A Poisonous Page by Kit Crowe is the second book in the Sweet Ficion Bookshop series. This was a fun cozy mystery. I really like the characters, especially Lexi and Cookie. This book kept my attention from the first chapter. The pace was good and the storyline ran smoothly. I look forward to the next book in the series.

It’s summer festival time in Confection, Oregon, and that means a barrage of tourists making cash registers ring at Sweet Fiction Bookshop. But what should be bookseller Lexi’s most lucrative time of year turns disturbing when a member of the chamber of commerce suddenly dies of a heart attack. Not entirely unexpected—considering her family history—but it’s a different story when another chamber member dies just one week later…also, presumably, of natural causes.
I love the character's in this book they are a hoot! It seems like Lexi and her pup are always getting into trouble and digging themselves out! The detective is always there so I could not wait to see how that progress when the crime is committed there is no way she can not stick her nose into it and just wait to you see how Lexi and her friends solve this one. It is definitely a whole lota of intriguing.

Lexi was a curious individual and was not convinced that the sudden death of a Chamber member was of natural causes. Things were not adding up to her, and her curiosity antennas were going haywire, so she was left with one alternative, investigate. While things with the hunk of a detective finally began to move in the direction she wanted. Lexi wondered if she was ready for the new dynamics of their relationship. It was very entertaining, captivating, and intriguing.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Crooked Lane Books and Kit Crowe for the E ARC of this book.
Lexi runs the local bookstore and the summer should mean that she is busy. She is but not only with selling books but trying to work out who has killed a member of the local chamber of commerce. A week later another member dies and Lexi’s friend Dash is accused of their murders. Why were these members murdered, why are they linked, does the chamber of commerce have any link?
Lexi is helped by her book group members called the Macaroons; they are a great cast of characters. I loved Lex’s Uncles, they are loving and funny. I liked the local detective who at times rubs Lexi up the wrong way but is reluctantly willing to have her help in solving the murders. I really enjoyed that the town’s streets are all named after confections, as are the shops – a great touch to add to the quirkiness of this series.
I had not read the first book in this series but will do so and I will continue on with the series, this is book 2.

Welcome back to Confection, Oregon, with this second instalment in the Sweet Fiction bookshop cosy mysteries. The town might be full of sweet names, but there’s also a killer on the loose!

I really enjoyed Digging Up Trouble, where we first met Lexi, manager of her parent’s bookshop, just as she was being accused of murder. Obviously she proved herself innocent, but this time one of her friends is on the hook when a dead body turns up in their garden…

This time the plot revolves around jealous lovers and real estate, as all of Confection’s dirty little secrets are dug up.

I thoroughly enjoyed this cosy mystery. Often I’m put off if they’re too ‘girlie’ and all about the romance, pets, and baking, rather than the mystery. This time we get a bit of it all, but somehow the mix was spot on. Heck, I even enjoyed Lexi’s will-they, won’t-they moments with the dishy detective, Chad ‘Ice’ Berg aka Mount Batchelor, ahem 😉

I also really liked all the female friendships, and yes, baking and cute pets. But mostly the mystery kept me guessing, right to the end and Lexi’s involvement was totally unforced and appropriately regarded by the other characters.

Definitely recommend this one for fans of cosy mysteries – it’s even better than the first instalment, too!

Dash might have dated both Marilyn and Rachel but Lexi is sure he didn't kill them. This is a classic cozy set in the idyllic small tourist town of Confection (much cuteness with names and sweets), Lexi runs her parents' bookstore and the Macaroons Book Club, which helps her sleuth, especially when her off/on love interest Chad seems to be convinced Dash did it. Lexi's faithful dog Cookie is along for the ride. This gets a tad too much in spots but it's a fast entertaining read. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. Will be fine as a standalone.

Lexi Jones, her dog Cookie, and the rest of the Macaroons book club has a new murder to solve when the body of realtor Rachel is found in Lexi's best friend's brother Dash's back yard.

Rachel's death isn't the first suspicious death in town. Her boss Marilyn has also recently died. The cause was assumed to be a heart attack since Marilyn had known health problems, but Lexi and her friends don't think things add up. Since Marilyn had a habit of flirting with men, especially married men, there were many women who wouldn't have minded seeing her dead.

Dash had also dated both women, but that didn't mean that he had a motive to kill either of them. Lexi and her team begin investigating despite being told by Detective Chad Berg to let the police do the investigating.

This cozy mystery was filled with motives and suspects and lots and lots of characters. I liked Lexi and I liked her growing relationship with Chad. Cookie was also a great dog who added a lot to the story.

I'll admit that I had no idea who the murderer was, but once identified, I could see clues that I had missed. Fans of cozies will enjoy this entertaining story.

Lexi manages a small bookstore in a placid Oregon community. Easy life right? Except two chamber of commerce members have died within days of each other and Lexie has to nose around.
I liked the community. I like the constant friction with her police nemesis.
I thought the mystery was a little light, but overall it kept me entertained.
I wouldn’t volunteer to serve on the chamber In this town, just quite yet….

I have to admit, that had I not committed to leaving a review when I was given a copy of #APoisonousPage from #NetGalley, I likely would have given up on reading this book a few chapters in. As it was, by the time I reached Chapter 7, with no crime having been committed, or at least declared by the police, I was seriously considering throwing in the towel anyway. I found the writing overly detailed and boring and started merely scanning sections of chapters. Finally, at the 23 percent mark, there was a murder added to the two deaths ruled as natural causes. So, although I was still finding the writing tedious, I continued on.
The book turned a corner for me about two-thirds in, and it held my interest, more or less, for the rest of the book. But I still found the reading of it a chore instead of entertainment due to the excessive descriptions and repetition of details of the mystery, over and over again.
The book, as the second in the series, did read more like a first in a series, and the reader was in no danger of feeling left behind.
I still have no idea what the title has to do with the story, other than the story taking place in a book store.

A Poisonous Page is book 2 in the Sweet Fiction Bookshop and I received a complimentary copy from the publisher and all opinions expressed are entirely my own. The book follows Lexi Jones the owner of the “Sweet Fiction Bookshop and a member of the ‘Macaroon Book Club’ who stumbled on a dead body previous but has an inkling for murder when one of the residents passes on. the plot is brilliant, the characters are lovable and the names cheesy. Loved it so much!

Based on the majority of good reviews I expected more from this book. I tried to like it but sadly just couldn’t connect to the main character or to the story itself. I didn’t really like any of the characters and there were too many unrealistic scenarios. I think many people will enjoy this book but it just didn’t suit me. Big thanks to the publisher and Net Galley for the digital copy in exchange for an honest review.

Brief Synopsis: Marilyn is a real estate agent and is known to sleep around with both married and unmarrried men. Her actions have caused many people in this small town to dislike her. Now Marilyn is dead and shortly after another local woman dies. These deaths were originally thought to be from natural causes, however now it’s starting to look like murder. Can Lexi, her dog Cookie, and the Macaroons (a book club of sleuths) put together the pieces to solve this murder mystery?

Thoughts: Though this is book 2 in the Sweet Fiction Bookshop mystery series, it can be read as a standalone novel. There is a diverse cast of realistically portrayed characters which adds a level of believability to the dramas. I was engaged into the mystery and enjoyed the thrill ride at the end. Like many cozy mysteries, I found the book to be “chatty” in places (there was quite a bit of narrative that didn’t really progress the book). That said, it was still a good murder mystery.

Thank you to Kitt Crowe, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. If you enjoy cozy mysteries with strong similarities to Joanne Fluke, you won’t want to miss out on this one!

This is the second book of the A Sweet Fiction Bookshop Mystery series, but the first I have read. It straddles the line between a cozy and regular mystery thanks to some solid red herrings and false leads, which make for a very easy page turner of a read! Lexi is a likable character and you can see where her and Det Chad might just be a set of opposites attract. Add in some great supporting cast characters, and you've found a great small set of books to take to the beach this Summer!

A Sweet Fiction Bookshop Mystery Series: the title alone sounded like a fun series to read. I'm also a fan of Crooked Lane and their books, so giving this book a try was no brainers. I really liked the story and characters in this book. There was good elements of plot and drama that kept me reading. The author did a wonderful job with this book.

My thanks to Crooked Lane and NetGallery for a early digital copy of this book for my review!

Thank you Net Galley for this free ARC.

The seond of the Sweet Fiction Bookshop series. This mystery had 3 deaths one week from each other. That does something to a small town called Confection. Was it murder?

I thoroughly enjoyed how the story got developed - from the families and townsfolk, friendships and the budding love trianngle. I found Lexi too aggressive at first but she has her moments. Mystery was good, the red herring a bit obvious but overall - kept me turning the page.

This was such a delightful read! It's from the POV of our female protagonist, a bookstore owner, Lexi. Multiple personalities in the novel carry their own different flavor, creating an absorbing account.

A mystery fiction that has one on the edge while also cracking at marks is a rare blend. Now picture mystery plus romance genres in a single narrative. Ain't that like a cherry on the cake! The plot is mesmerizing & the mystery-solving is impressive, something that I haven't come across earlier. The book is addictive & leaves one desiring for more. So there's no surprise that I just devoured it in one sitting.

I, for some reason, couldn't connect to the title & its tale. The cover is attractive but could actually do considerably more suitable. Overall, I sensed the book is a great read & mystery fans are in for a delight.

Thank you, NetGalley, author Kitt Crowe & publisher Crooked Lane Books, for supplying me with an advanced e-copy. I'm writing this review voluntarily in exchange for the book.

A fantastic follow up to Digging Up Trouble. This was such a fun and fast read that I can't wait for the next to come out!.

5/5 Stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an e-arc of this book in exchange for an honest review.

A Poisonous Page by Kitt Crowe is the second in the Sweet Fiction Bookshop mystery series. Lexi is busy managing her family bookstore Sweet Fiction with the influx of tourists brought to town by Confection, Oregon’s summer festival. The town is already buzzing about the death of a prominent member of the chamber of commerce from an apparent heart attack when another chamber member is murdered. When Lexi’s friend Dash is arrested for the murder, she jumps in to investigation mode enlisting her Macaroon Book Club to prove Dash’s innocence.

This mystery held my interest with its engaging narrative, well-crafted mystery, and likable characters — as well as a few not-so-likable ones. The setting was well-described making me feel as though I could step through the pages and into the bookstore. The characters with their solid friendships were relatable almost making me feel as though these were my friends. (I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.) I will definitely be looking forward to the next book in this series.

Confection, Oregon is your basic small town where everyone knows everyone else. With street names like Lemon Loop and Peppermint Way, you might think life is always rosy and nothing exciting ever happens. But, alas, bad things happen even in a town like Confection. Everyone is shocked when one of their own turns up dead. Shock turns to dismay when the local bar owner is arrested for murder.

Lexi Jones, manager of the town bookstore, Sweet Fiction, and aspiring author, knows that her friend Dash isn't guilty and she's determined to prove it. The members of the monthly book club - they call themselves the Macaroons - are there to help Lexi with the legwork. Even as she's warned away from the investigation by the crusty Detective Berg, Lexi refuses to quit.

First of all, how can you not like a town named Confection? Of course, the cute business names are sometimes over the top enough to give the reader cavities, but they also add to the fun. The witty dialogue and rapid pace of the story kept engaged from page one. I love that each character has their own unique, colorful personality, that makes them so much more than just a name on the page.. I so want to be a part of the Macaroons. But I'll have to settle for reading the next books in the series.

Too many unlikeable characters.

It’s a couple of months after the events of the first book. Lexi Jones has only just recovered from the injuries she sustained when she tried to catch a killer that time. When Lexi hears of the death of real estate agent Marilyn she is a little disappointed it is not a suspicious death; she wants to sleuth again! Though a 37 year old woman that suddenly dies of heart failure, that doesn’t sound entirely natural to me either. The coroner rules it such though.

A few days later another woman is found dead. This time it is considered a suspicious death by the police - something to do with finding the body in an unusual place.

Shortly after, Lexi’s friend Dash is arrested for the murder of the second woman, Rachel. And while I do get why the police like to question him thoroughly (the body was found in his garden and he was dating the woman), I don’t get why Lexi and her friends find anything of the following suspicious:
- Rachel was at Dash’s bar the night before she died;
- Rachel’s underwear was found in Dash’s hamper.

Dash’s owns a bar, lot’s of people hang out there. Rachel and Dash used to date. The fact that Rachel was at the bar, or her underwear in his hamper are the least incriminating elements.

Lexi enlists her book club, the Macaroons, to help investigate this case. Which they all have time for, or are willing to throw their busy schedules around. Lexi gives them tasks to investigate possible suspects and they all come back with interesting ‘juice’. When the Macaroons compile a list of suspects half the town is on it. All the women wanted to kill Marilyn because she slept with their husbands. All the men wanted to kill Marilyn because they could have her all to themselves.

Meanwhile, Lexi is striking up some kind of rapport with detective Berg, after he’s stopped give her tickets for minor infringements of local code.

I just couldn’t get into this book. There are too many characters, their dialogue is all a bit hyped up, and most of the characters don’t sound like actual likeable people. I wouldn’t want to spend time in a waiting room with them, let alone in a conversation. I also didn’t care for the dog that dominated every scene it was in.

And I very much don’t like the ‘romance’ part of this book (note the quote marks). It wasn’t cute when Berg picked up Lexi at the police station. That was assault. As was banging on her door in the middle of the night to apologise and definitely when he came round to prove a point.