Merry's best friend Vicky is getting married in a few weeks. Vicky and her fiance Mark have bought the old Cole House. The house is the local spooky, haunted house. The kind where teenagers dare others to enter. Well there is strange stuff happening. Mark and Vicky hear strange noises and the sounds of footsteps overhead. Then distant relatives of the previous owner start to show up and demand that the house is really theirs's. One night, the girls hear a noise outside and when they step out, they find Mark standing over the body of one of those troublemaker family members. Mark is now the prime suspect. Can Merry figure out in time for Mark and Vicky to be married.

Such a fun adventure. Kind of a mystery in a mystery. Who is the actual murderer, but why now are all these people demanding an old run down house? The writing style is easy-to-read and the characters are fun and quirky. I enjoyed the story--it kept me turning the pages.

In A Slay Ride Together with You by Vicki Delany, readers are once again whisked away to Rudolph, New York, where the spirit of Christmas persists all year round. This time, Merry Wilkinson's best friend, Vicky, is on the cusp of marriage to chef Mark Grosse and has just purchased the historic, potentially haunted, Cole House. As Vicky prepares for her wedding, a shocking discovery—a dead body in the garden—turns their festive plans upside down, with Mark quickly becoming the prime suspect in the murder investigation. With time running out before the wedding, Merry must unravel the secrets surrounding Cole House and its storied history to clear Mark’s name.

Delany’s cosy mystery combines humour, heart and a cracking cast of quirky characters. The interplay between the charming Christmassy town backdrop and the tension of the murder investigation creates an engaging narrative filled with red herrings and unexpected twists. As Merry and her lovable St. Bernard, Matterhorn, navigate the intrigue of Cole House and its troubled past, readers are treated to a blend of suspense and warmth. A Slay Ride Together with You is a great addition to the Year-Round Christmas Mystery series and is sure to leave fans eager for more.

Merry’s best friend Vicky is now engaged to Mark. She is excited to hear they plan to get married and buy a house in short order. Her excitement is tempered when she learned the house is a neglected building with a reputation for being haunted. Vicky and Mark seem determined to restore the old mansion to its former glory but begin to have serious doubts when mysterious noises are heard in the dead of night. It turns out the noises are the least of their worries.

A relative of the deceased woman who owned the house thinks he should have inherited. Even though there is no legal leg to stand on, the man who is litigious to an extreme, threatens to sue Vicky and Mark. Then, when the man is murdered, on their property, Mark is the one who discovers him. He is the first candidate in the long list of suspects and gossip being what it is in a small town, he and Vicky have to deal with threats and innuendo. The deceased was a vile man and the people on the fringes of his life are a colourful and questionable lot. Which one of them did the deed? Or was there someone else’s evil hand holding the murder weapon.

While I did twig early as to the killer, there was a suspenseful and exciting denouement to unmask the villain and solve the murder. As a whole, it was an easy and entertaining read. Four purrs and two paws up.

Another entertaining entry to the series by a talented cozy mystery writer.

Rudolph, New York is Christmas town, but this book takes place right before Easter. The town does manage to diversify and celebrate other holidays as well and draws in a lot of tourists year round. Merry was born and raised in Rudolph and runs a shop called Mrs. Claus’s treasures. Her best friend, Vicky runs a bakery.

Vicky had recently become engaged to Mark Grosse, head chef at a high class hotel in the area. Over lunch, Vicky reveals that she and Mark have finally found a house – in an area where affordable housing is very rare. Merry is happy for her friends, but dismayed to find out that they have purchased Cole house, a long abandoned and very dilapidated mansion. But that very neglect has made the house affordable, even though it needs a lot of .work. Due to a trust, the house had been slightly maintained and had some areas that were habitable so Mark and Vicky decided to move in while rehabbing.

After some prodding, Vicky reveals to Mary that she’s been having troubles sleeping because she’s hearing noises. Mary tries to comfort her friend by saying that the house is old and the grounds are overgrown so she could be spearing animals or trees brushing against the house a bit later when the women are having and movie night at the house, they hear knocking and realize that something was going on. Even their dogs are alarmed. Armed with Kirchen knives, they search, the house but find nothing

They hear a moaning sound outside, and just as they’re getting ready to go out Mark returns home. After explaining what’s been going on, he sends them back in and says he’ll search the outside for signs of an intruder. Shortly afterwards, they get a call from Mark telling them to 911 because he found a body in the garden.

The body is that of Jim Cole, a nephew of the previous owner of Cole house, who had been making claves that he was the rightful owner of the house and harassing Mark and Vicky. Mark becomes a primary suspect as he discovered the body and had blood on him. But Jim Cole was not a nice man, and there were many who had a reason to harm him and as the story unfolds you discover them and why.

A Slay Ride Together With You
By: Vicki Delany

Publish Date: September 24, 2024

Publisher: Crooked Lane Books

Literary Fiction/ Mystery and Thriller

#ASlayRideTogetherWithYou#NetGalley

<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/e6b9dcafff342f5072f92e0c68111f657109fd2d" width="80" height="80" alt="200 Book Reviews" title="200 Book Reviews"/>

<img src="https://www.netgalley.com/badge/9a41056d7201c045d3f9e5c161f9569494687ae1" width="80" height="80" alt="Professional Reader" title="Professional Reader"/>

I would like to thank both NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read and review this book.

Book Review:

This is book 7 in the series The Year-Round Christmas. I haven't read all the books in this series, and you really don't have too to get the understanding of this book. I really enjoy in the family and friendship in this book. The small town vie also works well in this story. I gave this book 4 stars.

In this book Merry's best friend is getting married. Just before the wedding Vicky, Merry's friend, and Mark buy an old house with an interesting history. Things start happening at the home and this has both Mark and Vicky a little worried. Then one night they find a body on the property. The body is none other than Jim Cole who was causing them problems about the home. The home that both Vicky and Mark used to belong to the Cole family and Jim wanted the home even though the owner wanted it sold on her death. Mark is being investigated for the murder,but did he do it. The town is up in the air on what to do and who actually did it. You will have to read the book to find out. I didn't guess it and usually I can figure it out.

No matter what time of year I pick up a new Merry Wilkinson title, I feel immediately in the holiday spirit! This time, Merry and her best friend Vicky are working on Vicky’s upcoming nuptials to fellow chef Mark Grosse. Their new house purchase is certainly throwing a wrench in their plans- between a dead body and a possible ghost sighting, Vicky is overwhelmed and leans on her best friend Merry for support. The two team up to get her down the aisle and solve the crime before it’s too late! It wouldn’t be a Year Round Christmas mystery without a lot of walks with Mattie, a budding romance with Alan and hefty attitude from Jackie.

Each time I dive into the newest book, it feels like coming home. I love all of the characters and it’s fun to catch up with them in a new mystery. Each story is uniquely different and yet familiar. I enjoyed the fun haunted aspect in this book and I already have my eye out hoping for a new title next year. Please pick this or any of the others one up in the series to enjoy this upcoming holiday season!

Rated: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Vicki Delany brings the reader another Year Round Christmas mystery in A Slay Ride Together with You. Rudolph, New York, has Merry Wilkinson, shop owner, busy with her friend Vicky Casey who is engage to chef Mark Grosse. The duo have bought an old house with a haunted reputation and have the ill luck to have a body dead on the ground. Whodunit The dead man is well hated and there are lots of suspects including the chef. Good cozy.

I'm not going to lie I didn't love this one as much as I did previous ones in the series. And it wasn't because of the Easter time setting. Nor the characters I love getting to see Merry and Mattie and Alan and the rest of the gang again. With this one it was the mystery that fell flat for me. But even so I'll still pick up the next book in the series as well as anything else the author writes.

I love this series. Merry Wilkinson and her best friend Vicki have another mystery to solve in the Christmas Town of Rudolph, New York. A Slay Ride Together With You is the 6th installment in the Year Round Christmas cozy mystery series by Vicki Delany.. A great read any time of year..

This was not what I was expecting but still enjoyable. More of a mystery than a romance but still very good.

A Slay Ride Together with You is the seventh cozy mystery in the A Year-Round Christmas Mystery series. Back in Rudolph, New York it is Easter time and Vicky Casey’s wedding to local chef, Mark Grosse, is just weeks away. She wants a quick affair because of the crazy schedules of both of their jobs. When Vicky and Mark buy a the historic Cole House they aren’t ready for what’s coming. This house is surrounded by drama and mystery with a possible haunting, they knew all of that going in, but the dead body that turns up is the last thing they suspected. With her friend’s fiancé as a prime suspect in the murder case it’s time for Merry Wilkinson to put on her sleuthing hat and try to get to the bottom of this mystery before it’s too late.

I am a fan of everything I’ve ready by Vicki Delany and fell in love with this series when I started reading it a few years back. A cozy mystery in a year round Christmas town is exactly my type of book and this series has yet to disappoint. I always love revisiting Rudolph and Merry and wish I could visit for real. The mystery in this book was intriguing and kept me guessing. The town itself, even at Easter time, has me wanting to curl up by the fire with some hot chocolate as I devour this book. I really enjoyed getting to dive into the personal lives of the regular characters and learn more about them in a way I don’t think we have before. This was an entertaining cozy mystery and I can’t wait to see what comes next in this series. If you haven’t read this series yet and are a cozy mystery fan with an affinity for Christmas this series is a good one to try. This book can be read as a stand alone, but it might be better to start from the beginning to meet a lot of the characters first.

“A Slay Ride Together With You” – the seventh book in Vicki Delany’s Year-Round Christmas cozy mystery series, is another great entry in the series. In this book it is almost Easter and things are a bit slow in Rudolph, New York which gives shop owner Merry Wilkinson some free time to help her best friend Vicky Casey plan her upcoming wedding. Merry is thrilled that Vicky is marrying Mark Grosse but questions their decision to buy a run down, supposedly haunted, house. Unfortunately, Merry’s doubts are soon realized when someone is killed on the property and Mark is the chief suspect. It’s a great mystery with a great setting – not only the house with its rich history – but the town of Rudolph itself and the people that live there – including Merry’s parents – her retired opera singer mother who is a diva in every sense of the word and her father who channels Santa Claus when it is most needed. The mystery is well done with just the right amount of suspects to keep readers guessing whodunit. The motive for the murder was a bit bizarre, sad, yet believable. All in all, another nicely done mystery by Vicki Delany.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley.

This is A VERY GOOD COZY MYSTERY READ. The amateur sleuth is Merry and a good one she is. Her best friend Vicky is marrying Mark and they buy the old Cole house which is said to be haunted and needs lots of TLC. A murder happens there when Vicky, Merry and Mark hear noises. The girls check inside and Mark goes outside and what does he come up on but a dead body. At this time he is a suspect but as we go along the list gets longer. So much to tell but I don't like spoilers so as I always say, you will need to read this to find out who done it.

It's Christmas all-year long in Rudolph NY and I love visiting through each book. I would definitely live in this town, despite all the murders. The mystery is well-crafted and the conclusion satisfying. Looking forward to my next visit.

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

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Vicki Delany for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for A Slay Ride Together With You, which was released September 24, 2024. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

I’ve read a lot of books by this author and I love her writing! I think this is the first book in the series that isn’t set during Christmastime. I thought it was fun though. I absolutely love this series! The Christmastime cozy atmosphere is really fun. I loved the possible haunted house. I think a lot of the book was focused on Merry’s friend Vicky and her fiancé. I loved the mystery. I’m excited to see what’s next.

I would recommend this book to anyone who loves cozy mysteries!

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. A Slay Ride Together With You is the seventh book in the Year-Round Christmas Mystery series. In A Slay Ride Together With You, Merry, the main character, has to investigate in order to clear the name of her best friend's future husband. Merry and her best friend, Vicky, are great characters. They really are a key ingredient for the book to be pleasant to read, along with a great setting, namely the town of Rudolph, and a strong storyline. This series is always a pleasure to read, and A Slay Ride Together With You was a wonderful cozy mystery. A perfect book for readers who enjoy nice mystery books and Christmas time.

Easter has come to Christmas town, but not all is fuzzy bunnies and chocolate when a body is found that leaves Merry's friends in danger! Merry is back to sleuthing in an attempt to save her friends from rumors and potential arrest! This series just keeps getting better and better. The plot is so well crafted that you'll be looking one direction when you should be looking another! All the right clues are there for you to see, but lots of red herrings to have you guessing the wrong villain! The mystery is of course the meat of this Easter story, but the characters' personal stories will also be integral to the plot as well! I must say that this book is my new favorite in the series as the author very creatively wove the mystery to be engaging and compelling. I can't wait to see what happens next in the series especially the Muddle Harbor vs Rudolph aspect not to mention all the events in the personal lives of the characters. I am already excitedly waiting for the next story to be written!

The newest year-round Christmas cozy series finds Merry helping her best friend Vicky, when Vicky moves into the town's supposedly haunted house and she is actually hearing things at night. When a man ends up dead outside the house, things because even more grim. Merry and Vicky investigate so that Vicky's wedding can go ahead as planned.

Another good entry in this series! I felt like the whodunnit felt a smidge random, but ultimately the explanation kind of leans that way too. Despite that, this series is very fun. It also seems like we will get some interesting developments with Muddle Harbor next book!

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Merry and Vicky have been friends for a long time. Vicky owns Victoria's Bake Shoppe.

Vicky announced that she and Mark were going to buy a house together. They were going to get the Old Cole House which everyone knew in town as the old Haunted House. Merry asked her if she was sure because that house was going to require a lot of work to fix it up properly. And people thought the house was haunted. Vicky said that was the only way they were going to be able to buy a house like that on Lakeview Drive.

This book was really good and they had a mystery to solve which brought them closer together. Check out the story I don't think you will be disappointed.

I love this series! I didn’t know who the killer was and was surprised at the solution. I like Merry, Vicky, and the whole crew. Mattie, the dog, is always a hit, because my dogs have a favorite person as well, and it also is not their owner.

I also love the fact that the residents at the Muddle Harbor Cafe know Merry and Vicky and make bets as to when they will arrive. I think its amusing that they don’t get mad but find it fun.

Overall, I rate this novel 5 out of 5 stars.