The book grew on me the more I read it. It incorporates recent “current events” which I think could have been left out. At times it felt a bit drawn out, like things were happening just to keep the book going, but didn’t add much to the storyline. The actual murderer was unexpected - I was excited about that. I also enjoyed the treat at the end of the book, a welcomed surprise.

Book three in the Beach Reads Mystery series. Summer owns beach reads Bookstore and has invited best selling author Lana Livingstone to be the Valentine Day guest at the store. When Lana is found dead Summer sets out to discover who killed her. Good story plot with delightful characters. Can be read without reading the previous ones but since they are such delights please treat yourself to them! Thanks #Netgalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

This Cozy Mystery grew on me as I read more into the book. I haven’t read the other books in this series. This was my first time reading anything by this Author. I thought this story was twisted and unpredictable. I thought some of the story line seemed to be unrealistic while other parts were realistic. I will say that I was completely blown away when the Whodunnit was revealed. There was some bad language but not a lot. All in all I would say that I rather enjoyed this cozy and I feel that if I had read book one and two I would have understood the characters better.

When Summer Merriweather invites Best Selling Author Lana Livingstone to be her Valentine Day guest at her BeachReads bookstore she isn’t prepared for what happens next. Summer has been going through some hard times lately and when Lana is found dead at the B&B where she’s been staying the police begin questioning the bookstore’s employees. Could one Of Summer’s employees have killed Lana and if so what would the motive have been? One thing is certain that someone who attended the Authors book signing wanted her dead.

Readers who enjoy cozy mystery would enjoy this book. I read it as a standalone and didn’t feel lost in the story. Since other characters from the other two books in A Beach Reads Mystery series are mentioned in this book I recommend that readers first read the other two books . This book is scheduled to be released on 2/6/24.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced readers copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions expressed here in this review are my own.

#AKillerRomance#NetGalley

When the author at a Valentine’s event dies, Summer finds herself at a loss for how the woman died while she was her guest. As she digs into the mystery, Summer finds out some interesting things about her guest author and starts to follow the clues she’s managed to uncover. Family, friend or foe, wherever the clues lead, Summer just hopes they don’t lead her to her own end.

I’ve read this series from the beginning and have loved every single entry in this series! I’m hoping for many more mysteries to come…join me in slipping off to the beach for some mystery and mayhem. You’ll enjoy the characters and find yourself wrapped up in a great mystery every time you pick up a book in this series!

"A Killer Romance" is a mixed bag, with some enjoyable elements but a few hiccups that left me with a 3-star rating.
First off, Summer, the main character, and her family are the real gems of the story. Their warmth and relatability make them easy to root for, and I found myself invested in their lives. The cozy bookstore mystery setting is right up my alley, and it provides a comforting backdrop to the story.
However, I did find it a bit odd that there was a sudden jump of 5 years between the last book in the series and this third installment. It left me feeling like I missed out on crucial character developments and storylines.
The whodunit aspect did keep me guessing until the very end, which is a plus for a mystery novel. However, some of the clues felt a bit contrived, like the boxes of Lana's clothes being sent to Summer's house. It felt forced and strained my suspension of disbelief.
In summary, "A Killer Romance" offers a cozy, family-centered mystery with some engaging characters. While it kept me guessing, the abrupt time jump and the occasional forced clue made it fall short of my expectations. If you're a fan of the series, it's worth a read, but be prepared for a few bumps along the way.

I really enjoyed this book. It kept me going to the end, only took 2-3 hours to read. The story hooked me right away. The characters are complex and interesting, I kind of wish I could go to that island, it sounds wonderful. The plot is intriguing and has lots going on. I was really surprised by the capture of the killer. (although I did suspect her before the end). #AKillerRomance #NetGalley

This mystery book was great, loved it from start to finish, it had a really cozy feel to it which I love when reading a good mystery, makes me want to curl up under my favourite blanket and get lost in the story. Will be reading more by this author in future.

This was such an interesting mystery read! Being set in a small island town gives it such a cozy vibe and I can see this book being picked up by someone who likes small town mysteries.

island-life, bookseller, family-dynamics, small-business, small-town, phobic, pet-parrot, amateur-sleuth, professor, Carolinas, injury, relatives, cozy-mystery, post-pandemic-life, famous-author, friends, friendship, frustration, detective, lawyers, law-enforcement****

Interesting cozy mystery. The author she's invited to her store for an event turned out to be suspected of murder in another state and had a detective from that state monitoring her whereabouts. Until that Person Of Interest turned up dead in her bed at the local B&B! Let the sleuthing begin!
I requested and received an EARC from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

A Killer Romance by Maggie Blackburn is a fun cozy with a Valentine's Day theme. Summer hosts an author visit at her book store. The next day, the author is found dead in her room at the local bed and breakfast. It turns out that she was being investigated for the death of her husband. As Maggie and her friends begin to investigate her death, they realize that the author may have been involved with some illegal activities.

A Killer Romance is a fun read with a twisted plot and interesting characters that will keep the reader entertained throughout the story.

This is the third in a cozy mystery series set in a beach town at a bookstore. I have not read the others but didn't find it hard to follow. I did not love this, but it would appeal to cozy mystery readers I think. I found it jarring that the protagonist, a Shakespeare scholar, misquoted Shakespeare. I would correct that, if I were the author. I felt the emphasis on the protagonist's ankle pain, and her taking prescription pain medication was a little strange, especially with the opioid crisis and the fact that drugs played a role in the story line.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an eARC of this book!

This was a cozy I really, really enjoyed. Summer, the amateur sleuth trying to keep her friend from being convicted since the tea presented to Lana, the author was given to her by Glads. Summer, the owner , was not at the bookstore for the book signing as she had fallen and injured her ankle. I read this book in 2 sittings but you really had to pay close attention because as soon as you thought you had it figured out something else came up.
A VERY GOOD READ. I am giving this Cozy a 5 because it is one of the best I have read.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for a copy of "A Killer Romance" in exchange for my honest review.

Summer Merriweather has taken over the Beach Reads Bookstore on St. Brigid Island off the North Carolina coast after her mother Hildy passed away. She had not been planning to run a bookstore, she was a Shakespearean professor in Staunton, Virginia but 4 years later she is still there. This is book #3 in the 'Beach Reads Mystery' series but if this is the first book you have picked up in the series, it is easy to follow along and enjoy.

When Summer falls down the stairs and sprains her ankle, she ends up on bed-rest and can't host the author event that was planned. Her friends and family pitch in and take over the shop for her. Then Detective Liam Connor shows up wanting the author's address because he needs to report her whereabouts. But why would he need to know where Lana is staying? He seems to be very shady for a detective.

When the author is poisoned her belongings show up at Summer's place, but why? Why was she using Summer's address and why where there drugs hidden in her books?

The best character in this book is Mr. Darcy - Hildy's bird. He walks around the house, he talks to everyone and he makes sounds like a rooster. He even dances! Best character ever!!

There are plenty of red herrings in this story, clue that will lead the reader away from the true killer. Many of the recipes that are mentioned in the book can be found at the end of the story for the reader to replicate at home.

I was looking forward to this book because it was about a lesser written about holiday, Valentine's Day. Unfortunately the first paragraph talks about the protagonist's mother's death. Talk about a downer. The rest that I tried to read was just boring. Also it didn't make sense that someone who kept working in a bookstore for five years, and read romance books hated Valentine's Day. The book just kept conflicting itself.
So I DNF.
Thanks anyway for the digital arc.

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

I want to start by stating that I loved the characters in this series - Summer, Piper, Mia, Glads - all lovely. Even Ben and Cash were growing on me. What I wasn't expecting was the HUGE time jump from the previous book. Five years was a massive leap for a cozy mystery (and don't even get me started on the year later epilogue). It was not at all what I expected from a cozy series and was very jarring. I also didn't like the rush dismissal of Rudy (it felt like when a TV show kills off a character for outside reasons). The plot was okay - what I expect from a cozy series.

Also - sometimes Lena was written instead of Lana.

I want to recommend this series - the setting of coastal Carolina is near where I grew up, I have a Masters Degree in British Renaissance Literature (focus on Shakespeare) and my surname (Bellamy) does not pop up in novels that often - all reasons to pique my interest. But these novels need fierce editing. I don’t mind reading a lengthy book but only if the story/narrative requires it. Silently screaming “just get on with it”. I did finish the first two but am giving up midway on this third one.

Another wonderful cozy mystery from Maggie Blackburn in her Beach Reads Mystery series. Can't wait for more!

A Killer Romance is the third book in this entertaining bookstore series. This was a twisty fast paced mystery that kept me guessing until the end. I was surprised by who the killer turned out to be. This book has a colorful cast of characters and a wise-cracking talking parrot named Mr. Darcy. I enjoyed the ending of this book and hope there will be more books in this series. Thank you netgalley for this copy to read and review. I give it 5/5 stars.

A bookstore set cozy with an eccentric cast of characters who keep the reader guessing until the end. Many possible and plausible red herrings keep the pages turning.and the touches of humor, many provided by a verbose pet bird, are welcome. Fine as a standalone, but if you've read others in the series, it may be more engaging. Recommended for fans of the genre.

A Killer Romance is the third book in the Beach Read series. The story takes place on St. Brigid Island, North Carolina. Summer Merriweather is the main character. She owns the Beach Read bookstore which she inherited along with her cottage from her mother, Hildy who left it to her when she died. As this is the third book in the series there are characters from the first book, Little Bookshop of Murder, that make up the town. The new characters to the series add to the story.

Before inheriting her mother's store, Summer had been a professor at a university teaching about Shakespeare on line. She had also written two books on the subject. She retired from the university 37 years ago.

Summer is having her first instore author discussion since the pandemic. Her first author they are hosting is Lana Livingston. She wrote a modern-day book on Romero and Juliet. Her assistant, Poppy and her mother's old friends Glads and Marilyn. as well as her cousin, Piper are helping getting the store ready for the Valentine event As Summer is coming down the steps from the second floor she trips and falls spraining her ankle. She ends up going to the hospital and is told by the doctor that she is to stay off of her ankle for a week as it is badly sprained. Because of this her assistant and friends will have to host the event for her.

It was decided that Summer will stay home and her niece, Mia will stay with her and watch the book Valentine Day event on line. Her parrot, Mr. Darcy that she inherited from her mother also kept her company. While waiting to watch the event a Detective Liam Connor came to her house and asked about Lana. Wanted to know if she was staying at her house. He told them he was on a special assignment and was keeping his eye on Lana. She is a suspect in her husband's death.

The next day Summer got a phone call from her old boyfriend, Cash Singer, that Lana had been found dead in her bed at the B&B she was staying in. Mia, Glads and Marilyn were at Summer's house giving her lunch when Detective Connors came and spoke to them. He asked them questions and they believed it was murder by poison which was later verified.

Marilyn called Summer to tell her that Glads had been arrested for Lana's murder by Detective Connor. Cash , who is a lawyer was at the station and got Glads out on bail. He was concerned that she was not doing well. Apparently she had brought Lana some tea at the event and they found the poison in the cup. Glads arrives at Summer's house late at night saying she didn't want to stay at her house. Summer lets her stay with her.

For some reason, the boxes of Lana's clothes, etc. were sent to Summer's house. Tina, the owner of the B&B were told by the police to send them there. They went through the boxes but didn't find anything to tell them why she had been killed. When Glads is looking at one of Lana's books to read that were in the box she finds a bag of cocaine in the book. They call Ben Singer, Cash's father and chief of police to come and get it. Why did Lola have it in the book.

Gina Chocolates is a new store in town next to the bookstore. it is owned by Gina Giancarlo. She has an open house to introduce the town to her store. She later hires Mary Laura, Lola's step-daughter to work for her at her shop.

This is where the story takes the reader on an adventure and there is too much to relate to put on paper. I will leave this to the reader to enjoy. The ending is built up with such a surprise at the end. It is not what the reader thought.

Epilogue: One year later: Summer has established the Lana Livingston Scholarship for woman who wanted to become a writer. Summer is also pregnant with a baby boy and is about to marry Cash. They do get married on Mermaid Point.

I have read this series from the beginning and have loved Summer's family as well as her friends. I look forward to the next book to find out what the next adventure they will all be going on.


Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this ARC.