Review of A Killer Romance by Maggie Blackburn

Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)

Maggie Blackburn's A Killer Romance is a delightful, yet thrilling addition to the Beach Reads Mystery series. The third book in the series serves up just the right balance of cozy mystery and romance, making it a perfect escape for fans of both genres. I’m a sucker for a good mystery, but when you combine it with quirky characters and a sprinkle of romance, it’s hard to resist.

Set against the backdrop of a quaint bookstore and a Valentine’s Day event, the story kicks off with a murder at the bookstore involving a guest author. What I appreciate about Blackburn’s writing is her ability to create an atmosphere that draws you in immediately—whether it's the cozy charm of the bookstore or the suspense that builds as Summer Merriweather delves into the investigation. It’s the perfect setting for a mystery, and Blackburn delivers on that front, bringing the world of Beach Reads to life with ease.

Plot: ★★★★☆
The plot, while solid, leans a bit into the formulaic cozy mystery territory. A murder takes place, and our protagonist, Summer, has to navigate personal relationships while solving the crime. It's a fun ride, but some of the twists and turns didn’t feel as unpredictable as I would’ve liked. It’s clear that Blackburn is trying to keep the mystery light-hearted, but at times, it felt like the stakes could have been raised just a little more.

Characters: ★★★★☆
Summer is a relatable lead, and the supporting cast, including the members of the Mermaid Book Club, bring charm to the narrative. I really enjoyed the interactions between Summer and her quirky friends, adding a nice layer of light-heartedness to the darker undertones of the murder mystery. That said, some of the characters could have used a little more depth, especially the love interests, which felt like a bit of an afterthought in comparison to the crime-solving.

Writing Style: ★★★★☆
Blackburn’s writing is easy to digest, and her ability to create tension while maintaining a cozy vibe is commendable. I wasn’t blown away by any particular literary moments, but the pacing kept me turning the pages. However, there were times when the repetitive dialogue made it feel like the story was stalling, especially as the characters continued to revisit certain points in the investigation without much new information.

Romance: ★★★☆☆
While I enjoy the sprinkle of romance in the mystery genre, this book didn’t do much for me on that front. The romantic angle felt secondary and didn’t add much to the overall plot. There was potential for a slow-burn romance, but it was sidelined by the murder investigation. It could have been developed a bit more to add layers to the story.

Suspense/Thrill: ★★★☆☆
There’s some suspense, but it’s not exactly edge-of-your-seat material. The reveal of the killer felt a bit rushed, and while the tension was there, it wasn’t as high as I would have liked for a mystery of this caliber. Still, it's light-hearted, and for fans of cozy mysteries, it provides a solid enough payoff.

Overall: ★★★★☆
A Killer Romance is an enjoyable, light read that will appeal to fans of cozy mysteries who are looking for a book that combines humor, heart, and just a touch of romance. It's not a groundbreaking mystery, but it's fun and keeps you engaged. If you’re a fan of the Beach Reads Mystery series, you’ll certainly enjoy this one. However, if you’re looking for a deeply complex, twist-filled thriller, you might find this one a bit tame.

Overall Rating: 4/5
If you’re after something charming, cozy, and easy to read, A Killer Romance delivers. It’s got all the ingredients of a perfect beach read mystery, with just enough romance and intrigue to keep things interesting.

I love a good cozy mystery! One that incorporates all of my favorite topics (i.e. genealogy, bookstores, libraries, cooking, painting, inn keeping, animals, etc.), throwing in some action-suspense, a who-done-it, interesting characters, and a plot that keeps me guessing, then you’ve got me hooked. I will say, I am one of those people who like to read a series from the beginning, but I often find you don’t have to… either way I highly recommend reading A Killer Romance by Maggie Blackburn.

*I received a complimentary copy of this novel from NetGalley at my request and this review is my own unbiased opinion.*

A great addition to an incredible series! Wonderful characters in an incredible setting. This book will keep you guessing until the end.

Maggie Blackburn gives us a North Carolina cozy at Beach Reads bookshop in a Killer Romance. Summer Meriwether, owner of the bookshop, has an author do a book reading at her store, not knowing the author is suspected of murdering her husband; the next morning she is found dead and poison is suspected. Whodunit? An islander? A friend? The suspicious visiting policeman? Then drugs pop up. What else can go wrong? Read and find out.

A Killer Romance is the 3rd installment in Maggie Blackburn’s Beach Reads series.

It’s been several years since the last story (passing over the pandemic - can’t blame her for not wanting to write that into a story!) and we’re back to the fun goings-on at Beach Reads bookshop.

The story starts with preparation for an author event when Summer is injured. Fortunately nothing too serious but when a body is found…

I had trouble getting into the story this time around. We didn’t know the author who was killed which made it difficult to imagine whodunnit, as it were.

As for the characters… they’re likable enough but the story tended to drag a bit in parts. That said, Mr Darcy, the parrot, was always a delight!

I look forward to the next book in this series!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This one wasn’t for me. I didn’t enjoy the Covid references and wearing masks. Nor did I enjoy the feminist take. I didn’t enjoy the year later with everything wrapped up in a bow. The amount of pain meds was annoying. Most of the focus seemed to be on her injury.
The mystery itself was just mediocre for me. However, I did like the twist at the end. I loved the bond the ladies share and the bookstore setting.

The story was intriguing. An author comes for a bookstore's first in-house book signing since the pandemic only to be murdered at that signing. As a book lover myself, that part of the description caught my attention.

But this is just where the story begins. It turns out the author herself is a suspect in her husband’s death, and that is just the beginning of the intrigue that surrounds her character.

And this is where readers will question who the author really was and whether or not she did kill her husband, and if she did, who killed her?

This is the meat of the story.

Summer is our amateur sleuth and our bookstore owner. She has invited the romance writer to sign books on Valentine’s Day in her store, but while setting up for the event, Summer takes a tumble and is unable to attend the event. She must do the majority of her sleuthing from her home, especially when one of her friends is arrested.

This book hits all the notes for a cozy mystery reader. Some will fall in love with Summer and the bookstore as characters, others will want a little more fleshing out of the story.

I had enjoyed the previous books in this series, but this one left me annoyed. Summer sprained her ankle at the beginning. Based on the amount of pain meds and care she required, I actually went back to see if she severed her foot or something. I also questioned her choice to combine alcohol and pain meds. To make matters worse, a main focus of the book was drug problems on the island. I get that this is fiction, but I like a tiny sliver of truth in a book.

The pain medications and complaints about using crutches overshadowed everything. It was too much for me to get past along with the fact the killer was very obvious. Two stars feels generous.

A Killer Romance by Maggie Blackburn is the third book in the beach Reads cozy mysteries Summer Meriwether is busy running her beach reads bookstore with the help of her loving family it is the first time she’s having a book event with a celebrity guest but when someone gets murdered Summer and Cash try to figure out who did it. Let me just say I usually give most of my rating to the end of the book and the end of this book was awesome I loved it I thought summer and her family were great characters although I wasn’t that clear on why she was poisoned I still really enjoyed the book and am definitely going to look for the fourth one what a grand idea to have a bookstore called beet treats on a beach. I also love the fact that summer has come to love her community so much there’s something really great about small towns knowing each other‘s secrets and having people to depend on in times of need and in times of greate celebrations. I also want to say the recipes at the end of the book especially the honey cake made me so hungry I had to get up and go find something sweet to eat when I was finished reading them. Had I seen them before I would’ve ate cake while reading lol! this was a great book I have read books by this author before and she never seems to disappoint a truly great read. I want to thank crooked Lane books for my free arc copy via NetGalley please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.

This was my first book written by Maggie Blackburn. Overall, it was a good book. I enjoyed the main characters and setting- a bookstore in a beach town. Summer returned to St. Brigid, NC, after the death of her mom, took over her mom’s bookstore, and now is surrounded by family - her aunt, cousin, and niece - as well as an old flame. In A Killer Romance, the author who comes to the Valentines event at the bookstore is found dead the following morning and one of Summer’s friends is accused of murder. I enjoyed the story, and look forward to trying out the recipes at the end of the book.

A delightful mix of romance, suspense, and quirky characters. The vivid descriptions of Seaside Cove made me wish I could visit this town.
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

I'm guessing by the epilogue that this was the end to this series. I'm sad to see it end but I loved the ending the author gave us. The story was great. I did figure out the killer a little before the reveal, but I was still at a loss to figure out the why.

This book wasn’t for me it didn’t keep my attention but I did like the story line and I will pick up another book by this author.

Summer Merriweather becomes the owner of her deceased mother’s romance bookstore, Beach Reads, in a coastal island in North Carolina. You see, Summer is a Shakespearan professor and romance books wasn’t her genre of choice, So after her mother died she intended to sell the bookstore and return back to her home in Virginia.

Every year on Valentine’s Day, St. Brigid was filled with excitement for the festivities from all the businesses on the island. Tourists and the people on the island looked forward to this Valentine themed event. Beach Reads Bookstore hosts a “Romance By the Sea” event with Lana Livingston, author of a modern day Romeo and Juliet.

Of course this is a cozy murder mystery so you know someone dies. That happens fairly early in the book, which is a good thing. The story does move quickly in the beginning, drawing me into the characters and the murder investigation, but it begins to lag halfway into the book as some parts became repetitive. I felt Summer to be boring and somewhat sarcastic with not much manners.

A Killer Romance is the third installment in the Beach Reads mystery series. I didn’t read the first two installments, but I felt I was able to understand the way the author portrays each character. However, it’s best to read the first in the series of a cozy mystery..

Thanks NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an advanced readers copy (ARC)

This was my first read and I didn’t realize it was a series, but it was a fun book and fast read, although I wish I had read them in order because I felt like it referred back a bit.

A great cozy mystery with likable characters (although my favorite character by far was the parrot). The ending felt a bit rushed but it was an enjoyable read.

Thank you to #CrookedLaneBook and #NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

A Killer Romance: A Book Reads Mystery
By Maggie Blackburn
Crooked Lane Books
2024

Review by Cynthia Chow

A Shakespearean scholar, Summer Merriweather had always been embarrassed by her mother’s romance bookstore located on St. Brigid Island, North Carolina. But inheriting Beach Reads Bookstore after Hildy Merriweather’s death unexpectedly led to Summer falling in love with both the island and the bookshop, eventually causing her to (mostly) retire early from her teaching job to take over the store full-time. As much as Summer hates Valentine’s Day she knows that it’s a boon for the bookstore and local businesses, with one of the events being the first booksigning she’s hosted since taking ownership. Lana Livingston is a bestselling NYT author, with her latest romance being an updated “happy” version of Romeo and Juliet. And as much as Summer detests turning a classic tragedy into a romance, she definitely did not wish for the author to experience her own premature death. The handsome visiting detective Liam Connor suspects that a member of the Mermaid Pie Book Club poisoned the famous author and when not attempting to flirt warns Summer away from being friends with the culprit. But Summer isn’t about to let Glads be railroaded into prison, especially after she discovers that Lana may have been involved in a narcotics-linked crime.

Summer herself is still attempting to find her bearings in her former childhood home, especially now that she has been reunited with the man she left at the altar decades ago. While Summer believes that she made the right decision in running away from Cash Singer and an early marriage, she also can’t justify hurting his feelings now that they are once again becoming friends. She’s mostly overcome her debilitating arachnophobia, but a fall and the resulting use of crutches has her depending on her friends now more than ever. Learning of her mother’s own heartbreak and discovering the new family of the father Summer never met has helped her to understand her mother’s love of the bookstore dedicated to idealized love. The characters in this third of the series are the reason readers will want to return to this series, as they have evolved and become genuinely likable and sympathetic island residents. The author, who has also written an abundance of series under the name Mollie Cox Bryan, is skilled at crafting humor-filled, witty cozy mysteries with plots that always deliver satisfying endings.

This was my first time reading a book by this author. I wasn't impressed with the book at all it didn't hold my attention. It could've possibly been because the book is a part of a series and I haven't read any of the other books. Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books.

I'm giving this 2.5 stars rounded up to 3. This book didn't grab my attention. I hadn't read the other books in the series, so maybe if I had, I would have liked this one more.

The mystery was decent but not compelling, and the characters were a little annoying. My favorite part of the book ended up being Mr. Darcy the bird.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Book Review: A Killer Romance by Maggie Blackburn

Rating: 3 Stars

In Maggie Blackburn's "A Killer Romance," love and murder collide in a cozy mystery set during a Valentine's Day event at the Beach Reads bookshop. As bookseller Summer Merriweather delves into the mysterious death of a guest author, she uncovers a web of secrets and lies that lead her on a thrilling quest for the truth.

One of the standout features of this novel is its charming setting by the sea, providing a picturesque backdrop for the unfolding drama. Blackburn's portrayal of Summer as a Shakespeare scholar adds depth to her character, making her not just a sleuth but a relatable and intriguing protagonist.

While the mystery itself is well-crafted and keeps readers guessing until the end, the book could have benefitted from tighter editing. Some readers may find the repetitive mentions of Summer's ankle pain and drug choices to be excessive, detracting from the overall flow of the story.

Despite these minor flaws, "A Killer Romance" offers an engaging plot with likable characters that will appeal to fans of cozy mysteries. Blackburn successfully weaves together treachery, heartbreak, and unexpected twists, keeping readers on the edge of their seats until the final reveal.

Overall, "A Killer Romance" is a solid addition to the Beach Reads mystery series, perfect for those looking for a light-hearted yet suspenseful read to enjoy on a cozy evening.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Thank you to Netgally, the publishers, and Maggie Blackburn

When I requested this book I was unaware that it was apart of a series, one that requires you to read the previous books for this one to make sense. I am unable to read all the previous books along with this one before the publish date. Therefore, I will rate this a fair 3/5 stars and will adjust the rating and review when I am able to read all the books in the series along with this one.