Dollycas’s Thoughts

We arrive in Shady Creek, Vermont just in time for the Winter Festival. An overnight ice carving competition is the big event but there are hockey games, sleigh rides, a chili supper, and the Inkwell, Sadie Coleman’s literary-themed pub, is holding a trivia contest. Tourists are pouring in along with the Shady Creek residents to enjoy the fun. A former resident has even come home to participate in the ice carving contest.

Freddy Mancini is now a chef who has a pretty high opinion of himself. He assumes he will grab the big $5000 prize while rubbing his fame in everyone’s faces. Sadie is cheering on her friend and employee Melanie “Mel” Costas who has won the last few years. Mel isn’t intimidated by Frankie, but while on her lunch break someone steals all ger tools. She vows to soldier on as a friend returns to the park with her backup tools. That is until she hears Sadie screaming and finds her outside of the community hall, not far from the dead body of Chef Frankie Mancini, with Mel’s missing ice pick protruding from his chest.

Turns out the chef had plenty of enemies but the evidence points clearly at Mel. Sadie is determined not to let her friend get iced for the crime, even if it means some pain before the final gain.

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I have been excited about this book since I finished the first one! I love the setting so much. A pub full of books, a menu full of literary-themed foods and drink, all reached by going over a little footbridge above Shady Creek. The town park is nearby as are all the businesses and the community hall. The snow would be a little iffy for me but everyone there loves it and takes it in stride. If I could go back in time I would have said yes when asked to take over my parent’s tavern and turned it into a pub like the Inkwell. Now, I am delighted to escape to Sadie’s pub within the pages of her books.

Okay, the setting is ideal but so are the characters. I really like Sadie and she is surrounded by family and friends that support and love her. She dealt with some really heavy stuff in the last book but she is moving forward the best she can. She and the other characters continue to evolve in exciting ways. Mel is in the hot seat this time. The people who know her, know she had nothing to do with the murder, but there are some shaky times for her.

Meanwhile, Sadie thinks the pub needs to have a team in the upcoming hockey tournament and she puts a motley crew together. Grayson is still hanging around and definitely has something on his mind besides an upcoming hockey game. Aunt Gilda and her friends are wrapped up in the chili supper but she is always there for Sadie. All the characters are genuine and people I would love to hang out with.

The mystery is very well done too. Chef Freddy is a real jerk and as such there are plenty of suspects. Sadie is one of those sleuths that has good instincts but she doesn’t always think things through before she opens her mouth or jumps into a situation. Of course, that adds to the drama and the fun. The author has plotted out a story with a plethora of twists that kept me guessing right up to the very end.

An Ale of Two Cities is a very entertaining read. Set in the holiday season it is a perfect book to curl up with in front of a fire on a wintery afternoon or evening. Skip to the end of the book for a cocktail recipe and fix yourself a Count Dracula or Evil Stepmother cocktail to enjoy while you’re reading.

An Ale of Two Cities is a fantastic cozy mystery with wonderful characters and storyline. This is a great series that everyone should read.

Winter Carnival comes to Shady Creek, Vermont and along with it comes an ice sculpting competition. A former resident returns to compete with his nose in the air but before the ice has a chance to melt, he's been stabbed with an ice pick and the whole town could be suspects.
Sadie Coleman, the proprietor of the Inkwell Literary Pub, knows that her friend and employee Melanie “Mel” Costas is the chief suspect since it was her ice pick. But Sadie vows to clear her before the charges are even brought. But things could get a bit slippery before all is said and done.

Wonderful story with characters getting fleshed out more and more as well as amusing events to lighten things up when it might get a bit too dangerous.
Looking forward to the next one!

This was a mystery well worth the wait. All of the Winter in Vermont without having to bundle up in boots and parka to enjoy the festivities. Sadie is ready to bundle up and stand in the snow to watch one of her employees compete in an ice carving contest. Mel has won before and odds are she will win again. That is until a former resident returns to town, ticks off just about everyone and declares that he will be the winner with his ice sculpture. He even goes head to head with his brother in a very public scene. Still, Sadie is certain Mel will take home the prize. Not long into the contest Mel discovers her ice carving tools, including a set of small tools, have been stolen. Soon the large tools are recovered but the small tools are nowhere to be found - yet. Soon after leaving the chili dinner, Sadie finds Freddy's very dead body in the adjacent alley and Mel's missing ice pick is stuck in his chest. That puts her at the top of the list of suspects but Sadie isn't buying it. Mel isn't a killer...so who is? Given the long list of people who disliked Freddy, which one hated him enough to kill him?
Sadie has a lot to juggle this holiday season - the start of a series of trivia contests at her literary themed pub, the Inkwell, training for a snow shoe event and helping to put together a hockey team -and, of course, hunting for a killer so Mel doesn't end up in prison.
This series has it all with a small town setting, a great cast of characters, a pub I know I would spend lots of time in, talking books and eating good food with friends and a very well plotted mystery. It also has a bit of romantic tension between Sadie and Grayson, owner of a local craft beer brewery. Now I'm ready for the next mystery for Sadie to solve.

wow, when is the next book coming out to this series , because I can't wait for it ,out of the two series I'm reading by this author , this one is my favorite one, I love the idea of the characters naming their drinks after books , authors and characters , there just something about this series that I love and can't wait to read more by her , in fact I would say she's my favorite cozy mystery writer. And out of the two books so far of this series this one is my favorite one .

An Ale of Two Cities was a fun and entertaining read. I loved the literary pub theme with all the fun names on the menu (there's even a couple of recipes in the back, including Paradise Lox). There's also a bunch of interesting characters. Although I might have guessed the murderer, it was still a book I wanted to finish.

Well-written and populated with characters you want to know, this is a fun and fast read. Winter Carnival time in Shady Creek, Vermont, and Sadie Coleman has readied her new literary themed pub, Inkwell, for the festivities. During the ice sculpture event, an ex-hometown boy is murdered and one of her employees is top of the suspect list. Inquisitive by nature, she is compelled to investigate and clear her friend, but is she putting herself in danger.

This is the 2nd in series. I have read the first in series and found it highly enjoyable .
Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinions are my own.

In this next in series the author does a great job of presenting the charcters from the first in series. This can be read as a stand alone if you have not read the first in series. This next in series has a holiday theme with a winter festival in the setting of picturesque Shady Creek, Vermont. Pub owner Sadie Coleman is happily creating cocktails and hosting a literary trivia evening. .Her employee Melanie “Mel” is soon to compete in the ice carving competition. Sadie is hoping to watch her compete. The winter festival is in full glory when a fellow ice sculptor is murdered. The police belief is that Mel is the culprit and Sadie must jump to her defense and solve the mystery.

This is such a fun holiday theme mystery. The setting is perfect, the charcters all add to the story and are richly drawn to the plot. The sleuth was very well crafted and kept this reader guessing. I enjoyed this next in series and look, forward to the next in series. I highly recommend this next in series for your holiday reading enjoyment.

I had really been looking forward to this second book and I was definitely not disappointed! The mystery of the murder was a good one, and I was totally surprised by the killer reveal which was pretty exciting. Thinking about Christmas and wintertime in Vermont was so cool. I'm not a fan of being out in the cold, but looking out at the scenery would be awesome. The town of Shady Creek sounds like an adorable little Hallmark town, especially during Winter Carnival that had an ice sculpture contest.

I just love Aunt Gilda! She's just what Sadie needed--and who wouldn't love an aunt like her. Shontelle was the kind of bestie any girl would be glad to have, and the various employees at Inkwell were all good people. The trivia night that Sadie had was fun, and I even caught some cozy mystery name dropping which is always super fun to read about. Hopefully Sadie will eventually think of Grayson as more sweet than annoying, but I think she got a good start in this book by talking about spending Christmas with him. I definitely can't wait for the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

Series: A Literary Pub Mystery - Book 2
Author: Sarah Fox
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Culinary/Holiday
Publisher: Kensington Books
Page Count: 288

From Kensington Books comes the new addition to the “A Literary Pub Mystery” cozy series, by Sarah Fox, An Ale of Two Cities.

Book two in this new cozy series shows the growth of the characters and the more likable aspects of who they are becoming. Ms. Fox writes with the ease of experience and tells original stories readers will love. The characters have pleasant personalities, with faults, a sense of humor, fears, and concerns that make this series worth exploring.

The victim is genuinely unlikeable, even when he is alive, which isn’t always the case in a cozy series. He is reprehensible in every way, and most of the characters and suspects throughout the book are happy to be rid of him. Unfortunately, the killer is not what they seem and in the end, makes the mistake of thinking Sadie will be a pushover. After some tense moments, Sadie wins out and catches the killer, clearing her friend's name and making certain no one else dies.

I enjoyed this book immensely and think that Sarah Fox writes some of the most compelling and believable characters, as well as plots in a cozy series today. Readers will fall for these people and will love the town. I hope this series will continue for many years to come and urge readers to check out An Ale of Two Cities along with the first book in the series, “Wine and Punishment.”

Cozy Murder Mystery at the Christmas Festival
This wonderful cozy has all of the Christmas feel goods along with murder. The setting is a small town with lots of snow and a winter festival that includes ice sculpting, a gingerbread house contest, a parade of lights and all of the neat stuff we love about Christmas. The plot is great with an abundance of motives but only a few suspects. This book is second in a series. I have read both books, but I believe a new reader would enjoy this book without reading the first book. This author always brings a lot to the table by filling her books with just the right amount of detail mixed with lots of action. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

An Ale of Two Cities by Sarah Fox is the 2nd book in Literary Pub Mystery, and another great addition. Sadie Coleman loves books, and she's happy with her new beginnings in Shady Creek, Vermont, where she owns a pub, called Inkwell. Sadie is busy getting ready for the Winter Carnival in town. The Winter Carnival brings in a lot of tourists money as they buy Christmas and holiday items, and watch the ice sculpting contest. Freddy Mancini, a famous chef comes back to town to enter the ice sculpting contest. He is nasty to everyone, and it is not long before he is found murdered. Sadie and local brewery owner Grayson Blake team up to solve the murder. Not only is this book an exciting mystery but also very refreshing and a quick read. I can not wait to see what happens next in Sadie's life. If you love fun cozy mysteries, which are my favorite, I highly recommend this book. 

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

It was fun to return to Shady Creek, this time to solve a murder that happens during the Winter Carnival. We get to know Sadie, her staff, and the community members better, all while experiencing the town in winter. I enjoyed this installment of the series and look forward to seeing what Sadie gets involved in next time! Thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for the review copy.

An Ale of Two Cities is the second book in Sarah Fox’s Literary Pub mysteries. It is time for the winter festival in Shady Creek, Vermont, and new resident and owner of the Inkwell Pub Sadie Coleman is very excited to experience her first winter festival in her new home. Sadie is especially anticipating the ice carving competition and the work of her employee Mel Costas.

On the first day of the ice carving competition Sadie is there to cheer Mel on. When former Shady Creek resident and Boston chef Federico ‘Freddy’ Mancini makes his presence known the residents are briefly awed, that is until Freddy shows his true colors. When he is found dead later that day, it is not much of a surprise but still a crime must be solved.

In order to clear Mel’s name, Sadie goes to work to try to find more information so that the investigation doesn’t cease with the easy answer. In doing so, neighbor and owner of Spirit Hill Brewery Grayson Blake comes forward to help Sadie. What they uncover is much more than a murder.
This is a wonderful second book in a well written series. The setting is delightful and the characters are richly drawn. I am a fan! I did enjoy this book and I do recommend it!

Book two in the Literary Pub series, this one takes place during the Christmas holiday. An ice carving contest that ends badly puts a small dent in Sadie’s holiday when her friend becomes a suspect. Absolutely love the Literary Pub with its themed rooms and books all throughout. The characters are sweet and you can feel the small town feels throughout. Can’t wait to see what the next installment brings. Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for the opportunity to read and review this.

This is the second book in the Literary Pub Mystery series and takes place as the town of Shady Creek begins their Winter Carnival festival to ring in the holiday season. It opens with an ice carving contest where Mel, one of the employees of Sadie’s pub is competing. During the competition, her tools are stolen and although the large tools are found, the small ones are not. Later, one of these tools is discovered as the tool used to murder a former town resident who has come back to the town specifically to compete in the ice carving. He spends the rest of his time marching around town, belittling all of the residents he encounters, many of whom helped him achieve his current level of success. He is accompanied by his assistant, Jade, Mel’s former girlfriend.
This sets Mel up as the number one suspect for the murder and leads Sadie to begin her own investigation to try and clear Mel of the charges. During her investigations, Sadie joins forces with Grayson, who owns the local craft brewery. There is a growing attraction between Sadie and Grayson, although their relationship is often characterized by misunderstandings and frustration. There is movement in the relationship which plays out through the book and for readers who enjoy reading as relationships begin and go through growing pains, this is a good place to start.
The mystery itself is self-contained within the book, so it is not necessary to have read the first book in the series to enjoy this one. Although there are a few characters who appear in both books, Fox does a good job of describing their relationship to Sadie so it isn’t necessary to have read the first book for explanations.
The mystery is a good plot, although it could have been a bit tighter. The murderer is easily identified by the reader by using the familiar expectation to look for the character who is usually around but not a central part of the action. There are some clues given, along with some red herrings, but they were not sufficient to cause me any doubt as to who was responsible for the murder.
This is an easy book to read and would make a good airplane/train ride read. The descriptions of Shady Creek as a winter wonderland are enticing and can help ease you into the spirit of the season with their descriptions. My thanks to Kensington Books and NetGalley for providing me with an Advanced Digital Reader copy in exchange for an unbiased review. I look forward to reading the next book in the series to see how it grows.

Sadie’s settling into her new home in snowy Shady Creek, Vermont and enjoying running her literary-themed pub, the Inkwell. The town’s annual Winter Carnival brings back a past resident (now a famous chef) to compete in the snow carving competition. It’s quickly clear the chef, Freddy, has only become more obnoxious in the years he’s been away. After causing impressive scenes with multiple people, it’s not a surprise when Freddy is found murdered.

This was a fun cozy with strong character relationships and a small town during the holidays setting that was very nicely described. I love the literary pub and the Winter Carnival. Sometimes the mystery plotline in a cozy falls by the wayside to focus more on the town and the main characters personal relationships, but I thought both aspects were solid. I look forward to reading the next book in the series whenever it comes out.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC. The opinions in this review are honest and my own. #AnAleOfTwoCities #mystery #cozymystery

Delightfully written! This was a truly enjoyable book. The setting is wonderful and the characters are engaging. This is a well plotted mystery and it was fun to try and figure it out. I'm glad I had the chance to read it!

A fun read, with a murder mystery where everyone is a suspect.
The winter theme becomes cozy, while reading by the fire at his time of year.
Definitely recommend it for a relax afternoon.

This was a very good cozy mystery. I thought I knew whodunnit, but I was wrong, and was pleasantly surprised. I loved the little bit of romance, it added a nice layer to the story. I can't wait until the next one. I received an advanced reader's copy from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.