I had read some of Mollie Cox Brynn's mysteries and was happy to see that she had a new series. Following her craft theme mysteries, this series is centered around a micro farm in a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Brynn has kicked her cheating fiance to the curb but kept their plans of setting up a new life in Shenandoah Springs making cheese. He's now history and Brynn is happily making cheese with the milk from three sweet cows - Petunia, Marigold and Buttercup. She often doubts if she will be able to make this chapter of her life work out, especially trying to deal with a mourning cow. Petunia lost her calf and her grief if trying the patience of the neighbors because she is very loud and vocal about her pain. Christmas is coming and Brynn is a bit adrift dealing with the holiday cheer. Things go from bad to worse when her nearest neighbor, Nancy, dies in a fire. Sure, some people didn't like her plans to turn the old church she called home into a artisanal market but who would resort to murder? Next thing she knows, Brynn finds herself the target of harassment and her self doubt becomes worse. She's no detective but she sets out to find some answers and comes to realize who her friends are. She also finds out how strong she really is.
There are some great characters in this series, both human and animal. I love her cows and the dog she adopts, Freckles. While there isn't a romance, I had the feeling that there might be the start of one in future books. As for the puzzle, it was first rate and I didn't guess whodunnit. Plenty of twists, turns and red herrings sent me in the wrong direction several times. Now I have another series to add to my not to be missed series.

Christmas Cow Bells is a great start to a fun new cozy mystery series. I love the writing style of of Mollie Cox Bryan. The characters become friends and the mystery is well thought out. I will be anxiously waiting on the next book in the series.

I loved the first book in this series. It was fun, exciting and well written. I love Molly Cox Bryan. You will not be disappointed in this book. A nice book to read when the weather is cold and dreary outside.

Christmas Cow Bells by Mollie Cox Bryan is the first book in the brand new cozy A Buttermilk Creek Mystery series. As with most cozy mystery series the murder mystery within will be fully solved within the book so they can be read as a standalone but for those that continue the character development carries over book to book.

Brynn MacAlister had just gone through a break up so she packed up and headed to Shenandoah Springs in the Blue Ridge Mountains to begin her whole new single life. Brynn was settling into her new home along with her three dairy cows that she treats just like her family as they help her in her new business as a organic micro-dairy farmer and cheese-maker.

Brynn had slowly been making friends in her new home including her neighbor, Nancy. Unfortunately though one night a horrendous fire breaks out at the neighbor’s which traps Nancy inside. Help arrives and rushes Nancy to the hospital but her injuries were too severe. After the fire Brynn feels certain that what happened to her friend was much more than an accident as she feels it had to be murder.

Christmas Cow Bells was a lovely opener to this new cozy mystery series where even the cows had their own personalities. Set in a small town it certainly had that cozy vibe as our main character did her digging uncovering suspect after suspect. Will certainly be interested in joining Brynn on her cheesemaking and murder solving adventures again.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

A wonderful start to a new cozy mystery series! Such a fun setting being on a dairy farm it was unique to the usual settings of cozies. I loved the small town and its colorful characters as well as plucky main herione Brynn. The stand out character petunia Brynns pet cow added laughs and stole the show. A puzzling who dunn it as well made this one great cozy mystery I can't wait for more!

Christmas Cow Bells is Mollie Cox Bryan’s new series, set in the Blue Ridge Mountains about cows and her dairy farm. Brynn is a cheese maker and begins to have complaints about her cow, Petunia. But there are strange happenings across the pasture. A fire in the church and a dead body are major concerns. Brynn decides to find out more about what’s going on around her farm. This was a very light mystery. There were some friendly characters. An enjoyable cozy. If you are into cows, this book is for you. Thank you to Net Galley for providing an advanced reader’s copy for review.

CHRISTMAS COW BELLS is the first title in the new Cozy Mystery series, Buttermilk Creek Mystery. I was intrigued by this story from the first chapter and was easily drawn into this small town’s antics, quirky (and sometimes mean) residents – and fell in love with three cows and a dog. Really, what more could I ask for? Oh, an interesting Cozy Mystery as well. There is world-building in this first story, there has to be, and I completely enjoyed learning Brynn’s background, her reasons for the move, and more about the troubles in this small town.

As things start going bad and a neighbor is murdered, and Brynn is threatened, it’s time to get some answers. She may not be a trained sleuth, but she knows how to ask questions and does not hesitate to put herself in situations that she probably shouldn’t have. There are lots of twists, red herrings, and suspects to keep any mystery lover quite happy throughout CHRISTMAS COW BELLS. I was fascinated by the background of cheesemaking and micro-dairy farming. Yes, I can learn a thing or two while enjoying a Cozy Mystery. (grin) I loved one dog named Freckles and three cows with distinct personalities and bellow ranges as well.

If you love puzzles and Cozy Mysteries then you’ll want to get started on this new series. I enjoyed myself, didn’t really bother trying to solve it just enjoyed the ride to the end – and now I’ve questions that hopefully will be answered in the rest of the series. I’d not hesitate to recommend CHRISTMAS COW BELLS to any Cozy Mystery reader – I completely enjoyed myself in this world and look forward to returning soon.

*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*

What a fun new mystery series! Shenandoah Springs is filled with people I want to meet again and a community I want to watch to see how they grow and develop together over time. The characters in this story draw me to the town and the highlight of all the characters are the cows! I just love the personalities they develop throughout their interactions with everyone (and animal!) they encounter! Brynn is a wonderful protagonist and as she's introduced to her new community and to us as readers, I am intrigued by her cheese-making talents and her easy assimilation into her new hometown. This is a great start to a fun mystery series. I enjoyed how the story flowed and for me, this book was more character and community driven than who-done-it (though the mystery was fun too, of course!).

Christmas Cow Bells is a great cozy mystery that would make a great gift for the holidays. The characters are well developed and the storyline is entertaining.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

Brynn MacAlister follows her dream on her own leaving her cheating ex behind when she moves to Shenandoah Springs with her three Red Devon cows, Petunia, Buttercup, and Marigold to open an organic micro-dairy and make cheese. Petunia is suffering after a stillborn calf. While trying to soothe her cow a Brynn suffers another loss. Her friend and neighbor, Nancy dies in a fire when the old church she is living in and renovating for her business burns down. It looks like arson, and Nancy had run into some difficulty with a few people not wanting the Old Glebe Church transitioning to something other than a place of worship, but would they burn the church down with her in it because they didn’t like her business plan?

The whole thing puts an even bigger damper on Brynn’s Christmas spirit. After meeting Nancy’s family she feels a push to find the truth, but like Nancy, Brynn is a newcomer. Could her snooping lead to her demise as well?

_______

This series is off to a spectacular start! That cover is just delightful and fun. I had to know more about those holiday attired cows.

Mollie Cox Bryan has created some wonderful characters, two-legged as well as four-legged. I liked Brynn right away and was cheering on her success both in sleuthing and cheesemaking the entire book. She is smart while still realizing her independence and didn’t back down even when threatened. That’s not to say she wasn’t scared, because she was but she persevered. She was surrounded by the requisite cozy quirky characters, diverse in age and beliefs. As a newcomer, Brynn had to learn who to trust and who were truly suspects.

The mystery was very well-plotted with plenty of clues. Brynn did her best to keep the sheriff and fire marshall informed of everything she found or the threats she received even when one of them wasn’t always receptive. I was totally caught by surprise as the story played out and clues continued to fall into place.

I have always enjoyed this author’s writing style. She uses the perfect amount of description to put the reader on the scene without ever going overboard. It is easy to envision time, place, people and even the weather.

As a Wisconsinite, I love the farm and cheesemaking theme, the only thing that would have made it better was for the series to be set here 😀 I loved the connection of Brynn’s cows to her grandmother and how as a chemistry student a course in cheesemaking changed her life. I enjoyed learning about Brynn’s cheesemaking process and why she ended up with the Buttermilk Creek Farm.

Christmas Cow Bells hit all the right notes. Loveable characters and a puzzler of a mystery. It also leaves readers excited for the next book in the series. Brynn has made some new friends, she is about to get help on the farm and her four-legged family has grown by one. I am really looking forward to the continuation of Brynn’s story.

Christmas Cow Bells
A Buttermilk Creek Mystery, Book #1
Mollie Cox Bryan
5 Stars

Synopsis:

The first novel in Mollie Cox Bryan’s brand new mystery series, set in the Blue Ridge Mountains, will keep you guessing until the cows come home . . .

Christmas is a time for new beginnings, so after her big breakup, Brynn MacAlister takes the gouda with the bad. With her three Red Devon cows, she settles in bucolic Shenandoah Springs, eager for a new life as an organic micro-dairy farmer and cheese-maker. Then her dear cow Petunia’s bellows set the whole town on edge. But it isn’t until Brynn’s neighbor, Nancy, dies in a mysterious fire that her feelings about small town life begin to curdle . . .

It seems some folks were not happy with Nancy’s plan to renovate the Old Glebe Church. But is a fear of change a motivation for murder? As a newcomer, Brynn can’t ignore the strange events happening just on the other side of her frosty pasture—and soon on her very own farm. Suddenly Christmas doesn’t feel so festive as everyone demands she muzzle sweet Petunia, and Brynn is wondering if someone wants to silence her—for good . . .

Praise for Mollie Cox Bryan’s mysteries

“A playful charmer!” —Woman’s World on No Charm Intended

“Scrapbookers and hobby cozy fans will enjoy this delightful holiday escape.”
—Library Journal on A Crafty Christmas

“A font of ingenuity . . . superb entertainment.”
—Mystery Scene magazine on Scrapbook of Secrets (Goodreads)


Review:

The characters are well developed and well rounded. Brynn is smart, determined and not afraid to take chances. She knows it will take hard work, but she is determined to make her micro-dairy farm successful. And when one of her friends is murdered, she is just as determined to figure out who the killer is. The secondary characters add a lot to the story and some were very helpful to Brynn. And the cows stole the show for me. They all had distinct personalities and I thought that was fascinating. I felt really bad for Petunia but things worked out for her.

The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and those descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. I really enjoyed the theme of this book and I learned about cheese making. I really enjoy it when I learn something as I am reading. And I loved the cover.

The mystery was well plotted and moved along at an even pace. Brynn had to figure out who the murderer was and also who was sabotaging her farm.

I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. And if you like cows, grab a copy and enjoy.

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

Christmas Cow Bells is definitely an entertaining cozy mystery. Loved the plot, Blue Ridge Mountains setting and the characters. I am certainly looking forward to reading more books in this series. Mystery fans will not want to miss this book. Thanks to the publisher for my advance ebook. This is my unbiased review.

Christmas Cow Bells
(A Buttermilk Creek Mystery #1)
by Mollie Cox Bryan 

Kindle Edition, 320 pages
Published September 24th 2019 by Kensington


Goodreads synopsis:
The first novel in Mollie Cox Bryan’s brand new mystery series, set in the Blue Ridge Mountains, will keep you guessing until the cows come home . . .
 
Christmas is a time for new beginnings, so after her big breakup, Brynn MacAlister takes the gouda with the bad. With her three Red Devon cows, she settles in bucolic Shenandoah Springs, eager for a new life as an organic micro-dairy farmer and cheese-maker. Then her dear cow Petunia’s bellows set the whole town on edge. But it isn’t until Brynn’s neighbor, Nancy, dies in a mysterious fire that her feelings about small town life begin to curdle . . .
 
It seems some folks were not happy with Nancy’s plan to renovate the Old Glebe Church. But is a fear of change a motivation for murder? As a newcomer, Brynn can’t ignore the strange events happening just on the other side of her frosty pasture—and soon on her very own farm. Suddenly Christmas doesn’t feel so festive as everyone demands she muzzle sweet Petunia, and Brynn is wondering if someone wants to silence her—for good . . .


***

4.5 Stars

This is the first book in the A Buttermilk Creek Mystery series by Mollie Cox Bryan.

I really felt for Brynn MacAlister. She was living in a town that didn’t want change. And she and her next door neighbor, Nancy, were doing just that. Change in a big way. Brynn through her cheese making and Nancy through renovating the church into a sort of marketplace. They were doing their own thing yet using resources that they changed to make work for them. Really inspiring when you think about it. So sorry some people have to be so pig-headed.

I wasn’t exactly sure about the motivation behind the fire of the church where Nancy was the unfortunate victim. But I assume her need for change clashed with someone else’s need to resist change and she ended up on the wrong side of fate.

I was halfway through this book when the lady who owns the newspaper I work for asked me what it was about. It sounded so out there and impossible when trying to give her a concise meaning about the plot. She was intrigued, probably more about the cows than anything else. She loves anything agriculture. As I pointed out all the highlights to her, I marveled at the intricacy of it all. It always makes me appreciate how much work it takes to craft a mystery like this when I try to explain it to someone else while in the midst of it.

The set pieces are really in place to get this series off and running. It is a great series start and one I want to continue to follow. We have a good idea of who the allies are for Brynn and who might pose a problem in the future.

Regarding this episode, I would have liked to have seen a lot more of Tilly and her family just for the background information. I had a feeling who stole the money from the graveyard but having a motive and a little bit more of her family history would have made that section of the book make a lot more sense. I know, I know, it’s a suspense writing trick but I felt a lot of vagueness around her character as well as a lot of the others who I assume are mainstays. But that will be remedied as we move forward, I’m sure. I still haven’t figured out who the love interest will be as we go into book two. Fire Marshal Mike Rafferty is my guess at this point.

This was just a fun and interesting book. The cheese making idea is just so clever! People might be inspired to try it for themselves! You will definitely want to try this book on for size since it is one amazing read!

Highly recommended.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title.

Now, Christmas Cow Bells was certainly a fun start of a new cosy mystery series. I loved several of the characters, Brynn, Wes and the cows included. I especially liked Brynn's idea with being an organic micro-dairy farmer and cheese-maker. Also, the plot is engaging and well written with a few twists and turns here and there.

"Christmas Cow Bells" is the 1st book in "A Buttermilk Creek Mystery" series, by Mollie Cox Bryan. I have read other series by this author and true to form I loved it! I loved the setting of Shenandoah Springs in the Blue Ridge Mountains, I always like a small town setting where almost everyone knows one another. Makes for fun and often quirky characters

Christmas is a time for new beginnings, so after her big breakup, Brynn MacAlister takes the gouda with the bad. With her three Red Devon cows, she settles in bucolic Shenandoah Springs, eager for a new life as an organic micro-dairy farmer and cheese-maker. Then her dear cow Petunia’s bellows set the whole town on edge. But it isn’t until Brynn’s neighbor, Nancy, dies in a mysterious fire that her feelings about small town life begin to curdle .

It seems some folks were not happy with Nancy’s plan to renovate the Old Glebe Church. But is a fear of change a motivation for murder? As a newcomer, Brynn can’t ignore the strange events happening just on the other side of her frosty pasture—and soon on her very own farm. Suddenly Christmas doesn’t feel so festive as everyone demands she muzzle sweet Petunia, and Brynn is wondering if someone wants to silence her—for good . . .

Protagonist Brynn, is a strong, well-educated independent woman, and her three cows are absolutely adorable! Plus the side characters are realistic, slightly quirky, and I like her friends Willow and Schuyler, the animal acupuncturist. The characters are well developed and down to earth.

I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it in one sitting. It was entertaining, full of twists and turns as well as a few surprises. I even learnt something about making cheese and it included some recipes which is always a bonus.

I look forward to reading the next installment in this series.

I requested and received an Advance Readers Copy from Kensington Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I am enamored with the beginning of this series. I have a soft spot for cows and found myself wishing I could meet Petunia and her sisters.

This is the first book by the author I have read and am already looking to see if my local library or Hoopla carries her other series. If you like strong female characters this is the book for you. There are four strong females. One is briefly mentioned but I think she will make plenty of appearances in future books. If not it would be a great shame.

Opening the series at Christmas time was perfect for me. Where I live we are still in a terrible summer heatwave and drought even though it is almost October. I found myself shivering thinking of the bone-chilling cold Brynn experiences and I appreciated that! The author uses the perfect amount of descriptive words without overdoing.

This perfect if you love Christmas, cows, and murder. Available now from your favorite bookseller.

I received a complimentary copy from the publisher, Kensington, through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

Christmas Cow Bells by Mollie Cox Bryan is the first book in Buttermilk Creek Mystery series.

In book one we get to meet Brynn MacAlister, recent transplant to Blue Ridge Mountains who has made her dream of becoming cheese maker true. She has broken up with her boyfriend and decided to go along with her dream alone.
She is settling nicely into little community and everyone is more than hospitable. Especially her closest neighbor Nancy who is planning on restoring an old church into new market. Although most of the residents support Nancy's idea they are still some who oppose it.
Soon Nancy dies in a suspicious circumstances and Brynn even though more than reluctant feels she needs to know what really happened to her friend. She feels that police investigation is taking too long and there are suddenly many suspicious things going on.

Well done for the first book, but to me it wasn't a classic cozy. It had elements of suspense novel as well. That sinister feeling of waiting for something bad to happen and suspicious thing going on which is usually not something most cozies have but this is not something that bothered me at all.

I liked the characters, they are well rounded and we can follow the progression of friendships and deeper relationships between them. They are very realistic and reliable.
At times I found story a bit slow paced. The ending also was bit unexpected and in my opinion lacking in flare. It was somehow flat and almost unimportant.

All in all a good start of the series and I am looking forward to reading the next installment.

I loved visiting Buttermilk Creek. I found the author's style of writing drew me into the story. I found the cheesemaking in the storyline and the CSA program fascinating. The cows and the cute dog Freckles added to the storyline. This had several storylines happening and the author deftly brought all the loose ends together to make an interesting ending

Brynn MacAlister is pursuing her dream. She now lives in Shenodoah Springs and makes organic cheese while running a micro dairy farm. Her next door neighbor, Nancy, is one of her closest friends in her new hometown, despite their age difference. Unfortunately, a fire destroys Nancy’s home, ending Nancy’s life in the process. Was it murder or just a sad accident? Brynn suspects murder, particularly when she starts to have odd issues at her own home.

I’m not that much of a fan of the farming lifestyle but I love the idea of a micro dairy farm as a conduit for making organic cheese! I have to admit that Molly Cox Bryan makes farm life sound appealing though, even with the hardships Brynn faces. I never realized all the intricacies in making cheese, and the process sounds fascinating. However, it’s Petunia and her consistent crying for her lost calf that completely won me over. Who can’t help but feel empathy for the cow’s loss of her child? I love every bit of how Molly Cox Bryan handled this underlying story line!

CHRISTMAS COW BELLS is the first book in the <i>Buttermilk Creek Mystery</i> series and is sure to capture the hearts of cozy mystery lovers. The intriguing mystery coupled with fun characters and some adorable animals makes CHRISTMAS COW BELLS a hit. I look forward to seeing what Molly Cox Bryan has in store for us next!

*review is in the editing queue at Fresh Fiction*

Protagonist Brynn MacAlister has moved to bucolic Shenandoah Springs on a small micro-dairy farm with emphasis on artisanal cheeses without the fiancé who turned out to be a two-timing jerk. Her grandmother had passed away giving her the wherewithal to purchase the property complete with main house (formerly a B&B), guest house, and barn. She has three Red Devon dairy cows, Petunia, Marigold, and Buttercup. Unfortunately, Petunia gave birth to a stillborn calf and is in severe mourning.

Brynn is getting to know the people of the rural town in Virginia and as always, some are more friendly than others. Nancy is also a recent transplant and wants to rehab her property, formerly a church. Unfortunately, there is a fire and Nancy succumbs to smoke inhalation and the injuries suffered. Part of Nancy's family includes two boys who will temporarily stay in Brynn's guest home, helping with chores.

The two outstanding support characters, Schuyler and Willow, are great and I'd love to watch their characters grow. Wes sounds like he'll be a great asset, young, smart, enthusiastic, and media capable. The descriptions of the area make it sound so beautiful. Also greatly appreciated getting to know more about the cheese-making process--who doesn't love cheese?

So with only the whispered words from Nancy prior to her death to go on, Brynn begins to investigate. But that seems to start a round of warnings and things get creepy, so she adopts a dog, Freckles.

The well-plotted and atmospheric storyline moves at a decent cozy pace, although there is more than sufficient repeats of main points. There are red herrings, yes, but with ample hints of the who, only to understand the why. The conclusion comes roaring in but leaves a few questions. This is a strong debut, character and location driven and I'm looking forward to more fleshing in Brynn.

I was granted this digital download by the publisher and NetGalley and greatly appreciated the opportunity to read and review. Recommended for cozy mystery fans, particularly of the culinary sort.