Sasha Silverman and her family are gearing up for the busy holiday season in Silver Hollow. Not only do they have the Annual Tree Lighting and the Festival of Lights Parade, but Silver Bear Shop won a Teddy Bear Keepsake contest with their entry, Beary Potter. The theme of their sales promotion for the new bear is "The Magic of Christmas.'' Sales are brisk, so the holiday season is going to be busy, busy, busy. It's the day of the lighting and parade...the kickoff of the annual Christmas season. Sasha's mom is coordinating the events. Everything is going perfectly until the parade mascot, Santa Bear, doesn't show up on time. The mayor, Cal Bloom, is supposed to greet the kids, pass out candy and lead the parade.....but the holiday bear is a no-show. Imagine the shock when Sasha and her mother discover the mayor dead -- in the bear suit -- on a park bench. Can Sasha and her group of gossipy pals in Silver Hollow discover who killed the mayor in time to save the holiday season?

I have always liked teddy bears, so I love this cute, cozy mystery series! Have Yourself a Beary Little Murder is the 3rd book in the Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery series. I enjoyed this story just as much as the first two! I couldn't help but feel very sorry for Sasha's mom. She worked so hard to coordinate the huge town event to kick off the holidays....and then someone murders the parade mascot. Oh my....that would be awful!!! Sorry kids....um....santa bear is dead. Yikes!

The mystery moved along at a nice pace and there were plenty of suspects and some surprises to keep my interest going. The front cover is incredibly cute as usual. I like Sasha as a main character. She loves her job and her family and is intelligent, determined and skilled at sleuthing. The quirky side characters make this series a fun one to read, along with the teddy bear background theme. The bears don't overpower the mystery part of the plot.....they just add in a splash of cuteness.

Enjoyable, cute read! I will definitely be eagerly awaiting the next book!

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Kensington via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

I enjoyed this book. The writing was solid and consistent. The descriptions were vivid and painted a fun picture. The characters were full fleshed out and given complete personalities. The mystery kept me guessing and I couldn’t guess the murderer until it was revealed. I would definitely read more by this writer and hope to follow up with the series.

This book was a little bit serpentine. I think the author was trying to fit too many relationship and world-building elements in with the mystery and it got overcrowded.

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

A happy time that turns to murder is the basis of this book and as a reader, every page was more enjoyable than the next. A well written mystery with likable characters, it is nice to see the series really hit its stride with this one.

Who would not only electrocute Mayor Bloom but also stuff him into a bear costume and put him on a bench? That's what Sasha Silverman is trying to find out at the request of her mother, who is convinced that the Mayor's wife, a friend of hers, didn't do it. Regular cozy readers know the Mayor had more enemies than friends so there's a number of suspects. There's also a large cast of characters in this third installment in a series I've waffled over. The bear references and puns are to be expected but they do wear a bit thin. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For fans of the genre.

The merriest time of the year is also extremely hectic if you manufacture and retail holiday themed toys.
The Silverman family is central to lots of holiday happenings including a parade, a bake-off, and a BEAR-zarre craft show. They also seem to be on the scene when dead bodies are found around town.
On the surface, the Mayor seems well enough liked, with minor irritations from political rivals and people who haven't gotten everything they want. So when he ends up dead, throwing a monkey wrench into the holiday scheduling, along with other ill residents, which will happen anytime there is cold weather, this holiday is more stressful for the Silverman family.
Some of the townsfolk love this family, others resent their success and closeness.
People love to gossip with them and as much as she tries to resist, Sasha finds herself involved in another investigation. On the positive side, her romance seems to be doing well, despite distance issues.
If you have ever been involved in a marching band or building a float, you'll find yourself reminiscing as the holiday parade gets organized and lined up.
All the wonder of the holiday is present in this book as we gather in the Silvermans's world.
I don't know how they will get their new bears produced in time to make all their customers happy on Christmas.

Lots of tension building and the mystery isn't an easy solve.

Have yourself a Beary little murder.
Loved the storyline and family connections all together in this family run enterprise, making bears.
Plenty of suspicious suspects who really didn’t like the Mayor.
Highly entertaining story.
Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for advance copy for a honest review.

DNF...I just couldn't get into this one. It was cheesy, WAY too many characters to keep track of, and as soon as one character tried to remove the Santa Bear (groan) suit from the dead body because "the parade MUST go on for the kids"...I was out. 😂😂

Sasha's mother is frantic. As organizer of the local Christmas parade, she can't locate Santa Bear, played by Mayor Cal Bloom. He was talking with them awhile ago, but no one has seen him. When Sasha's ex-husband Flynn suggests that Cal likes his liquor and might be behind a local factory, they find him on a bench, apparently asleep. But when they remove the head of Santa Bear, he's most definitely not asleep. And when the hands are removed, they can see that he's been electrocuted.

Now Sasha's mother wants her to find a killer, since she's convinced that Allison Bloom couldn't, nor wouldn't, murder her husband. But with a new homicide detective in town, and her boyfriend Jay telling her to leave it alone, Sasha decides that if she's discreet enough, she might find the truth. But will the truth lead her to a killer, or lead the killer to her?...

I really wanted to like this story since I enjoyed the first two so much. But there were inconsistencies and things that were just wrong bothered me this time around. So please DO NOT read any further until you have already read the book!

THIS IS HIDDEN IN A SPOILER ON GOODREADS:

First, Flynn and his fianceé Cheryl Cummings, a local newscaster, are with Sasha's mother when she finds the body. Cheryl immediately starts photographing the dead man on her phone until Sasha tells her that the police wouldn't appreciate it. Then Flynn and Cheryl leave instead of waiting around as witnesses. Which they shouldn't have done, and Flynn, as an attorney, should know that. I don't care that he was once considered a murder suspect, he should have waited.

Then, not too long after, Sasha sees Cheryl and a news crew. The widow and family haven't even had time to be notified and she's already putting it on television? Without the okay of the police? And pointing Sasha out to reporters? Sorry, but she should have been fired for that. A murder under investigation and she's telling reporters to badger a witness? This is unacceptable.

Then Officer Digger Sykes walks over and talks about the mayor’s death in front of people, which I can’t imagine any officer doing no matter what the reason. He shouldn't be a police officer if he's going to allow his personal feelings to get in the way of him doing his job.

Cats aren't dogs. If a cat is leaving "presents" it's not angry, but anxious. They want to be with you but can't, so will find something that smells like you and merge the scents...and they only do this if you've been gone awhile - not if you've been gone less than a day. I've been gone for five days at a time, and my cats have plenty of food and water, and never once left me a 'present.' So Maddie is obviously not a very good 'cat mommy'. Does she ever play or spend time with Nyxie? That might be part of the problem.

Justifying her mother's behavior by saying she thought she probably needed to "feel appreciated by someone other than her husband and family" indicates that if her mother did have an affair, she'd be okay with it. Seriously? What kind of person who loves their husband and children needs to seek attention from another man? I can't see how this is acceptable. If your spouse looks elsewhere and you excuse it by saying they needed to 'feel appreciated' then your marriage isn't that great to begin with. I have enough self-esteem where I don't go begging people to like me. Nothing good ever comes from going down that road.

Also, when Sasha found out the detective was involved with someone close to the case, why didn't she immediately go to the Chief of Police and have him removed? That should have been the very first thing she should have done - and told him that Flynn was the one who informed her. (Her ex-husband is an unlikable snot so it would have served him right).

I felt there were just too many characters to keep track of. In a mystery, you'd like a finite number so you could keep track of them, but in this book there were at least 100 different people. Who can decide who's a murderer with that amount? Why were they all there? Did the author not want to use the same character twice? I was also wondering why Sasha kept using their first and last names, especially since only two characters had the same first name.

Is there a special reason why all these characters had to be identified by first and last names? Why did we need to know the first and last name of the server? When a waitress brings you food, do you say, "thanks, Janet Johnson?" Wouldn't it be easier (on the readers) if you just said 'the server brought our food,' especially if said server had nothing at all to do with the murder or the victim? Although there would have been less pages, we didn't need to hear everyone's first and last name every time they were mentioned. We only really needed the names of the victim, suspects, police officers, and those truly involved in the case one way or another - we certainly didn't need the names of characters Sasha only interacted with once (see Janet Johnson).

Who calls an employee by their first and last name? I can't count the times she kept saying "Renee Truman." There was only one Renee, so we knew who she was. Reading everyone's first and last name constantly got annoying. No one does that in real life. (Can you imagine? "Hello, Renee Truman. It's about time you got here, Renee Truman.")

Then, as far as the cookie contest went, I would think getting a recipe off of Pinterest wouldn't be allowed, as it's actually someone else's recipe, not yours or a family member's. In every baking contest I've ever seen, the recipe has to be out of those two categories. You can't take someone else's recipe without first contacting that person and asking them and then acknowledging them in the contest - which is really them winning a prize, not you. So that didn't make any sense. This would be instant disqualification if people knew it was someone else's recipe. (Lawsuit, anyone?)

I also don’t think Barbara could possibly be her mother’s best friend if she refused to allow Maddie to rent the Time Turner, or that she rented Lois’s home to someone else when she knew Sasha wanted it. Barbara didn’t even give Sasha the courtesy of telling her she was going to do it. How can you be friends with someone who dislikes your children that much? I can’t think of any other possible reason she would do it. I would have dumped her as a friend the minute she refused to rent anything to one of my kids if she didn't have a very good reason to do so - and she didn’t, or hopefully it would have been mentioned.

I really didn't see the need for involving everyone in town in the murder. If anyone was surprised at the murderer, it's because there were so many people to keep straight. The red herrings all pointed to only one person - Allison. In that case, we weren’t given any clues as to who the real murderer was.

I really enjoyed the first two in this series, but this one had too many people that were needed, but the worst was how creepy it was that every family member was at Sasha's home and then just cleared out so that Sasha can, in the words of her ex, 'get a booty call'. I'd be mortified if my family members knew that. Some things need to be private.
END OF SPOILER

Now I know that I've been going over details a lot, but I'm a pretty detail-oriented person, and I can't change that. Nor do I want to. I really like this author, but I had a difficult time with this book because of everything. I didn't like the idea that every single clue was pointing toward Allison, and we weren't given the chance to investigate other characters, and I feel that this was because there were just too many of them - and a lot of them didn't even need to be there in the first place.

In the end when everything was revealed, it shows how a twisted mind can justify anything to suit them. It was rather sad, but the story was written well, it just got bogged down by people. Still, a pretty good mystery that got tangled in characters.

It's almost Christmas and things at the bear factory are busy!! It's the day of the town parade and people are getting sick and others need to fill in. The mayor agrees to be Santa Bear for the parade and right before the parade is to start, he is found dead - later to be discovered murdered. Sasha begins to gather clues and share them with Detective Mason, only to discover another detective on the job. Lots goes on in this book and we discover that Sasha has some prejudices when it comes to murderers! This was a good story and well written. I enjoyed it greatly and, along with Sasha a bit surprised at the ending. Other plot lines did not distract from the murder and it was interesting to learn about the factory's holiday party as well as the competition between bear factories. Some reality in the midst of fiction..

I had a tough time with this offering in Meg Macy's A Teddy Bear Mystery series. Fortunately I have read the first two in the series so I could somewhat keep up with all of the quirky personalities of the characters, however, I find some of them entirely inexplicably unlikable. Sasha's Mom, who would put up with that? The mystery has many elements that went to many unpleasant places and there was a darkness about 'Have Yourself a Beary Little Murder' that was uncomfortable. Finally, while the ending was a surprise I felt it was too abrupt. I am, however, invested and look forward to more in the future.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is a cute, fun, and interesting series. Meg Macy has done a superb job of inserting teddy bears into her mysteries. I picked up the first book purely by accident and have loved every one of them since. I love how bears are incorporated into many of the activities the town has. The story is wonderfully written with amazing characters. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a fun mystery. Enjoy! 📚

It's Christmastime in Silver Hollow, Michigan and Sasha Silverman is busy preparing for the Christmas parade when she finds herself caught up in yet another murder investigation. This is a well written Christmas themed cozy. I really liked the festive, small-town atmosphere and the main character, Sasha and her family. The plot moved at a very slow pace and it took me a while to fully get into the story. Once the plot picked up, it did manage to hold my interest until the end. The culprit was a surprise to me and I did really like the ending. However, I think this series should be read in order. There is a very large cast of characters and I struggled quite a bit to keep up with everyone. Overall, I recommend this book to anyone looking for a Christmas themed cozy. Thank you to NetGalley and the Kensington Books for this ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

The strong points of this cozy are the integration of a fun work setting and a likeable main character. The downfall, for me, is that all the secondary characters seem very nondescript--hard to tell them apart. And then the part where Sasha confronts the killer and continues pushing that person well beyond the point of reason...ugh. A disappointing ending.

Review copy provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Have Yourself a Beary Little Murder was a delightful cozy mystery with a charming Christmas theme and I enjoyed it quite a bit.

With the holiday season in full swing, Sasha Silverman and the rest of the staff at the Silver Bear Shop and Factory are busier than ever. First order of business is preparing for the town’s annual tree-lighting ceremony and parade in which the shop has a float. There’s only one problem; Santa Bear, the parade mascot played by the mayor, is missing. When the mayor is later found dead, electrocuted and stuffed into the bear suit, Sasha begins her own investigation to find the killer. But someone wants Sasha to stop looking and if she’s not careful she could end up the killer’s next target.

The mystery of who killed the mayor was a good one with Sasha discovering a number of possible suspects. Initially Cal Bloom is presented as a well liked man leading you to wonder why anyone would want to kill him. As Sasha investigates him though, it becomes clear that everything was not as it seemed with the mayor and he actually had quite a few enemies. I had a few guesses as to who I thought killed him, but I was pleasantly surprised when the real killer was revealed. But when you find out their identity and their motive, it makes sense that they were the killer. I thought the ending was well done and I liked how everything wrapped up.

I enjoyed the characters in this book even more this time around and I loved getting to see Sasha’s extended friend group helping her work through the puzzle of Bloom’s death. The only character I still have issues with is Sasha’s mother who I find to be overbearing. Sasha’s boyfriend Jay popped up occasionally but their relationship is definitely not the focus of the story which is a nice change from some other cozies I’ve read recently. One extra bit in the book I loved was that after winning the Teddy Bear Keepsake Contest, the shop has exclusive rights to create a special bear for the holidays, a wizard bear named Beary Potter. I loved the concept of the bear and it’s absolutely something I would love to own in real life.

Overall Have Yourself a Beary Little Murder was just as wonderful as the rest of the Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery series and I highly recommend the books if you’re looking for a new cozy series to try.

HAVE YOURSELF A BEARY LITTLE MURDER by Meg Macy is the third book in the Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear Mystery series. Any book with a tag line of shamelessly adorable and a most darling book cover will grab my attention. Ms. Macy stays true to that promise by penning an adorable cozy mystery. The stage is set at the family owned Silver Bear Shop and Factory at Christmas time. The protagonist, Sasha Silverman, and her family are actively involved in the Silver Hollow annual tree light and Festival of Lights Parade. This highly popular village event gives the author plenty of opportunities to make the reader feel the spirit of the Christmas holiday with the various festivities, costumes, food, and fun, which I greatly enjoyed. The only downside, for me, is that too many characters were introduced because of the festival, and I had a hard time keeping track of who was who for a time. However, once Sasha got involved in trying to figure out who would want to murder the polar Santa-bear-costume-wearing mayor, the pace picked up and got back on track.

While on the surface the mayor seemed to be beloved by all, Sasha digs deeper and finds he had another side that was hidden from his constituents. This opens her investigation to many suspects, prompted, for once, by her own mother to find the villain. There were clues planted throughout which kept me guessing and turning pages until the heartwarming ending. I greatly enjoy how Sasha has a close relationship with her entire family and they work together to support and encourage each other. This, along with (need I say it again?) the adorable teddy bear shop brings a delightful cheer to an endearing holiday cozy read.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This one didn't really grab me after the Mayor's body was discovered.

It seemed to drag in a lot of places.

I merrily read this Christmastime cozy set in beautiful Silver Hollow, Michigan. Author Meg Macy pens another original story and fills it with sparkling visions of holiday cheer! The new bears and the bear-related events are really fun and show the great imagination of Author Macy.

There’s something ‘beary’ suspicious going on in the town where Sasha Silverman’s family’s Silver Bear Shop & Factory is located. The murder mystery was a stunner for me! I loved the sweet ending. Have yourself a merry little Christmas and add this book to your wish list.

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

It’s Christmas time and what better way to celebrate than with a teddy bear? Easy, whether Beary Potter Keepsake Wizard teddy bear! And that’s exactly what Sasha and the gang are making in full on production mode. To kick off the holiday season, the town is hosting a parade in which the mayor will dress up as Sant Bear, the shop’s beloved Christmas mascot. But when the mayor is missing in action, Sasha’s father substitute Santa Claus for Santa Bear on the shops float in the parade.

Unfortunately, the mayor is found dead on a bench in the Santa Bear costume. At first it looks like the mayor might have had a heart attack, but then they can’t explain the smokey burns they find. When her mother promises the mayor’s wife that Sasha will help to prove her innocence, the only thing Sasha is finding is a reason to suspect the mayor’s wife. Now Sasha has to find the murderer before they strike again.

This is the first book I have read by this author, and while I sometimes struggle reading something by a new author, this one took me a full week to get through. I thought about just putting it aside, but I kept hoping that things will pick up soon, unfortunately they didn’t. Maybe the next book will be easier for me to read, and I will read another in the series, because I actually enjoyed the whodunit mystery at the end of the book.

I like this series but thought this was not as tight as it could have been. There seemed to be a lot of rambling, not sure if it was murder or not, and a few deaths.

I do like the setting, the cover, the concept. We get a look at nursing homes, which unfortunately I have been reviewing, and the funeral industry. The Mayor comes of creepy & shady. His family is questionably greedy, with the daughter thinking money grows on trees.

We learn that treating people nicely goes a lot further in good relations than treating people like the hired help.

My actual rating would be 3.5 but since we can’t give partial points, I will round up.