I’m not really into cozy mystery with bedroom scenes. I hadn’t read the other books in this series or I might have known not to request this book. The description gave no hint that this would be a part of this book. Although it wasn’t descriptive and some would say it was done in good taste I’m not comfortable reading books where the characters have sex .

I received an arc copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a review. All opinions expressed here are my own .

In her third Antique Bookshop Mystery, Laura Gail Black devises a wonderfully deceptive mystery. Blake Emerson surprises his ex-fiance Jenna Quinn when he shows up with his new fiancé Missy, a few days before their wedding is due to take place. Missy and her bride’s maids try to set Jenna’s bookshop on fire, and then Jenna discovers Missy dead in the alley behind her store.

Lots of activity, red herrings, twists, and general mayhem abounds as Jenna and her friends, Rita and Mason, try to get to the bottom of the confusing chaos that arises. The good news is that Jenna’s current boyfriend is Keith Logan, a detective with the Hokes Folly police department.

Ms. Black concocts a stunning plot that keeps readers turning pages at a rapid clip. The author also adds perfect relief in the form of Jenna’s feline companion, Eddy.

Everything comes to full circle in the latest enstalment of the Antique Bookshop Mysteries. Weddings are all the rage at Hokes Bluff Inn, bringing in more visitors to the historic town. Unfortunately for Jenna Quinn owner of the Twice Upon A Tme Bookshop this also brings to town her ex-fiance and his new soon to be bride.

I love everything about this series it has fun characters and true friendships. I especially like the new edition to the local cast of Characters Shelby. She fits right in with Rita and Jenna. I really enjoyed the chapters with the 3 of them interacting. It has a real feeling of sisterhood and how friends can become your family.

I also like how this book answered alot of questions that the first book left open and wasn't answered in the second book. It was funny because after reading the second book and not having those questions answered I had a theory as to how they should be answered and it would make a great plot to a book and here is exactly what I thought should happen, happened in this book (sorry don't want to give any spoilers you have to read the book to find out what I mean) it was great seeing that the author had the same idea as I did.

I really enjoyed this book It's definitely my favorite of the 3 and I just didn't want to stop reading.

I liked the antiquarian connection but this wasn't one of my favorite cozy mysteries. It felt formulaic and didn't grab me enough to keep reading at long periods of time. Meh.

I gave 5 stars to Bound by Murder by Laura Gail Black.

This is the third installment in the Antique Bookshop Mystery and this was probably the best one for me. I liked all the drama and that we got answers to some questions from previous books.
I really like all the characters in this town and in this book a new neighbor moved in that I loved right away and think will be a great friend in the upcoming books.

I managed to figure out the murderer pretty much right away, but that was okay. I still liked the mystery part and the person who got killed was someone I really didn't like. I felt so bad for Jenna in this book.

I am very much looking forward to read more books in this series and can't wait for book number four.

This book comes out Sep 6.

Thank you Net Galley and Cooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/4562423723

https://www.instagram.com/p/CebJAINr2yl/

Jenna and Keith were adorable, although they got on each other nerves at times. I thought she handled her ex and his mother with style and dignity. I loved how this murder mystery unfolded, and I am glad Jenna was no walk in the park. It was exciting, engaging, captivating, and intriguing, a worthy addition to your bookshelf. It was also entertaining and hilarious.

It can be challenging to read a book that’s third in a cosy mystery series when you haven’t read the first two. Surprisingly, this wasn’t the case with Bound by Murder because there was just enough backstory mentioned to understand the current situation. In fact, the backstory made me immediately want to read the first two – For Whom the Book Tolls and Murder by the Bookend.

In Bound by Murder, antiquarian bookseller Jenna Quinn is looking forward to the romance of weddings at the local inn until her ex-fiancé, Blake Emerson, walks in with his bride-to-be, Missy Plott. Jenna is perplexed that Blake continues to profess his love for Jenna if she’ll have him back, even though he is set to marry Missy.

When Missy turns up dead, Blake becomes the number one suspect. Jenna doesn’t believe he did it so she starts her own investigation into other suspects, of which there are quite a few.

The characters in this story are more well developed than those in many other cosy murder series. This drew me into the story more than other formulaic novels do. It also resulted in a more satisfying read, as I didn’t feel the author was simply going through the motions with the plot. Thoroughly enjoyed this one. Now I’m off to find books one and two.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an advanced copy of this book in return for an honest review.

In the third book of this series, Jenna Quinn is happy with life. Her relationship with her boyfriend is going smooth and her friends are doing well. Her bookshop is doing well. Then her ex shows up in town with his new fiancé planning a wedding in town. Old hurt feelings surface when he declares that he still loves her and wants her back. The fiancé is a bridezilla and leaves trouble wherever she goes. When she winds up dead, Jenna wants nothing more than to stay out of it, but she is continuously drawn in and it puts her own relationship at risk. Can she solve the murder without causing more damage to her life or will she be next? This is another great book by Laura Gail Black. You become better acquainted with the characters. The dialog flows smoothly and I really enjoyed this book. I can't wait for the next one.

I love me a good cozy mystery when I need a break from the hard core thrillers and this book was a great read.

Bridezilla doesn't even come close to describing the very despicable Missy Plott. Add to the mix the fact the veiled nightmare in question in engaged to none other than Jenna Quinn's former fiance, Blake, and you've got the perfect cozy recipe for murder. Because of this, it's no surprise when a body is discovered in the alley behind Jenna's bookshop! I love this series, and snapped this 3rd installment in Laura Gail Black' s Antique Bookshop Mystery series up as soon as it became available. Fast-paced and fun to read, with lots and lots of suspects, Bound By Murder receives 5 stars from this reader! :-)

Wow, so much going on here. Jenna is having a great day until her ex-boyfriend, Blake Emerson, shows up with his bride-to-be, Missy Plott. But, why is he still professing his eternal love for Jenna, especially after turning his back on her during a previous hard time? Although this series is new to me, the author effortlessly fills us in on that injustice which wound up with Jenna spending some three months in jail charged with murder and embezzlement. When released, Jenna is met at the door to their home by Blake, coldly handing her the key to a storage locker, and left alone to start a new life.

Just to add another complication to the current situation, while Blake is harassing Jenna, Missy's ex, Tom, shows up vowing that Missy and he are meant to be. He makes a very public spectacle of getting down on his knee and proposing. Let's just say, Missy isn't kind. Seems Blake is far richer. In the span of just a few days, Missy also manages to alienate many of the other historic town's shop owners with her entitled attitude and nasty nature. Is it any surprise she eventually turns up dead, or that it's Jenna who finds the body? This is where things begin to get even more complicated.

Why are Blake and Missy even there? What is he telling Missy that makes her beyond angry at Jenna? What mad skill does Jenna display to discourage Blake? Why is policeman boyfriend Keith so unsure of Jenna's love? Why isn't even Jenna sure of her own motives or feelings, be it love or revenge? How will the previously traumatized Eddy handle all the stress? Is there any limit to a mother's love? Why is Blake just standing by while Missy is so loudly being beyond rude to his mother? Come to think of it, why didn't Jenna ever meet his mother? Why does the destruction of one particular book in her shop, Twice Upon a Time, by what seems arson, so saddening for Jenna? How is all this connected to Jenna's past? Who had a reason to kill Missy? What does Blake have to say about all this? What is the significance of a key? And, well, to find out you'll just have to read the book.

I wound up loving this book and plan to read the previous installments asap. Jenna is likable, cares about others, and growing in confidence in her life and friendships. The supporting cast is excellent and seem like people we'd all enjoy having in our own lives. Having the chance to overhear both their idle chatter and deeper conversations pulls us into the story, making us want to know what happens next, not to mention what really happened in Jenna's past that brought her here. Jenna's romance with Keith, though new, seems solid and able to grow in the future. And, of course, there is Eddy. I'm a sucker for dogs anyway but Eddy captured my heart, healing from past trauma just as Jenna is. This series is a winner.

Thanks #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for introducing me to Jenna, Keith, and her friends. And, hey, I'm sending Eddy a virtual treat. Good boy, Eddy.

I would actually give this 3.5 stars. I’ve read the previous books in the series and enjoyed them. The plot and the mystery are always well done, and I like the setting and the friends and colleagues of the main characters. The main characters are well done, but I think some of the characters specific to this story were a little one dimensional and too easily written off.

As with earlier books, most of the drama between the main characters is centered around Jenna’s involvement in another murder case and the potential that she could get hurt. In this case, the murder is tied to events from Jenna’s past that are a key part of the first book in the series. That said, I think you could read this as a stand-alone; as with all these series, the events will just mean a little more if you know the backstory. Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the early copy.

I really enjoyed reading this book. The characters were well developed, and I liked the interactions between them. The book drew me in quickly. I look forward to reading more Jenna Quinn mysteries. I highly recommend this book to other cozy mystery readers.

A epub copy of this book was provided to me by NetGalley.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. The characters were well developed and likable. The mystery was a mystery till the very end. The story was engaging and the author just kept you guessing.

Jenna is finally settling into her new life, after being wrongfully accused of embezzlement and murder. Will her new contentment be short lived as the bridezilla causing trouble wherever she goes, turns out to be her ex-fiance's new love?
When Missy (bridezilla) ends up dead, Blake Jenna's ex is the prime suspect, claiming to still love Jenna he wants her to help clear his name. With Missy being so mean and hateful there are no shortages of suspects, can Jenna find the killer?
This was the first book I read in the series, but it is the third in the series, there was no problem following along starting mid series, and it was so enjoyable I got the two previous books in the series to read.
Thanks to Crooked Lane books for the ARC
#BoundbyMurder #NetGalley #CrookedLaneBooks

It’s a joy to return to Hokes Bluff, Jenna’s bookstore and all of Black’s colorful characters. I very much enjoyed how well the mystery was written; it was plotted perfectly and had just the right number of red herrings to keep me guessing till the end. Oh and I love where the overall storyline is going and look forward to reading what come next for Jenna and Keith. This is book three in the Antique Bookshop Mystery series, so be sure to pick up For Whom the Book Tolls (BK 1) and get started today.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review

Bound by Murder was an engaging and perfect cosy mystery to read. The characters were well defined, with interesting back stories. The mystery was enjoyable, and I must confess, I love cosy mysteries set in bookstores.

Author Laura Gail Black has a nice grasp on the cosy mystery genre. It was easy to get into the book from the first chapter. Black quickly pulled her readers into the mystery. There was no long, slow introduction of characters, who needed to be met before the actual book began. This is a mystery with a hook that grabbed readers immediately. In fact, this was a cannot-put-down mystery from the beginning chapter.

Although this was the first Laura Gail Black mystery that I have read, it definite will not be the last. A big thank you to the author and publisher for providing this ARC for me to read. My review of Bound by Murder is honest and well-deserved. And thank you for NetGalley for introducing me to yet another wonderful author to read.

This is the 3rd book from the series. And the first one I’ve read. I was able to follow the story but now I’m looking forward to reading the other books. It’s really fast paced and the characters are well developed. I actually want to buy the hard copy of this one. It’s really good.

This is the second book I've read in this series, and I think it's just not for me. In both books I've read, there were characters SO over the top that it was hard to take the story seriously.

And I've gotta admit that I was not impressed when the narrator mentioned having just watched Casablanca with a friend and now thinking "Play it again, Sam. The famous line of dialogue flitted into my brain as the song started once again." I've never seen Casablanca, and even I know that's not the right line of dialog. I think you lose a lot of credibility that way.

Your mileage may vary!

Review copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Bound by Murder is the third book in a series that just keeps getting better and better. Jenna Quinn, after having been charged with, and then exonerated of, murder and embezzlement, has moved to Hokes Bluff to take over running her late uncle’s antiquarian bookshop and to start a new life away from her ex-fiancé, Blake Emerson, a self-centered jerk who abandoned her when she was arrested and incarcerated while awaiting trial for crimes she didn’t commit.

Imagine Jenna’s surprise, then, when into her bookshop walks her erstwhile fiancé, along with his new bride-to-be, a vicious vixen named Missy Plott. Worse yet, Misty is wearing the engagement ring Blake had given Jenna. While Missy is Bridezilla personified as she makes arrangements for her pending nuptials, Blake looks miserable and later tells Jenna privately that he is still in love with her and not with Missy.

Jenna is very much over Blake and dating Hoke Bluff Detective Keith Logan, a man who is everything Blake is not. Then Missy is murdered and Blake is arrested for the crime. Jenna learned the hard way that Blake was a self-absorbed, spineless weasel who refused to stand by her when she was the one facing criminal charges. Nonetheless, Jenna, unable to see Blake as a potential murderer.

Unfortunately, this causes some issues between Jenna and Keith in that Keith believes that Blake is guilty of murdering Missy and doesn’t want Jenna interfering in the case - or getting involved with Blake in any way at all.

Soon, Blake’s mother, Cordelia, with whom Blake had had a very odd, yet distant, relationship during the time Blake and Jenna were together, arrives in Hokes Bluff. Cordelia claims to be beside herself and begs Jenna to find evidence to clear her son. Despite Keith’s disapproval, Jenna sets out to try to find the real killer.

Missy was unlikable, vain, and cruel, so suspects abound. They include Missy’s younger sister, Connie, who is in love with Missy’s ex-boyfriend, who in turn was still in love with Missy at the time of her death. Missy’s shady bridesmaids are also on Jenna’s list of suspects, especially after they twice vandalized Jenna’s bookshop, causing serious damage.

Ms. Black excels at creating multidimensional characters. The plot moves at a steady pace and never stagnates. I have enjoyed all three books in the Antique Bookshop Mystery series and eagerly await the fourth.