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Rosemary Mountain Mystery #2
Murder on the Mountain
Broken hearts, a deadly curse, and a search for Kid Curry's buried treasure...
Daphne Sullivan is flat broke and brokenhearted. Her business is in shambles, half the town hates her, and the man she was falling for left town without explanation. All she wants is to lie low, rebuild her business, and find her place again in Rosemary Mountain.
But when a treasure hunter is found murdered with Daphne's address in his pocket, she's involved in another investigation-and town scandal-whether she likes it or not.
And with Emerson Jones suddenly back on the mountain, Daphne has even more to worry about than money problems, town gossip, and a killer on the loose. Emerson may be protecting her life, but she'll have to protect her heart...
Daphne Sullivan is flat broke and brokenhearted. Her business is in shambles, half the town hates her, and the man she was falling for left town without explanation. All she wants is to lie low, rebuild her business, and find her place again in Rosemary Mountain.
But when a treasure hunter is found murdered with Daphne's address in his pocket, she's involved in another investigation-and town scandal-whether she likes it or not.
And with Emerson Jones suddenly back on the mountain, Daphne has even more to worry about than money problems, town gossip, and a killer on the loose. Emerson may be protecting her life, but she'll have to protect her heart...
- GenresFiction
224 pages, Kindle Edition
First published December 27, 2022
209 people are currently reading
78 people want to read
About the author
Nicole Gardner
10 books44 followersMystery + Romantic Suspense author. Writer of quaint towns with cozy vibes, romantic suspense, and plot twists you'll never see coming. Nicole lives in Arkansas with her husband, sons, and two dogs. If she’s not at her desk writing, you’ll probably find her in the garden or creating teas and tinctures in her kitchen.
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 16, 2023
Who Killed the Man on the Mountain ? . . .
Daphne Sullivan lives on Rosemary Mountain. She is broke, frustrated, unliked by many in town, and her boyfriend Emerson Jones left her without a word. She still doesn’t know who killed her mother. She needs to rebuild her failed business and make a new start. But when she and herbalist Fiona Flanagan are on a hike, they chatted over a rest period. Fiona was a good listener. When she mentioned that Emerson being back in town should raise her spirits, Daphne was shocked. He never let her know he returned.
Daphne had been having visions lately, mostly about her mother and her death. This time, she looked down at the compass and immediately saw a vision of a random couple arguing, the woman frustrated and trying to get the man to listen to her. She told Fiona what she saw, and Fiona said they needed to go back so Daphne could get some rest. It was obvious she was worn out and upset. Daphne had to make a quick stop back in the trees since she had drunk too much cider. She headed toward some boulders and as she moved to the other side of them, she found a stranger’s dead body with a head wound! Unfortunately… he was the man she had seen in her vision!
This story line will keep the reader’s attention for sure! How will they tell Sheriff Morrison that Daphne saw the man in a vision? That is not information she wants others besides Fiona to know. And she hadn’t actually seen him murdered… but was her vision an important detail to tell the Sheriff? And why was Daphne’s address in the man’s pocket? She just may be dragged into another investigation, whether she wants to or not. Grab your copy and find out where the investigation will lead. And what’s going on with Emerson dropping her without any explanation?
Daphne Sullivan lives on Rosemary Mountain. She is broke, frustrated, unliked by many in town, and her boyfriend Emerson Jones left her without a word. She still doesn’t know who killed her mother. She needs to rebuild her failed business and make a new start. But when she and herbalist Fiona Flanagan are on a hike, they chatted over a rest period. Fiona was a good listener. When she mentioned that Emerson being back in town should raise her spirits, Daphne was shocked. He never let her know he returned.
Daphne had been having visions lately, mostly about her mother and her death. This time, she looked down at the compass and immediately saw a vision of a random couple arguing, the woman frustrated and trying to get the man to listen to her. She told Fiona what she saw, and Fiona said they needed to go back so Daphne could get some rest. It was obvious she was worn out and upset. Daphne had to make a quick stop back in the trees since she had drunk too much cider. She headed toward some boulders and as she moved to the other side of them, she found a stranger’s dead body with a head wound! Unfortunately… he was the man she had seen in her vision!
This story line will keep the reader’s attention for sure! How will they tell Sheriff Morrison that Daphne saw the man in a vision? That is not information she wants others besides Fiona to know. And she hadn’t actually seen him murdered… but was her vision an important detail to tell the Sheriff? And why was Daphne’s address in the man’s pocket? She just may be dragged into another investigation, whether she wants to or not. Grab your copy and find out where the investigation will lead. And what’s going on with Emerson dropping her without any explanation?
October 27, 2024
I didn’t like this book as much as the first one. Not even close. And I still don’t know what happened do Daphne’s mother 🙃 writing three books where the main plot is always on hold… I don’t like that at all. But now I have to read the last book in order to find out what happened to Eileen.
September 6, 2023
This has a lot of the same issues as book 1.
A bit of consultation with someone from East Tennessee would have done the author well. Her lack of familiarity with Central Appalachia sticks out like a sore thumb. It’s not “lunch”, it’s dinner; it’s not “dinner”, it’s supper. We don’t use fire pits like city people. We just go out on our property and build a bonfire. If we use indoor wood stoves, we don’t take our pokers outside. We just get a stick to poke the outside bonfires. And we don’t build backyard fires in the winter. In the summer and fall, yes. But Central Appalachia is part of a states-wide rainforest. In the winter, it rains too much to be building fires outside as recreation. It would be cold, wet, and miserable to try and any wood we used would be too wet to burn.
And the seemingly requisite shout out to the Harry Potter generation that can’t be avoided in modern fiction is here. The main character has the “second sight”. But it’s a cop out to story development that could be discarded. Cutting it would actually benefit the book and make it more interesting and less predictable.
I had suspected that the boyfriend was tied to the shenanigans somehow. He was throwing shady red flags everywhere. But in this book, the viewpoint the reader sees the world through changes from chapter to chapter. We get to live inside his head a little bit. So it quickly became apparent my theories about him were wrong.
The plot development is similar in both books. No real surprises here. But again, it’s highly readable for its faults. These books are easy, quick vacation reading. Which I usually avoid. But it has its place. Sometimes the mind needs a break and a book that doesn’t require much of the mind is welcome. These would make decent air travel books. They can be read in one cross-country flight, are simple enough for a tired or distracted mind to grasp, and the high readability would keep you pleasantly occupied.
A bit of consultation with someone from East Tennessee would have done the author well. Her lack of familiarity with Central Appalachia sticks out like a sore thumb. It’s not “lunch”, it’s dinner; it’s not “dinner”, it’s supper. We don’t use fire pits like city people. We just go out on our property and build a bonfire. If we use indoor wood stoves, we don’t take our pokers outside. We just get a stick to poke the outside bonfires. And we don’t build backyard fires in the winter. In the summer and fall, yes. But Central Appalachia is part of a states-wide rainforest. In the winter, it rains too much to be building fires outside as recreation. It would be cold, wet, and miserable to try and any wood we used would be too wet to burn.
And the seemingly requisite shout out to the Harry Potter generation that can’t be avoided in modern fiction is here. The main character has the “second sight”. But it’s a cop out to story development that could be discarded. Cutting it would actually benefit the book and make it more interesting and less predictable.
I had suspected that the boyfriend was tied to the shenanigans somehow. He was throwing shady red flags everywhere. But in this book, the viewpoint the reader sees the world through changes from chapter to chapter. We get to live inside his head a little bit. So it quickly became apparent my theories about him were wrong.
The plot development is similar in both books. No real surprises here. But again, it’s highly readable for its faults. These books are easy, quick vacation reading. Which I usually avoid. But it has its place. Sometimes the mind needs a break and a book that doesn’t require much of the mind is welcome. These would make decent air travel books. They can be read in one cross-country flight, are simple enough for a tired or distracted mind to grasp, and the high readability would keep you pleasantly occupied.
October 11, 2024
🖍️ The format of this book is one of my least favorite styles; i.e., the chapters go back and forth between characters speaking in the first person. I don’t like the whiplash effect, but eventually the story does get told. I was just curious enough to work my way through it, particularly since I invested my reading time reading the first in the Rosemary Mountain Mystery series (trilogy) by Nicole Gardner.
Daphne Sullivan is back to her old tricks: “’I found this, and then I had another vision.’” The words felt strange.” Yes, Daphne proports that she still has the "second sight" (clairvoyance) as her mother did, and she finds yet another body – this time, it is in the woods – and her “second sight” endears her even more to ol’ Fiona Flanagan.
Nicole Gardner’s writing style is intelligent, smooth, and fairly clean – those are important to my reading preferences and sensibilities.
The passage about Daphne having to relieve herself in the woods after drinking “too much apple cider” is unnecessarily detailed. Moreover, there is a discussion between ol’ Fiona and Daphne wherein Daphne is hesitant to take care of her bathroom business in the woods, Fiona makes fun of her for being “a city girl” for not knowing how to, and I do not buy that – Daphne seems more like a princess than a sensible young woman. To her, I imagine, a night at a Motel 6 would be akin to roughing it for her. And, yes, the what and how she sprinkles is detailed for readers. . . . Bleh.
Anyway, I enjoyed reading Murder on the Mountain. I still do not like most of the characters, particularly the crude busybody Fiona Flanagan, yet the mark of a good writer is to bring out emotion in readers. Nicole Gardner does that.
☞How I came across this book: Reading the Rosemary Mountain Mystery trilogy by Nicole Gardner.
🟣 Kindle.
✴︎⋆✴︎⋆✴︎⋆✴︎
Daphne Sullivan is back to her old tricks: “’I found this, and then I had another vision.’” The words felt strange.” Yes, Daphne proports that she still has the "second sight" (clairvoyance) as her mother did, and she finds yet another body – this time, it is in the woods – and her “second sight” endears her even more to ol’ Fiona Flanagan.
Nicole Gardner’s writing style is intelligent, smooth, and fairly clean – those are important to my reading preferences and sensibilities.
The passage about Daphne having to relieve herself in the woods after drinking “too much apple cider” is unnecessarily detailed. Moreover, there is a discussion between ol’ Fiona and Daphne wherein Daphne is hesitant to take care of her bathroom business in the woods, Fiona makes fun of her for being “a city girl” for not knowing how to, and I do not buy that – Daphne seems more like a princess than a sensible young woman. To her, I imagine, a night at a Motel 6 would be akin to roughing it for her. And, yes, the what and how she sprinkles is detailed for readers. . . . Bleh.
Anyway, I enjoyed reading Murder on the Mountain. I still do not like most of the characters, particularly the crude busybody Fiona Flanagan, yet the mark of a good writer is to bring out emotion in readers. Nicole Gardner does that.
☞How I came across this book: Reading the Rosemary Mountain Mystery trilogy by Nicole Gardner.
🟣 Kindle.
✴︎⋆✴︎⋆✴︎⋆✴︎
August 20, 2023
Close book, deep breath... wow! My foremost emotion right now is that I LOVE Fiona! She's the most resourceful and wise grandmotherly lady-- and totally hilarious. Daphne, Emerson, Jackson, Greg, Janet...the whole list of characters are perfect parts of a story which draws you in and never lets go.
I truly enjoyed every page of this book as much as Gardner's last, and I'll be digging into Book 3 --Danger in the Darkness-- right away. Gardner is a talented writer who expertly crafts a plot that you seriously don't want to walk away from. I adore how each chapter ends in a way that pulls you along. Also, the characters are magnets for my heart and soul! I am so engaged by the text connections I make as I read this series. For example, I live in Arkansas, I have family who live up on a glorious mountain in Tennessee, and I have great familiarity with rural small towns, their inhabitants, and all that goes along with that scene. These connections make my reading experience very rich. No matter your background, the themes of murder mystery, romance, family relationships, and human beings finding their way will touch every reader, and so I hope you'll dive into this series to see for yourself what a joy it is!
I truly enjoyed every page of this book as much as Gardner's last, and I'll be digging into Book 3 --Danger in the Darkness-- right away. Gardner is a talented writer who expertly crafts a plot that you seriously don't want to walk away from. I adore how each chapter ends in a way that pulls you along. Also, the characters are magnets for my heart and soul! I am so engaged by the text connections I make as I read this series. For example, I live in Arkansas, I have family who live up on a glorious mountain in Tennessee, and I have great familiarity with rural small towns, their inhabitants, and all that goes along with that scene. These connections make my reading experience very rich. No matter your background, the themes of murder mystery, romance, family relationships, and human beings finding their way will touch every reader, and so I hope you'll dive into this series to see for yourself what a joy it is!
January 17, 2023
This is a wonderful continuation of the plot and subplots that were started in the first book. You need to have read the first book in the series to understand what's going on in this one.
I love the character progression. Even though this starts a little after the end of the first book, the growth of each character is explained in enough detail so that you don't feel "left out" and can get into the story just as much as with the first book.
I can't wait to read the next book in the series!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I love the character progression. Even though this starts a little after the end of the first book, the growth of each character is explained in enough detail so that you don't feel "left out" and can get into the story just as much as with the first book.
I can't wait to read the next book in the series!.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
June 29, 2025
These books are so good! I just finished book 2 and am starting book 3. The characters are pretty consistently developed, with some good quirks and personal problems here and there, and in this book 2, I was surprised to find who was doing the dirty -- usually one can guess earlier on -- so it made the ending work well.
August 11, 2025
The first book was really good, so I had to get the second one. It was a well-crafted cozy mystery with some romance from two perspectives that felt realistic in the doubt that people have when something is important to them. The mystery was tied up at the end, with a teaser in the epilogue that makes me want to buy the third book.
October 12, 2024
This one trended more to the romance side with a splash of mystery. Liked the building of characters, but really wanted more adventure. I’ll read book 3 in hopes of a conclusion to her real purpose, her mom.
October 15, 2024
Murder
I can't believe this book was as good as the first one it had excitement humour and romance, I love Fiona she is so feisty and full of life but I think the characters are great and the plot is so so good I highly recommend these books a very well deserved 5 stars
I can't believe this book was as good as the first one it had excitement humour and romance, I love Fiona she is so feisty and full of life but I think the characters are great and the plot is so so good I highly recommend these books a very well deserved 5 stars
September 20, 2025
Quick read
Let me start by saying, I'm not a treasure hunt type of reader so I could have lived without that part of the storyline. Aside from that, I enjoyed the evolution of Emerson, Daphne, and Fiona.
Let me start by saying, I'm not a treasure hunt type of reader so I could have lived without that part of the storyline. Aside from that, I enjoyed the evolution of Emerson, Daphne, and Fiona.
November 11, 2025
A missing treasure, means treasure hunters, and murders
Daphne returns to her mountain home, to possible information of a buried treasure and the bodies start dropping and tension builds in the little mountain town.
Daphne returns to her mountain home, to possible information of a buried treasure and the bodies start dropping and tension builds in the little mountain town.
January 13, 2023
I enjoyed reading the book. I love the characters and the story!! I cannot wait until the next one. The series is so enjoyable.
February 25, 2023
The second book in her series and it was just as good! Suspense and romance all tied into an incredible adventure that leaves the reader eagerly anticipating book three!
May 20, 2023
I finished this book in less than 24 hours! Just as good as Book 1! Definitely did not disappoint!
May 28, 2023
Absolutely amazing! Good to read a great mystery!
January 1, 2025
It was a real page turner. I have loved diving into the mysteries of Rosemary Mountain. Can't wait to see what happens next in Daphne's story!
January 7, 2025
This book was the second in a series based on Daphne who lives in Rosemary Mountain. I appreciate that this is a good mystery, with a little clean romance mixed in.
February 18, 2025
Great read
I loved this series so much I bought all 3 of them. It keeps you thinking and wondering what will happen next. Can't wait to start the last one.
I loved this series so much I bought all 3 of them. It keeps you thinking and wondering what will happen next. Can't wait to start the last one.
May 7, 2025
I love these characters...it ends up being one of those stories you never want to end! Can't wait to read the next book!!
September 15, 2025
A great 2nd book in the series. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
July 14, 2025
fantastic!! it keeps you wanting more. The main characters were phenomenal. this book took me less than 2 hours to read because I was so engrossed in the book.
January 9, 2023
A return to Rosemary Mountain -this time in search of hidden treasure!
Daphne is recovering from her last adventure on Rosemary Mountain, but things are getting harder. Work is slow and she still hasn't solved the mystery that led her there in the first place! As she works to mend relationships in her life, she learns about another relationship from long ago - and treasure hidden by outlaws! As she hunts for buried treasure, she learns once again that no treasure can compare to the love of those around you.
Daphne is recovering from her last adventure on Rosemary Mountain, but things are getting harder. Work is slow and she still hasn't solved the mystery that led her there in the first place! As she works to mend relationships in her life, she learns about another relationship from long ago - and treasure hidden by outlaws! As she hunts for buried treasure, she learns once again that no treasure can compare to the love of those around you.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews