One of my favorite series. Molly is the editor in chief and when one of her employees is sick she interviews several people at the classic car show that Sam is hosting. On the first night of the show someone is murdered Molly tries to investigate on her own before someone else is killed. Sarah hosts a paint party and tells molly that she thinks ste is sleep painting because there are supplies missing. Molly and Sam decide to do a takeout and they find someone breaking into Sarah's building. Read the book to hear more.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the chance to read this book!

I have read the first book in this series, and although I have missed book two it was easy to pick up and remember the characters. It helped that Molly and Sam were such easy, flowing kind of characters; together on scene they were better than apart (probably the romance build up was equally as good as the mystery) It also helped that this book's 'theme' was cars/a car show, something that dut my own partner's strong interest, I now have plenty of knowledge on myself.

As I've said, the romance is really building into a solid one. Molly was a bit more unsure in the first book, but things are settling and I like reading about her and Sam. She's really established herself in the community and has plenty of friends as well, and there is a cute side mystery as well as the murder mystery.

I like the left field approach to the killer as well, you might not guess who it actually is for a long time. Too many characters change their story or act against how they were first portrayed for you to be sure of anything, so when you finally get your ending it is a surprise.

This is a charming continuation to a really good mystery series, and you can start with this one or go back and start Molly's story with book one. Four stars.

I loved Deadly Ride! The romance between Molly and Sam held me as much as the mystery, and time spent with most of the characters was time spent with friend. I adore them! While I do not require romance in a cozy mystery, if it is there, I want it to be well done and Judy Holford's experience as a romance writer transitions well to this series; the sweet warmth of the first chapter alone is worth the price of the book!
I requested and receive an ARC of Deadly Ride via NetGalley. I loved the first two books and have been shouting about them since I read the first book and I just couldn't wait to see why my old friends were up to even though I had already pre-ordered this third book in the series. I am sure you will be hearing from about the next book before long; I can't wait!

#NetGalley #DeadlyRide

Deadly Ride by Jody Holford 4 stars

This is the first book by Jody Holford that I have read. This book is the third book in the Britton Bay Series about Molly Owens, editor of the Britton Bay Bulletin a weekly newspaper. I haven't read the first two books of the series, but there is enough background and past references that you don't feel you are missing a lot if you just jumped in.

Molly's boyfriend Sam (who owns the local car repair shop) is the local host of a traveling classic car show. Molly interviews the two organizers of the show, Jet Harkaw and Brian Stoleman. The reader is shown right away that Jet Harkaw is not a nice person and no one should be surprised that he winds up dead at the show. The suspects are numerous and include an ex-wife, widow, the lover of the widow and other car owners.

This book was enjoyable because of the side characters that populate the small town. Their interaction with Molly (who is a relative newcomer) is fun to read. Also, the relationship between Molly and Sam is also a high point.

Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books (Lyrical Underground) for this ARC.

Author Jody Holford does a good job of weaving twists and turns into the storyline to keep the reader guessing and searching for clues in Deadly Ride. Molly’s character is likable and realistic. The descriptions of the scenery are done well and paint a picture of the atmosphere to engage the reader. I would love to live in a quaint town like Britton Bay. There is just enough romance as not to be too sappy but still an interesting aspect of the story.
 
Deadly Ride can be read as a standalone book as I didn’t feel I missed anything by not reading the first two. It's a good story with a solid mystery and interesting characters.