling place, and Jacqueline is almost ready to be excited about this new opportunity…until Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. Danvers show up. Somehow, the literary characters of Sherlock Holmes’s landlady and Rebecca deWinter’s creepy and sardonic housekeeper are living persons who work at the bookshop (when they aren’t bickering with each other). Not only does Jacqueline have to contend with them—and the idea that people regularly eat pastries while reading books in her store!—but the morning after she arrives, the body of a dead man is found on her property.
Things start to get even more strange after that: Jacqueline is befriended by three old women who bear a startling resemblance to the Witches Three from Macbeth, an actual witch shows up at her bookshop and accuses Jacqueline of killing her brother, and the two women who own businesses across the street seem determined to befriend Jacqueline.
And then there’s the police detective with the very definite hot-Viking vibe who shows up to investigate the dead body…
The next thing Jacqueline knows, her staid and simple life is no longer quiet and unassuming, and she’s got crones, curses, and crocodiles to deal with.
And when a new literary character appears on the scene…things start to get even more hairy and Jacqueline is suddenly faced with a horrible life and death situation that will totally push her out of her comfort zone…if she’s brave enough to let it.
After all, isn’t forty-eight too late for an old dog to learn new tricks?
From the bestselling author of the Wicks Hollow series, Tomes, Scones & Crones is the first book in a new paranormal women’s fiction series about coming into one’s own when you’re over the hill, and owning one’s “croneness.”
222 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 12, 2021
820 people are currently reading
605 people want to read
About the author
Colleen Gleason
105 books1,686 followersAward-winning, NEW YORK TIMES and USA Today bestselling author Colleen Gleason (who also writes as Colleen Cambridge) has written more than fifty novels in a variety of genres…but always feature smart, strong women determined to right wrongs and get shit done.
Colleen lives in the Midwest United States where she is fortunate enough to be working on her next book.
She loves to hear from readers via her website, Facebook, or GoodReads.
Colleen lives in the Midwest United States where she is fortunate enough to be working on her next book.
She loves to hear from readers via her website, Facebook, or GoodReads.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 165 reviews
March 11, 2023
Entertaining mystery listening 🎶🔰
Another will written paranormal family and friends relationships fantasy adventure thriller novel by Colleen Gleason Three Tomes Bookshop book 1. Jacqueline is working in the Chicago library when she is called in to the director's office and fired. She gets home and finds that it has been sold. Then a call from a solicitor that she is the owner of a bookshop on the Lake Michigan coast in Michigan. She arrives and the fun begins, murder, magic, ghost 👻, new friends, and lots of misdirection. A cute story which I would recommend to 👍 readers of paranormal adventure mystery novels 👍🔰. Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or listening 🎶 to Alexa read books 📚. 2023 👒👒😀🏡
I have listened to a number of Colleen Gleason novels this one was a bit different. Happy reading and have fun 🌙😀
Another will written paranormal family and friends relationships fantasy adventure thriller novel by Colleen Gleason Three Tomes Bookshop book 1. Jacqueline is working in the Chicago library when she is called in to the director's office and fired. She gets home and finds that it has been sold. Then a call from a solicitor that she is the owner of a bookshop on the Lake Michigan coast in Michigan. She arrives and the fun begins, murder, magic, ghost 👻, new friends, and lots of misdirection. A cute story which I would recommend to 👍 readers of paranormal adventure mystery novels 👍🔰. Enjoy the adventure of reading 👓 or listening 🎶 to Alexa read books 📚. 2023 👒👒😀🏡
I have listened to a number of Colleen Gleason novels this one was a bit different. Happy reading and have fun 🌙😀
December 2, 2022
This one was different, but fun because it presented the reader with a unique perspective. One of a series that I am looking forward to “devouring!”
April 27, 2025
DNF at 23%
The premise is interesting, but the execution is not my cup of tea.
The writing style is very juvenile. It reads like a high-school YA book, with the crones using the word “beeyotch” and Jacqueline obsessing over her pores and weight.
We are also told, over and over again, that Jacqueline has closed off her heart since her fiance cheated on her years ago and since her best friend died of cancer. This is not a spoiler; it's communicated to readers a few pages into the novel. Subtlety is not this book's strong suit.
I expected cozy fantasy vibes and got Bridget Jones instead.
The premise is interesting, but the execution is not my cup of tea.
The writing style is very juvenile. It reads like a high-school YA book, with the crones using the word “beeyotch” and Jacqueline obsessing over her pores and weight.
We are also told, over and over again, that Jacqueline has closed off her heart since her fiance cheated on her years ago and since her best friend died of cancer. This is not a spoiler; it's communicated to readers a few pages into the novel. Subtlety is not this book's strong suit.
I expected cozy fantasy vibes and got Bridget Jones instead.
September 30, 2021
Three and a half because this is well written but I just wanted a little bit more somehow. I loved that Jacqueline is a more mature character who might have given up on love but certainly isn't dead from the waist down because there's nothing wrong with just enjoying your own company. I did find it a little disconcerting initially just how her thoughts harked back constantly to her late friend but happily this wasn't so prevalent when the story got going. I thought her quite brave to up sticks and see what life outside her comfort zone could offer her. There is a plot with honestly not a lot of mystery but essentially this book focused on introducing characters to the reader. I thought the message that it doesn't matter how you look or how old you are was certainly a relevant one. As I said this really just introduced this world and clearly sets the scene for more adventures from this quirky cast.
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
This voluntary take is of a copy I requested from Netgalley and my thoughts and comments are honest and I believe fair
October 22, 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this! I loved that the protaganist was in her late 40s. I liked the mysterious bookshop setting (with Mrs. Danvers, Mrs. Hudson, and others appearing). And most of all, I can't wait to see what happens next in the series!
September 27, 2021
I received a copy of this novel through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I love bookshops and books that talk about bookshops. So the Three Tomes can be easily named as my favorite character in this novel. And the shop was a character, never you doubt that! I would simply love to get lost in that shop, read some books, drink lots of tea and eat some pastries. I am a librarian,but in that shop I would enjoy my tea, snacks and books all together!
The second favorite character was Max the cat. Yes, Sebastian was friendly and cuddly and absolutely catish cat, but Max was also very catish cat. You know, the kind who always thinks he’s above everyone else and probably is (especially if he’s sitting on a high bookcase). I simply loved his attitude.
And now I finally get to the human characters. I count witches as human. I didn’t really bond with any of them, but I liked all of them well enough. The ZAP ladies were fun and I enjoyed Jacqueline and her new friends. I think I especially appreciated Jacqueline’s development - as a librarian myself I hope to never get inflexibly serious about my work. Working in a library is fun and diverse, if you are ready to do different things and finds the adventures that await!
In the end,the thing I loved most about this book is the atmosphere and the friendship between the women in this story.
I love bookshops and books that talk about bookshops. So the Three Tomes can be easily named as my favorite character in this novel. And the shop was a character, never you doubt that! I would simply love to get lost in that shop, read some books, drink lots of tea and eat some pastries. I am a librarian,but in that shop I would enjoy my tea, snacks and books all together!
The second favorite character was Max the cat. Yes, Sebastian was friendly and cuddly and absolutely catish cat, but Max was also very catish cat. You know, the kind who always thinks he’s above everyone else and probably is (especially if he’s sitting on a high bookcase). I simply loved his attitude.
And now I finally get to the human characters. I count witches as human. I didn’t really bond with any of them, but I liked all of them well enough. The ZAP ladies were fun and I enjoyed Jacqueline and her new friends. I think I especially appreciated Jacqueline’s development - as a librarian myself I hope to never get inflexibly serious about my work. Working in a library is fun and diverse, if you are ready to do different things and finds the adventures that await!
In the end,the thing I loved most about this book is the atmosphere and the friendship between the women in this story.
March 5, 2022
I enjoyed this introduction to The Three Tomes Bookshop by Colleen Gleason. The bookshop sounds amazing and I look forward to getting to know Jacqueline, Nadine and Suzette as well as the three witches and the "Viking" detective in the next book. A fun read with mystery, a touch of humor, literary characters that come to life and magic.
December 29, 2021
Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Tomes, Scones and Crones is available now.
This is a cozy mystery with a supernatural twist. What drew me in, of course, was the bookstore setting. Unfortunately, while I did find parts of the book entertaining, it didn’t quite keep my attention throughout.
While I thought Jacqueline was a good main character, I really didn’t care for the way her character was introduced. Instead of showing the reader who she is we are told, unfortunately, with a quick “about the character” sort of introduction at the beginning, I wasn’t given the chance to really appreciate who she was before being given her history and as a result I was not overly invested. However, once things got going, that eased up a little and I was able to just get to know an interesting character. I did like that she was a little older, instead of being a twenty-something. It allowed her character to develop in ways that are outside what I have seen in many books recently.
The kitties were snarktastic (as most cats are), but the other characters seemed a little disjointed to me. My favorite part of the book was the bookstore. In fact, I really could take or leave the rest of the book. It wasn’t bad by any stretch of the imagination, it just wasn’t for me. It felt a little too fluffy, if that makes sense. I think a nice, cozy mystery has a ton of potential (especially in a year like this one), but something just seemed to be missing. I can’t put my finger on what. Perhaps I wanted a little bit more substance to my fluff.
At the end of the day, Tomes, Scones and Crones was rather forgettable. While it wasn’t for me, it was cute and would be a good rainy day read for readers who like a very sweet, lighthearted book.
This is a cozy mystery with a supernatural twist. What drew me in, of course, was the bookstore setting. Unfortunately, while I did find parts of the book entertaining, it didn’t quite keep my attention throughout.
While I thought Jacqueline was a good main character, I really didn’t care for the way her character was introduced. Instead of showing the reader who she is we are told, unfortunately, with a quick “about the character” sort of introduction at the beginning, I wasn’t given the chance to really appreciate who she was before being given her history and as a result I was not overly invested. However, once things got going, that eased up a little and I was able to just get to know an interesting character. I did like that she was a little older, instead of being a twenty-something. It allowed her character to develop in ways that are outside what I have seen in many books recently.
The kitties were snarktastic (as most cats are), but the other characters seemed a little disjointed to me. My favorite part of the book was the bookstore. In fact, I really could take or leave the rest of the book. It wasn’t bad by any stretch of the imagination, it just wasn’t for me. It felt a little too fluffy, if that makes sense. I think a nice, cozy mystery has a ton of potential (especially in a year like this one), but something just seemed to be missing. I can’t put my finger on what. Perhaps I wanted a little bit more substance to my fluff.
At the end of the day, Tomes, Scones and Crones was rather forgettable. While it wasn’t for me, it was cute and would be a good rainy day read for readers who like a very sweet, lighthearted book.
November 23, 2022
1.5 stars
I liked the setting of the book, but the characters and plot fell completely flat for me and failed to keep me interested.
My mind drifted off from time to time, but I just wasn't into any part of the story. It felt overwhelmed by too many characters.
Three old women. Three middle-aged women. Three fictional women. Two asshole siblings (even if the one was features more actively than the other.) Two cats. One male cop. And an evil queen wannabe in a mirror.
And somewhere in the mix there was a crocodile just because ... reasons.
Long story short: I will not revisit this series.
It was a weak start to a series, if you ask me, and I do feel reasonably seasoned within the cosy mystery category by now, paranormal or not, to confidently say that there are plenty of other fish in the sea.
I liked the setting of the book, but the characters and plot fell completely flat for me and failed to keep me interested.
My mind drifted off from time to time, but I just wasn't into any part of the story. It felt overwhelmed by too many characters.
Three old women. Three middle-aged women. Three fictional women. Two asshole siblings (even if the one was features more actively than the other.) Two cats. One male cop. And an evil queen wannabe in a mirror.
And somewhere in the mix there was a crocodile just because ... reasons.
Long story short: I will not revisit this series.
It was a weak start to a series, if you ask me, and I do feel reasonably seasoned within the cosy mystery category by now, paranormal or not, to confidently say that there are plenty of other fish in the sea.
March 31, 2022
I loved this book and I'm excited that it will be the start of a new series. This story is full of magic, friendship, and new beginnings. I love Colleen Gleason, so this book has been on my radar since it was released. I am not disappointed. I read it in one day.
This story is definitely paranormal in nature, so if that's not your cup of tea, then skip this story. BUT it is one of my favorite genres and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I can't wait for the next one!
This story is definitely paranormal in nature, so if that's not your cup of tea, then skip this story. BUT it is one of my favorite genres and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I can't wait for the next one!
February 18, 2025
My friend picked this book up at my local bookstore. She enjoyed it and it is set in Michigan....so I knew I had to borrow it from her!
Here we follow Jacqueline. She has settled all her life, but when forces beyond her control pretty much pushes her to accept a bookstore she inherited from a family member she never knew. Things are not what they seem and there is a lot more behind this little bookstore. She will find herself surronded by things and people that are not explainable. The morning after her arrival there is a body found and she will have to turn to her new friends and the local detective to find out what happened and to save her new bookstore from a rival family member.
This was EVERYWHERE at once. There is so much going on, but I think the author did an excellent job of keeping the reader in the know and not being overwhelmed. Between a rival witch, three old women, characters from books appearing if a book falls from the shelf, magic, a hot detective, scones, and so on there was a lot going on but I was never overwhelmed or confused.
Oooo Jacqueline has her hands full. She handled everything well....a little better than I thought. It was a little unrealistic how well she coped in such a short time span, but who knows? Maybe a part of her always believed in magic and etc? Possible.
I'm curious to see what happens to our crew in the next book. There seems like there will be more upon the horizon. I want to understand more about this world and this library.
Do I want a romance? Maybe. I need to learn more about this detective fella. He seems nice. Poor guy doesn't know what he's getting into LOL.
This was a fun and refreshing read even though it feels like it will be the same ol', same ol'. Lady gets bookstore, cats, and a dead body. There was so much more going on and it felt nice and I enjoyed myself.
All-in-all, this was a nice read. Some funny moments. Fun characters, crazy mystery, and a wild cast of characters. I'll give this 4 stars.
- Favorite Character(s): Jacqueline, Suzette, Nadine
- Least Favorite Character(s): Elga
Here we follow Jacqueline. She has settled all her life, but when forces beyond her control pretty much pushes her to accept a bookstore she inherited from a family member she never knew. Things are not what they seem and there is a lot more behind this little bookstore. She will find herself surronded by things and people that are not explainable. The morning after her arrival there is a body found and she will have to turn to her new friends and the local detective to find out what happened and to save her new bookstore from a rival family member.
This was EVERYWHERE at once. There is so much going on, but I think the author did an excellent job of keeping the reader in the know and not being overwhelmed. Between a rival witch, three old women, characters from books appearing if a book falls from the shelf, magic, a hot detective, scones, and so on there was a lot going on but I was never overwhelmed or confused.
Oooo Jacqueline has her hands full. She handled everything well....a little better than I thought. It was a little unrealistic how well she coped in such a short time span, but who knows? Maybe a part of her always believed in magic and etc? Possible.
I'm curious to see what happens to our crew in the next book. There seems like there will be more upon the horizon. I want to understand more about this world and this library.
Do I want a romance? Maybe. I need to learn more about this detective fella. He seems nice. Poor guy doesn't know what he's getting into LOL.
This was a fun and refreshing read even though it feels like it will be the same ol', same ol'. Lady gets bookstore, cats, and a dead body. There was so much more going on and it felt nice and I enjoyed myself.
All-in-all, this was a nice read. Some funny moments. Fun characters, crazy mystery, and a wild cast of characters. I'll give this 4 stars.
- Favorite Character(s): Jacqueline, Suzette, Nadine
- Least Favorite Character(s): Elga
October 14, 2021
It all starts when Three Crones set up the crash and burn of poor Jaquelin's life.
All in order to have her inherit the local bookshop in the cutesy little town of Button Cove.
Jaquelin arrives in a whirlwind of anger, confusion, and sorrow, only to find a dead body in her shop. This sets off a chain of events that include a Viking cop, angsty literary characters, lots of tea, and magical mishaps.
The literary characters popping up was such a great concept for this story, it fit in so well with the vibe of the book. The dialogue was well done, filled with chuckle inducing zingers.
The characters are mostly loveable on sight, unless they are the villain, then it's automatic dislike.
It was really nice to see a middle aged heroine that wasn't super insecure about her age.
There were some really nice messages in here as well, female solidarity, empowerment, and acceptance.
The only negative would be that it dragged a bit in the beginning, but around the halfway mark it picks up and races to the end.
This was quirky and cute and will make you want to cuddle up with a warm throw, cup of tea, and a baked good, of course!
Check it out, when it hits shelves (real and digital) October 12th, 2021!
A big thanks to the Publisher & NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
You can find the review for this book and others on my
Tiktok listed under Pickled Ponderings.
Do you like Romance Novels and want to hear more of my musings?
Check out my podcast, Turgid Tomes: A Tawdry Bookclub
Just find your listening platform's icon and click to check it out!
All in order to have her inherit the local bookshop in the cutesy little town of Button Cove.
Jaquelin arrives in a whirlwind of anger, confusion, and sorrow, only to find a dead body in her shop. This sets off a chain of events that include a Viking cop, angsty literary characters, lots of tea, and magical mishaps.
The literary characters popping up was such a great concept for this story, it fit in so well with the vibe of the book. The dialogue was well done, filled with chuckle inducing zingers.
The characters are mostly loveable on sight, unless they are the villain, then it's automatic dislike.
It was really nice to see a middle aged heroine that wasn't super insecure about her age.
There were some really nice messages in here as well, female solidarity, empowerment, and acceptance.
The only negative would be that it dragged a bit in the beginning, but around the halfway mark it picks up and races to the end.
This was quirky and cute and will make you want to cuddle up with a warm throw, cup of tea, and a baked good, of course!
Check it out, when it hits shelves (real and digital) October 12th, 2021!
A big thanks to the Publisher & NetGalley for gifting me a digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
You can find the review for this book and others on my
Tiktok listed under Pickled Ponderings.
Do you like Romance Novels and want to hear more of my musings?
Check out my podcast, Turgid Tomes: A Tawdry Bookclub
Just find your listening platform's icon and click to check it out!
August 6, 2023
At age 48, long time Chicago librarian Jacqueline is a loner, but seemingly content with her life. Then suddenly she is given the pink slip, her landlord sells the house that she is living in, and she is accused of having an affair with a slimy, married coworker. Also suddenly, she is notified that she has inherited a bookshop from a very distant relative in a small town in Michigan. Readers are then introduced to the three wisewomen who arranged all this mayhem. Jacqueline accepts this new chapter in her life, but is certainly unprepared for the dead body found in the bookshop. She also discovers there is more than one mystery in her inheritance when Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. Danvers turn out to be her employees. She makes allies with the three crones/wisewomen and two local businesswoman, and might be attracted to the local law enforcement officer she names the Viking. I did not care about Jacqueline early on, but she finally stops letting the past rule her life and becomes someone to root for. I look forward to the next installment.
November 21, 2024
This book was lots of fun!
Jacqueline, a staid Librarian, inherits a bookshop from a distant cousin. But this is no ordinary bookshop - characters from the books come alive. And no sooner does she take ownership than a man dies in the upstairs flat.
With the help of three old ladies - Andromeda, Zwyla and Pietra plus new friends Nadine and Suzette - Jacqueline has to work out what is going on and stop more calamities from happening.
After all the YA books about teens coming into their power, it's refreshing to read about a menopausal woman coming in to her power!
Jacqueline, a staid Librarian, inherits a bookshop from a distant cousin. But this is no ordinary bookshop - characters from the books come alive. And no sooner does she take ownership than a man dies in the upstairs flat.
With the help of three old ladies - Andromeda, Zwyla and Pietra plus new friends Nadine and Suzette - Jacqueline has to work out what is going on and stop more calamities from happening.
After all the YA books about teens coming into their power, it's refreshing to read about a menopausal woman coming in to her power!
October 6, 2021
Series Info/Source: This is the first book in the Three Tomes Bookshop series. I got a copy of this book through NetGalley to review. Previous to this I read Gleason’s Gardella Vampire Hunters series (liked it) and her Stoker & Holmes series (okay but not great).
Thoughts: Eh, this was okay. I really liked some of the ideas in here but never really liked the characters or the plot that much. The idea of a magic bookshop, snarky cats, and copious amounts of tea sounds like something I would love. However, the whole thing felt a bit flat to me.
The writing style and plot were simplistic and I just never loved any of the characters here. This is the type of story that should be very character driven and it wasn't. Even the romantic interest for your main protagonist was just so-so (there was a lot of obsessing over his hands, but to each their own).
There are some funny parts and the book is very light-hearted. I thought the friendship that Jacqueline developed with the other shop-owners was cute but felt a bit insta-friendship. These characters didn't really have anything that bound them together and the friendship felt forced and fake to me...it was a bit too good to be true.
My Summary (3/5): Overall this was a pretty quick read but also a book I will forget about as soon as I write this review. It's not awful but also not memorable. If you want some good paranormal women's fiction I recommend the Glimmer Lake/Moonstone Cove series by Elizabeth Hunter or The Forty Proof series by Shannon Mayer. Those series are much more well done than this one. I think I am done with Gleason for a bit, she’s pretty hit or miss for me and over the last few years it’s been a lot more misses than hits.
Thoughts: Eh, this was okay. I really liked some of the ideas in here but never really liked the characters or the plot that much. The idea of a magic bookshop, snarky cats, and copious amounts of tea sounds like something I would love. However, the whole thing felt a bit flat to me.
The writing style and plot were simplistic and I just never loved any of the characters here. This is the type of story that should be very character driven and it wasn't. Even the romantic interest for your main protagonist was just so-so (there was a lot of obsessing over his hands, but to each their own).
There are some funny parts and the book is very light-hearted. I thought the friendship that Jacqueline developed with the other shop-owners was cute but felt a bit insta-friendship. These characters didn't really have anything that bound them together and the friendship felt forced and fake to me...it was a bit too good to be true.
My Summary (3/5): Overall this was a pretty quick read but also a book I will forget about as soon as I write this review. It's not awful but also not memorable. If you want some good paranormal women's fiction I recommend the Glimmer Lake/Moonstone Cove series by Elizabeth Hunter or The Forty Proof series by Shannon Mayer. Those series are much more well done than this one. I think I am done with Gleason for a bit, she’s pretty hit or miss for me and over the last few years it’s been a lot more misses than hits.
December 7, 2022
Gott, das war so cute! Bei weitem nicht perfekt aber hat einfach gute Laune gemacht und ein Lächeln gezaubert.
March 6, 2024
Very good
I came across this author on Facebook via book ads. It definitely lives up to the hype. I really enjoyed the story and I'm eager to get to the rest of the series.
I came across this author on Facebook via book ads. It definitely lives up to the hype. I really enjoyed the story and I'm eager to get to the rest of the series.
August 20, 2025
Loved that the characters here are middle aged, that there’s a little more than cozy quirkiness, and the magic too.
July 12, 2024
I listened up to the 58% point, and it was a perfectly nice cozy mystery where the characters from books come to life, but I guess I just wasn't in the mood for that afterall today because I'm bored...will try again another day, maybe in winter when I can also get cozy. :P
November 13, 2024
3.5 rounded to 4 ⭐️
Read
January 23, 2023Loved it! Characters from fiction coming to life, reminiscent of Jasper Fforde’s Thursday Next series, delighted me. The three wise women were wonderful additions, and the story line was interesting. The groundwork has been laid for many more stories (which I can’t wait to read)!
September 20, 2021
Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of TOMES, SCONES, & CRONES (Book 1 of the Three Tomes Bookshop Mysteries), by Colleen Gleason, in exchange for an honest review. Jacqueline Finch is forty-eight and she lives a quiet, comfortable life with a steady job, a small garden, and no close relationships. Suddenly, Jacqueline loses all of her security; she’s fired with five-days severance; her landlord sells her house and evicts her, and her one friend believes rumors that Jacqueline did something immoral. When Jacqueline receives notice that she inherited a bookshop on the same day her world crashes, she decides to try life in Button Cove as a bookstore owner. However, things get a little weird. There’s these three pushy old ladies from down the street, staff who seem to believe they’re fictional characters, and a dead body in Jacqueline’s new apartment. Things get even stranger when the dead man’s sister comes to town and flings around accusations and magic. When someone is endangered and needs saving, Jacqueline must finally go beyond merely “coping with the crazy” and actively engage in the insanity.
I liked this book and thought it was a good start a series. I recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries featuring murder, paranormal, witches, crones, fates, bookshops, fictional characters come to life, and starting over at mid-life.
#TomesSconesCrones #NetGalley
I liked this book and thought it was a good start a series. I recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries featuring murder, paranormal, witches, crones, fates, bookshops, fictional characters come to life, and starting over at mid-life.
#TomesSconesCrones #NetGalley
September 12, 2025
It was so nice to read about women over 35yo coming together to help each other out with a bad situation. This was my first read in this series from this author. Her story telling was very descriptive and able to hold my attention very well. I was wanting to finish the book in one sitting but my eyes didnt want to cooperate with me.
March 15, 2023
Great story
A good story to get sucked into if you're interested. I absolutely loved it.
It involves mystery, a family legacy, an adorable magical bookstore, and a little witchcraft.
Fun read!
A good story to get sucked into if you're interested. I absolutely loved it.
It involves mystery, a family legacy, an adorable magical bookstore, and a little witchcraft.
Fun read!
November 30, 2021
Love this story!
This is the cutest story. I loved the characters and the touch of magic! Great surprise ending! Can’t wait for the next one.
This is the cutest story. I loved the characters and the touch of magic! Great surprise ending! Can’t wait for the next one.
April 23, 2023
I loved this book! I will be reading the others in the series.
October 11, 2021
I was given a free e-copy of this novel by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.
At forty-eight, Jacqueline Finch has a nice, easy life with few responsibilities: she’s been a librarian in Chicago for twenty-five years, she doesn’t have a husband, children, or pets, and she’s just coasting along, enjoying her books and a small flower garden now that she’s over the hill. That is, until the Universe (helped by three old crones) has other ideas. All at once, Jacqueline’s boring life is upended, and the next thing she knows, she’s heading off to Button Cove to start a new life as the owner of Three Tomes Bookshop. The bookstore is a darling place, and Jacqueline is almost ready to be excited about this new opportunity until Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. Danvers show up. Somehow, the literary characters of Sherlock Holmes’s landlady and Rebecca deWinter’s creepy and sardonic housekeeper are living persons who work at the bookshop. Not only does Jacqueline have to contend with them—and the idea that people regularly eat pastries while reading books in her store!—but the morning after she arrives, the body of a dead man is found on her property. Things start to get even more strange after that: Jacqueline is befriended by three old women who bear a startling resemblance to the Witches Three from Macbeth, an actual witch shows up at her bookshop and accuses Jacqueline of killing her brother, and the two women who own businesses across the street seem determined to befriend Jacqueline. And then there’s the police detective with the very definite hot-Viking vibe who shows up to investigate the dead body. The next thing Jacqueline knows, her simple life is no longer quiet and unassuming, and she’s got crones, curses, and crocodiles to deal with. And when a new literary character appears on the scene, things start to get even more hairy and Jacqueline is suddenly faced with a horrible life and death situation that will totally push her out of her comfort zone if she’s brave enough to let it. After all, isn’t forty-eight too late for an old dog to learn new tricks? (Fantastic Fiction synopsis)
I have read Gleason’s Stoker and Holmes series, and loved it. So I was super happy to find that I really liked this book. I originally started out not liking Jacqueline, but as she progressed I began to like her more. I was glad that she stopped quoting her deceased friend’s words, and made friends with Nadine and Suzette. No one should allow others to dictate their life, or to become so boring. I am looking forward to (hopefully) a potential romance in later books.
I even enjoyed the literary characters being brought to life. I would have loved to have Mrs. Hudson making me tea. Not so much Mrs. Danvers, because she’s creepy, but it was still an interesting concept to a magical bookstore setting. I can think of hundreds of other characters I would love to see. I don’t want to give spoilers but the third literary character’s story was unique. I would never have thought of this character’s side of the story, and again I hope this is a continuation in later books.
There are a couple of phrases that had me baffled. For example, in chapter 4 Jacqueline lets the cat Sebastian “ooze from her arms to the floor,” and then two paragraphs later she walks into another room with Sebastian still being carried. There was no indication that she had picked the cat back up. One other example was in chapter 11, when “it occurred to Jacqueline that she’d never even learned which side of her family Cuddy Stone belonged to,” but a few paragraphs later “her mother finally remembered that the Stones were from her side.” Again there was no time progression between the two statements. It felt off, but not enough to take anything away from the story.
Overall I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.
At forty-eight, Jacqueline Finch has a nice, easy life with few responsibilities: she’s been a librarian in Chicago for twenty-five years, she doesn’t have a husband, children, or pets, and she’s just coasting along, enjoying her books and a small flower garden now that she’s over the hill. That is, until the Universe (helped by three old crones) has other ideas. All at once, Jacqueline’s boring life is upended, and the next thing she knows, she’s heading off to Button Cove to start a new life as the owner of Three Tomes Bookshop. The bookstore is a darling place, and Jacqueline is almost ready to be excited about this new opportunity until Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. Danvers show up. Somehow, the literary characters of Sherlock Holmes’s landlady and Rebecca deWinter’s creepy and sardonic housekeeper are living persons who work at the bookshop. Not only does Jacqueline have to contend with them—and the idea that people regularly eat pastries while reading books in her store!—but the morning after she arrives, the body of a dead man is found on her property. Things start to get even more strange after that: Jacqueline is befriended by three old women who bear a startling resemblance to the Witches Three from Macbeth, an actual witch shows up at her bookshop and accuses Jacqueline of killing her brother, and the two women who own businesses across the street seem determined to befriend Jacqueline. And then there’s the police detective with the very definite hot-Viking vibe who shows up to investigate the dead body. The next thing Jacqueline knows, her simple life is no longer quiet and unassuming, and she’s got crones, curses, and crocodiles to deal with. And when a new literary character appears on the scene, things start to get even more hairy and Jacqueline is suddenly faced with a horrible life and death situation that will totally push her out of her comfort zone if she’s brave enough to let it. After all, isn’t forty-eight too late for an old dog to learn new tricks? (Fantastic Fiction synopsis)
I have read Gleason’s Stoker and Holmes series, and loved it. So I was super happy to find that I really liked this book. I originally started out not liking Jacqueline, but as she progressed I began to like her more. I was glad that she stopped quoting her deceased friend’s words, and made friends with Nadine and Suzette. No one should allow others to dictate their life, or to become so boring. I am looking forward to (hopefully) a potential romance in later books.
I even enjoyed the literary characters being brought to life. I would have loved to have Mrs. Hudson making me tea. Not so much Mrs. Danvers, because she’s creepy, but it was still an interesting concept to a magical bookstore setting. I can think of hundreds of other characters I would love to see. I don’t want to give spoilers but the third literary character’s story was unique. I would never have thought of this character’s side of the story, and again I hope this is a continuation in later books.
There are a couple of phrases that had me baffled. For example, in chapter 4 Jacqueline lets the cat Sebastian “ooze from her arms to the floor,” and then two paragraphs later she walks into another room with Sebastian still being carried. There was no indication that she had picked the cat back up. One other example was in chapter 11, when “it occurred to Jacqueline that she’d never even learned which side of her family Cuddy Stone belonged to,” but a few paragraphs later “her mother finally remembered that the Stones were from her side.” Again there was no time progression between the two statements. It felt off, but not enough to take anything away from the story.
Overall I rate this novel 4 out of 5 stars.
November 7, 2021
As it is the spooky season, my foray into reading witchy books continues.
I read Gleason’s The Clockwork Scarab (the series where Sherlock Holmes’ niece and Bram Stoker’s sister solve crimes), and I recall really liking it but I never went forth to read the sequels. I think most of you reading this get it: too many books and not enough time. By happenstance, an author friend who happens to be friends with Gleason promoted Tomes Scones and Crones on Facebook and once I recognised the name AND that Gleason is a Michigan girl, I got my hands on an arc.
Which brings us to Tomes Scones and Crones which throws in some Macbeth witchy delight coupled with a magical bookshop in an adorable village with adorable villagers along with the hunky police detective located in N. Michigan with an over the hill (48!) librarian as the protagonist. At first thought:The Scottish play is great! I’m an over 40 librarian! I spend half a year living in a small village in N. Michigan. Is Gleason in my brain!?
Maybe.
Tomes Scones and Crones has a lot going on: it’s got a group of punky crone witches, fictional characters that come to life, an adorable village, a beyond dream of a bookshop, a villain that isn’t really scary, and new friends. The premise is great but the execution of some of it not so much.
First, there is the main character who is the over the hill librarian. Gleason was either writing tongue in cheek, which could be a possibility, or she really believed this archetype of a librarian was the real deal. Not gonna lie, sometimes I wanted to shake her because her attitude towards being a librarian was not what 21st century library science is about and it is TOTALLY OKAY TO EAT AND DRINK WHILE READING IN A LIBRARY! Most libraries allow snack and closed drinks to be near books. Second, the reason how Jaqueline lost her job is also a bit sketch and wouldn’t fly in 2021s sensibilities even though the book was written in the 2020s and not the 1950s. Sometimes it was hard to tell. Third, the mystery wasn’t really satisfying. And the throw in of another character acting a part of the plot felt a bit gratuitous and half-haphazard as if Gleason came up to a point and needed some filler for the story.
You may be thinking, is there anything to like about this book? Of course! The punky crone witches are a lot of fun, the bookstore premise sounded amazing, and the new burgeoning relationship between Jacqueline and her new friends seemed real. I loved how Gleason stylized the yoga instructor and the baker as real people and not characters. The flirt flirt romance with the Thor like police detective wasn’t so bad either.
Taken as a whole, the book IS a fun frothy and quick read and while Gleason has many books under her belt, I’m giving her some leeway on this series because it is a new series and she’s still ironing the kinks out. I do recall that with The Clockwork Scarab, I remember feeling a bit “quois?” about some of the scenes but I loved the idea so much I stopped overthinking and let it just go.
I’ll do the same for the Three Tomes Bookshop series as book two is coming out in the spring. There is a wonderful world to play in, like I said, Gleason has set up some great building blocks now it is only time before she truly shines.
I read Gleason’s The Clockwork Scarab (the series where Sherlock Holmes’ niece and Bram Stoker’s sister solve crimes), and I recall really liking it but I never went forth to read the sequels. I think most of you reading this get it: too many books and not enough time. By happenstance, an author friend who happens to be friends with Gleason promoted Tomes Scones and Crones on Facebook and once I recognised the name AND that Gleason is a Michigan girl, I got my hands on an arc.
Which brings us to Tomes Scones and Crones which throws in some Macbeth witchy delight coupled with a magical bookshop in an adorable village with adorable villagers along with the hunky police detective located in N. Michigan with an over the hill (48!) librarian as the protagonist. At first thought:The Scottish play is great! I’m an over 40 librarian! I spend half a year living in a small village in N. Michigan. Is Gleason in my brain!?
Maybe.
Tomes Scones and Crones has a lot going on: it’s got a group of punky crone witches, fictional characters that come to life, an adorable village, a beyond dream of a bookshop, a villain that isn’t really scary, and new friends. The premise is great but the execution of some of it not so much.
First, there is the main character who is the over the hill librarian. Gleason was either writing tongue in cheek, which could be a possibility, or she really believed this archetype of a librarian was the real deal. Not gonna lie, sometimes I wanted to shake her because her attitude towards being a librarian was not what 21st century library science is about and it is TOTALLY OKAY TO EAT AND DRINK WHILE READING IN A LIBRARY! Most libraries allow snack and closed drinks to be near books. Second, the reason how Jaqueline lost her job is also a bit sketch and wouldn’t fly in 2021s sensibilities even though the book was written in the 2020s and not the 1950s. Sometimes it was hard to tell. Third, the mystery wasn’t really satisfying. And the throw in of another character acting a part of the plot felt a bit gratuitous and half-haphazard as if Gleason came up to a point and needed some filler for the story.
You may be thinking, is there anything to like about this book? Of course! The punky crone witches are a lot of fun, the bookstore premise sounded amazing, and the new burgeoning relationship between Jacqueline and her new friends seemed real. I loved how Gleason stylized the yoga instructor and the baker as real people and not characters. The flirt flirt romance with the Thor like police detective wasn’t so bad either.
Taken as a whole, the book IS a fun frothy and quick read and while Gleason has many books under her belt, I’m giving her some leeway on this series because it is a new series and she’s still ironing the kinks out. I do recall that with The Clockwork Scarab, I remember feeling a bit “quois?” about some of the scenes but I loved the idea so much I stopped overthinking and let it just go.
I’ll do the same for the Three Tomes Bookshop series as book two is coming out in the spring. There is a wonderful world to play in, like I said, Gleason has set up some great building blocks now it is only time before she truly shines.
October 17, 2021
Not my usual mix of genres to read, but I enjoyed it quite a bit.
I have received this book in exchange of an honest review, thank you to NetGalley and Oliver Heber Books for the opportunity.
I have my own blog now, so please do give it a visit if you're interested in my other reviews :)
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The main thing that got me interested in reading the book, lay with the fact that the main setting is a bookshop. It might be a cliche take, but I really do love books where the setting is a library or a bookshop or something that revolves around books in one way or another. Although, I would say that the focus of the book, or rather the message to be delivered lies somewhere else, specifically in embracing oneself before anything else.
Jacqueline Finch is at the lowest place she's reached in her life at the start of the novel, and the author wasted no time throwing her from one issue to the next to test her mettle. Thankfully, and despite her reservation, Jacqueline begins to try and change herself to fit the new surroundings instead of just focusing on the has-beens. It's difficult moving on, or letting bygones be bygones, and seeing her own struggle with it was something I considered relatable to my own real life situation.
I'm not in my 30s just yet, but I found myself echoing quite a few of the statements the ladies had in this book and it got me thinking a bit about my own life, but it's also the reason why I enjoyed it a lot. At the core, I'll describe this as more of a cozy mystery in a low fantasy setting, with a bigger part of it being of re-self discovery which I think the book did pretty well.
The mystery is not what I expected in a way however, but it was in the background for sure while I navigated this new life with Jacqueline and the other women in the book.
Being around all the ladies here was fun for me, even if I won't say that I loved them as characters. Which, by the way, I'll only say given that this is a setup type of book and establishing the setting and the major players moving forward, felt like it took precedence at most times instead of me getting to really know everyone here.
Yes, there are some mini adventures, a lot of instances with each other and learning about this new magical bookshop, but I still feel like they're outlines of a bigger whole for next time. Or at least that's what I hope for as the bookshop in particular is just awesome, and if Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. Danvers are any indication, it's barely scratched the surface of its full potential.
The only side I didn't care much about and was very worried about as well, was the romance. I loathe that genre with a passion and I'm so happy that it was only dropped hints so far, although I can see future installments taking that one much further. Therefore, I'll reserve judgment till then.
Other than that, I really did enjoy myself and I wouldn't mind more of it if it's just as fun and cozy of a read.
I have received this book in exchange of an honest review, thank you to NetGalley and Oliver Heber Books for the opportunity.
I have my own blog now, so please do give it a visit if you're interested in my other reviews :)
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The main thing that got me interested in reading the book, lay with the fact that the main setting is a bookshop. It might be a cliche take, but I really do love books where the setting is a library or a bookshop or something that revolves around books in one way or another. Although, I would say that the focus of the book, or rather the message to be delivered lies somewhere else, specifically in embracing oneself before anything else.
Jacqueline Finch is at the lowest place she's reached in her life at the start of the novel, and the author wasted no time throwing her from one issue to the next to test her mettle. Thankfully, and despite her reservation, Jacqueline begins to try and change herself to fit the new surroundings instead of just focusing on the has-beens. It's difficult moving on, or letting bygones be bygones, and seeing her own struggle with it was something I considered relatable to my own real life situation.
I'm not in my 30s just yet, but I found myself echoing quite a few of the statements the ladies had in this book and it got me thinking a bit about my own life, but it's also the reason why I enjoyed it a lot. At the core, I'll describe this as more of a cozy mystery in a low fantasy setting, with a bigger part of it being of re-self discovery which I think the book did pretty well.
The mystery is not what I expected in a way however, but it was in the background for sure while I navigated this new life with Jacqueline and the other women in the book.
Being around all the ladies here was fun for me, even if I won't say that I loved them as characters. Which, by the way, I'll only say given that this is a setup type of book and establishing the setting and the major players moving forward, felt like it took precedence at most times instead of me getting to really know everyone here.
Yes, there are some mini adventures, a lot of instances with each other and learning about this new magical bookshop, but I still feel like they're outlines of a bigger whole for next time. Or at least that's what I hope for as the bookshop in particular is just awesome, and if Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. Danvers are any indication, it's barely scratched the surface of its full potential.
The only side I didn't care much about and was very worried about as well, was the romance. I loathe that genre with a passion and I'm so happy that it was only dropped hints so far, although I can see future installments taking that one much further. Therefore, I'll reserve judgment till then.
Other than that, I really did enjoy myself and I wouldn't mind more of it if it's just as fun and cozy of a read.
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