The Cider Shop Rules (A Cider Shop Mystery #3). By Julie Anne Lindsey. 2021. Kensington Books (ARC eBook).

The Cider Shop Rules was an entertaining mystery and the first book I’ve read by Lindsey. Blossom Valley has a lot going on during the autumn season; the Fall Festival that is perfect for the local farms and Winnie Montgomery’s apple orchard, and a Civil War reenactment. The cherry on top is a murder in a pumpkin patch and the return of a dangerous man with a vendetta against Sheriff Wise. My favorite part was the resident sheriff and Winnie’s budding love interest, Colton Wise, having his family visit and that his brother Blake is also a sheriff that shares in the good looks.

Julie Anne Lindsey can do no wrong when she writes a cozy mystery. This series was recently new to me, and I have enjoyed each book. I love the who dunnit aspects, but what I love the most about this book is the small town charm. The Cider Shop rules was easy to fall in love with, blended so nicely with the previous books, and definitely has me wanting more.

I loved this one. I thought that it was so sweet, and it was a nice cozy mystery that makes me super excited for fall. I think that the whole theme of the book and storyline was super interesting and fun, but I will say Winnie did get on my nerves a little bit. Like I get she was curious, but at times I felt bad for Colton having to give the same lecture it felt like over and over. I think that this was a great addition to the series overall, and cannot wait to see where the fourth book goes. Overall it was a really great read and makes me super excited for autumn, honestly I might have to read it again in another month just to get into the holiday spirit!

Winnie is loving fall at her Cider Shop. It's just after Halloween and the perfect time for cider and the fall festival at the apple orchard. Winnie has gone to pick up the pumpkins needed for decorations and unfortunately she finds the pumpkin farmer also in her truck bed, dead.

I really liked this addition to this series. I'm really enjoying getting to know Winnie and everyone in the town. I like the developing relationship between her and Colton. This book really brought me into the fall spirit and I'm sad I have to outside in the 85-degree heat. This book was a little creepy with the stalking and the unknown. I loved the creepiness though. Julie Anne Lindsey has a way of really bringing the reader into the story. I'm really excited to continue on with this series!

*eARC provided in exchange for an honest review*

It is Fall Festival time, and Winnie is as busy as ever. The pumpkin farm in town is having a pumpkin festival, and once again she is pulled into a Murder when Farmer Potter is murdered and the body ends up in her truck. Now the community wants her to find the killer, but the sheriff (and her secret crush) wants her to back off. Throw in an escape felon stalking her and an injured goose that hates her, and Winnie has her hands full.

Title: The Cider Shop Rules
Author: Julie Anne Lindsey

Ch: 27

Pg:320

Series: A Cider Shop Mystery book 3

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Rating: 4.5 Stars


Publisher: Kensington



The Cider Shop Rules I just love that puny title by Julie Anne Lindsey is the third book in the A Cider Shop Mystery series. And I have to say it’s my favorite of the three. Winnie's finally found her footing and Sheriff Colton's finally grown on me, and Granny's feisty as ever. The fall setting adds to the story as Cider goes perfect with fall. You get to see more emotion from Colton through its jealously. Just like with the previous books in this series you get more than the mystery you get a story of small town life and the people who make up this fictional small West Virginia farming town. Not only do you want to solve the mystery with Winnie, you want to visit with her friends and neighbors as well. This series is best read in order otherwise you will spoil yourself.



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.

Book three in the Cider Shop Mystery series has me longing for the start of autumn. There’s visits to the local pumpkin patch, a corn maze, plenty of cider tastings and I now have a strong craving for apple fries. Winnie finds herself tangled up in yet another murder and I loved every minute of watching her sleuth around Blossom Valley.

The mystery was really well written and perfectly paced. I have to admit I was thrown off and surprised when the culprit was finally revealed. There continues to be a captivating side story involving a fugitive who’s been stalking Winnie throughout the series. It definitely added several shocking twists and intense scenes to the storyline.

I’ve always adored this entire cast of characters. Granny always makes me laugh and I love seeing what rescued animal best friend Dot will leave on the farm. This new one was very entertaining. Winnie is a fantastic lead. It’s clear she loves her community. In this book, we get to meet Sheriff Colton’s family!! You will instantly fall for Blake’s charm and relate to their parents excitement over meeting a potential love interest for one of their boys. I really hope we see the brother in future stories.

Can’t recommend this series enough. Book four was set up perfectly so I will anxiously be waiting to hear news of its release.

This was my favorite of the series so far. I loved getting to know Colton and his family. The mystery was well laid out and kept me guessing until the very end <spoiler> especially since the character wasn't introduced until the last 1/3 of the book </spoiler>. What kept me turning the pages, though, was the secondary story about the case that has followed Colton to town and its effect on him. Can't wait for the next one.

An enjoyable addition to this series and the perfect read for the upcoming fall. The mystery is believable and the details are wonderfully seasonal-enjoyed it immensly.

It is rare within the cozy world to have a book that is perfect in all that it does [ie, the story, the plot, the characters etc]; usually there is at least one thing that makes it annoying, less-than-perfect, eye-rolling etc etc that you go "OHHHHH that could have been perfect, what a shame". You then rate and review the book [highly] and you move on. And rarely does a series that starts poorly end up with a 5-star 3rd book, yet, here we are. This was, quite possibly, the perfect cozy mystery [I even knew who the killer was, but not the why and I STILL stand by this review - the story is THAT good], and coming from a series I was not even remotely a fan of in book 1, this is amazing. Julie Anne Lindsey has grown in her writing with each book and in this book she really hit her stride and has created both a good mystery AND a good story and has made me a true fan.

This is [in case you missed it] a very good read. Winnie is a really good MC; she loves her people and town, she has as amazing work ethic [and does her work before sleuthing - even when she is detained from her job because of circumstances WAY beyond her control, she feels bad and works harder to make up for it. She never wants anyone to think that she is taking advantage of them], and she believes in forgiveness and healing [her whole relationship with Hank shows that]. I also really like the side crew - Granny and her [hilarious] friends, Dot and her ever expanding menagerie [and all of them that she keeps foisting on Winnie and Granny - my gosh I love Boo the Goat so much] and of course, Sheriff Colton. Which brings me to the next part of the book that I truly loved and was so happy to read - the burgeoning relationship between Winnie and Colton. This is how a real relationship unfolds - people learn about each other, learn to trust each other, apologize when they are wrong; it is NOT always fire and romance [not that I cannot see some romance coming, but it will be appropriate when it does. Colton and Winnie are taking their time to get to know each other first - which is actually important in a relationship believe it or not] and sex [though all those are important, but tend to cloud real issues when the beginnings of a relationship are based solely on these feelings] and this part of the book actually felt the most real to me and I applaud the author for going in this direction and not the direction of other authors that make the relationships in their books a bit tawdry and not at all surprising when they don't work out. Very. Well. Done.

This is a great read - a really good mystery [I only guessed the killer because I read a LOT of these books - but I didn't know the why and that helps], a wonderful showing of small-town life with festivals and fairs and country life [I have to say here I absolutely LOVE how respectful the author was of John Brown and his story. This was another part of the book, even though it was just a teeny part, that really stands out. The author is respectful of John Brown, his history and how important he is to said history and shows how the people of the town are also so. Very well done once again], and how a person can care about her job and family and work hard and not be a complete nutcase. I was fairly sad when the book ended - I honestly wanted the story to go on. I don't think there is a greater compliment I could give. I am now very much looking forward to the next book in this amazing series.

Thank you to NetGalley, Julie Anne Lindsey, and Kensington Books for providing this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Blossom Valley has a fall festival every year and the only difference this year is that a civil war reenactment that is usually held on a different date got changed to the same time. The town is filled with even more tourist than usual but that just means more business. Winnie is off to Mr. Potter's pumpkin patch to pick up some decorations for her own farm and business. It looks like the patch is doing well filled with tourists and locals alike. When Winnie finds the body of Mr. Potter under the tarp of her truck she is shocked. Who would have wanted to hurt such a nice man and try to make her look guilty in the process. Meanwhile Winnie thinks she is being stalked and think she knows by whom and if she's right it isn't good. Everyone is looking to Winnie to figure out who killed Mr. Potter and bring him some justice. Will she find a murderer in the end or will she end up the next victim.

This was the perfect Fall cozy mystery! I have been loving this series and this book did not disappoint. I loved the progression of all the characters.. I also loved that I was very surprised by who the killer was. (almost a little sad about it) Thank you to Kensington qnd Netgalley for allowing me to read the ARC.

The Cider Shop Rules is the newest (third) entry in The Cider Shop Mystery series. I've been fortunate to read them all but I believe it would work well as a stand alone. I recommend this book-it has humor, charm, romance and flows so smoothly that you don't want to put it down. And the murder mystery is first rate.

Our protagonist is Winnie is a likeable character. She is hard working and loyal and loves her hometown. She has used her savings to open a cider shop in an old barn on her grandparents orchard and things are going well.

Winnie and her friend Dot, stop at Potters Pumpkin Patch to pick up supplies to decorate their property for its Fall Harvest Festival. The pumpkin patch is a popular attraction and Mr. Potter is a well loved member of the community. It comes as quite a shock for Winnie and Dot to discover blood dripping from their truck during their ice cream stop and discover that Mr. Potter's lifeless body.

Winnie has gained a reputation for solving murders so when of the town matriarchs asks her to find out who murdered her best friend's husband she is torn between wanting to help and warnings from the town sheriff who she has a crush on. She's been in danger before and he doesn't want her to get involved. But she does. I really enjoy that she does a lot of her sleuthing via social media posts and Facebook in particular.

There is also a side story about an escaped killer bent on revenge on the sheriff and threats to both him and Winnie as he realizes how the sheriff feels about her.

I received an ARC from the publisher but the opinion expressed is honest and was not influenced by the ARC.

This is the third in this delightful series. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley. My review opinions are my own. I have read and enjoyed this entire series. It is one of my top favorite new cozy series. Its so charming , atmospheric and has great charcters. This was a fun addition to the series. A perfect introduction to fall with a fall festival theme . I love fall theme cozies and the author perfectly transported this reader to fall with all the sights, smells. and foods of fall.

We return to beautiful Blossom Valley in the blue ridge mountains. Fall has arrived with the change of leaves and cooler weather for the fall festival and a civil war reenactment. Winnie and her Grandmother are enjoying their successful cider business and looking forward to contributing to the festival. When a murder occurs Winnie is the primary suspect as the body is found in her truck. Winnie will need to solve this crime to save their business and her reputation in this small town. Soon Winnie finds the victim had enemies and she must solve many clues to save herself.

I love this next in series. This is a fun charming series that is always enjoyable to read. Its delightful from beginning to end. Well done to the author.

Cider Shop Rules is testament to the fact that it sometimes takes a series a couple books to really find its footing. From the beginning setup of the mystery and introductions of the new characters, I knew this one was a winner.

The description of small town mountain life in West Virginia was strong in books 1 & 2, and it does not disappoint here. It makes me long for autumn and a road trip.

Lindsey’s skills are evident as the book progresses. Her wit and sense of humor are emerging, and the story is perfectly paced. She doesn’t rush the plot or force “clues” or details where they don’t belong. It makes for a nice, smooth read. The character interactions and developing relationships are nuanced and solid. I feel like I know and genuinely like these people.

Cider Shop Rules is everything I want in a cozy. I will be waiting impatiently for book 4. Thank you to Julie Anne Lindsey, Kensington Publishing, and NetGalley for an Advance Reader Copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really enjoy all the cozy mystery series by this author and this series is no exception. this was an entertaining new entry to the series and I enjoyed re-visiting the quirky characters.

Winona Mae Montgomery's Cider Shop is fast approaching it's first anniversary and she is busy concocting new flavors. While she is loading her wagon with new supplies, she discovers the body of a local farmer. This sets her on a search for the killer. To her surprise Sheriff Colton Wise seems to want her to be involved. His goal is to keep her in his sights so that the escaped killer from a previous book doesn't find Winnie and hurt her. Loved the cider aspect of this book and can almost taste the delicious flavors. Looking forward to more in this series.

As with the previous two, I really loved this book and getting caught up again with Winnie, Granny and Granny's friends. Winnie's come a long way with her cider shop, and people were enjoying coming in for cider and lunch items. I keep seeing just a little more hope each time for Colton and Winnie finally getting together. I love progress! We met Colton's whole family in this book which was fun. His parents were super nice, and his brother Blake (also a sheriff) was an absolute hoot! He sure had a way with people that his brother didn't. But being an introvert and not the best communicator myself, I can definitely see why Colton's the way he is sometimes.

I'd almost forgotten about that creepy fugitive Keller! What an awesome hunt to the finish with just the right amount of suspense. Although at one or two points if someone would have come up to me while I was reading, I might have jumped out of my chair, lol.

I can always trust this author to do her readers right in all ways including the budding romance department! You don't want to miss this exciting installment, but for the most enjoyment, I'd recommend reading the series from the beginning.

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

This is the best book in the series by far. I there were parts that actually made me gasp for the Winnie's wellbeing and turning the page to figure out what was going to happen next. I love Ju.ie Anne Lindsey's writing and she is an autobuy author for me!

What could be a better setting for a cozy mystery than a West Virginia apple orchard in autumn? Adding in the town's fall festival! Everything should be perfect for Winnie, who owns the apple orchard and cider shop with her grandmother, but when an unexpected murder hits too close to home, Winnie feels compelled to solve the mystery amid all the local events.

This was a very enjoyable story to read, with its charming setting, the fun events around town, and likable characters. I like Winnie's style of investigating, as she doesn't come across as too pushy or unbearable at all. I suspected several different characters throughout the book, and had fun trying to guess alibis and motives.

As the third book in the Cider Shop Mysteries, I feel like this story stands alone, but I always recommend starting a series at the beginning to get a better feel for the main characters and their backgrounds and character development. I really like this series so far and hope it continues for a long time!

I received an advance copy of this book. This review contains my honest thoughts and opinions.