Thank you @netgalley for the ARC of this cozy mystery. All opinions are my own.

I like Hollon’s Glass Shop Mystery so I was excited to see the announcement of a new crafty cozy. I like the premise of this book. Miranda has inherited her uncle’s farmhouse. She starts up a new business called Paint & Shine where she takes customers on a hike in Daniel Boone Nat. Forest and teaches them to paint a popular landscape. Afterwards, they return to her farmhouse to enjoy a Southern meal and moonshine tasting. Her first outing doesn’t quite go as planned when her cook turns up murdered in the kitchen.

I enjoyed the Kentucky setting and really liked the scenes that took place in the park as the group painted Lover’s Leap. Such a neat concept and I like that the park ranger shared the history of the area they were recreating and also became a part of the cast as a potential love interest. My knowledge on moonshine is very limited, but I found that part of the story interesting as well. I also liked Miranda. It was easy for me to relate to her introvert tendencies.

The mystery stumped me since there were so many suspects to work through both locally and as tourists. There were a lot of people to keep up with! As more of cook’s pasts was revealed, I started picking up on what had happened - just not who was actually involved.

Some of the characters seemed to have a childlike immaturity similar to Myers Pennsylvania Dutch series - especially the deputy. It was stated numerous times how the locals are set in their ways which made some of the conversations and stereotypes off putting at times. The big discovery at the end was too easy as well.

I’ve never heard of Ale-8-One so I had to look that up.

This series has potential especially as Miranda’s business grows and expands. The book concludes with several recipes.

Great start to a new series! Miranda’s fledgling tourist business takes a hit when a murder occurs. To save her home, livelihood and freedom, she must unveil the real killer. Great writing, a fast pace, great characters and multiple story lines make this a great read. I’m looking forward to future installments. I received this book free and chose to make a voluntary, unbiased review.

Still Knife Painting by Cheryl Hollon is the 1st book in A Paint and Shine Mystery, and it's off to a good start. I love Ms. Hollon's A Webb's Glass Shop Mystery series, and I was excited to start this new series. Miranda inherited her uncle's Red River Gorge homestead in Eastern Kentucky in the middle of Daniel Boone National Forest. Miranda is an artist, so she came up with a business of Paint & Shine. Miranda takes people for a hike in the forest, than they stop and paint the beautiful scenery. Afterwards she takes the group back to her house to sample moonshine and eat southern cooking. When Miranda best biscuit baker cook is found dead in the kitchen, the sleuthing begins. I found this book to be a good read, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, I recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Still Knife Painting is Book 1 in the Paint & Shine Mystery series by Cheryl Hollon.

The premise of this new series is promising. Miranda moves to a house she inherited and is using her artistic abilities to lead clients on a hike to a location to paint. They then return to her place for a meal of local food paired with moonshine.

Overall, I enjoyed it. The locale is interesting. Austin seems like a good guy. Mrs Hobb, the county sheriff, and county coroner seem like good people.

There were some things in the story that weren’t followed through. Miranda didn’t follow up with the reporter or mention it with Austin. Considering the impact on her business, that didn’t make any sense. Also the way she went for Dan for a comment he made. He’s an important part of her business.

It was kind of uneven, but since it is the first book in the series, and based on the author’s Webb’s Glass Shop series, I expect it to even out in the next book.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the I free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. #StillKnifePainting #NetGalley

I really liked the idea of someone doing trails, painting and Southern cooking as a type of adventure tour. I'm not sure I'd be thrilled with the trail idea or the moonshine tasting (I've tried it in Tennessee and don't care for it), but the painting sounds fun along with the authentic Southern meal. I liked Miranda a lot but at times, I wondered if she was thinking straight when sometimes all she'd do was talk about being the prime suspect even though no one had approached her yet--aside from the press skewing an article. Her little pup sounded adorable, and I liked the secondary characters of Austin (oh yeah!), Mrs. Hobb--and Sheriff Larson grew on me after a little bit.

I thought I guessed the killer but it was just another red herring. I kind of figured the showdown might happen when it did. It was short but very good. I always enjoy when there's a wrap-up at the end which in this book took place after the murdered woman's funeral. There was a little side mystery that got its answer at this time too. I'll definitely be interested in reading the next book. I think this idea has lots of potential, and what a great setting for lots of different mysteries.

A clever new business. Some interesting insights on life in Kentucky. Didn't care about the victim and wasn't sure I wanted to continue reading. So glad I kept going as the story became more involved and the characters more interesting.

Excellent concept for a story background. I have attended a couple of Wine & Design events at a local outlet and found it to be quite enjoyable. The idea of a hike, painting, food pairing with shine is a step above and a wonderful idea for a start up. I enjoyed how the idea was not only presented but also paired with some wonderful recipes although I did have a bit of a challenge with locating the “shine” parts. Thankfully the ABC store does carry the Smokey Mountain Shine and in darling little mason jars that are just the right amount for a cocktail for one or in our case, two. I am used to pairing food, mainly a more savory selection of food with wine so I am intrigued with the sweet pairing and look forward to enjoying it over the 4th of July holiday weekend. On to the story aspect… Miranda makes a great character whom you can’t help but to cheer for and want to see her succeed not only with her painting classes but also with the distillery. I look forward to the next book which surely will discuss that aspect a bit more. The story line was very good and the cast of characters was jumbled up just enough to not be obvious. I had no idea who killer was or why they committed the crime until the big reveal. In fact there were several red herrings that kept you glued to the pages be they paper or digital. A nice bit of rivalry between local law and the big town law with plenty of backstory to draw on as the series progresses. I also like the fact that even though Miranda isn’t a local she is actually “home” as many of the characters point out. There is even a touch of possible romance which is what rounds out this new series. I enjoyed the story so much that I am going to look and see if such a cultural experience exists not too far from the Smokey Mountains and my neck of the woods.

Maybe Read A Later Edition
This book has a very good setting and plot. I loved everything about it. Except for the plot holes. Except for the stereotypes of rural, mountain people. It almost seems to be written like a play with weird breaks in the story like vignettes. I read the first Sixteen Chapters (104 pages) before I just had to quit. The enjoyment of the book was absolutely overrun by the errors. I thought that the author was a novice by the types of errors I was seeing. Finding out that she has written another complete series was quite surprising. I gave this book a lower rating because, as an experienced author, this book should have cleaned up better. I am disappointed. I received this ARC book for free from Net Galley and this is my honest review.

Totally enjoyed this story and the characters I got to hang with. Some of them may have you shaking your head. I bet you know someone like some of these folks. Don’t you love when you can relate so well to the characters? I would love to go painting with Miranda and then enjoy the great food and drink. I love getting in on the beginning of a new series. I can’t wait to read the next book. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

Still Life Painting by Cheryl Hollon is the first in a new series and is full of promise, if the first one left a little to be desired. To be fair, a lot has to happen in a new series: lots of new characters to set up; a new setting; new job, new interests, new relationships... Miranda is at Hemlock Lodge, an auspicious name to be sure, on the opening day of her new venture: "Paint and Shine." The fee includes a lesson in painting a landscape here at the lodge and then to her farmhouse for an authentic meal accompanied by moonshine, well, several different kinds of moonshine. Some of the people in the community were teetotalers and totally against the moonshine portion of the program but Miranda was adamant. When she inherited the farm from her great-uncle Gene, it was part of the deal. She had to have a still up and running within a certain length of time or she lost her farm. Whether some of the locals liked it or not, the shine was here to stay. Miranda had arranged for a couple of local women to be her cooks, in exchange for a donation to the church roofing fund, not for pay. It was looking like a good day...until one of her cooks ended up with a knife in her chest and the other one passed out cold from the shock.

The story was a little "busy." Lots going on, some of it important, some of it not, but a little hard to keep track of-first in a series. Miranda looks like she will be a good character. Anxious to get out of New York City, she has this plan. Lots of tourists are looking for experiences, hence, paint and shine. Her moonshine guy is another small business, like her, so when something happens he has to ditch her to deal with it. That's real life. She's out in the middle of nowhere with no phone (cell reception is non-existent) or internet, so someone had to run to the neighbor's to cal 9-1-1. When she needs to talk or get on line, Miranda has to drive down the road and park in a certain spot. This is life in rural America. It is this kind of rich detail that gives me hope for the future of this series. That, and well, Cheryl Hollon is a proven cozy author. I have high hopes. It is always fun to be in on the beginning of a series. I recommend you give it a try. I, for one, am looking forward to the next book.

I received an invitation to read an ARC of Still Knife Painting from Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions and interpretations contained herein are solely my own. #netgalley #stillknifepainting

A very good beginning to a new series. The characters were great! Of course, what do you expect when the setting is very rural Kentucky smack dab in the middle of moonshine country? The mystery was good and very involved. It kept you guessing and involved lots of history of the area and of the time. A very promising beginning.
I received a free copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher and voluntarily chose to review it.

Still Knife Painting by Cheryl Hollon is book one in the Paint and Shine mystery series.
This easy to read cozy has everything you need in a mystery. There is a great story with great characters and setting. It also has plenty of plot twists that will have you guessing until the end and just enough humor. I can't wait for book two.
I was given an ARC by NetGalley and Kensington for an honest review.

In this serie's debut, Miranda Trent inherits a farm in Kentucky from her beloved uncle with the stipulation that she have a distillery up and running on the premises within 90 days. Pressed for time and money, she creates an event drawing on Kentucky's beautiful landscapes and cultural history....Paint and Shine. She offers a painting lesson in the scenic hills followed by a home cooked meal of regional favorites paired by different types of legal moonshine. However, a murder on the opening day jeopardizes her fledgling business and leaves her scrambling to clear her name. While the premise for this new series is sound and the mystery intriguing, I never warmed up to Miranda. I'm rounding up from three and a half stars because of its potential and my faith in Cheryl Hollon's
storytelling ability.

An excellent start for a new cozy series: excellent storyline and characters and a solid mystery that kept me guessing.
I found it engrossing and entertaining, can't wait to read the next instalment.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.

Still Knife Painting was a fun start of a new series. The plot was well done and engaging, in addition to a few threads that surely will be continued in future books. The characters were complex and interesting, which is a good thing, so they don't seem like one-dimensional cookie-cutter characters. I also liked the concept of painting, food and moonshine.

Eastern Kentucky is the setting of this first book in the series. Painting, food and moonshine... what more can one ask for ... a murder mystery! Miranda is the one to solve this and she is a well thought out character. Can't wait for the next in this series.

Miranda has inherited her late uncle's homestead and has big plains to host cultural experiences, an afternoon of painting lessons followed by traditional local foods paired with tasting samples of moonshine. I'm not the slightest bit interested in moonshine, but the idea of outdoor painting classes in the Daniel Boone National Forest intrigued me If you like cozy mysteries set in small communities with a crafting element thrown in, pick this one up! It's fun and quirky and telling you my favorite elements might spoil the pacing of the book for you so I'm not going to do that. I love these characters and can't wait to spend more time with them in future books.

This checked all of the boxes that I look for in a cozy. It was a quick, fun, light read and I will recommend it to others who love cozies.

Miranda Trent is an artist. She loves the house she inherited from her uncle. It's right in the middle of Daniel Boone National Forest in Kentucky. Her new business -- Paint & Shine -- caters to tourists. It mixes cultural adventure tour, painting class, fine dining and moonshine tasting into a unique experience for visitors to Red River Gorge. Things are going perfectly until.....the murder.

This book is a promising start to a new cozy series! I enjoyed the characters, the setting and the premise. A cultural adventure tour company that mixes art with local cuisine is an interesting premise! I wish Paint & Shine was a real business -- I would drive to Kentucky to join in! I think I would pass on the moonshine part -- but the rest sounded like a lot of fun (minus the dead body, of course).

The mystery moved along at a good pace. There was a nice mix of character/setting development and sleuthing. There wasn't a long wait before the dead body appeared and things heated up for Miranda. Miranda is a strong person....an intelligent and capable main character.

Fun, enjoyable cozy mystery...plus yummy recipes at the back of the book!

I will definitely be reading more of this new series. Great start!!

**I voluntarily read a review copy of this book from Kensington. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

This was a great start to a new series. I liked getting to know Miranda and about her business, Paint & Shine. I loved that it is set in Kentucky. I look forward to reading more of this series and getting to know Miranda, the locals, and town better.

I received a digital copy from Netgalley for an honest review. Thank you.