Another great installment for that Antique Bookshop Series. Thank you #netgalley and #crookedlanebooks for the eArc version of this title.

3rd book in the series. I did not read the 1st book, but have read the 2nd. Like book #2 we have some over the top mean girls behaving badly attitude in this installment. The series is definitely focusing on the fact that money doesn't buy you class or morales.

I do believe this can be read as a stand alone. There is reference to the previous books storylines but you should be able to keep up with it. Ms. Black does a wonderful job including tidbits that don't seem out of place.

Jenna's past comes back to haunt her in the form of her ex-fiance and his new bride to be. After she was acquitted for embezzlement, Jenna's ex, Blake, kicked her to the curb. She is invited by her uncle to stay with him in Hokes Folly, NC. Mystery story #1, she finds her uncle dead and she has now inherited his antique book store. That murder solved she goes into Mystery #2 when a guest at her grand reopening is found murdered in the parking lot. That brings us to Mystery #3. Her ex-fiance and his new fiancé, Missy, are in Hokes Folly to get married. Missy and her mean girl entourage show up at Jenna's shop to boast about the wedding and cause trouble. Jenna is more sure than ever that she wants nothing to do with Blake. Now she just has to convince her current beau, her friends, the town, and more importantly, Blake.

Blake has a hard time taking no for an answer from Jenna. But he may find himself serving hard time for Missy's murder when she shows up dead the day of the wedding.

A well written story with wonderful characters. I love the little town setting and all the shop neighbors, and the mean girls getting what they deserve. And of course who doesn't love a dog who plays a key roll in the story. A recommended read for sure.

This is the first book I have read in the Antique Bookshop series, but I will definitely be going back and reading earlier books as well as keeping up with any future ones released. This, however, did work well as a standalone. So if you haven’t read any of the previous books, you should be able to jump in with both feet and get ready to go on a journey of emotions. The characters are well developed and the murder mystery will have you sucked into the story and anxiously trying to figure out who is guilty. There are lots of twists and turns, emotions on edge, and characters that you want to slap silly because of their behavior. A book about a bookstore owner will always grab my attention and the small town setting and community of caring individuals has you invested in the story and cheering on Jenna and her beau, Keith. I love that where was a small twist toward the end that had me gasping. (I love when that happens!) I strongly encourage you to get lost in the past of the books in this series. You will be in for a fun and entertaining read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

For more reviews, please visit my blog at: https://www.msladybugsbookreviews.com/. Over 1000 reviews posted!

Another one for the books. The bridezilla is murdered and the groom is the main characters ex-boyfriend. Bum bum bum.... This story had me right away and I loved how it played out. So glad I can dive into the next one.

Another great story in the series of cozy mystery books set in small town. Enjoyed this one. Jenna is slowly building up her bookstore, with the help of her friends and new boyfriend. Suddenly, she is visited by her ex-fiance and his new fiance, as they are planning their wedding to be in town. When the new one is found dead behind Jenna's bookstore, things get dicey. Like how the reader is given a trail of clues to follow. Fun books and a series I highly recommend.

I really loved this book in a new to my series and author. I can't wait to read the next one. The characters and location really add to the plot. This book keeps you guessing until the end

Thoroughly engaging cozy mystery set in a book store. Being accused of embezzlement and murder, threw Jenna Quinn's life into a total upheaval. The worst of it all was the total abandonment of her fiancee. Now she's remade her life in another town with a bookstore that is beginning to thrive and a new relationship that provides all that was missing from the last one. However the past comes nipping at her heels in the form of the bridezilla now marrying her ex. Fast paced and filled with interesting characters, this book and the series is a winner.

I received this book for free from netgalley for an honest review.

Really well thought-out book with amazing characters and excellent setting. Love the cover

*I received a free copy of this novel from NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for my honest review.*

Jenna has settled into her life as the antique book store owner and with her police officer boyfriend. She has good friends and has mostly recovered from her old life where she was accused of theft and murder. And then her ex shows up with his new bride-to-be and her entourage and they are nothing but a group of mean girls. And then the bride-to-be is found dead.

I really enjoy this group of characters and the quaint little town that Jenna has ended up in. I love how everyone has accepted her into the new life and she is thriving. I love how Jenna and the cop boyfriend have an adult relationship instead of pretending that there is no premarital sex ever.

Such a great series!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an electronic copy to read in exchange for an honest review.

This is the third book in a cozy mystery series. I'll be honest - I haven't read the first two but I wish I did. I'm used to cozies that don't really have a through storyline but this one did. That being said, it was good! I do like the characters and the setting sounds very idyllic.

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught!

I have to say this one is my favorite of the series so far. The town and the characters are established it's like visiting old friends while solving a mystery. Jenna has become one of my favorite armature sleuths. But I have to admit that my favorite character in this series is Eddy he basset hound I love his personality. He really does still the book as he's the one who's always dragging Jenna into a new mystery.

4/5 stars

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and Laura Gail Black

This is a book set in a small cozy town where everyone knows everyone, and if you are ever in a pickle there is always a line of people there to help you out. This book sets place in a small locally owned bookstore.

It is the third book in a series, and although you can read it as a stand-alone, I recommend reading all of the books in the series because it helps you learn more about the characters and come to love them more. The characters are lovable and well-written, and the characters that are supposed to annoy you really do.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a cozy mystery that is really easy to read and follow. Definitely one of my new favorite cozy mystery series.

"Bound by Murder" the 3rd instalment in the "An Antique Bookshop” Mystery series by Laura Gail Black. I loved it even more than the first 2 books. This is one of my favourite series

Antiquarian bookseller Jenna Quinn loves the romance in the air—until her ex-fiancé, Blake Emerson, walks in with his bride-to-be, Missy Plott. Blake continues to profess his love for Jenna if she’ll have him back, no matter the consequences. And the consequences are grave, indeed, when Missy turns up dead.

I really loved this story, there were Bridezillas, mean girls, friendship, betrayal along with a little romance and murder. What’s not to like! I read almost in one sitting but finally succumbed to sleep with only a few chapters left.

The mystery moved at a good pace, was interesting and I thought well plotted. I loved the characters living in Hokes Folly especially Jenna’s BFF Rita and now Shelby. Overall I found it to be a very entertaining read.

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends. I’m looking forward to book 4 to find out what Jenna does next.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Jenna Quinn, the local bookseller, is thrilled that the Hokes Bluff Inn is now hosting weddings so that the wedding planner guide in her store window is garnishing some good sales. However, she isn't happy when Blake Emerson, her ex, waltzes in with his bride-to-be, Missy, the woman he was cheating on her with. She's even wearing the engagement ring that Blake had bought for her. Being a professional she sells the planner to Missy, but doesn't enthusiastically embrace the mean girls who are her bridal party. Missy is definitely a bridezilla and there is no surprise when she turns up dead just before the big day. But who killed her?

What fun to watch the mean girls get their due while seeing Jenna happily wave bye-bye to her ex. Good mystery, great characters.

⭐⭐⭐ -- Great cover on this one!

I read and enjoyed the previous book in this series, so I was looking forward to diving into this one. Alas, I just did not enjoy this one as much. First, I hate romantic relationship angst in my cozies. If I want to read that I would have picked up a romance. And this book had way too much of it. The second issue was how over the top Missy's character was. We get it, she is a "mean girl". However, he actions were ridiculously over the top and she entered cartoon villain territory every time she was on page. Aside from those two issues, the book was pretty good. The mystery kept me guessing. I love the setting and Jenna remains a solid lead (who should definitely dump Keith...just saying. 😂🤷🏻‍♀️). I am still onboard to see what the next book brings...

**ARC Via NetGalley**

Bound By Murder is the latest in the Antique Bookshop Mystery series by Laura Gail Black. Once again Jenna finds herself in a bit of a sticky situation when she stumbles across another dead body. Could this new murder be tied to past murder and embezzlement case, both of which Jenna was framed for? Read Bound By Murder to find out. Bound By Murder has a lot more going on within its pages than murder, for example there is arson, vandalism, stalking, embezzlement, and last but certainly not least some relationship drama. If that has piqued your interests, then I encourage you to read Bound By Murder by Laura Gail Black.
I enjoyed reading Jenna’s latest story and look forward to reading the next one. Though I didn’t think it was as good as the two before it, it was still an enjoyable read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC.

🌟🌟🌟🌟 4/5 stars

Another excellent installment in the Antique Bookshop Mysteries. Bookseller Jenna is back and this time is dealing with her ex-fiancé and his bride-to-be. However, when the bride is found dead, Jenna is forced to help her ex, risking her new relationship in the process.

I just love this series. It is so cozy and twisty and full of lovable characters. The setting is perfection and I continue to ship Jenna and Keith. I am so excited for whatever Laura Gail Black writes next!

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Laura Gail Black continues her Antique Bookshop cozies with Bound By Murder. Jenna Quinn has just settled into bookselling at Twice Upon a Time and her romance with Keith a local policeman when her ex boyfriend and his fiancee from hell show up in town. Then the fiance is found dead in a dumpster by Jenna. What could go wrong? The former not so nice boyfriend is arrested and Jenna's store is vandalized twice. Read and vote for your candidate as murderer.

We return to Hokes Folly in Bound by Murder where Jenna Quinn rebooted her life after it imploded in Charlotte. She is surprised when her ex-fiancé, Blake Emerson with his new fiancée, Missy Plott enters her bookstore. They are planning to get married at the Hokes Bluff Inn in five days which offers period weddings. Missy and her posse of bridesmaids are a nasty bunch. When Missy turns up dead, Blake is suspected of the crime. Blake and his mother ask Jenna for her help. Jenna ends up helping and uncovers several suspects. The case takes a turn when the police uncover evidence on a cold case that they originally tried to pin on Jenna. Jenna is beginning to wonder if Blake is truly innocent. Bound by Murder by Laura Gail Black is the third An Antique Bookshop Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. I like the author’s writing style which makes the story easy to read. There is a great cast of characters that includes Jenna, Keith, Rita, Mason, and Jenna’s adorable canine. The characters are friendly, realistic, relatable, and developed. I love Jenna’s shop. It is a place where I could spend hours browsing through the shelves of books. I enjoyed the description of her wedding themed window display. Like Jenna, I am a fan of the Five Little Peppers and How They Grew by Margaret Sidney (I have a vintage copy of the book). The mystery gave us several suspects who could have done the deed. There is misdirection to lead armchair sleuths astray. I picked my guilty party out early and then joined Jenna on her investigation to see if I was right. There are various events that keep things lively as well as clues to help readers solve the crime. I enjoyed the tense reveal. There is mild foul language in the book (just a little bit). There is romance in the story. Jenna is dating Detective Keith Logan. Their relationship is progressing nicely, but the road to happily ever after does have a few potholes. Mason, Jenna’s shop manager, is smitten with Lily Monahan who works at The Weeping Willow. I enjoyed reading Bound by Murder, and I am looking forward to returning to Hokes Folly in the next An Antique Bookshop Mystery. Bound by Murder is an entertaining tale with a frustrating ex-fiancé, a cuddly canine, a bridezilla with her band of bridesmaids, a wasted witch, a furtive fire, a smitten store manager, and a distressing discovery.

Bound By Murder: An Antique Bookshop Mystery
By Laura Gail Black
Crooked Lane Books
September 2022

Review by Cynthia Chow

Love is in the air for the historic district of Hokes Folly, North Carolina as the Hokes Bluff Inn ramps up its plans for destination weddings. Not only are wedding planners and guests looking for the perfect gifts and décor at Jenna Quinn’s Twice Upon a Time used and antique bookstore, her employees also seem to be swooning under the spell of amour. Jenna’s own boyfriend Detective Keith Logan has recently declared his love for her, and being able to share those same feelings is something that Jenna never thought possible. She had fled to Hokes Folly after a scandal that cost Jenna her job, her reputation, and her fiancé, and the injustice of being falsely accused has left her reluctant to trust. Just when she thought she was moving past the trauma, she’s forced to face it again when the newest bridezilla in town happens to be the fiancée of Blake Emerson, the man who abandoned Jenna when she was at her lowest. Missy Plott is the epitome of every Mean Girl in existence, snidely bringing her bridesmaids to Jenna’s bookstore for the purpose of dismissing the wares, implying that Jenna really did embezzle funds, and warning her away from Blake. All does not seem well between the soon-to-be-Emersons, and after a public fight between the engaged couple it doesn’t seem too surprising when the demanding, self-centered Missy goes missing.

What unfortunately isn’t surprising for Jenna and her recent body-discovering habit is that she is the one to stumble across Missy’s dead body. Keith immediately suspects Blake for the murder, warning Jenna to stay out of his investigation. Surprisingly, it is Blake’s mother who begs Jenna to intercede, insisting that she should know that her former fiancé could never have committed murder. Missy Mean Girl “M Squad” – Mandy, Molly, and Mickey – possibly setting a fire in Jenna’s store doesn’t make her any more enthusiastic about helping Blake, especially considering that he gave Jenna’s engagement ring to Missy. Keith is revealing his own rather unflattering green side, and Jenna worries that his jealousy might be influencing his professional judgment. An act of vandalism prevents Jenna from staying on the sidelines, even if it places her relationship and even her life in jeopardy.

This third in the series closes the circle on mysteries uncovered in the first, and it delivers the resolution that gives Jenna the answers she needed to move forward in her life. Blake is revealed to be the absolute Worst, and readers are always on edge that Jenna might weaken and allow herself to be sucked into his vortex. The relationship dramas are as tense and fascinating as the main mystery, and readers will enjoy the emotional roller coasters so many characters endure. Jenna’s investigation into spurned lovers, jealous rivals, and unrequited love make this a fun mix of romance and murder, with Jenna showing just how strong and confident she has grown. A very satisfying conclusion ensures for a rewarding read and that fans will be eager for the next.