This is a strong series debut set in a friendly, coastal Oregon town. Molly has just moved to Britton Bay to start her new position as editor of the town's newspaper, in hopes of helping revive the paper and meeting its townpeople's needs. What she didn't plan on was having to investigate a murder while settling into the job and her new town. Not knowing anyone very well, she had a fair list of potential suspects, which makes for an intriguing mystery. I didn't solve the mystery before it was revealed in the book, which made it entertaining from start to finish. I also really liked the feel of the town and some of the people Molly started to get to know: Sam, Katherine, Callie, Bella, Alan, and Elizabeth. I'm looking forward to reading the next book in the series!

I received an advance copy of this book. This review contains my honest thoughts and opinions.

Molly finds herself in a new place and in a new job when things in her life need changed. She is working at the newspaper and between her and a few co workers things start off rocky. Pushing them to find a story leads one of them to find their last story.When death, in the form of murder comes to the little town will Molly let the police do the job or will she find something they missed? Will she open her heart to someone new and let them help her? Thank you for allowing me to read this book. NetGalley it was a fantastic story.

Know up front that Molly's romance with Sam gets equal billing with her investigation of who killed her colleague Vernon. Vernon- not the nicest man in the world- has ticked off a lot of people over the course of his career as a journalist. This isn't the way that Molly intended to start her new life and job in Britten Bay, Oregon, but it certainly throws her in the deep end. Classic cozy in many ways and a quick read that sets up Molly and the others for future installments. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Keep an eye on that pup!

Deadly News by Jody Holford is a great combination of cozy and romance just right for an long night at home.

Not long after Molly comes to serene coastal town to save the local newspaper and to escape cheating boyfriend. Everyone she meets is absolutely nice and friendly.
All but one of her colleagues welcome her, and for some reason old and cranky Vernon has a problem with her. She is having a time of her life finding the house, getting to meet the locals and enjoying mouth watering food, until Vernon ends up dead. Wrecked with guilt thinking that the assignment she gave him might have something to do with it, Molly can't help but ask few questions here and there.
However she soon gets warned to stop being nosy.
Along the way she meets not only a perfect sleuthing sidekick, but a savior and a romantic interest in shape of lovely Sam.
It is a parallel romantic and mystery story, each complementing the other.
Nicely paced and realistically presented.
The story flows easily and the cast of characters is absolutely charming. It is a perfect choice for both romance and cozy readers.

Jody Holford has been on my reading wish list for a while. Normally a contemporary romance author, Daily News marks her first time writing a cozy mystery.

In Daily News, Molly Owens moves from California to Britton Bay, Oregon, to become the new editor of the Britton Bay Bulletin, a small town failing newspaper. Molly wants to get more people to read the newspaper both online and in print. Her first course of business is to get staff writers Elizabeth Grover and Vernon East to write better articles; ones people actually care about reading. She immediately clashes with Vernon, who she secretly thinks wanted the editor position for himself. Molly proposes Vernon interview a descendant of the town’s founding family as part of a special interest piece. Days after the interview, Vernon is found dead and Molly can't help but think it's because of her.

While Molly isn't a reporter, she's curious as to the details of Vernon’s death and what really happened. Using her job at the paper as a reason to ask questions, Molly innocently questions various residents. With the help of her landlord's son, Sam Alderich, Molly learns surprising information about Vernon and several Britton Bay residents. As Molly works to pick up the slack at the newspaper left by Vernon’s death, she strikes up a romantic relationship with Sam. Too bad she's closing in on the killer who may just make her the new top story.

Daily News reads more like a romance then a cozy mystery. There seems to be more time spent on the relationship between Molly and Sam then you would normally find in a cozy mystery. For me,that was perfectly fine, as I've always wished there was a little more romance in cozies. Sam and Molly made for good characters. They're both very likable and are people I would love to hang around with. I loved the growing love story between them. Jody has written a good mystery. I found myself thoroughly enjoying the story while trying to figure out the killer. The reveal and the reason Vernon was killed was surprisingly shocking. I think Jody did a very good job. I'm a really looking forward to her next book in the series.

A promising start to a new cozy series. Really enjoyable.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not paid for this review.

This was a super adorable cozy and one for my keeper shelf. Likable characters(especially Sam!!) an adorable pup, a great setting and a fantastic mystery combine for a charming story that I thoroughly enjoyed. This new series is off to a great start and I hope for several more adventures with Molly, Sam and the rest of Britton Bay!!

I found this cozy mystery to be a perfect example of what that genre is. A good solid mystery with a little bit of romance and engaging characters, with more to come hopefully. I received an e-book from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review.

This is the first book in the britton bay series . Molly has just moved to britton bay because of her new job as editor of the local paper , the bulletin. When one of her colleagues doesn't report to work, Molly goes to check on him and finds him dead. There are no shortage of suspects since he wasn't the easiest person to get along with.

Along with some new friends , Molly tries to piece together what happened to her colleague . This was a good first booknfor a series. I thought it set the characters up well. They were very likable and made me want to know more abput them. I will definitely read the next book.

I received this book from net galley in exchange for a honest review .

This was a fast-paced drama that I could not put down becoming a page turner as I had to know what happens next. I love the writing style of the author and the comfortable tone that made it easy to the progress of the story. The mystery was nicely done and tightly woven to keep me in tuned in all aspect as the suspect list was small, despite the fact that the most people in town did not like the victim. As Molly seeks some answers, the more she learns about her new hometown which helps in dwindling down the list of suspects. It all comes to a head when the police make an arrest and Molly feels there’s more there that she can’t put her finger on and that’s when the author pulls out the stop with a change in the direction. From Molly to Sam to Katherine to Bella to Chris and to Tigger, they all played pivotal roles that enhanced my enjoyment of this tale. This is a delightfully entertaining debut series and I can’t wait to see where we go next with Molly and her friends.

Cozy Coastal Mystery
This is a cozy mystery with a side of romance. The story takes place in an Oregon seaside town of about 2000 people. Mystery, romance, a puppy, the ocean, a small town; this book has it all. The plot is well done with enough suspects and plot twists to keep your interest. The town is full of interesting characters that feed the humorous side of the story. It is very realistic and believable. This series has a lot of possibilities! I received this book for free and this is my honest review.

Deadly News is the debut of the A Britton Bay Mystery series set in the seaside town of Britton Bay, Oregon and featuring California transplant, Molly Owens. Jilted by her boyfriend, Molly has left her job as a journalist to take over as the Editor of the Britton Bay Bulletin, but one member of the current newspaper is not too happy with her arrival.

After suggesting that the grumpy Vernon East interview members of the Phillips family for a piece on Britton Bay's founding family, Molly is surprised when he fails to report to work the next day. Going to his home in hopes to smooth things over with the curmudgeon she is shocked to discover that he has been murdered. Overcome with fears that she is responsible for his untimely death, Molly sets out to uncover a killer.

With the help of town mechanic Sam Alderich and her newfound rescue pup, Tigger, Molly soon discovers that even the most prominent members of society have secrets to hide. As she delves deeper into the investigation the threats against Molly ramp up and she fears that someone is determined to silence her forever.

A great start to a series with an interesting cast of characters, a charming community and a delightful puppy. Some readers of traditional cozies might be a little put off by the instant relationship between Molly and Sam, but it doesn't take away from the actual murder plot.

I received an advanced copy of Deadly news from NetGalley via Lyrical Underground, a division of Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am more than happy to offer my honest opinion.

Jody Holford is a new-to-me cozy author, and she hits all the right notes in her Britton Bay Mystery "Deadly News," the debut novel in a new series. The tiny Britton Bay Bulletin on the Oregon coast gets a new leader when Molly Owens, fresh from California, is hired to serve as editor. Only twenty-eight, Molly gets a few wary glances from the older and sometimes more jaded members of the staff, but she’s got a thick skin and a determination to help turn around the struggling newspaper.

Molly gets along well with Alan, the publisher who hired her; Elizabeth, a fifty-something staff writer; Hannah, the high school intern; and even Clay, the part-time photog who’s sending out a bit of a creepy vibe. Only one member of the staff seems bent on making her life miserable, and that’s Vernon, the gray-haired crank who dismisses her and has no interest in improving either his writing or himself. When pushed too far, Molly finally calls Vernon into her office for a personal meeting and insists he get rid of the chip on his shoulder and improve his writing and interview techniques. Cranky Vernon doesn’t get much of a chance to work on the improvements, though, since he’s soon discovered dead at his home. Meanwhile, the non-welcome wagon is sending Molly a message by letting the air out her Jeep’s tires and painting “Leave!” on the side, so clearly Vernon wasn’t the only one who had it in for her.

The author does a fine job of giving us lots of suspects who easily could have wanted Vernon out of the picture. And one of the nicest surprises in this well-written book is that Molly is involved in a sweet, wholesome romance that doesn’t come across as too silly or too sexy. There’s also a wonderful sense of place in Britton Bay, from its eateries to the bed-and-breakfast whose owner lets Molly rent her cottage out back. Holford delivers a great introduction to the Britton Bay mysteries, and if she keeps it up, I’ll be coming back for lots of repeat visits.

Molly Owens has moved to Britton Bay, Oregon to start a new life after breaking up with her live-in boyfriend. She's accepted a job as the editor of the small Britton Bay Bulletin, the local newspaper. When she arrives for her meet-and-greet, the owner, Alan, introduces her to the staff: Elizabeth, Vernon, and Clay; along with an unpaid intern, Hannah, a teenager who is also Alan's niece. Vernon lets it be known immediately that he doesn't like her and that he has no intention of listening to her. While Molly tries to stay optimistic, she realizes that it will take work for Vernon to accept her.

When she leaves for lunch she finds her jeep sounds wrong, and luckily there's a nearby garage. Looking at her vehicle she sees the air has been let out of all of her tires. Meeting the mechanic, Sam Alderich, she gets a little bump in her heartbeat but reminds herself that she's there to work, not to start a new relationship. She knows that it was probably Vernon who did it, but without proof she needs to let it go.

When she decides to mix things up at the paper, hoping to improve their readership she assigns a story to Vernon about the local founding family. After a rough start, he agrees. But when he doesn't deliver the story, she calls him and he tells her he's taking the day off and will see her the next. When he doesn't show up for work, she goes over to his home only to find the man dead.

Blindsided and overwhelmed she calls the police, briefly questioned, and released. But Molly can't get the idea out of her head that she had something to do with Vernon's murder. Maybe if she hadn't pushed him to go out and get the story...but what could talking to an elderly woman have to do with murder?

Sorting out these thoughts isn't going to be easy, especially since she's being pursued by Sam, and no matter how much he tries to allay her fears, she's sure that his death has something to do with the story she sent him to find. But what? And it becomes even more apparent when she discovers flowers trampled at her home and the vandalism escalates. But how far will a killer go to protect any secrets they might have?

While this author has written other books, it is her first foray into the world of cozy mysteries, and as such a very worthwhile effort indeed. I found the mystery to be well-written, the story line intriguing, the characters well-drawn and the town descriptions delightful.

Molly isn't your usual sleuth, digging into places she shouldn't be and asking overly-invasive questions that make one uncomfortable reading about. Instead she's intelligent, empathetic, has a decent sense of humor, is able to banter flirtatiously with Sam without seeming awkward, and has a desire to actually fit in and make friends, which has her randomly apologizing to people for various things. I do believe the fact that this author has heretofore written romances helps in the fact that the budding romance between Molly and Sam is both convincing and enjoyable to read.

Following the many red herrings strewn into the story is quite fun, never knowing where they'll lead or to whom. Just when you feel you might be on the right track, something else comes around the bend that sends you in another direction. When Molly finally puts it all together and figures out the identity of the killer, it's worth noting that she's not stupid about it, and I appreciate that fact. The reason for the murder is believable, and I found that everything came together nicely at the end. I look forward to the next in the series. Highly recommended.

I just loved the writing of Jody Holford in this new A Britton Bay Mystery series. The characters were all believable, and the ones that were supposed to be were likable. I especially appreciated being inside of Molly's head, and seeing her reasoning processes. The town of Britton Bay is filled with many opportunities for many more visits, and I can't wait. I'd give this one more than 5 stars if I could!

After reading an ARC of Never Expected You on NetGalley, I was thrilled to see another book from this author called Deadly News, and was lucky enough be approved to read it.....and I loved it

The story revolves around Molly, who takes a new job as an editor of a newspaper in the picturesque town of Britton Bay, not everyone is happy to see her, but when that person ends up murdered, and Molly finds the body...she starts to investigate and ends up in the killers crosshairs.

Despite the gruesome murder, Holford paints a beautiful picture of this town with lovely characters who make Molly feel very welcome. And Sam, the love interest, is very swoon worthy.

What I loved most was I really had no idea who the murderer was until the last pages, and that’s rare in a book...normally I’ve sussed it out, but I kept getting it wrong

Can’t wait till the next book, I hope it becomes a long running series

5*****

A murder mystery with a mix of romance.
Overcoming adversity, starting a new life in a new town, downsizing from big city to a small town living. Our main character, Molly, decides to turn her life around after being deceived by her live-in boyfriend.
A few days into her new job, and she finds a dead body. She feels guilty and tries to make sense of what has happened.
Love the pace and consistency of the writer.

Molly moves to Britton Bay as the editor of the local paper. The book is as much about the characters in the area and Molly settling into the area as the murder.

Vernon is assigned an article about one of the local prominent families which he reluctantly agrees to write and ends up dead. As an unpleasant man there are many suspects. Molly feels somewhat responsible for his death and starts to investigate.

The characters are engaging and there are the beginnings of a romance for Molly and the local mechanic Sam. The town is described really well and it makes you want to live there.

The first book in a promising new cosy series.

Thoroughly enjoyed this cozy mystery from Jody Holford. I cheered for Molly as she got settled in her new town and job and loved the budding romance between her and Sam. I'll be eager for more in this series.

This first in a new series is off to a solid start!
Interesting characters and a well written whodunit are a winning combination. The story was filled with twists and possibilities that kept me guessing and engaged until the end.
I look forward to reading the next in the series.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.