Despite this being the fifth book in the series I was easily to read this as standalone without reading any of the previous books. Erin is excited about the holidays and is engulfed in spreading cheer, decorating and getting ready for her mother’s Christmas eve wedding. The celebrating is cut short when Erin witnesses a fight between Merrily, a woman who went to prison when she was a teenager for stealing money, and her parents who refuse to forgive her. When offered a second chance and a job at a local business everyone is shocked when money goes missing again. Things get more complicated when Merrily is found murdered. Erin is drawn into helping to solve the murder and the case of the missing money.

This book was well written and kept me guessing until the end. Thank you Netgalley and Beyond the Page Publishing for this ARC copy in return for an honest review.

I enjoyed the book. The mystery was well done but nothing new. The characters were enjoyable and the setting was full of holiday charm (if a bit over the top).

If I'm ever falsely accused of a crime, I hope someone like main character Erin Murphy is around to help sort things out. She's feisty, tenacious, and dedicated to her family and friends. She's also willing to take on the task of finding the truth about the murder of a, let's face it, mere acquaintance. In the process, she's also juggling running a business, decorating for Christmas, trying to find a good handyman, not to mention help a repentant shop lifter, spend time with her soon to be husband, and take care of all the details of her rapidly approaching wedding. No pressure, right?

I won't detail the plot here but will just note that it all begins with what appears on the surface to be a family feud in the middle of the otherwise festive decorating binge the town of Jewel Bay, Montana, is in. Erin befriends the daughter and invites her to a gathering at her place. The daughter, Merrily, doesn't show. Although concerned, Erin isn't overly worried until she's called to meet a business friend who has found Merrily's dead body. From there on it gets complicated, full of family secrets, love gone wrong, and the odd way some are reacting to the murder. Money is missing. Fingers are pointed. Gossip is exchanged.

All this is done in a masterful way. The dialogue not only moves things along but sounds genuine, not forced. It helps make the characters all the more real to readers, especially as long-time tensions and secrets are revealed. In the middle of it is Erin, who somehow manages to keep everything moving forward, even after being run into a ditch full of water by an unknown driver. Vehicles similar to the one that ran her off the road are everywhere in the area, so the vague description of the vehicle is little help. Kudos to Budewitz for her mentions of natural treatments such as arnica for pain rather than prescribed drugs, btw. Anyway, then Erin spies another clue. And, well, you'll have to read the book to find out how it all ends.

I felt as much sadness at the end of the book as I did relief that the murder and mysteries surrounding it had been solved. Kudos to the author. It isn't often an author can make you genuinely feel sympathetic to a murderer. That reveals the skill of author Leslie Budewitz. She not only brings Erin Murphy and family to life but the characters around her, both innocent and guilty. Five stars for this book. Give it a read.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #BeyondThePage for the ARC.

Erin has made a new in Merrily Thorton, a young woman who has recently changed her life around. Merrily's parents have never forgiven her for her past and have made it abundantly clear they want nothing to do with her. Merrily soon goes missing and it looks like she might have stolen from her boss and ran away. Not long after the robbery comes to light Merrily is found dead, murdered. Erin hates all that has happened to the young woman and decides to look into her death. As the clues start to come together Erin realizes she might be in danger but won't give up on finding the answers. Follow along and see if she can figure out what happened to Merrily and who was behind her murder.

Another winner in the series from Leslie Budewitz. I love her series set in Seattle, but the way she describes life in Jewel Bay, MT makes me want to head there immediately. Fantastic characters and in this installment some of the supporting characters shined even more brightly. Fabulous Christmas imagery and one of the best in the series.

Thank you to Beyond the Page Publishing for the free digital copy.

This is a wonderful Christmas story.

Erin is busy. The town is getting ready for Christmas with decorations and greeting shoppers. Erin loves running her families Mercantile, called the Merc. Then there is Erin's wedding as well. Erin witnesses a melt-down of one of the shop owners as everyone is decorating. Merrily Thornton is back is town after almost 20 years. Merrily left when she went to prison for embezzling. Her parents are not glad she is back. Merrily turns up dead on her parents property. Not only is she dead, but she is now accused of embezzling and isn't around to defend herself. Erin feels bad and does not think Merrily is guilty. So she decides to ask a few questions.

I enjoyed the characters. The story is engaging and kept me turning the pages. I was surprised when the murderer was revealed. Great story.

I enjoyed the Holiday theme read so much, I added an extra Christmas book. I've never read this series before, so I can safely say this can be read as an entry into the series or as a standalone...but I can also safely say I'll be going back and reading the other books.

This was a great Christmas-y read; family, friends, and community being the most important themes in this book. I really felt for Merrily, especially after the whole horrifying story came out, just tragic and really, pretty senseless. The setting in Montana really helped capture the Christmas feeling, so well in fact that my feet got cold reading about all the feet crunching in the deep snow. And the Decorating Day, that sounds like so much fun! I'd love to spend an afternoon browsing the stores and heading to get a pain au chocolate at the french patisserie. Capping off the book was a sweet wedding where MC Erin marries her boyfriend Adam, complete with hijinks from the groom's brothers.

A wonderful read and thoroughly enjoyable, this was a perfect Christmas time read and I'm looking forward to reading the other books in the series.

It's Christmas time and the whole town is busy decorating Main Street with lights and all the trimmings. All those special touches like the items you might find at The Merc, the place to find your boutique-like specialty foods, for the true foodie. It's a time for family and friends or at least you would think so, but not for Merrily who returns home after turning her life around only to find that it isn't enough for her Mom who is as cold as the weather in Jewel Bay. Erin Murphy the manager of Murphy's Mercantile AKA The Merc believes in second chances and befriends Merrily, just in time for the annual cookie exchange. Unfortunately Merrily never makes it to the exchange and won't be able to make anymore in the future. Erin works to not only clear Merrily's name of theft suspicions but to also find the killer as well as plan her wedding that is set to take place on Christmas eve. I would LOVE to have the multitasking skills of the cozy heroine. Erin is a fun character and her conviction in getting to the bottom and belief in someone she barely knew was heart warming. Looking forward to the next installment. OH and if you like to cook you will LOVE the recipes as the end of the story. I really appreciate that they are not in the middle, so that I don't get side tracked.

We all make mistakes, some more than others. The heart of this story is about mistakes made by several people more than 20 years in the past. The return to town of a quiet woman, desperate to reconnect with her family, is the cause of a modern murder. But what was the motive? Silence, to bury secrets deeper? Guilt, to cover crimes not punished? Shame, for the dishonor caused to the families? Or vengeance, for the unforgivable?

Sometimes, a crime is too painful for reminders. Sometimes sacrifice, no matter how well intended, is to big to be forgiven.

This is a slower-moving mystery, more about the every day lives and charm of the town, and how we perceive people. But it's a good story, and one worth the journey!

4/5 Stars

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the preview of this ebook!

#AstheChristmasCookieCrumbles #NetGalley

Food Lover's Village mystery #5. When a former resident returns to town after serving time in prison, she is met by different reactions, including shunning by her own parents, then found murdered and believed responsible for embezzlement, the same crime she served time for. But Erin and others are sure Merrily turned her life around and starts poking into people and dark corners to make sure Merrily is given a fair shake.
This is the first of this series that I have read, but I had no problem getting to know characters or situations. It takes place right before Christmas when the town is in full Christmas madness - decorating, selling, etc. Lots of Christmas touches that actually fit in to the story, and the seasonal mad scramble sends the characters into a similar scramble to keep up with business while trying to investigate. It all seemed to fall into place fairly plausibly. An enjoyable read with engaging characters.

I received this ARC via Netgalley and Beyond The Page Publishing, in return for an honest review. While the fifth book in this series, it is easily read as a standalone. Erin Murphy is excited about the coming Christmas holidays with town decorations and happiness being spread throughout her hometown of Jewel Bay, Montana. The happiness is disrupted by a public confrontation between a returning woman, Merrily, and her parents. As a teenager, Merrily went to prison for embezzling from a local business and her parents disowned her. Sadly, her return doesn’t ring with joy to her family and there is no reconciliation. When money is missing from a different local business and Merrily is found dead, Erin believes that the past has come back to poison the present. Determined to help find justice for Merrily, even while planning her own Christmas Eve wedding, Erin discovers comfort and joy in her family and friends while solving this mystery.

Sorry, I requested this book thinking I didn't read but I was wrong.
This was my review:
"I read other books written by Leslie Budewitz but this is the first one in this series (A Food Lovers' Village Mystery).
Even though it was the 5th one I had no problems in understanding the characters and their relationship.
This is a cozy mystery and a book about making amends and starting anew even if people seem not to be able to forgive or forget what was in the past. It is also a book about families and betrayal.
It is well written, kept me guessing til the end and was really funny and enjoyable with some food for tought.
Really recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley.

This cozy mystery is part of a series, but can be read as a standalone. It was cute and of course the Christmas theme was a timely addition. Erin runs a family store turned into a specialty local foods market in a small town in Montana. Small town means she knows most of the people, and gets called in when a former local moves back and is murdered and accused of embezzling. Trying to solve the crime, while also running her business, and doing the usual Christmas activities makes for a busy season. I enjoyed they book and will look for more books by the author.

The setting of this small-town Christmas time book in Jewel Bay in Montana will have you wanting to stop in and chat with the locals and do a bit of holiday shopping in the wonderful sounding shops.
Manager Erin Murphy of Murphy's Mercantile aka The Merc has a new friend Merrily, she's looking forward to spending some holiday time with . She's celebrating with food,drink and making merry until the presents under the tree have lost their luster with the discovery of a body so close to Christmas. A quick,lighthearted Christmas cozy mystery with yummy recipes for you to try out.
Really enjoyed it!

Pub Date: 09 Nov 2021
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

I loved this book. The town of Jewell Bay in Montana is like any small town, only with continued mysteries. The characters were interesting, the premise kept me reading, and the descriptions were clear.. A short read, but so fulfilling.
Thanks NetGalley for providing this copy. The opinion in this review is solely my own.

I love visiting Jewel Bay again in this re-released book by Ms. Budewitz. I enjoyed the mystery again as this was one of my favorites of the series. The location and the relationships of the characters keep me returning to Jewel Bay. The mystery of this book was very well-written and it kept me turning pages late into the night.

This was a great cozy mystery. It was a quick read which I really enjoyed. I was not able to predict the ending which made me really happy. I want to live in the town Jewel Bay in this book.

Jewel Bay, Montana feels like a place I would enjoy visiting. Erin, who runs the Mercantile, is the kind of person I would like to have as a friend. In this, the fifth mystery solved by Erin, it's almost Christmas and the town is being decorated, with just about everybody pitching in. While the good cheers follows for the rest of the group, one ugly note appears when there is a confrontation between Merrily and her parents. They had cut her out out of their life when she was accused and convicted of stealing money from one of the local businesses. To her family, she is dead. Not long after she turns up dead for real. In the short time the readers have known her, there is sadness over her not having a chance to make a new start in Jewel Bay. We had hope for her future. Too bad somebody else with a secret to hide decided she was in the way. The town finds out that money - again - has gone missing and the fingers point at Merrily, unable to defend herself. Erin had hoped that she was going to get to know her better, maybe become friends. The police focus on a suspect, one Erin is certain did not commit murder so, to clear her friend, she does her own sleuthing. Her style isn't pushy or 'I know better than the police', it naturally flows from her daily interactions and keen observations. But if that isn't enough to keep her busy along with running a business at Christmas, Erin is getting married....on Christmas Eve!. How many plates can Erin juggle and make it to the church on time?
This mystery had all of the elements that I look for in a cozy - twists, turns, red herrings, well developed puzzle and characters and a satisfying ending. I will definitely be reading the next one.
My thanks to the publisher Midnight Ink and to NetGalley for giving me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review,

Great Christmas cozy. Lots and lots of atmosphere with decorating and food and the town seems to be a foodie paradise. The characters are very well done and the mystery was really good with lots of misdirection and red-herrings. Definitely a fun read for the holidays!