“The Cider Shop Rules” by Julie Anne Lindsey is the 3rd book in the Cider Shop Mystery series. It such a pleasure to visit a while in Blossom Valley and hang around the Symthe Orchards. This book is a wonderful addition to the previous two, and I was so excited to see Colton's family involved in this book as it shows us more and more about his background. I would highly recommend this amazing cozy to those that enjoy this genre of book.

I received an ARC from Kensington Books, the Author and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

I reserve 5 star reviews for books that really wow me, and this one did. I loved the Winnie getting to meet Colton's family and I love that it seems like they are finally moving forward. The mystery was great, with lots of twists and turn, and the ending was fantastic. This was a truly great read!

The Cider Shop Rules is the third book in the Cider Shop Mystery series written by Julie Anne Lindsey and it follows the second 'Pulp Friction'.

Twenty-something heroine Winona Mae Montgomery (otherwise known as Winnie), runs an apple orchard and cider shop with her Granny Smythe (love the name!) in rural West Virginia. They've managed to turn the family business into a going concern and the cider shop has been booked for various upcoming events. It is the time for Blossom Valley's Fall Festival and Jacob Potter’s pumpkin farm is the place to be for events such as piglet races, hay rides, and pumpkin picking. Winnie is busy getting the orchard sorted and goes to Jacob's farm to pick up some supplies. After leaving, Winnie notices blood dripping from the back of her truck and it's coming from a dead body... Jacob Potter's. Winnie needs to find the killer before she is held responsible for the crime.

I adored this novel and I had no trouble keeping up with the events and the characters! The author's writing style is comedic, easy and fun. Her characters are memorable, especially Granny Smythe, Winnie, and Sheriff Colton Wise, and many of the supporting characters play good parts. Winne really gets stuck in, talking to Jacob's wife, and the grudge-holding neighbours and some other odd bods and the complete combination made this a compelling and bewitching tale. The autumnal descriptions were delightful and had me desperate for more while the developing romantic frissons were very pleasing. The mystery itself had an abundance of misdirections and red herrings and it was a blast to try to figure things out as I puzzled over the clues.

I highly recommend The Cider Shop Rules to those who appreciate well-written cozy mysteries. This is a novel I really enjoyed, and I very much look forward to my next outing with Winnie and Granny Smythe!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Kensington Books via NetGalley and this review is my unbiased opinion.

The Cider Shop Rules by Julie Anne Lindsey is the third book in the cozy A Cider Shop Mystery series. As with most cozy mysteries each book in this series will have it’s own mystery that will be solved so they can be read as a standalone if choosing to do so. There is however some character building that will carry over from book to book for those who follow the series from the beginning.

The first book of the A Cider Shop Mystery series introduced readers to Winona Mae Montgomery who is doing her best to help her Granny Smythe save the family business, Smythe Orchards, located in Blossom Valley, West Virginia. The orchard had been barely getting by so Winnie was excited to bring in some fresh, new and hopefully money making ideas for the business.

Now that the fall festival is in full swing Winnie is busy getting the orchard organized and makes a trip over to Jacob Potter’s pumpkin farm to pick up some supplies. After leaving the farm Winnie makes a stop with her friend when they find something looking suspiciously like blood dripping from the back of Winnie’s truck. Upon further investigation Mr. Potter’s body is found in the back of the truck, a victim of murder, and now Winnie needs to find the killer before she is fingered for the crime.

The A Cider Shop Mystery series is one that I have been following from the beginning and have really been enjoying. There is that touch of quirkiness to this series that I love and makes me laugh all throughout reading. There is also a developing relationships within that I’m enjoying which brought about a second mystery within this book to make it even more exciting. Definitely a series that I will continue to follow in the future.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

The third book in the Cider Shop series is just as delightful as the previous two. Autumn is in full swing in Blossom Valley, West Virginia. Winnie is picking up a load of hay, corn, and pumpkins from fellow farmer, Mr. Potter. She is thrown into another murder investigation when Mr. Potter is found dead in the back of her pick-up.

I love that Winnie tells Sheriff Colton Wise that she can't help herself when it comes to her sleuthing. Several townspeople approach her about solving the crime. This does put a strain on their budding relationship. The addition of Colton's brother, Blake and his parents add to the storyline. Blake presented early on as a possible love triangle. I was super happy that didn't happen.

I love Dot! Her big heart when it comes to animals makes me so happy. I smile at all the "Kenny Rogers" she rescues. Winnie and the rescued goose are a hoot!

With every book I fall more in love with all things cider. I want to run out and find an orchard that offers tastings. Hopefully this fall I will be able to find somewhere to quench my cravings.

The plot was well done with several edge of your seat moments. The addition of Winnie's stalker added to the suspense. I was a bit surprised by the murderer and felt very sad about the whole situation.

I truly enjoy my visits with Winnie and crew. I am anxiously awaiting the next book.

This is a series that I highly recommend.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This is the third book in the series but the first one I've read. Despite that, it wasn't hard to pick up and jump right into this. Winona Mae Montogomery, her friends, family and community are gearing up for the Fall Festival, which will bring Civil War re-enactors to the Blue Ridge town of Blossom Valley. Plans are coming together and everyone is excited to have the visitors in town, and especially that Jacob Potter's pumpkin farm will once again be open for the festivities - a corn maze, hay rides, and pumpkin picking are on the agenda, among other things. But all of this is brought to a halt when Winona Mae finds him, dead, hidden under a tarp in the back of her pickup truck. Mr Potter is a popular member of the community; who would kill him?

Winona Mae has solved murders in the past and, along with a reticent sheriff (who makes her heart beat a little faster every time she sees him), her best friend Dot, and ex-boyfriend Hank, she sets out to figure it out again this time. Her snooping turns the attention of the killer on to her, and, as well as trying to avoid the attention of an escaped convict with a bone to pick with the Sheriff, she finds herself in some precarious situations.

The story is excellent, the characters well rounded and the mystery well laid out. I had my suspicions of the murderer only slightly before Winona Mae figured it out, but it certainly didn't spoil anything for me. The red herrings certainly worked to turn this reader around a few times!

Overall, an excellent and enjoyable read, and a series I will be putting and keeping on my TBR pile.

Possibly the only niggle I have with the whole thing is at the beginning where Winona Mae meets Blake (who turns out to be Sheriff Colton's brother) and Dot puts his number into Winona's phone under 'Tall, Dark and Yummy'. Blake has sandy coloured hair, so doesn't that make him blond?

Regardless, it's a highly recommended series.

What a nice break from coffee mysteries, as I'll choose apple cider every single time :>) I really like Winona Mae and the cast of characters, and the plot moves along at a brisk pace. A great read, except for Winona's repeated kind of whining about being too curious. Other than that, bring on the refills!

Review copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is the 3rd installment of the Cider Shop Mystery series. Fall Festival is in high gear in November and this year an annual civil war reenactment has been pushed from October so the town and Winnie Mae Mongtomery is hoping this will bring in more business to her family orchard and cider shop. First she has to pick up an order her Grandmother has put in with Jacob Potter at Potter’s Pumpkin Farm who is running his own Harvest festival as well. Winnie May and her best friend Dot (who is a park ranger) go and Mr. Potter promises to load up her truck and when she returns from paying she finds everything all tarped down so they head into town. When they stop for some ice cream they are shocked that everyone is out looking at Winnie’s truck only to discover Mr. Potter dead in the back. Just prior to this Dot and Winnie offer directions to one of the reenactment players and Dot gives out Winnie’s phone number and then labels him as Tall, Dark and Yummy, much to her embarrassment he is Blake Wise, Sheriff Colton Wise’s younger brother and he sees the number and name could on the phone. Blake is in town taking the place of a friend who not make the reenactment. Blake is also a sheriff and he finds it interesting how Winnie constantly injects herself into the investigation. The threat of the killer trying to warn Winnie off there is still the threat from Colton’s past who is stalking Winnie. I was on the edge of my seat this entire story and I could not put it down. Love Colton’s family that was in town and glad to see he finally started opening up to Winnie. I cannot to wait to see where this series goes next. Love it.

THE CIDER SHOP RULES is the delicious third book in the Cider Shop Mystery series by Julie Anne Lindsey. While I somehow missed out on book two (and I’ll be rectifying that soon!), this new release was easily read as a standalone and I didn’t feel like I was lost. Ms. Lindsey does an admirable job of creating a cast of memorable characters – people you’d love to spend time with and get to know! Protagonist, Winnie, is hard working, truly cares about her family, friends, and community, and is plagued with curiosity much to the chagrin of the local sheriff and her potential love interest. With an enticing autumn setting featuring fall festivals, pumpkin patches, a corn maze, hay rides, and a Civil War reenactment, the fun is non-stop... that is until someone murders the popular local farmer. The well-plotted mystery (actually a double mystery) added to the page-turning action and kept me on my toes as I followed the clues alongside Winnie. The heart stopping reveal had me on the edge of my seat and I was gratified to see that the threads of the plots and subplots were woven together into a cohesive conclusion. With a hint of what might be happening next, I can’t wait to read the next book in this delectable series!

What better book to read when it's 112 degrees in your back yard than one set in the Fall. This was the perfect cozy to dive into as I sat in front of a big fan trying not to boil away. Visions of the Blue Ridge Mountains all decked out in a riot of color, pumpkins everywhere, hay rides and mazes gave me a welcome escape. It may have been 72 degrees in Blossom Valley but it was cool enough for me. Winona Mae gave me a great puzzle to unravel and I guessed wrong making the ending a surprise. After all, the victim, owner of the pumpkin patch, the corn maze, seemed like the last person to drive anybody to murder. Winona Mae can't avoid this mystery when the man's bloody corpse is deposited in the back of her truck. Teaming up with Sheriff Colton Wise she sets out to catch the killer before she earns a spot on the killers list. Seems like nice Mr. Potter wasn't all that nice after all.
Each of the recurring characters has grown since the first book and now there is a bit more developing romance for Winona Mae and Colton. Granny Smythe is one of my favorite characters. The mystery is full of the necessary twists, turns and red herrings and I found myself finishing it in one sitting.
My thanks to the publisher Kensington and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Cider Shop Rules is written by Julie Anne Lindsey and is the third book in the Cider Shop Mystery series. Publication date is July 27, 2021.

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃/5

This book has…

🎃 Down-home, likable characters that draw the reader in. Winnie is smart, hardworking and curious; she is an MC you will root for.

🎃 A killer plot. Winnie visits Potter’s Pumpkin Patch to pick up an order of pumpkins and gourds for her Grandma; after leaving the bustling family farm, Mr. Potter’s body is found under a tarp, dripping blood from the back of Winnie’s pickup truck. Mr. Potter was loved by all, who would want him dead?

🎃 A budding romance. When Blake (Mr. Tall, Dark and Yummy) rolls into town trying to sweep Winnie off her feet, Colton decides it’s time to open up and show Winnie who he really is.

🎃 A fantastic fall setting. The pumpkin patch, apple orchard and cider shop are described in beautiful, perfect detail. The reader will crave that crisp autumn air and a delicious mug of homemade apple cider.

🎃 Twists and turns. Is the wanted fugitive stalking Winnie and Mr. Potter’s murderer one and the same? Of course not; murder is NEVER that easy and now Winnie is in double trouble. You won’t see Mr. Potter’s killer coming and the author will keep you guessing until the very end.

🎃🎃🎃🎃🎃 Recommended to anyone who loves the cozy mystery genre, wants a clean read, or enjoys a good murder mystery.

I requested and received this ARC via Kensington Books and NetGalley; these opinions are my own.

A great story full of family, friends, mystery and suspense. The characters are entertaining, the setting delightful and the ending satisfying.

The building suspense kept me glued to the story and I really enjoyed the newest character Blake. I hope he makes an appearance in future installments of the A Cider Shop Mystery series. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

The Cider Shop Rules by Julie Ann Lindsey is the 3rd book in A Cider Shop Mystery series, and another great addition. I loved the first two books 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 doing well. Winnie went to pick up there order at the pumpkin farm, and when she gets in town she discovers the owner of the pumpkin farm dead in her truck. Winnie has had a crush on Sheriff Colton for a long time, when she meets another handsome man, Blake. Turns out Blake is Colton's brother, which added a lot of fun to the book. 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.

This is the third in the series but the first I have read. I have enjoyed the cozy mystery series that Julie Anne Lindsey has written as Julia Chase and Jacqueline Frost. They are always well-written, well-plotted, and have wonderful characters. This was No exception.

In fact, I enjoyed it so much, I purchased the first and second books in the series and hope to read them soon.

I enjoyed the family interaction of Colton, Blake and the parents. They are very supportive of Colton. Blake is his 16 month younger brother but is also in law enforcement.

In this installment Winnie is asked by well-meaning individuals to check out Mr. Potter’s death. She gets to close to the truth which has the killer trying to scare her way. If that isn’t enough, Mr. Keller is out to use her to scare Colton off his track. Mr. Keller will kill, he has proven that by killing Colton’s partner and two transport guards, What’s another body or two in his quest to be free?

I liked this standalone story. It was sharp, witty, and to the point. I believed in most of the human interactions and was routing for Colton and Winnie. I also enjoyed that Dot names every animal Kenny Rogers. Cannot wait for the next one.

I was given a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books. I am not required to leave a positive review. I chose to do so.

Why yes, I did love this book even more than the last! I love this entire series. Although the book right before this, the mystery so convoluted, it was a difficult to figure out which is the best part of reading a cozy mystery. But this time it was way less over the top confusing but still interesting.

Another fantastic book in this series that makes me want to immediately visit an orchard and sip hot apple cider (and it's about 100 degrees outside right now). This summer girl was yearning for fall during the entire book, thanks to the author's wonderfully crafted fall festival atmosphere. I love how everyone in this book and series has a passion. Winnie is passionate about her orchard, but also the local history and helping others. Dot is passionate about animals, her granny is passionate about feeding people. We get to meet Colton's family which is not only really fun, but provides a bridge for us to connect with Winnie and her memories of growing up with her grandparents and also how much she longs for more family connections - maybe why she is always so set on helping people, but also getting down to the bottom of mysteries, since her own family has become a distant mystery. I really enjoy the dynamic between Winnie and Colton; though I am super impatient I do appreciate that they aren't having an instant love connection and are trying to be careful with their feelings. The mystery is also a stunner, I was shocked and a bit horrified at the end. There was so much going on that I was on the edge of my seat for Winnie by the end. Such a fun book and I cannot wait to read more!

Another fun entry in this cozy series. I love Winnie the heroine of this series, she is fun, clever and witty and you find yourself rooting for her to solve the mystery. I am a sucker for the fall themed cozies. They are my absolute favorites and this one is is oozing autumnal atmosphere. There are hay rides, a corn maze and pumpkin picking and Jacob Potter's pumpkin farm and the fall festival there is fun for all ages until Winnie finds Mr. Potter's body hidden under a tarp in the back of her truck. What ensues is a fun whodunit that will keep the reader guessing until the very end. This is quickly becoming one of my most looked forward to cozy series.

Ehh, boring. This books reads just like 90% of all the other cozy mysteries written. It's good enough just blah.

The Cider Shop Rules
A Cider Shop Mystery, Book 3 #
Julie Anne Lindsey
5 Stars

Synopsis:

Autumn in Blossom Valley means pumpkin patches are ripe and Winona Mae Montgomery and her Granny Smythe's cider shop is flourishing. But with this season comes...

A FATAL HARVEST

The Fall Festival is in full swing. Civil War reenactors from three counties are partaking in Blossom Valley's tribute to John Brown. Blue Ridge Mountain foliage is in full bloom. And best of all is Jacob Potter's pumpkin farm where his hay rides, piglet races, pumpkin picking and corn maze are time-honored draws for locals and tourists alike. That's why it's such a shock when Mr. Potter is found dead, hidden under a tarp in the back of Winnie's pickup truck. This certainly betrays Potter's reputation as one of the town's most popular citizens. Fortunately, when it comes to solving a murder, no one has a patch on Winnie. Now, all eyes are on her to do it. Unfortunately, that includes those of the killer who'll do anything to keep an orchard full of secrets buried. (Amazon)

Review:

This book had everything I look for in a cozy mystery: engaging characters, a homey setting and an intriguing mystery. I really enjoyed reading it.

The characters are well developed and well rounded. Winnie is a hard working, spunky, likable character. The secondary characters add a lot to the story and I think all of the characters have shown some growth as the books have moved along. When someone is killed and stuffed into Winnie’s pickup truck. Winnie must figure out who the killer is before they get away with murder.

The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and these descriptions pulled me in the story from the very beginning and took me on an adventurous ride. The writing style flows smoothly and it defines the characters very clearly by their actions and words. The mystery was well plotted and I was not sure of the real culprit until it was revealed at the end. There were plenty of clues to sift through and suspects to consider.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am looking forward to seeing what the next adventure awaits Winnie.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

It's always great spending time with Winnie, Granny, Dot and the rest of the crew in Blossom Valley. The Cider Shop Rules is the 3rd book in the series and it's as good as the first two. Winnie once again gets herself involved in a murder when a Mr. Potter, a local pumpkin farmer, is found dead in the back of her pickup truck. She had just been to his farm to pick up some items to decorate Smythe Orchard for the fall festival and, unbeknownst to her, she drives back to town with Mr. Potter dead in the bed of her truck. Not only does Sheriff Colton Wise appear on the scene, but so does Colton's brother Blake who is also a sheriff and in town for the Civil War reenactment. In the process of 'helping' Colton find Mr. Potter's murderer, Winnie and Colton find themselves in a game of cat and mouse with escaped criminal Keller.

This story has a lot of moving parts! There's the murder of Mr. Potter, the presence of an escaped criminal out to get Colton for having put him in jail, the running of the Cider shop and Smythe Orchards, Granny's needlepointer friends, the town locals that expect Winnie to solve yet another murder, Winnie's ex Hank's new efforts to promote hunting, Dot's animal rescues....and so much more! It's wonderfully entertaining and keeps you engrossed from page 1.

Winnie and Granny are wonderful characters. They obviously have a warm and loving relationship, Winnie having been raised by her grandparents, and you quickly become invested in the success of their orchard and cider shop. The 'sparring' matches between Winnie and Colton are fun to watch and you're not quite sure how they will turn out, particularly with Colton's handsome younger brother Blake on the scene.

I was sorry to see the book end and very much look forward to the next in the series!