Deadly Vows by Jody Holford is the 2nd book in A Britton Bay Mystery, and another good addition to this series. Molly Owens is the editor in chief at he local newspaper, located on the seaside coast of Oregon. Molly is renting a small carriage home on the property of the bed and breakfast her boyfriends mother owns. A big wedding is planned at the B&B, until a women's body if found and the mystery begins. I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. If you love cozy mysteries, I recommend this book.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. Thank you.

Things are hopping at the B and B. A wedding that is slated to be one for the books. Can money buy happiness? Molly is at it again, but now she has someone who likes to snoop, or dig for the facts, as much as she does. I think she and Jill will make a good match for the Britton Bay Bulletin. It was hard to know what was going on with Clay, but maybe he’ll get straightened out. I wish everyone could find a Sam. He is definitely a keeper, just ask Tigger. I love how the folks of Britton Bay take care of Corky. Just shows the love these folks have for each other. You never know who could have just the clue you need to solve the case. I enjoyed hanging with these wonderful folks again and can’t wait till next time. It’s fun to see how the paper is changing and growing. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

This is the second in the Britton Bat Mystery series. It is set in Britton Bay, Oregon. Our investigator editor in chief of the Britton Bay Bulletin. She is one of the last people to see the caterer, Skyler Friessen, alive.

I like the character of Molly, the romance and the search for the culprit. There are plenty of twists and turns in this story. This would be an excellent beach read.

We learn more about the main characters as this series develops. Looking forward to the next installment. This can be read as a standalone.

I was not disappointed.

Molly is settling in in Britton Bay. The bed and breakfast is preparing to host a wedding. Then the caterer is killed and the underlying problems with the wedding rise to the surface.
Molly comes on the scene of the murder after the police have arrived, but still feels shocked enough by it that she feels the need to investigate. She tells herself it is gathering information for the newspaper, but Molly seems to be incurably curious.
Her relationship with Sam ramps up. I learned from another reviewer that this author also writes romances. I would have to move this book from cozy mystery to light romantic suspense.
I thoroughly enjoyed reading the book and returning to Britton Bay.

I usually think of Jody Holford as a romance writer but that has all changed with Deadly Vows. It is a wonderful well written, interesting mystery. There is some romance too but the focus is on the murder mystery. I liked it so well I bought the first book to read since this is the second book in the series.

Molly Owens is such a delight as she goes about making her life in Britton Bay and observing the events at the B&B when she has a cottage in back. The supporting characters which includes her boyfriend, Sam, his mother, friends and her new trusty companion Tigger round out the story. From the title one can guess that a wedding is involved with deadly consequences. Not wanting to say who meets their demise, or how Molly becomes involved I will stop here. I will say it is not who I thought it would be when I read the first chapter.

Deadly Vows is one book that should be read and enjoyed. My hat is off to Jody Holford, mysteries suit you, keep writing more.

This is a well written book, with great characters, but the beginning is too slow. In a murder mystery you shouldn't have to read a quarter of the book before there is any murder.

Second in the Britton Bay Mystery series, this is as delightful and intriguing as the first. The characters are likable. Molly and her bouncy pup, Tigger, are a fun pair to imagine on the beach of Britton Bay, along with Sam, who she has been dating for several weeks. The mystery kept me on my toes, even though I did finally figure out whodunit.

Molly moved from SoCal after finding her live-in boyfriend entertaining one of his exes. She is now editor for the Britton Bay Bulletin, which has been in the family of her boss, Alan, for a couple generations. Good things are being said about the paper since she has become its editor in the Pacific northwest. She lives in a cottage behind the B&B owned by Katherine Alderich, Sam’s mother. Molly had found Tigger behind the Bulletin building shortly after starting work there, and he is all puppy. She has a small circle of friends that is growing.

A wedding is going to take place at the B & B, and the bride’s mother is sparing no expense to give Chantel a dream wedding. Patty, Chantel’s mother, grew up in Britton Bay, married a wealthy man, and moved away. She grew up in the home the B&B had been before it was converted. Katherine’s property is being transformed with tents and even a dance floor. Patty hired a chef, Skyler Friessen, who recently won a competition and will soon open her own restaurant. Skyler is a haughty young woman who claims to be an artist whose medium is food; she is curt and even rude to her sous chefs or anyone in “her” kitchen. Skyler is preparing all the meals for the several days leading up to the wedding as well as the wedding itself; Katherine cannot bring any outside foods in.

Molly talked Skyler into giving an interview for the Bulletin as part of the wedding special editions. She and Sam heard Skyler and an unidentified man arguing when they were headed to her cottage. The next morning, Molly found Chantel crying on the beach while walking Tigger. Then, when arriving at the hotel to meet Skyler for an interview, she learns the grumpy chef was found dead early that morning by a local homeless man, Corky. Harmless, he is clearly rattled; he saw her room door ajar when going to the pool and said Skyler fell while brushing her teeth. He kept muttering about dark stars. Molly and Jill, Sam’s cousin and a reporter at the Bulletin, begin to speculate on who the killer might be. Then the bride disappears without a word.

It was fun to get to know the characters better! I did, however, miss reminders of backstories on some of the characters (such as what Sam’s shop is) unless I didn’t see them. Calliope, Molly, and Katherine are my favorites with their kind hearts and helpful ‘tudes. I appreciate the challenges Molly faces in trusting men and settling in her new town.

The plot is complex, with suspects that most of the locals don’t know. The mystery kept me guessing throughout with twists and turns that showed a few suspects and red herrings. There was almost too much romance too quickly for my personal preference. I did, at last, figure out whodunit with an idea of the motivation barely a couple steps ahead of Molly and Sam. The ending is satisfying, and I’m looking forward to the next in series. I highly recommend Deadly Vows to those who enjoy well-written cozy mysteries with pets, good friends, and romance.

From a thankful heart: I received a copy of the e-ARC from the publisher through NetGalley; a positive review was not required.

This is the 2nd installment in the Britton Bay Mystery series, I found it to be as enjoyable and entertaining as the first. Britton Bay is buzzing with preparations for a wedding at the bed and breakfast where Molly rents a small carriage home. Molly is even helping out and plans to interview the rising star caterer—until the woman is found dead. And then the bride-to-be goes missing. To make matters worse, the venue is owned by Molly’s new boyfriend’s mother—and Molly was among the last people to see the victim alive. All of which makes solving the crime her top priority . . .

I was happy to be transported back to Britton Bay on the Oregon coast, (which is also on my wishlist to visit one summer). Jody is very good at describing the setting etc. so I can picture it in my mind as the story unfolds. The main set of characters were just as fabulous as in the first book Calliope, Molly, and Katherine and who can forget the bouncing dog Tigger. Plus we were introduced to local homeless man, Corky (who I cannot wait to learn more about)

I found that this installment was a bit more like an intrigue romance novel, but didnt mind (being that Jody writes romance this can be expected) It was nice to delve deeper into the relationship between Sam and Molly.

The mystery was well written and had plenty of suspects who wanted the victim dead. I did suspect the killer early on but there were a few red herrings so I wasnt 100% sure until close to the end when the final piece fell into place.

I can't wait for the next installment "Deadly Ride" in October!

I highly recommend this cozy mystery series to all my friends who love a cozy with romance thrown in.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Lyrical Underground via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.

A solid second book in the Britton Bay series. I’m still in love with the characters and the town. I really want to know the full story behind Corky. I just think there is one

Again plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing.

I’m very impressed that the language and romance were clean considering the author is also a romance author. I appreciate it was. An easy read and whether you’ve read the first book or not I think you can easily pick right up with the series with book two.

The exciting news is that book three is already in the works.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Kensington/Lyrical Underground through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

Death Mars Upscale Wedding
This book is the second in the series and is just as wonderful as the first installment. Although I read the first book, this book will stand alone quite nicely. The author offers up enough background to fill in the blanks for a new reader but not bore an existing fan. There are plenty of twists and intrigue on the road to finding the truth. There are ongoing interpersonal relationships that are fun and entertaining as our heroine continues to put down roots. This is a great series and I can't wait for the next installment! I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

This is an enjoyable and entertaining cozy mystery, well written and engaging.
I loved the style of writing, the well developed and likable cast of characters and the setting.
The mystery was solid and it kept me guessing till the end.
I look forward to reading the next installment in this series.
Recommended.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

It was a delight to be back in Britton Bay. The characters are interesting and charming. People one would like to have as neighbors and friends. All were not nice, of course. I look forward to reading the next one in this pleasant series.

Deadly Vows
A Britton Bay Mystery, Book #2
Jody Holford
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Former Army brat Molly Owens is happily settling into her new life in the seaside town of Britton Bay—and into new her job as editor-in-chief of the local paper. But as tourists discover the desirable spot, the tide along the Oregon Coast is turning . . .

Britton Bay is buzzing with preparations for a wedding at the bed and breakfast where Molly rents a small carriage home. Molly is even helping out and plans to interview the rising star caterer—until the woman is found dead. And then the bride-to-be goes missing. To make matters worse, the venue is owned by Molly’s new boyfriend’s mother—and Molly was among the last people to see the victim alive. All of which makes solving the crime her top priority . . .

With the nuptials indefinitely on hold, Molly will have to sift through a sticky mix of suspects, including a rival caterer with a short fuse, a groom with an illicit secret, and a wedding party riddled with personal drama. And if she doesn’t discover the truth soon, Molly might be her own front-page news . . . (Goodreads)


Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded. Molly is smart and hardworking and she loves investigating (which is good because she works for a newspaper). So when there is a murder in her small town it is only natural that she wants to solve it. I liked getting to spend more time with Molly and learning a little more about her and her thoughts and feeling. Sam, Molly’s boyfriend, seems like a great guy and it was fun reading about their interactions. I thought that the secondary characters added a lot to the story.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book was a quick easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and those descriptions pulled me into the story right from the beginning. The mystery was well plotted and with so many twists and turns,it was not easily solved.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy. And in this case, you can judge a book by it’s cover, which is adorable.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

This is the 2nd installment of the Britton Bay Mystery series. Molly Owens has recently moved to Britton Bay Oregon and is settling in to her new job, new home and new boyfriend. Molly is the editor of the local paper and is living in the carriage house of a local B&B which also happens to be run by the Mother of her new boyfriend Sam. The B&B is hosting a wedding of the daughter of the former owner (when she was a child) of the house that is the B&B. The mother of the bride is driving everyone crazy with all her special demands. She brings in a famous chef who recently won a TV reality show. After the first dinner the chef mysteriously dies and the bride to be takes off. Molly was scheduled to interview the chef the morning she is found dead and begins to investigate the death. This is a good mystery and also has good character development and romance. We begin to get to know Molly and Sam better along with Katherine (Sam’s Mom) as well as her new love interest which is the Sheriff. Molly doesn’t mean to put herself in danger but it happens yet again. I am really enjoying this series and I hope that it continues. Highly recommend

‘Deadly Vows’ is the second book in the ‘A Britton Bay Mystery’ series by Joy Holford.

Everyone in town knows about the upcoming wedding that is about to take place. Molly, a journalist editor of the local paper, is just as excited as everyone in town seems to be for ‘the wedding of the century. In order for this ‘wedding of the century' to be a success, the bride’s mom becomes extra picky about who participates in the preparation of her daughter's wedding meaning she only hires the best of the best. But when the infamous chef who was supposed to cater the wedding is found dead in mysterious circumstances, Molly can’t help but follow the clues and uncover secrets to find out what in the world is happening in sweet, little ole’ Britton Bay .

This cozy mystery was a well-written, quick read that is perfect for fans of the cozy mystery genre. The mystery plot was quite slow in the beginning and the actual murder happened a little later into the story, but it did pick up pace from there. I did find myself being invested into the story and trying to figure out who the killer was and how he/she committed the crime. The author paced the mystery so well and created a tense atmosphere in just the right moments that you find yourself analysing bits and pieces of the smallest things that happen throughout the book- at least that was what I was doing.

This series does have quite a lot characters, and I did find myself getting confused as to who was who. There were some characters who I feel like weren’t really needed in the book, as in they did not add anything to the plot, and could have been left out. Regardless of that, I did like main characters- especially our protagonist Molly so she, along with little Tigger, were my favourite characters. I did wish that we could've gotten to see more of Molly being a journalist and seeing her use her journalist skills while she was sleuthing around.

There is a romance plot-line that was intertwined with the mystery plot. There were so areas where the romance plot overshadowed the main plot, but the good news is that I did actually enjoy the romance between the characters so I had no problem jumping from a new secret revelation to forehead kisses and holding hands.

Also Sam is totally book-boyfriend material.

I will definitely keep an eye out for Joy Holford’s future works, and of course the next books in this series.

3.5 stars.

Thank you, NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an advanced reader’s copy of ‘Deadly Vows’ by Jody Holford.

'Deadly Vows' by Jody Holford will be out on April 9 2019

Lexy's back - she came to the US because of a guy, who turned out to be a rat, and now she's living on a houseboat and planning a Halloween party (oh and trying to build up her business). Things go wacky when Lexy and her friends fish a dead body out of the water- and when they investigate. This is quirky to be sure but its also a bit more over the top than the last one (which I noted at the time was a bit too much in spots). Paring away some of the joke about Scotland and language and so on would have increased the humor in the better ones. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. The mystery itself is fine and readers of cozys might enjoy this unique heroine.

What an enjoyable read! Great plot twists and a lot of emotions with a wedding, a suspicious death, and a big whodunit. It was fun going back to Britton Bay and visiting with Molly, Sam, Katherine, Bella, and Calli, and I look forward to getting to know the characters more as the series develops. The plot was well-written and made sense. I didn't solve the mystery before it was revealed, which made it a real page turner. This book has a great combination of mystery and Molly's everyday life, including her developing relationship with Sam. I can't wait to see where the story goes from here!

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

This is the 2nd book in the Britton Bay series and is even better than the 1st book! I feel like I am beginning to know the characters and they are very likable. Molly is the editor of the local newspaper. She lives in the carriage house at a B&B run by Katherine who is the Mom of Molly ' s boyfriend Sam. The B&B is hosting a large fancy wedding. Things begin to go wrong when the caterer chef dies. One of Molly ' s friends is accused so she begins to poke around asking questions. This book has what I like in a cozy mystery - likeable characters, an interesting mystery, friendship, and a little romance. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for an honest review.

Deadly Vows is the second installment in the A Britton Bay Mystery series set in Britton Bay, Oregon and featuring newspaper editor Molly Owens and adorable rescue pup, Tigger. Molly is settling into life in Britton Bay, things are going well at the Britton Bay Bulletin and now she is looking forward to the wedding her landlord, Katherine Alderich will be hosting at her Bed & Breakfast. From the comfort of her guest cottage in the backyard, Molly has the perfect view of the preparations and the first thing she notices is how difficult the mother of the bride is going to be.

Patricia Lovenly grew up in home turned B & B, and she's determined to host her daughter Chantel's wedding there to show off to the townspeople how wealthy she's become. She's planning a week long event with over the top decorations and a celebrity chef. Skyler Friessen won a TV reality competition and even though she's temperamental and abrupt, Patty is adamant that the woman prepares their food for the week, and this means that local baker Bella who supplies the B & B with pastries and breads is out a week of wages.

Residents and guests alike are shocked when Corky Templeton, homeless and mentally challenged stumbles across the body of Skyler lying in the open doorway of her hotel room. Had someone finally had enough of the nasty Chef or did she accidentally die from an allergic reaction? Despite the warnings from her boyfriend Sam and Officer Chris Beatty, Molly soon finds herself in the middle of another murder investigation.

A well crafted plot that will keep the pages turning. This series is a little too heavy on the romance for me, while I don't mind a relationship for the main character, the constant mentions of hand holding, gazing into the other person's eyes, and the sappy dialogue does take away from the mystery. I'm hoping that the author will move on from this now that a stable relationship has been formed.

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

Deadly Vows by Jody Holford is even better than the first book. I really feel like I know the characters, especially Molly, Sam, Katherine, and even Molly's dog, Tigger. The author has done a great job making those main characters likeable and relatable. The mystery was intriguing. I was a little surprised at who the killer was, so that was a big plus. I love it when I'm wrong about who the killer is because it makes me go back and see everything that happened in the book in a new light. There was a sneak peek of the next book in the series at the end of this one and I'm really looking forward to reading it. I can't wait for it to come out!

Note: I voluntarily reviewed a free copy of this book through Netgalley in exchange for my honest opinion.