A lovely wedding at a historic apple orchard's cider shop is going well, and making Winona Mae Montgomery feel hopeful about her new business at her grandmother's family farm, until the groom dies during the reception. That changes everything.
For Winnie, it's especially tough since the top suspect is her ex and there's quite a bit of chemistry between her and the lead detective.
This is an action-packed story, well written, with developed characters and an interesting setting. I haven't yet read the first book in the series (though I plan to) and it wasn't a problem. This book neither requires the reader to have the first book for background, nor gives away the story of the first book so we can't go back and enjoy it.

This is the 2nd book in the Cider Shop Mystery series and it was just as good as the 1st! Smyth Orchards is the perfect setting for a wedding but the special day doesn't go as planned when the groom is murdered! Winnie feels that she needs to find out the truth before her ex boyfriend is thrown in jail for murder and the orchard's reputation is ruined.
With likable characters and a cozy setting this series is bound to be a favorite for many! The mystery was well planned and the author kept me guessing until the very end. I look forward to reading the next book!

Brought to you by OBS Reviewer Jeanie

What a great read! I enjoyed learning about Granny Smythe’s orchard and baked goods, and Winnie’s cider shop and home-crafted beverages! All the elements are present to grab and hold my attention from the start, including well-defined characters, a mystery I couldn’t solve, and a historic Virginia setting that sounds beautiful.

Granny and Grampy began the orchard many years ago; Granny has now been widowed for a few years. Winnie lived with them most of her life after her mom ran out, and now lives in a house on the property. She grew up with all the love her grandparents could lavish on her with each other and the orchard their focus. She is beyond busy, as she has been taking a class every semester for ten years, helps Granny with the orchard, and recently opened a cider shop. She sells her cider blends, Granny’s baked goods, and sandwiches.

The cider shop in the barn is the venue for a wedding for the daughter of a local family. Their original location cancelled at the last minute, so Winnie, Granny, and best friend Dot had three weeks to prepare and decorate for the event. If it increases traffic and popularity as a venue for the cider shop and orchard, it will have been well worth it.

The mother of Elsie, the bride, invited everyone in town to the reception. One person Winnie was not happy to see was her ex-boyfriend, Hank, now cuddling with one of the younger bridesmaids. Jack, the bridegroom, looks … off. He drinks from a flask in his pocket and acts as if he has had a few too many. Winnie hears two men arguing. It is Hank and Jack, and when she called out to Hank, Jack ran off. Elsie ran after Jack, with the bridesmaids not far behind. Winnie went to see what was happening, then heard Elsie scream. She saw Hank’s truck speed away from the property. When Winnie got to Elsie, the newlyweds’ getaway vehicle – an old farm truck – was running, and Elsie was on Jack, hysterical. Jack had been hit by the getaway truck but didn’t get away.

This is the second murder on the property, the first one being last fall. She feels terrible for the bride and the families and feels worse that she is concerned about the future of the cider shop. Winnie had helped solve that murder, and her mind is already reeling about what could have happened. No matter how she feels about Hank, Winnie knows he is not a killer. If Sheriff Colton Wise will just believe her.

Not only does it feel like her house, then her shop, is being watched, but someone broke in her home. Colton thinks it might be Hank, looking for someone to harbor him. Winnie and Dot go to Hank’s family’s hunting cabin in the nearby national park and get shot at! Someone has been staying at the shack. When Colton went there, everything in the cabin was removed, but they did find a shell casing. Early the next morning, they find another body, partially covered in leaves, yards from the cabin.

I like Winnie, Dot, and Granny best. Winnie is a hard-working young woman who is dedicated to her grandmother, her shop, and her studies. Dot, Winnie’s best friend, is in many ways different than Winnie. She is an outdoorswoman, a national park ranger, and avid animal rescuer. Winnie took in two rescued kittens from her last fall, while Dot’s four-acre hobby farm is a refuge for all her rescues until they have forever homes or can be released into the park. Granny is a selfless yet fun-loving woman who made sure Winnie had the best childhood possible; she works hard to keep the orchard. And I love the special grass-cutting crew! Especially the most unique one!

This is a series that I will enjoy. I am impressed by the décor of the cider shop and how the town is incorporated into every piece of it; Winnie’s love for her community is exemplary. Plot twists continue to change the landscape of the investigation; I could not have guessed the motive, even if I had the evidence in hand. The killer was somewhat of a surprise; while I thought of the person, I couldn’t imagine a motive for the culprit. All loose ends are tied up except for the cliffhanger. I highly recommend this delightful, scary, novel and series!

*OBS would like to thank the publisher for supplying a free copy of this title in exchange for an honest review*

Winona Mae Montgomery and her Granny Smythe have worked hard and the family apple orchard in Blossom Valley, Virginia is now solvent. With the new addition of Winnie’s cider shop, she has the locals booking events, including a wedding she’s excited to cater.

Although everything seems to be going smoothly during the wedding celebration, there’s tension under the surface––the groom is drinking heavily, Winnie’s ex Hank is whispering with one of the bridesmaids, and then Hank is in a fracas with the groom shortly before the groom is found dead, cradled by the distraught bride, in front of the honeymoon getaway car. And Hank is on the run.

Winnie is determined to protect her cider shop’s reputation before locals start staying away in droves, so she’s on the trail of any clues she can discover to find out who murdered the groom, where Hank has run off to, and what part a disappearing bridesmaid has to play in the drama. Local sheriff Colton Wise would much prefer Winnie stay out of the investigation, but a some close personal calls keep her hand in it and Colton’s worry about her front and center.

Pulp Friction is filled with characters you’ll enjoy getting to know, a cider shop you’d love to visit and a mystery that will take all of Winnie’s best efforts to solve before the murderer strikes again.

Once again, Julie Anne Lindsey has written a fun, atmospheric cozy! This installment had a wonderful mystery, and I loved getting to see more of the orchard and the characters.

Title: Pulp Friction

Author: Julie Anne Lindsey

Series: A Cider Shop Mystery book 2

Chapters: 24

Pages: 336

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 4 Stars

Publisher: Kensington Books


Pulp Friction is the second book in the A Cider Shop mystery series by Julie Anne Lindsey Winnie Montgomery s Cider shops business has started to pick up when another murder happens on the property.

Winnie starts to get involved in solving the murder even though Sheriff Colton Wise wants her to stay as far away from the crime and the murderer as possible.

I enjoyed this one more than the first one in the series as well as the slight hint of a romance blossoming.


I received a copy of this book from the publisher through netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine alone.

Pulp Friction by Julie Anne Lindsey is the second book in the Cider Shop Mystery series. Now that Winnie and her grandmother have the orchard back on its feet. Winnie is hosting the first wedding event. The only problem is that the groom is drinking heavily and gets into a scuffle with Winnie's ex Hank. When the groom is found dead shortly after, Hank is the main suspect and is also on the run. Winnie jumps into the investigation and soon becomes the target of the killer. I love the setting and characters in this series. The mystery was strong enough with plenty of misdirection to have me questioning myself. The book ended with a cliff hanger guaranteed to make you want to read the next installment.

Pulp Friction is a great follow-up to the series launch, Apple Cider Slaying. Following Lindey's Christmas-themed beginning to the series, it was a pleasure to read about Smythe Orchards in the spring, full of life (no pun intended) and promise for the seasons ahead.

Readers looking to start this series, but don't want to read about Christmas in the summer months, could very well read Pulp Friction without having read Apple Cider Slaying. While the characters relationships carry over, there isn't any major plot points that would necessitate reading the series in order.

I recommend this series to readers looking for a charming whodunnit, as well as those interested in hobby farming or cider making.

This is the second story in the Cider Shop Mystery. I enjoyed the first story which features a cider shop in West Virginia. The story is very atmospheric and evocative of the small town, mountains and rural life of the characters. The tone is very down home and I enjoyed the peek into country life the author offers.

The characters are likable and suitably quirky, there's a sexy by-the-book law enforcer and a well-plotted mystery that takes some brain power to figure out.

This story will definitely make you want to drink cider and maybe spend some time in the country. It's a well-written book and a nice follow up to the first story in the series.

The ending hints at another series-wide mystery which gives the Cider Shop Mysteries some much welcomed depth and complexity.

This is the second book in the series but can be read as a stand alone. I had not read the previous book but it did not matter and I was able to follow everything clearly. Previous events were touched open so everything made sense.

This was a cosy murder mystery and easy to read. I did guess who had done it and was correct but there were plenty of red herrings and I definitely did not guess the why!

I would read more in this series. Thank you for providing an arc.

I love seeing winnie finally getting to open her shop! I'd love to actually be able to visit there. In this book we see her ex in the hot seat. Great book!

Time for another mystery with Winona Mae Montgomery and her Granny Smythe, as they get happily to grips with running a cider shop on the old orchard farm. The outdoor beautiful, dignified wedding scenes framed by apple trees and wildflowers, really took my breath away at the start of PULP FRICTION. Winona is making income from hosting a wedding and doing the catering. She’d have liked the happiness to last beyond the first chapter, though.

Blossom Valley, Virginia used to be such a quiet spot. Then Winona split up with her ex-boyfriend Hank, put herself through college, and started this cider shop. Life hasn’t been the same since. A new police officer in town took on the post of sheriff and he’s been kept busy solving murders. We’ve no sooner met the cast than unpleasantness occurs and at the end of the evening, the new groom is found dead under his wedding car.

Since Hank has vanished, Winona thinks – as do others – that he may be on the run, either from his evil deed or because he knows something and is afraid. But Winona goes to quite extraordinary lengths for Hank during this tale, leading me to think that she still has feelings for him, even as she tells herself that Hank is just too good at manipulating her and getting what he wants. At the same time she is getting better acquainted with Sheriff Colton which puts her in some awkward spots.

The rest of the stunningly good cast include the town senior men and woman, some new faces attending the wedding, and Winona’s good friend Dot, a National Park Ranger and animal rescuer, who this time rescues some livestock bigger than kittens. This is getting to be my favourite mystery series and the Cider Shop Mystery books are only on the second one so far. The accomplished author Julie Anne Lindsey has also written the Geek Girl's Guide to Murder series which blends a tech-savvy lady with Renaissance fayres. Her work is going from strength to strength. I enjoy the outdoors setting so much in PULP FRICTION and we get to consider some home blends for spiced ciders. What could be nicer? Summer evenings and cold cider, a perfect combination.

Wow. I just read this in ONE DAY. Which may not seem crazy, but for me that is some kind of record. Needless to say, I loved it! The writing is so perfect for a cozy mystery and the story is crafted in a way that grabs hold and doesn't let go. The descriptions of Granny's apple orchard, the cider shop, and the town were so great that after the first book, I immediately researched an apple orchard to go visit, and now after this book I am brainstorming ideas of how to spice up some apple cider later this fall.
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The Cider Shop Mystery series is now solidified as one of my all time favorites!
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I was so excited that Winnie's dream of opening a Cider Shop was realized and I loved reading about it and imaging that I could visit sometime. The descriptions of her different creations had my mouth watering and I loved how creative she is. Unfortunately for her, another murder takes place in front of the shop, and practically under her nose! I love Winnie's drive to protect her shop's reputation, no matter how much danger it puts her in.
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Also we get a glimpse into Colton's past and I am so here for it! He is a complex character and I cannot wait for more of him! His interactions with Winnie just seem so genuine and I love that he is the silent caring type. I also loved seeing more of her best friend Dot and some of the others in town.
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I am a naturally suspicious person, so I trust absolutely no one (except Winnie's inner circle), so I had some good ideas about who the murderer was, but there were so many other twists and aspects of the mystery that completely shocked and awe me. I so appreciated how this mystery was laid out and the tricky windy path that Winnie takes to finally get at the truth.

Princess Fuzzypants here: OMC! Winnie has a habit of getting herself into real danger and it is a good things she has friends who come to her rescue. This time the cider house is doing well. In fact, she is hosting a wedding party. But it is not all celebrations when the groom wanders off in a huff and ends up dead. And things don’t look good for Winnie’s ex-boyfriend who was seen fighting with the groom and disappeared after the murder.
She doesn’t believe he is a killer but he has a bad habit of showing up unexpectedly in her home and refuses to give himself up. Then there is the bridesmaid who also has scarpered off. And even the bride herself is acting strangely. Who is the victim and who is the criminal? And what does it have to do with a hidden crop that is worth a ton of money?
With her propensity for getting into trouble, you might think it would slow Winnie down but our girl keeps going and going. It makes for an exciting and entertaining read.
Five purrs and two paws up.

I enjoyed my first trip to the Smythe Orchard in West Virginia in Apple Cider Slaying, and was delighted to go back to see what Winnie, Granny Smythe and all their friends and acquaintances were up to. In this story Winnie is hosting a wedding at her Cider Shop. She notices her ex-boyfriend arguing with the groom and is not sure if it is about his closeness to one of the bridesmaids or something else entirely. Later during the reception, she hears a scream and runs to where the bride is cradling her groom who is dead, having been run over by a nearby truck. Hank has run and of course is the main suspect. Winnie is worried that this murder will put a black spot on the reputation of her Cider Shop, so she plans on doing a bit of investigating on the side.

There is a lot happening in this story that kept my interest high throughout.The mystery of the murder is front and center, but there are also other storylines involving relationships, fears and saving the Smythe Orchards. The mystery is well written with just enough red herrings to have me guessing. I loved the final reveal and takedown as well as the motive, which had me doing some research of my own. The characters are continuing to be developed as the series continues and I am looking forward to some of the budding relationships growing stronger. The puns and play on words with the characters adds just another bit of humour to this series. I am looking forward to the next book in this series and I definitely recommend it to cozy mystery lovers.

Winnie's cider shop is up and becoming a big hit. Weddings are a new event but murder makes Winnie ex a prime suspect. Winnie decides to solve this mystery putting herself in the sights of the killer. Colton and her friends save her. She uses her head, and manages to bring Colton to them. enjoyed the characters and plot.

Besides having a big mouth Winnie is a bit naive and jumps into situations without much thought. Lucky for her the sheriff has a soft spot for her. Her intuition is right on point and her sleuthing techniques ain’t bad she just gotta be more subtle with her questioning. Looking before she leaps should be a mantra for her. She seems to be a magnet for trouble, which makes the story very intriguing. With a killer on the loose, she needed to fit the puzzle pieces in their right spots before things become too deadly for her.

The first book in the Cider House mystery series was my favorite cozy series debut last year and this second book in this series was even better than the first one.

The recurring characters are delightful (and I hope to see more of them), the West Virginia apple orchard setting is lovely, and murder at a wedding is an interesting spin.

Absolutely loved this book!! Highly recommended for cozy mystery fans!!

Dollycas’s Thoughts

We are back in Blossom Valley just in time for a wedding at Smythe Orchards. Winnie’s is so excited to have her new cider shop used for weddings and local events. She knows this is the way to make the orchard fruitful and helps keep the place open year-round. But this time, the wedding ends on a sour note, and Winnie’s ex Hank right in the middle of it. He had a dust-up earlier with the groom and now that groom is dead. Winnie knows she should stay out of it but finds herself slicing through the clues to juice the real killer before Hank winds up behind bars.

I loved the first book in this series, Apple Cider Slaying, and couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book. The author exceeded my expectations.

I find Winona Mae Montgomery to be an excellent protagonist. She is smart, and for the most part, thinks things through but like all amateur sleuths just sometimes finds herself in the thick of things she never imagined could happen when she leaps into something. Her friend Dot is a reliable sidekick and a strong character in her own right. Winnie is close to her grandmother and they make a great team running the orchard. We learn some new things about Sheriff Colton Wise as he and Winnie grow closer. Hank is still hanging around and is sometimes his own worst enemy. They are also several animal characters that have their own unique personalities. What I love is all the characters are engaging and realistic in their own ways. They continue to grow and become more endearing.

The mystery was very intriguing and unfolded at a perfect pace throughout the book. There were plenty of suspects and twists and turns and a real edge of your seat moment to grab my attention and hold on tight. I wasn’t totally surprised when the killer was revealed but I had discarded this person earlier.

I love the apple orchard theme. I love visiting local orchards and we can never have enough apples in the house.

A well-plotted mystery, wonderful characters, and a terrific setting make Pulp Friction a must-read.

I do encourage you to read Apple Cider Slaying too so you can get to know these characters from the beginning.

Winona Mae Montgomery should be enjoying a quiet peaceful life running her cider shop in her grandmother's orchard with her cats Kenny Rogers and Dolly. However, she decided to use her barn as a wedding venue and her first wedding was going great until someone was murdered. Since her ex-boyfriend is the top suspect she now finds herself involved in a murder investigation.

This story is a great mixture of friendship, mystery, unsuspected twists, romantic tension and a cliffhanger. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.