Welcome to the wonderful world of cozy mysteries. Leslie Budewitz knows how to set a scene, create a character, make you feel like you’re right there next to them solving crime. Settle in for the day or night and read this fantastic page turner.

I love when authors release novellas and short stories between book releases! These are delicious little snacks, bites of life in Jewel Bay, that hold me over and make me happy. I’m so glad the author and publisher put this together…and hope they plan more in the future. :)

The Food Lovers Village mysteries are among my favorite series. I enjoy every visit to Jewel Bay and loved reading the short stories. The backstory of establishing the village was my favorite!

Erin Murphy loves her life in her home town of Jewel Bay even though she's only been back permanently for a couple of years. Running Murphy’s Mercantile, or the Merc, her family's business which has been the centre of village life for over a century should be enough to keep her out of trouble but as with all great sleuths it seems to find her!

In this collection of five short stories and an historical novella based around the Montana village of Jewel Bay and the Merc, Erin is involved in family feuds, local celebrations and exotic vacations all of which are a risk to life and limb! She is clearly a chip off the old block as the final offering takes the reader back to 1910 and the lives of newlyweds Kate and Paddy Murphy as they set up the store which will become Erin's legacy.

I loved this collection and the stories were all enjoyable and beautifully written. I was totally drawn into Erin's life and location before being able to delve into her family history with Kate Murphy and her life in the recently established Jewel Bay village of the early twentieth century.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a lovely introduction to Erin Murphy’s life and a fun read.