If you have never read any of the other books in the Caprice De Luca Home Staging Mysteries by Karen Rose Smith, you will find this book to be easily a stand-alone and will fall in love with Caprice and her big supportive Italian family. Slay Bells Ring is a cozy mystery yes, but it also includes some romance, the love and support of family and yes. even the love and care of pets in it. The Christmas season has arrived in Kismet, Pennsylvania, and Caprice De Luca is busy at her job of staging houses for an area relator, Denise Lanford. Caprice is especially involved in the staging of the 1918 historic Colonial that is owned by Sara and Chris Merriweather since it is on the tour of Historic Homes and Chris is anxious for a quick sale. The Merriweather’s are not just her clients, but Chris is her father’s poker buddy. Chris, a Vietnam veteran, is the owner of Merriweather Crafts and a woodworker of toys for at least the past 20 years. The toys sold through the craft store but also are dispersed to area needy children. Chris with his sparkling blue eyes and beautiful white beard is known to be Santa Claus in the parade that starts the Christmas season and also at the little cabin on Santa Lane. Sara, Chris’s wife, is concerned about his sudden urge to sell their home and move into a condominium. She loves their home for the memories it holds and is anxious as to why Chris has decided this. Caprice, of course, tries to assure Sara that the open house can be put on hold, but Sara knows it is not Chris’s plans. This is just a snippet to set the book for you.
Once you begin to read this book, you will not want to stop until you finish. Slay Bells Ring will put the feeling and meaning of Christmas in your heart. Karen Rose Smith has included a part of herself in each of her books and she has not failed this time either.

Caprice is at it again. Staging houses and solving murders. She is also planning her wedding to Grant. With her family standing by her she can do anything. The holiday theme is the perfect finish to another book in this series.


** I received a copy if this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review**

This is an interesting and charming series. I must admit this one was not my favorite. I do look forward to reading the next one in the series. I did enjoy reading about the Vietnam vets and the new dog in Caprice's life, Blitz.

Slay Bells Ring by Karen Rose Smith is the seventh book in A Caprice De Luca Home Staging Mystery series (that’s a mouthful). Caprice De Luca is staging Christopher and Sara Merriweather home with a “Christmas Delight” theme for their open house. Chris and Sara own a local hobby store along with Chris making beautiful wood toys during the year. Chris has been acting strangely since his return from his annual trip to visit old war buddies in Washington, D.C. Late one evening, Chris (who plays Santa each year) is found dead outside Santa’s cabin on Santa Lane. Why would someone murder him? Caprice is asked to look into the crime and see if she can unmask the killer. She soon discovers that Chris was keeping many secrets. Which one of them go them got him murdered?

Slay Bells Ring is not a standalone novel. You do need to read the previous six books in the series or you will be lost. There are numerous family members (friends, townspeople) and it will be impossible to keep them all straight. The murder occurs at the 20% mark in the story (I was beginning to wonder if I was reading a cozy mystery). The culprit’s identity can be discovered before the murder occurs (I am not kidding). I wish the mystery had been slightly more complicated and had been more of the focus of the book. The focus of Slay Bells Ring is on Grant and Caprice. They are newly engaged and very much in love (as we are told repeatedly). Slay Bells Ring is nicely written and has a good flow. It contains a charming town and a good female main character. I appreciate Caprice’s fashion sense and love of animals. Food items and Caprice’s clothing are described in detail (each and every outfit). Slay Bells Ring is perfect for readers looking for a light-hearted cozy mystery with love, family and Christmas. There is a preview of Murder with Lemon Tea Cakes at the end of the book.

I throughly enjoyed this holiday cozy mystery. This is the seventh in a series, which I didn’t realize when I started it (my fault). I did stay enjoy getting to know the town of Kismet. I think it would be best to start at the beginning though. Still good holiday fun!

Slay Bells Ring is the seventh book in the Caprice De Luca Mystery series. Caprice is hired to stage a house during the pre-holiday season, something she is more than happy to do. When Chris, the town Santa, is found murdered, Caprice find herself asking around to find answers to this mystery, and some shocking truths come out. This book was one you just can't put down. I highly recommend it!

This book can be read as a standalone. You do not need to know the history behind the characters to understand what is going on. Caprice De Luca is staging the home of Chris and Sara Merriweather for a quick sale and the town’s Home tour. Chris Merriweather has a lot of secrets. Is this the reason for his death or is there something else? Chris has been Santa for this town for a long time. He winds up in the snow left to die. The De Lucas are interested in what happened as he is a family friend.
Caprice De Luca and her fiancé Grant become entangled in finding out what has happened. This is a very interesting read and is sure to please the Home Staging Mystery followers.
I want to thank Netgalley and Kensington Publications for allowing me to read this.

I enjoyed this book very much. Chris Merriweather wanted to sell his and Sarah’s home. She did not. He plays Santa Claus every year in Kismet, Pa. The town is very upset when Chris is found murdered. Caprice DeLuca is determined to find out who his enemies were and investigate them. During this investigation, it is found out that Chris has secrets from Vietnam. A key, sewn into the dog’s collar, holds the answer. Slay Bells Ring is a great book, which held my attention and I read in one sitting. I enjoyed the Pennsylvania setting. I recommend this book highly for all cozy mystery lovers.

This is a great book; this is the seventh book in the Caprice De Luca Home Staging Mystery Series written by Karen Rose Smith. Caprice De Luca has wrapped up her holiday-themed staging gig at a stunning historic home in downtown Kismit, Pennsylvania. Behind all the red ribbon and glowing string lights, homeowners Chris and Sara Merriweather have it all. But Chris, a Vietnam vet who plays Santa every year at the community park, has been displaying strange behavior after a recent trip to Washington, D.C. The joy of the season vanishes entirely when Chris is found murdered on Santa Lane, leaving behind his loyal malamute and lots of unfinished business. As Caprice uncovers hidden secrets in Santa's workshop, the pressure is on to catch the candy cane-wielding culprit. This is a great book with a wonderful story and well developed characters. This book will keep you reading long into the night. If you are looking for a great book, then you need to read this book. I am looking forward to reading the next book by this great author. I voluntarily reviewed an advanced reader’s copy of this book. The free book held no determination on my personal review.

I really enjoyed this series. I especially liked the characters. Caprice is smart, nice, and curious. She is close to her family, which I like. They support and help each other and they are all concerned about people in their community. So when a friend of their father's is killed, Caprice steps in to help gather information for the police. Their is some funny conversations/situations and the animals are adorable. The mystery was engaging and there were enough suspects that I didn't figure out the murderer until the end. I would read another book by this author.

This is a great cozy mystery with amazing characters and a wonderful storyline. I couldn’t put it down once I started reading it. I can’t wait to read more by this author.

Slay Bells Ring is absolutely the very best Caprice De Luca Mystery to date. Karen Rose Smith has taken Caprice, her family, and friends (and furbabies!) to new heights with this 7th in series. It can be read as a standalone or in order. It is delightful and suspenseful mystery, the author continues to outdo herself with endearing characters, suspense, and romance as well as social awareness challenges and pet needs.

Caprice and Grant are planning for their future but have not yet set a wedding date. She is busy with home staging and interior decorating jobs along with Christmas preparations. Her newest contract is with Sara and Chris Merriweather, old family friends who are selling their gorgeous historic home to move into a condo in a retirement community.

Chris plays Santa Claus at the Santa house as he does every year. He suffers from PTSD after being in Viet Nam, but this is something he always looks forward to. Children love Blitz, his dog, almost as much as Santa. Yet Blitz was locked in the Santa house the night Chris was found bludgeoned to death with one of the candy cane decor stands stuck into the ground next to the house.

Caprice had harrowing escapades in the past while trying to help find the bad guy in murders for friends and lets the police handle such things now. How can she refuse to help Sara, however, after the long friendship with her parents? The chief of police, a family friend, Mack Powalski, can’t be part of the investigation due to his friendship with Chris. There are several possible suspects, including a couple of friends who are also Viet Nam vets. In recent months, Chris simply hasn’t been himself and even his wife doesn’t know why. At least until his secrets begin to be revealed.

Caprice and her nana are people I would want to meet if they were real. Caprice has a talent for coordinating fashions, furnishings, and colors, as well as communicating with people and animals. All the main characters are well-defined, with their behaviors and dialog showing who they are. The De Lucas all genuinely care about others, whether they have two legs or four, with unconditional love for their family. Sara, her family, and the veterans are also well-rounded. The author writes some of herself into the De Luca family’s ladies, especially with cooking expertise and love of pets.

The plot includes some huge surprises and turns! I like when there is a buildup of the story before a crime occurs; for this reader, it is much more shocking if I like the person injured or murdered. In this case, Chris is someone who will be missed very much by his family and community, and Sara is a wonderful lady. I like how cats and dogs are so much a part of Caprice and her family, including her uncle and his new business. The author has a finely executed plot with verve and charm and a layer of mysteries. While I did have a strong guess who the bad guy(s) were, I had the wrong motive – something that would not be revealed until much later. The end is very satisfying, and I am already looking forward to the next mystery! I highly recommend Slay Bells Ring, which can be read as a standalone or in order of the series. Oh yes, sleigh bells are used at least three ways in the novel, a unique play on words in the title!

From a grateful heart: I received this eBook from the author and NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

Caprice is staging a holiday themed house for family friends the Merriweather's, and it's coming along beautifully. The family seems to have it all but when Chris, who always plays Santa every year, is found murdered all might not be as it seems. The question on everyone's mind is who could have done something like that to such a kind man. Caprice has known the family forever and can't just sit back and do nothing, she wants to help figure out just what happened. While looking for answers some disturbing things pop up about Chris putting him in a different light. Apparently he had been hiding quite a few secrets from his family for many years. Follow along with Caprice as she searches for clues and answers. You can't help but enjoy what a unique and strong main character she is and the lengths she will go to for family and friends. I always look forward to reading about what theme she will come up with next for the house that she is staging and what animals she will help.

Slay Bells Ring by Karen Rose Smith is a 2017 Kensington publication.

Cryptic and mysterious holiday whodunit-


Caprice and her large Italian family are back to solve one of her most complex and emotional cases to date.

Caprice is commissioned to stage a beautiful historic home, but the owners are split on the idea of selling the home. Chris, a toy maker, and the resident Santa Claus, is determined to sell the property, while his wife, Sara, is more reluctant, because the house holds so many memories for her.

But, after exhibiting some rather odd behavior, Chris is found murdered. Why would anyone want to murder Chris? Well, it would seem he has more enemies than anyone thought possible, and he’s been holding back a few big secrets- I mean giant whoppers- and a few of them came tumbling out of the closet after his death, the consequences of which cast suspicion on several people almost immediately.

With Caprice’s naturally detecting skills, she begins asking around in hopes of getting answers for a family in shock and mourning.

It’s been a while since I picked up a cozy mystery, and with the cool temperatures and the holidays right around the corner, I was in the mood to curl up with a nice, clean, whodunit. Naturally, I went straight for this book, since it is the latest installment of one of my 'go-to' cozy mystery series, plus this story has a few holiday elements included, as an added bonus.

Not only that, I just finished a few dark and tense books and needed to wrap myself in the comfort of old book friends and the warmth of love and family this series always inspires.

This story is a little emotional though, touching on the pain of war and its after effects, which can haunt people for decades. I also felt sympathy for the family, who suffered a great loss, but is realizing a new kind of hurt when they discover things about their loved ones that were kept hidden from them.

Caprice works with the police a bit on this case, while doing a little matchmaking for her sister, in the process, so I’m hoping to see her skills get a little professional recognition one day. As always, I love touching base with Caprice and Grant, her close -knit family and all her wonderful pets. Caprice is fun, free spirited, sweet, dedicated and loyal, and I like her moral standards, and her love of animals, which is why this is one of my favorite cozy mystery series.


Overall, this is another terrific installment in the Caprice De Luca series!! If you love cozy mysteries, pets, strong family elements, with a dash of romance, you will love this series.

4 stars

The holidays can be the happiest time of the year or they can bring out the worst in people.
For the loving De Luca family it is always a super busy time of year. This year love is in the air for all generations. We get to share their happiness even while tragedy strikes not far from home.
A neighbor is murdered while taking the role of the community Santa, a role he has played and loved for many years.

Of course Caprice can not sit idly by when murder touches her family. She will do more than bring a casserole to the grieving family and take in their confused and lost dog who was Santa's best friend.
We enjoy the sights, sounds and taste of Christmas around Kizmet through the beautiful houses Caprice stages and the festivities her sisters host. We learn to roll with the changes as Roz and Vince combine households and Caprice and Grant look forward to their life together. As long as Caprice's life is not cut short when she asks the wrong questions under suspicious circumstances. She may be making an enemy or two as she digs into painful past memories.

What a great visit which also deals tastefully with difficult subjects.
While I may have had my own suspicions about who the murderer was, the motive remained murky until closer to the end. Disappointment in some humans did not take away the warm Christmas feel from this family themed novel.

this book will definitely put you in the holiday spirit. The hidden secrets of the murdered victim makes for a lot of possible suspects and kept me totally engaged until the very ending. I really love the family ties that are woven into this series. I thoroughly enjoy each and every book. Well written, well plotted and love the recipes that are included.

First off, I would advise reading this series in order to get the most out of this, the 7th in the series. The pace is slower than some cozy mysteries and it helps to have 'history' with the characters and the setting. Caprice lives in a small town in Pennsylvania and has a great family and lots of friends. She is hired to stage a house but feels like only the husband wants a quick sale, not his wife. It's also the Christmas season and Caprice is looking forward to staging her own wedding soon. Unfortunately somebody kills Santa, a Vietnam vet and the one who was eager for the quick sale of their house. What secrets could he have that would lead to murder?
The mystery plays fair with clues and the relationships are my favorite parts of this series. Add a nice small town setting and pets and I found this a nice addition to a cup of tea and a relaxing afternoon read.

Gorgeous cover on the book. Lovely festive read. Cosy mystery thats always a huge hit. Really enjoyed this book. i hadnt read the rest in the series. but i will

This is a hard one for me to review because I had not read the previous books and occasionally found myself struggling with all the characters and how they interacted. That said, it's a well done cozy about a woman with a home staging business and her family who all have small businesses of their own- and they all support each other. Caprice is also hoping to be engaged to Grant- there's an issue with his annulment (seriously? in this day and age?). The lingering problems of the Vietnam war also play in, as the victim Chris is both a vet and one of Caprice's clients. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC.

If you love Hallmark Cozy Murder Mysteries (Garage Sale, Flower Shop), you will love Caprice DeLuca, home stager series.

The DeLucas are a large multigenerational Italian Catholic family with interconnecting small businesses. They are well connected to Kismet PA social life too.

Caprice is drawn into solving the murder of neighbour, friend, and town Santa, Chris Merriweather, a Vietnam War veteran. The path to finding the killer is well laid-out and in cozy fashion Caprice puts herself in danger.

There are pets: dogs and cats, in this series too. There are some delicious looking recipes at the end too.

I found there were too many characters to keep track of, so for me, this is a series I would rather read back to back once they have multiples published.