PULP FRICTION, the second book in the Cider Shop Mysteries by Julie Anne Lindsey, is another delightful addition to a well-written cozy series. The protagonist, Winnie Montgomery, is a great character. She’s fun, loyal, and works hard to make her Granny Smythe’s apple orchard successful. She has a sweet, sweet relationship with her granny and I also greatly admire Winnie’s interaction with her friends along with her granny’s friends. They’re the sort of “good” people I’d like to hang out with. Her strong descriptive voice captures the down-home feeling of Blossom Valley, which is nestled among the Blue Ridge Mountains of West Virginia, and helps the reader feel like they’re right there, experiencing it alongside the protagonist.

Ms. Lindsey writes a fast-paced plot which engaged me from the very first page. There were plenty of suspects to keep me guessing and clues were evenly sprinkled throughout the scenes. As the mystery unfolds, the author’s writing style keeps the story moving forward without any lagging in the plot. The suspenseful reveal kept me turning pages faster and faster and while the main murder mystery is solved there’s a subplot teaser of more to come in the next book. It has me waiting on pins and needles for the third book to come out!

I enjoyed this book. I like the characters and their interactions, especially Granny. I hope to see something more developed between the main character and Colton soon. I liked the reveal of the killer, I didn't have any ideas about who it was. #PulpFriction #NetGalley

Just as good as the last book! The writing is solid and the plot is mysterious. I couldn’t guess the outcome and until it was solved for me! I love the characters and can’t wait to see them in further stories. They are well written and have fully fleshed out back stories. The plot of the book was interesting and kept me hooked until the very end. Looking forward to future books.

small-business, small-town, family, family-dynamics, law-enforcement, murder-investigation, murder, rural, cozy-mystery, friendship

I never read anything by this author before but now I'm hooked! Terrific characters and sleuthing in a plot full of twists, misdirections, and red herrings. Everything seems so real and not contrived which is a real plus. The publisher's blurb is a good hook, and spoilers won't do, so I'll just say that I absolutely LOVED it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

You never forget your first love, especially if they keep breaking into your home while hiding out from the police because they are the lead suspect in the murder of a groom on his wedding day. Meet Winnona Mae, or Winnie as everyone calls her, cider small business owner and incredibly curious citizen, much to the chagrin of Sheriff Colton Wise. Winnie and her Grannie are just starting to see the Orchard business make its way back into the black when an unfortuate turn of events turns deadly and there is now a possible black mark on the fledgling business's good name. Who would kill a guy on his wedding day? The groom was from out of town while the bride is a local and has gone catatonic over the whole thing. This is the second book in the series and it wasn't necessary to have read the first to be able to understand who did what to whom. Hank, a good ole boy and Winnie's high school sweetheart is a good ole pain in the patooty as far she is concerned. She is trying to not get involved with the exception of wanting her cider store to do well and then there's the fact that she knows that there is no way Hank would have killed anyone. She doesn't feel that way because of any feelings, in fact she is has a good mind to turn him over to Sheriff Wise. The ex-marine, former big city cop who worked with an FBI task force, and who recently has started acting cagey around her, yet never leaves her hanging. The plot moved along swiftly and the story did a great job of twisting and turning with an excellent build up at the end. In fact it was so much of a buildup, there is a cliff hanger epilogue. After the epilogue is my next to favorite part and that is a couple of pages of recipes. I for one am looking forward to trying the apple cider slushy this weekend! Look for me on Instgram with my drink and the book cover.

A classic cozy mystery, entertaining and engrossing.
I liked the likeable and quirky cast of characters, the setting and the solid mystery.
I look forward to reading the next instalment.
Recommended.
Many thanks to Kensington Books and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

While I very much want to like this series because of the setting and the cider shop concept, I am underwhelmed with the main character and the storylines. The writing itself is solid, and there are scenery descriptions and several supporting characters who are engaging. That’s where the interest really ends for me, however. The mystery itself (along with the romance elements) feels cluttered with details and not even twists, but frantic scurrying from one detail to another. A lukewarm cozy mystery experience.

In Pulp Friction, we return back to West Virginia to
visit with Winnie and Granny Smythe on the apple orchard which also houses the new Cider shop. When they host a wedding reception and a murder happens on their property, Winnie can’t help but resume her sleuthing. The mystery was very well written and the atmosphere is beautifully detailed. The cider flavors all sound delicious and the recipes included sound great. If those don’t peak your attention these fun tidbits just might: Granny Smythe owns an apple orchard, there’s a knitting group that calls themselves the Knitwits, a Louisville slugger nicknamed Louisa, cats named Kenny Rogers and Dolly and later a fainting goat named Boo. Looking forward to the next book to see what the future holds for Winnie and Colton and the rest of the crew! Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

Julie Anne Lindsey's Pulp Friction, is a well written and fun to read second book in her Cider Shop mystery series. In this book, Winnie Montgomery is hosting a wedding at her cider shop, located in Blossom Valley, West Virginia. Tragedy strikes when the groom is killed during the reception. Winnie's ex-boyfriend, Hank, last seen arguing with the groom, is the main suspect. Winnie promises Hank's sister, Gina, that she will try to prove Hank's innocence.

I love the cast of characters in this series. Winnie and her best friend and park ranger, Dot are always supporting each other while trying to track down clues to the murder. Granny Smythe and her needlepoint club are a hoot. I like Winnie's friendship with Sheriff Colton Wise, especially with the hint of possibility for more. While the situation involving Hank can be frustrating at times, it does add to the suspense of the story. Add in a fainting goat, and there is always something interesting happening in Blossom Valley!

I did guess the killer early on, but not the reason why. I really liked how this book had a cliffhanger that set the stage for conflict in the next installment. This is one of my new favorite cozy mystery series. I strongly recommend reading Pulp Friction. It will not disappoint!

I received this book as an advanced copy from the publisher through NetGalley, but all opinions are my own.

“Pulp Friction” by Julie Anne Lindsey Is the 2nd instalment in the Cider Shop Mystery series. Julie Anne Lindsey is one of my favorite cozy authors and this is because of the Tea Shop Mystery series she writes as Bree Baker and now the Cider Shop Mystery series.

I enjoyed visiting Blossom Valley, Virginia and the Smythe Orchards again. It sounds like such an idilic setting. I grew up surrounded by orchards so I could easily picture it in my mind. Winnie Montgomery is relate-able, smart and very likeable and I like how she lives on by her grandmother (Granny Smythe) on Smythe Orchard. I loved the assortment of characters like Granny, Dot her bff , Granny’s bff Delilah and who can resist a couple of orange rescue kittens and now a fainting goat! I also loved the chemistry between Winnie and Colton. I have always been on team Colton but now I really want to know what happens next...

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and there are plenty of twists and turns in this story. Kept me guessing till the very end. We find out some things from Coltons past that brings us to the cliffhanger! Now I am anxiously waiting for book 3 to come out!

I highly recommend this book to all my cozy mystery loving friends!

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Kensington Books, the Author and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Read as an ARC via NetGalley on Kindle App

Another fantastic mystery by Julie Ann Lindsey. Pulp Friction returns us to Blossom Valley to our favorite apple orchard and cider shop. The orchard has been saved and is now renting out space for weddings and other events.

The story opens with a successful wedding / reception that ends with a dead groom and Winnie's ex-boyfriend, Hank, on the lam. Promising to stay out of it and let Sheriff Colton Wise do the investigating, Winnie naturally digs in to find out what really happened - bringing her best friend, Dot, her granny, and a few other friends along the way for the adventure. Things get a bit hairy along the way to start bringing out Colton's protective nature, as well as a bit more of his backstory, which I think all readers will enjoy.

The scary / dangerous scenes are well-written and seem realistic (I say "seem" because I've never actually been caught up in a murder investigation, so I don't know for sure!) and somewhat intense at times, a nice departure from your average, every-day cozy mystery.

This is a great story that I read today in one sitting and man oh man - it's even a cliffhanger! OK - so this particular mystery (of the groom) is resolved, but it's really left us on the edge of our seat wanting to immediately start the next book!! Gotta love multi-book story arcs and Julie Anne Lindsey does not disappoint! I can't wait for Book 3 to see how this new storyline evolves - and also to see how Winnie's and Colton's relationship evolves as well.

This book was received as an ARC via NetGalley and I am voluntarily leaving this honest review.

This is the second book in the cider shop series and I loved it just as much as the first. Winnie Montgomery has a newly opened cider shop and is planning her first event, a wedding. Everything is going fine until the groom winds up murdered. Winnie's ex boyfriend, Hank, is the prime suspect having been seen arguing with the groom earlier in the day. Winnie doesn't believe that hank is a killer so she decides to investigate to clear his name. This is such a good series. I love the characters. Winnie and Granny are the absolute best. I love the humor that Hank brings in this book. The mystery was well done and I figured out the killer just before Winnie did. I was yelling at Winnie as if she could hear me and to me that is always a sign of really good writing when I am that invested in a character. We learned more about Colton in this book which I loved but why oh why did it have to be left to the end of the book. That cliffhanger! I need more Colton and Winnie now. Definitely will be reading more. Thank you to net galley and Kensington publishing for this review copy. I was happy to give my honest opinion.

Winnie's got Smythe Orchards Cider Shop up and humming. AND, there's a wedding! Unfortunately, the groom- Jack Warren- is run down and killed by the honeymoon car (complete with streamers) and he was last seen arguing with Winnie's ex Hank. Now Hank was a mixed sort of guy but Winnie and Granny Smythe are sure he isn't a murderer. This has a lively cast - including Winnie's love interest Sheriff Colton and a few animals. The mystery is sufficiently twisty (with enough other suspects) to keep you guessing. I like the setting, I like that Winnie's got a shrewd (in a good way) business mind and that she's willing to go out on a limb for her ex. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Don't worry if you didn't read the first one- this is fine as a standalone. It's a classic cozy and just the thing to take your mind off the news.

A wedding reception is the scene of a crime that puts Winnie Mae in the middle of a murder that may be the end of her new cider shop. When her ex-boyfriend Hank is pegged as a suspect in the murder of the groom, Winnie Mae decides to help figure out this mystery.

Winnie Mae is a likable, determined character who has worked hard to establish her business. The mystery kept me reading and the ending was a surorise. The supporting characters of Dot, Granny & Delilah were fun and added to the mystery. I did get frustrated with Winnie for bringing others into to her investigation and putting them in danger while not turning over evidence to law enforcement. However. the mystery was enjoyable.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley and the opinions expressed are my own.

More Murder in a Small West Virginia Town
This book is the second in the series. I think it stands alone well, but I have read the first episode and highly recommend it, too. The story background takes place in a West Virginia Apple Orchard. It includes rescued animals, a good looking Sheriff who is a former marine and a lovely small-town community. While is includes crafts and food, it is definitively not a book that over-describes anything. It is a well-written, well-rounded cozy mystery that keeps the reader guessing until the end. I received this ARC for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

Julie Anne Lindsey is becoming one of my favorite cozy authors and this is because of the Cider Shop Mystery series! I love everything about it to be quite honest. The characters are fantastic and relatable, the setting is charming and picturesque, and the mystery keeps you on your toes! This is another winner in the series and I already can't wait for the next one!

Pulp Friction by Julie Ann Lindsey is the 2nd book in A Cider Shop Mystery series, and another great addition. I loved the first book, Apple Cider Slaying, and was excited to read this book. Winona, “Winnie” Mae Montgomery and her Granny Smythe are running the family's apple farm business, Smyth Orchards, located in Blossom Valley, Virginia. After working hard and creating new apple ciders, the farm is out of the red and doing well. People have been booking the barn and farm for special occasions, including a June wedding. When the groom is murdered right after the ceremony, and Winnie's ex Hank is the main suspect, she is determined to find the truth . I can not wait for the next book in the series. Excellent cozy mystery that I strongly recommend.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Pulp Friction is entertaining and well written. The plot is engaging and I loved the characters. I already read the first book in this series and it was fun to catch up.

Pulp Friction is the second book in the new Cider Shop Mystery series (which I am loving, by the way). Winnie's newly opened cider shop is doing well, and the book opens with a wedding in the orchard's barn. The wedding atmosphere is super cozy and dreamy and makes me miss summer...until the groom ends up dead and foul play is suspected.

This book solidifies my desire to live in Blossom Valley with Winnie, Granny, Dot and Colton (yes, of course, Colton. So handsome!) This series hits all of the points that make a cozy series great - an adorable small town, a sweet little shop (I want apple cider and delicious pastries all of the time now), a wonderful cast of characters and murder mysteries that are just chilling enough to feel serious without ruining the overall lighthearted vibe of the book.

I had my theories about who the murdered could be in this book and I was spot on in some aspects and WAY OFF in others - which just made the entire experience more fun! This book ends on somewhat of a cliffhanger and sets the series up for a larger story - which I'm guessing will be explored more in-depth in the next book.

The Cider Shop is finally open. A wedding at the new venue goes off without a hitch until guests find the groom dead, crushed by a truck. Small problem: Winnie observes Hank, her ex-boyfriend, and the groom arguing just before the wedding. Now Hank is the primary person of interest and missing.

Julie Lindsey crafts an appealing story: a good mystery, attractive characters, interesting red herrings, all at an engaging pace. Granny and her friend Delilah offer comfortable comic relief. And amateur sleuth Winnie’s relationship with Sheriff Colton Wise is evolving. A very likable entry in a delightful series.