This is one of my favorite series to date. It's fun, quirky, the characters relatable and with just enough magic thrown in to make it a really fun read. As with most cozy series, the need to start at book one isn't necessary, but I would recommend it as it does give you a little more depth and understanding if you do. If you don't want to start at book one, Ms. Flower does an excellent job of reminding readers of the backstory without it overwhelming the current story line.
I really enjoyed the way she made Walt Whitman into another character in this story rather than just randomly mentioning him as the story progresses. It made him more accessible to me as a poetry reading avoider, if that's a thing.
Violet and Rainwater are so cute and leave us all rooting for them. Their dynamic is one of learning who they can trust. Of wanting to trust each other but just afraid of the fallout of the what-ifs. I think a lot of us can relate to that.
Oh, Grandma Daisy! She so reminds me of my Grandmother. Always just ready to jump in and liven things up. Haha! Reading about Violet's relationship with her and the way they interact always leaves me chuckling as it was very similar to how my Grandma and I were.
If you're looking to add a little magic, a little romance or a little mystery to your life, I highly recommend this series. Please don't do what I did and leave these on your e-reader or TBR pile for too long. You're truly missing out on one of the best cozy series out there.

Verse and Vengeance by Amanda Flower is the 4th book in A Magical Bookshop Mystery series, and a great addition. I love this book/series and highly recommend to all people who enjoy paranormal cozy mysteries. Violet Waverly and her Grandma Daisy run the Charming Books store, where the books have a mind of there own. Violet and her boyfriend police chief David Rainwater, are doing the Tour de Cascade, a fundraiser, for the museum. They are unable to finish the race because there is a murder during the bike race. The private eye that was murder has been snooping around the bookshop, and Violet has to make sure the shop is safe. Amanda Flower is one of my favorite authors,I enjoy all her series. I strongly this book and series, you will not be disappointed.

I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. Thank you.

I received a copy from Crooked Lane Books through Netgalley. I reallly loved this book. can't wait for more in this series. I never guessed who the killer was. good plot's, love the character's and the cover.

Upfront I confess to being a fan of this series, which features, in addition to the humans, Emerson the cat and Faulkner the crow. Yep, a crow who helps a cozy heroine solve crimes. And a book theme. This time out, Violet and her beau David (the police chief) get roped into taking part in a biking event to raise money. Unfortunately, Joel Redding, who has been annoying Violet and her grandmother Daisy by digging into the paranormal bookstore they run, dies during the race- his brake line was cut! Now David does know in his heart that Violet and Daisy didn't do it but they all learn something new as they investigate. This time out, the works of Walt Whitman are featured. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This never gets too woowoo (even with the animals) and it's never too complicated- it's just right for a fun read where you, like me, might learn a bit about Whitman you didn't know before. A good cozy.

This is part of a cozy mystery continuing series which has been fun to follow, and this is a good addition. The characters are familiar and the cast seems like family. No worries if you haven't read the other installments. This can be read as a standalone, and there are enough details on the past and characters to fill in a new reader.

Yet again, there's another murder in town, and Violet finds herself in the middle of things, along with Chief Rainwater. This one includes Walt Whitman quotes, which will be fun for lit lovers. There's a lot of personal issues in this one, as Violet learns more about her family's history and her job as caretaker of the shop and tree, along with the sacrifices needed and issues concerning her father. The reader can see more personal growth with Violet than in past stories. Faulkner and Emerson continue to be some of my favorite characters.

Violet Waverly has reluctantly agreed to participate in grandma Daisy's bike race fundraiser for the Underground Railroad Museum. During the race, a private investigator is murdered. Then the body of a man found in Niagara Falls is identified as the ex-husband of police chief David Rainwater's sister. The police are convinced that the murders are connected and they suspect that Violet's favourite student Jo is somehow involved. Violet believes that Jo is innocent and decides to do her own investigation.

Verse and Vengeance is a magical and enjoyable cozy mystery, with a wonderful cast of characters, a charming, picturesque small-town setting, and a well-plotted murder mystery. This is one of my absolute favorite cozy mystery series. When a new installment comes out it feels like catching up with old friends. The plot is complex and nicely paced. I did manage to correctly guess who the culprit was before the reveal but couldn't figure out the motive. I love how literature and magic play a role in helping Violet find clues. Overall, this is a wonderful addition to the series, and I can't wait to read the next book.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books, in return for an honest review. This is the fourth book in this cosy series and easily read as a stand-alone. Violet runs a magical bookstore, with a living tree growing in it. Her grandmother, Daisy, is now the mayor of Cascade Springs, NY, and determined to renovate the townhall, to add a Museum about the town’s part in the Underground Railroad. A major fundraiser is the new 25-mile bike race, ‘the Tour de Cascade’. Violet’s boyfriend, David, really wants them to ride the race together. When Violet and David start down one of the race hills, they discover an accident, which resulted in a rider’s death. Turns out, the dead person is a man who’d been stalking Violet by taking photos and tracking her movements, in his role as a private investigator. When the magical bookstore keeps leaving copies of a particular book all around the store and in Violet’s apartment, she’s trying to solve multiple mysteries at the same time! This book also tells the backstory of how the bookstore came to be, while weaving in the ‘whodunnit’ and growing the character relationships, such as those of Violet and her estranged father. I look forward to the next book.

My favorite of the series so far.

A fast-paced read with plenty of red herrings to keep you guessing until the end. Verse and Vengeance had me stumped on the killer right up to the reveal. I thought I was pretty good at guessing the killers but I was proved wrong.

Even after four books, I’m still intrigued by a magical bookstore. I’ve often wished I could visit Violet and her store to see what book it would pick for me.

Even if you aren’t a fan of the paranormal or magical world but love cozies you have to give this series a try. I’ll think you will be surprised how fast you will fall in love with Cascade Springs.

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

I am so glad that I took a chance on this series - I just love every book that is in it!!

I really enjoy Violet and her grandmother, David Rainwater and all of the characters that revolve around them. I enjoy the mystery aspect of the books [though I will admit, I am not a fan of Whitman and that part of the book was a touch tedious for me - he was so pretentious. Geesh.] and I never saw that end coming, though I thought in a previous book that something could happen along these lines, just not for the reason that happens in this book. I also like how the book touches on how hard it is to keep secrets and just how damaging keeping those secrets can be. All-in-all, this was a great addition to the series and I really hope there will be more as I have grown quite attached to the characters in Cascade Springs.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This is a lovely, magical cosy mystery series that is always an enjoyable read.
The magic is is gentle and Charming Books is character in itself. I love the way the books link to the mysteries and are always important to solving the mysteries.
Violet's relationships with Rainwater, Granny Daisy and her father Fenimore are developing ad the series continues. And I absolutely love Emerson the cat.
If you like a cosy, village murder mystery I would definitely recommend this series. The mystery is intriguing and keeps you guessing. The finale is well thought out.
Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.

You can't go wrong with a Charming Bookshop and a wonderful little town like Cascade Spring. This is one of the better cozy series out there. The plot is well developed and the storyline is always intriguing. I look forward to reading the next book in this series.

This is a fun mystery with a magical bookstore that offers clues to Violet in her effort to solve the murders that occur in her cute town of Cascade Springs. The character's relationships develop throughout the books and I enjoy getting to know them more in each book.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an hones review.

This is the 4th installment in the Magical Mystery Bookshop series. Grandma Daisy is now the mayor of Cascade Springs and she is working to get funds to add a museum to the town hall for the part Cascade Springs had in the Underground Railroad. The town is now having a 25-mile bike race called the Tour de Cascade and Violet and her boyfriend Chief David Rainwater are going to be in the race. Violet is riding her Mother’s bike that she has been using since she returned to town. Violet is also troubled because a private investigator Joel Redding who was in the last book thinks something odd is happening at Charming Books and has vowed to get to the bottom of it. He has returned to town and has been following Violet all over town and been staking out the bookshop. On the day of the race Rainwater and Violet see Redding in the race in with street cloths not biking wear and he is taking pictures of Violet. Shortly thereafter, as they approach a steep downhill they are forced to stop as there has been an accident on the course. Violet knows it is Redding. The shop has already given her a clue with a book the day before by leaving copies for her of Walt Whitman’s “Leaves of Grass” and now she knows the shop was giving a foreshadowing of Redding’s death. Redding also had a copy of that book on him in the race and purchased it that morning at the bookshop while leaving Violet a cryptic message from one of the poems. Rainwater begins the investigation and the women who gave Redding the bike is Jo former student of Violets and friend. Jo goes missing and all assume she is somehow involved in the murder. Fennimore, Violet’s father who she has also recently learned about after all these years is in the story briefly and it was nice that Violet can forgive him for staying away and will try and get to know him better. Another murder happened a day or two before in Niagara Falls and it turns out it is Dannielle’s ex husband and David Rainwater’s ex brother-in-law. Are the two cases related? This is a great cozy series and I love the paranormal twist. I am happy that the secret of the store and Violet’s heart is safe with Rainwater. Will be interesting to see what else happens in this cozy little village near Niagara. Highly Recommend.

I want to move into charming books, such a fun concept, the magical bookstore. Located in a charming town, with fun interesting characters like Grandma Daisy and Violet, this is an entertaining read.

Once again Violet Waverly is on the case! Along with the her bookstore Charming Books, a magical store that always seems to know what a person needs to read and always knows what books to throw into Violet's path in order to give her clue's as to who a bad guy is. This time around the store is set on Walt Whitman's Leaves of Grass. Not only does the book keep flying off the shelf for Violet to read, but it is also found on the dead guy! A Private Investigator that has been spying on Violet. She is sure that he has heard some rumor about her shop being magical and is determined to expose her. When one of Violet's students disappears it looks suspicious and Violet is determined to find her and help her. Will she be able to help Jo before a killer gets to her?

I always enjoy Amanda Flowers cozy mysteries and the Magical Bookshop Mysteries happen to be one of my favorite series that she writes. I love the story behind the bookshop and how the bookshop helps point Violet in the right direction. As always Emerson the cat and Faulkner the crow crack me up and Emerson sure knows how to escape and show up in the strangest places. Rainwater and Violet have progressed along pretty quickly. I almost thought I had missed a book somewhere! I love how David knows that Violet is not just going to sit back and let him investigate, but at the same time I get frustrated with Violet for not listening to him and putting herself in danger! I have to admit I was a bit surprised at the who-done-it. When we were introduced to the character it ran through my head that maybe...just maybe, but then I changed my mind and didn't think of that person again. I enjoyed the story and definitely look forward to the next in the series!

Having returned to Cascade Springs, Violet Waverly managed Charming Books now that her Aunt Daisy has become mayor and involved with a museum for the town and it's history. What no one besides them knows is that Violet has taken over as Caretaker for the magical essence for the bookstore. After a sleazy PI threatens to expose her secrets, he turns up dead during a charity bike race.

Amanda Flower has several excellent series, but this one is my favorite with a crow named Faulkner, a tuxedo cat named Emerson and a live birch tree growing in the middle of the bookstore. And this fourth entry to the series lives up the the standards of the other. If you like a cozy with a touch of the paranormal, this one's for you!

Description
USA Today bestselling author and Agatha Award winner Amanda Flower turns the charm up to ten in her fourth Magical Bookshop mystery. With the help of Walt Whitman's works, magical bookshop owner Violet Waverly puts her pedal to the metal to sleuth a bicycle-race murder that tests her mettle. A bicycle race is not Charming Books proprietor Violet Waverly's idea of a pleasant pastime. But police chief David Rainwater wheelie wants them to enter the Tour de Cascade as a couple, so she reluctantly consents. The Tour de Cascade is the brainchild of Violet's Grandma Daisy. The race is a fundraiser to build the Cascade Springs Underground Railroad Museum. But not everyone in this Niagara Region village supports the race. As if the bike race weren't tiring enough, pesky private investigator Joel Redding is snooping around Charming Books. It takes all of Violet's and Grandma Daisy's ingenuity to keep Redding from discovering the shop's magical essence--which communicates with Violet through books. When Redding perishes in an accident during the race, David discovers that the brake line of the private eye's bike was cut. Worse, Violet tops his list of suspects. As Emerson the tuxedo cat and resident crow Faulkner look on, Charming Books steers Violet to the works of Walt Whitman to solve the crime. But no other names ring a bell as culprits, and as David's investigation picks up speed, Violet will have to get in gear to clear her name.

My Review:
If you enjoy reading cozy mysteries then you MUST read Verse and Vengeance. I will warn you that the beginning is a bit slow, but after the first few chapters it's a great read until the very end. Very well written with interesting characters.

This book was provided to me in exchange for my honest opinion. So, I highly recommend this book. Can't wait to read the next book. Keep up the great work Amanda Flower - love this book.

This series is one of the better cozy mystery series out there. The characters are engaging with a solid plot line and the magical touches are well done. I especially love Emerson! I received an e-book from NetGalley in return for an unbiased review.

I love this series and was more than happy when I got this ARC.
It's an engrossing and entertaining story even if I found it a bit slow at the beginning.
But the book worked his magic and after a while I was hooked and read it late in the night to know what the solution was.
It was great to meet again the cast of characters, I was more than happy about the development in the story between Violette and Rainweather. The characters are well thought as usual and likeable.
The mystery is solid, full of red herrings and twists, and the solution came as a surprise.
I can't wait to read the next installment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

I was very thankful to receive this book from NetGalley and even though it was the fourth in the series it was easy enough to read as a stand-alone.
I absolutely love the setting and the story here. Violet has inherited a bookstore with magical properties and the many many literary references are just endearing. With the help of the bookstore and her wonderful animal sidekicks Emerson and Faulkner (a cat and a raven respectively) Violet uncovers all the towns mysteries.

The characters were sweet, the story moved at a great pace and even I didn’t guess the ending so they were all great points. I was reading an uncorrected proof (I think) because there were definitely some misspells and editing issues that were a little distracting. I could feel a great story here, just needed some editing.

In all though a lovely cosy mystery full of all the Bookish things I love; books, magic, poets and community.