Member Reviews
This is the first book in the series that I've read and I'll totally read more. I love Fall! And while I'm not a big cider fan, I might have to become one.
Oh no- not only did someone murder Winnie's neighbor Jacob Potter, a pumpkin farmer, they also stashed his body in her truck! And this during the Fall Festival when Winnie wants to sell lots of cider. So, of course, she's going to investigate with the grudging approval (sort of) of her love interest Sheriff Colton Wise. You know Potter wasn't as beloved as Winnie thought he was but golly there are people who really dislike him. AND, Colton's brother Blake arrives in town and will he turn her head? No spoilers from me! Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Third in a series but fine as a standalone, this is a fun cozy with a good setting, fun characters and just enough twists to keep you guessing.
What I didn’t like- all the hunting crap. At least there is no actual hunting going on in a scene thankfully. If you really are worried about worried about nature and wildlife just donate directly to those causes, don’t get people to sign up for a hunting license. And the crsp about it being local culture- crap excuse for killing animals. And a park ranger who rescues animals wants this? Ugh
The main story, however is fine and things are moving along with Winnie. The mystery is good, and while it is resolved and another issue, a new one pops up at the very end to keep you interested for more.
I have to give this 3 stars, it would get more but I can’t deal with the hunting.
I loved going back to Blossom Valley to spend time with Winnie, Granny, and Colton. Blossom Valley is knee deep in autumn festivals when the owner of the pumpkin farm is found dead in the back of Winnie’s truck. The town is all aflutter with the news and the community’s expectations that Winnie will help find the killer.
Naturally, Winnie doesn’t want to find anything out, but when threats find their way to her Cider Shop, she has no choice but to step in, much to the chagrin of Sheriff Colton Wise.
It certainly doesn’t help that Winnie is being stalked by an escaped serial killer on top of receiving warnings to stay away from asking questions about the man whose body was found in her truck.
I’ll be honest, there were a couple of times when I agreed with Colton about her promising him one thing and turning right around and doing the opposite and kind of wish he’d tried to drive that further into her head, but for the most part, she did alright and had me on the edge of the seat to find out what what she could learn. I could not stop turning those pages!
I enjoyed the expansion of characters in this book. Along the way, we meet some of Colton’s family, including his brother, Blake, a sheriff in a neighboring county, and his parents. We were also treated to a cameo from a couple characters in another cozy series by Lindsey, one I’ve not yet read, but will binge-read soon!
Be sure to pick up this latest / third installment of the Cider Shop Mysteries by Julie Anne Lindsey. I promise you won’t be disappointed. And the ending… GAHHH! Loved it. (I.e. FINALLY!) Ahem. :-)
Full disclosure - whenever I see a book by Julie Anne Lindsey, I pick it up. If you’ve not yet read her books, I highly suggest you check out her website and start reading. They’re all good!
Ebook was provide as an ARC by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks very much to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for this opportunity.
Winona Mae stumbles over another dead body. Winona is receiving threats that are not even associated with the current murder she is investigating. I enjoyed reading this book and seeing the changes that are happening between Winona and Sheriff Colton. The mystery is intriguing because there are two active investigations happening at the same time. The main mystery is full of red herring to keeps the reader involved in the investigation along with Winona. I recommend the book to cozy mystery fans.
All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.
I read this in one sitting :) Totally loved it, easy read. Characters and setting, as well as the time of year in the book were all enjoyable. The Cider Shop Rules is one of my favorite cozy mysteries I've read.
“The Cider Shop Rules” by Julie Anne Lindsey is the 3rd instalment in the Cider Shop Mystery series. Julie Anne Lindsey is not just one of my favorite cozy authors, she is also a wonderful person.
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 . . .
This book was so good I read it in one day, I couldn’t put it down. I enjoyed visiting Blossom Valley, Virginia and the Smythe Orchards again.
Winnie Montgomery is smart and very likeable and I like how she lives by her grandmother (Granny Smythe) on the Smythe Orchard. I love Granny, Dot her bff , and who can resist a couple of orange rescue kittens, a fainting goat and now a goose! (I’m secretly hoping a pig joins the zoo soon)
There was plenty of suspense and intrigue in this story, which kept me guessing till the very end. We find out some more about Colton this go around too! Now I am anxiously waiting for book 4 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.
In this third book in the series, Winnie is being chased by two killers. This was a little too much for me, but the other parts of the book were great. I especially loved the dinner with the folks (I couldn't stop laughing), and the Blake character is perfect! Winnie and Hank's (her ex from the start of the series) relationship is nice - I'm glad the writer was able to give them a true feeling of closure while staying friends (many cozy writers aren't able to pull that off). Like I mentioned, having two story lines (and two killers) was a bit much, I couldn't focus on the main cozy mystery (farmer Potter). I enjoy hearing about West Virginia and all the community traditions. The author does a great job describing life in a small town. Winnie's enthusiasm is contagious and I always feel good after finishing a book in the Cider Shop Mystery series. Positive and hopeful. I look forward to the next! I'd recommend this series to anyone who likes cozy mysteries (or anyone who likes fun, heart-filled stories).
Julie Anne Lindsey knows their audience. This one was a winner from word one. I look forward to reading more from this series.
The Cider Shop Rules by Julie Anne Lindsey 4 stars (Cider Shop Mystery #3)
Winnie Montgomery and her friend Dot are picking up an order from Jacob Potter's pumpkin patch. After speaking with Mr. Potter and paying for her purchase she goes back to her truck with her order fully packed and under a tarp. After stopping in town for a snack and a chance encounter with a cute guy, she discovers a crowd near her truck. The men accuse her of hunting deer out of season, but when she pulls back the tarp to refute the accusation she discovers the body of Mr. Potter. Winnie now wants to find out who killed Mr. Potter and dumped him in her truck.
This is the third book in the Cider Shop Mysteries and I really enjoyed it. The author also writes under the name "Julie Chase" and I adore her Cat Groomer Mysteries. This book just screamed "FALL" and went all out - Pumpkins, Scarecrows, Corn Mazes were all included. The mystery was very good and Winnie's listening and investigative skills were evident throughout the book. The only discordant note was with Sheriff Colton Wise, I found it hard to warm up to his character in this book. I know that he might be the eventual boyfriend of Winnie, but I hope that he will be a little less rigid in the future. I look forward to the next book in this series.
Thank you Netgalley and Kensington Books for this ARC.
Winnie Mae Montgomery, of Blossom Valley West Virginia, has a problem. She finds Mr. Potter, a beloved community member, in her truck. Problem is he's been murdered and Winnie finds herself both a suspect and a target. Add an escaped prisoner who wants to get back at Colton the sheriff by hurting Winnie and you have a keep you reading cozy!
If you're tired of hot weather, check this fun mystery out! The story takes place in late Autumn and the descriptions of the orchard and town are gorgeous. The mystery is fast-paced and all the supporting characters are back. I like that the characters have more going on than solving the mystery. It brings depth to the story.
I always find myself wanting cider or Apple pie after reading these books and I can't wait for the next visit to Blossom Valley!
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the opinions expressed in this review are my own.
In this third Cider Shop Mystery, Winnie deals with two challenges. First, Winnie finds Mr. Potter’s dead body under a tarp in the back of her truck after picking up an order at Potter’s farm earlier that day. And Winnie wants to find the killer to clear her name.
Complicating her quest to identify the murderer, Winnie discovers the fugitive threatening to kill her has eluded FBI and U.S. Marshals and may be in the vicinity.
As Winnie juggles her busy Cider Shop at Smythe Orchards, she also looks for motives, opportunities, and alibis for suspects in Mr. Potter’s death. With the Fall Festival going on, she also meets Sheriff’s Colton’s parents and brother as their relationship seems to be deepening.
Julie Anne Lindsey crafts an engaging story with a delightful supporting group of characters who make visiting Blossom Valley a treat.
I love this series as it is set in the county of WV where I live. Winnie is the amateur sleuth and a good one at that. In this one Colton's family is in town with his brother who is also a sheriff. This makes for an interesting story. Again I didn't figure this who done it out until the end. A GOOD READ if you enjoy cozy mysteries.
I really enjoyed this book. I discovered within a few minutes of reading that I would be unable to put this book down, I was hooked and I proceeded to finish it in one sitting. It moves along really nice making for an easy and enjoyable read. The characters are fantatic and you will fall in love with them. This story will grab you and not let you go till the end, this book has to be on your list to read this summer, no doubt about it. I look forward to reading more, in this fantastic series.
I have waited so long for this book and it was everything I hoped it would be. Winnie gets herself into trouble when she discovers the dead body of one of her neighbors in the back of her truck. Winnie's naturally curious mind wants to investigate, while Sheriff Colton Wise wants her to be safe and not go looking for a killer. There was so much I loved about this book. It takes place in the fall, right after Halloween and I was all for the setting of the pumpkin patch and Winnie's cider shop on her family orchard. The civil war reenactment brought an interesting aspect to the story. Especially since it is the reason we got to meet Colton's very handsome brother, Blake, and his parents. I really hope we see more of Blake. I loved the banter and teasing between the brothers, and the friendship that was quickly formed between Blake and Winnie. We finally got to see some progress in with Winnie and Colton by the end of the book and it me me so happy. The mystery was great. I was not expecting who the killer was. I actually liked that character. Also the Jack and Lacey reference was just everything my kitty couture heart needed. Thank you Julie Anne Lindsey for this wonderful book book that had me gushing at so many points. Well done. I received this book from netgalley and Kensington publishing in exchange for an honest review.
The Cider Shop Rules by Julie Anne Lindsey is a new summer release in her cozy mystery series about an amateur sleuth in Blossom Valley, West Virginia. Generally, a series settles into its own by the third book, and this one proves the point: clearly, it's the best of the three to date, and it's made me even more excited to delve into Winnie's life running a cider shop with her granny who might be in her 70s but looks like she's in her 50s apparently!
Autumn is mid-swing, but it's getting chillier so the farms are done producing and Halloween is over, but Winnie's cider shop is open and she's going to a pumpkin patch to collect some supplies to decorate her shop. When she leaves the friendly farm, a dead body is dripping blood in the flatbed of her truck. Why would someone kill the lovable owner of the pumpkin patch? Winnie quickly sets out to talk with his wife, converse with the neighbors who held a grudge over the noise from the farm, investigate the possibility of an extra-marital affair, dive deep into some messy financial books. Which angle caused the poor pumpkin farmer to end up clunked by a shovel?
To start with, if you ever need a book with a fantastic fall setting, this is it. You'll get all the amazing autumn sensations. As my favorite season, I had high expectations for this tale, and it thoroughly delivered. Between the festival, the Civil War reenactment, the cider blends, the weather and foliage, and the general town spirit, I felt fully immersed in a favorite setting. Toss in a movement in the tentative friendship between Winnie and Sheriff Colton Wise, and you have lots to rave over... especially when Colton's brother Blake makes his presence known -- and it seems he might be interested in Winnie too. Which brother will she fall for?
The series is gaining lots of traction. The author writes many other series under a few pseudonyms. She's prolific and talented, and I intend to read a few more of them. My only slight put-off was the number of times/conversations Winnie and Colton had to discuss her getting too involved in policework. I'm all for the conflict, but there were 4 conversations where Winnie promised to stop and then immediately as soon as Colton left, she started up again. She almost didn't realize how she was treating him, and it felt a little much like overkill. I think 2 scenes might have been enough, and then if she did it again, admitting why to us readers rather than saying she wouldn't and just going ahead and doing it. Very minor, and I only mention it because it stood out as "hey, we've done this a bunch already" and caused me to stop momentarily.
That said, I am eager for the 4th book, which has been set up by the appearance of a person in Winnie's life with a secret to hide. A secret we as readers know because of a fake name being used. Hmmm.... not sure I can or want to wait a year to find out! LOL
I had previously read and enjoyed the first two books of this cozy mystery series. The Cider Shop Rules was by far my favorite. I do believe it could be read as a stand alone, but you’ll enjoy it much more as a series.
I love the small town of Blossom Valley, and how much Winnie identifies herself by it. Each friendship makes sense, and I’ve grown to love the characters. The small recurring jokes (such as Dot naming every one of her rescues “Kenny Rogers”), are just as entertaining as the main plot.
This installment takes place in Autumn, and has two mysteries. Both are entertaining, well-developed and written. I enjoyed Winnie and Sheriff Colton’s deepening relationship, and can’t wait to read what happens next in their lives.
Thanks NetGalley, for offering this early version! Thoroughly enjoyed it!
This is a great new-ish cozy series. This is only the third book in the series but it's fast become one of my must-read cozies, along with some others that have been around forever. Winona Mae and her Granny Smythe are endearing characters. The orchard and cider shop barn are beyond cozy settings. This is definitely one to pick up and enjoy with some cider in front of the fire. Warning: May induce cravings for apple fritters and apple fries!!
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book.
I absolutely adored this new installment in the Cider Shop Mysteries! I loved the development of Colton's and Winnie's relationship, and I enjoyed seeing my favorite characters again. The mystery was fun, and the stakes were really high in this one. I was on the edge of my seat. I highly recommend!
The Cider Shop Rules is the third installment in the A Cider Shop Mystery series set in Blossom Valley, WV and featuring Winona Mae "Winnie" Montgomery. Town is buzzing with tourists thanks to the annual Fall Festival and the influx of Civil War reenactors come to pay homage to John Brown.
Winnie and best friend, Dot make a trip out to Potter's Pumpkin Patch to pick up an order of hay, pumpkins and gourds which Granny will use to decorate the Smythe Family Orchard. What Winnie doesn't realize when they leave is that tucked under the tarp covering her pickup bed is also the dead body of Mr. Potter.
Despite repeated warnings by Sheriff Colton Wise to stay out of the investigation, Winnie vows to help Granny's friends find the killer. When Winnie becomes the next target the question arises - is she being threatened by Mr. Potter's killer or is it someone from Colton's past back to seek revenge against the Sheriff?
Another action packed mystery filled with suspense, the return of series regulars and the arrival of new characters, mouthwatering descriptions of homemade ciders, a delightful menagerie of pets that will have you laughing out loud at their antics, and a blossoming romance. One of the best series on the cozy scene. I can't wait for my next trip to Blossom Valley.
I received an advanced copy of The Cider Shop Rules from NetGalley via Kensington Publishing. While not required to write a review I am happy to offer my honest opinion.