A Slay Ride Together With You by Vicki Delany takes us back to Rudolph, New York, a town that has refashioned itself as “America’s Christmas Town.” They did let Easter peek in just a little and that is when we find ourselves there. Merry’s best friend, Vicky, baker-extraordinaire, is about to marry, Mark, an excellent chef who has put the hotel on the culinary map for the area. Vicky and Mark have bought a house: a big, scary, maybe-haunted house, that hasn’t been lived in in years and is in terrible shape. Mark’s dream. High school kids have been hanging out and scaring one another for years: Cole House. They and a crew of friends have cleared the majority of the trash out, saving only some wood pieces that might be salvageable and Vicky and Mark are planning to live in three rooms on the ground floor. But, Vicky is frightened. She goes to bed way before Mark comes home but she hears knocking and footsteps and all manner of frightening sounds. Merry could see the lack of sleep on her friend’s face and questioned her about it. At the same time there was some shirt-tail relative of Emmeline Coles running around and telling people the house should be his. Plus Mark and Vicky had a wedding to plan.

As always, Delany writes excellent characters, giving personalities to more than just the couple of leads. The plot was quite good as various characters seemed to have reason to question the sale and then the murderer turned out to not give a hoot about the house, but was after something else entirely. It was a merry chase with all kinds of twists and turns in this lively little town near Lake Ontario. Sub-plots abound in this coziest of cozy mysteries. I highly recommend.

I was invited to read A Slay Ride Together With You by Crooked Lane Books. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #Netgalley #CrookedLaneBooks #VickiDelany #ASlayRideTogetherWithYou

Another wonderful installment in the Year-Round Christmas mysteries, even if this one does take place before Easter... I must say that means, motive and opportunity are becoming extra interesting on behalf of Ms. Delaney given she has published over 50 books, including three of my favorite mystery series.

Merry Wilkinson runs a year-round Christmas shop, which is open even in the month leading up to Easter in the holiday town of Rudolph, NY. Her BFF is getting married and she and her fiancé have just purchased Rudolph's so-called haunted house. Vicky does not put stock in the rumors but as she is hearing things go bump in the night, something is obviously happening in the wee dark hours. Then her fiancé finds a deceased person on their property and he looks like the prime suspect. However, it turns out the man had a multitude of enemies and narrowing down the suspect pool is going to be difficult.

This installment of the series carries the camaraderie I always enjoy in cozies and what keeps me returning to these small-town settings. We get Merry, her BFF, her parents and many other town staples I have come to look forward to reading about. As always, I adore the pets of the series and wish for a dog like Matterhorn for myself, maybe minus all the shedding. I can dream!

These books are always a welcome addition to gearing up for the holiday season and I look forward to the next installment.

My thanks to Netgalley and Kensington Cozies for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I found this series is always a fun read. The mystery kept me guessing. I like the characters and that they move forward in their lives. This seems like it would be a fun place to live.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

Spring in Rudolph, New York, American’s Christmas town, is usually a little show, which means it is the perfect time for Merry Wilkinson’s friends Vicki and Mark to plan their wedding. They’ve even managed to buy the Cole House to move into, but only because it needs a lot of work. However, things aren’t going well at the house since the couple are hearing strange noises in the night. Then, when Merry is visiting, the trio find a dead body. With Mark under suspicion, Merry starts gathering clues. Can she figure out what happened?

Normally, I enjoy this series, but this entry didn’t work for me. The story was too slow to get going. While things did pick up once we found the body, including giving us some great suspects, it wasn’t satisfying. Having said that, my questions were answered at the end. Since this is set in spring, it didn’t have quite the usual Christmas cheer, but I think that’s on me more than anything. The series regulars were still fantastic, and I did enjoy getting to see them again. And we got three recipes that Vicki has been working on for her cookbook. Fans of the series will be happy to check in on the characters, but everyone else can pass this one by.

A Slay Ride Together With You is book 7 in Vicki Delaney’s A Year Round Christmas Mystery series, but it can easily be read as a standalone.

Set in “America’s Christmas Town”, Rudolph, New York is a small town located on the southern shore of Lake Ontario.

The story is told in first person from the point of view of Merry Wilkinson. Merry runs a small shop in town, and her father is known around town as Santa.

When Merry’s best friend’s fiancé is accused of murdering a man after his body is found in the backyard of the home the couple recently purchased, Merry feels the need to do some sleuthing to find the real culprit.

I always find stories set in themed towns to be a lot of fun. I love seeing how an author envisions such places and the interactions between the residents, the businesses they come up with to support the town and the story.

A Slay Ride Together with You was a good cozy mystery. While the town itself is Christmas themed, this story took place around Easter although the holiday didn’t play a large part in the story.

There were quite a few suspects for the murder, enough to keep me guessing, but not so many that it was hard to follow the story. I will admit that I figured out the culprit before the end of the story, but until the end I still doubted my guess.

If you’re looking for a light murder mystery, give A Slay Ride Together With You a try!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Another awesome offering from a fave cozy author who never fails to hand readers a super satisfying showdown and takedown of a killer in the story. And there was just the right amount of creepy atmosphere for the old house Vicky and Mark bought together haunted by a very flesh and blood ghost. I loved how the girls teamed up against the killer and as always, it led up to a fun-filled ending with food, dancing and lotsa friendship.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

This is the seventh book in the A Year-Round Christmas Mystery #7 series by Vicki Delany. It is set in the mythical town of Rudolph, New York near Easter.

Vicky Casey and her fiancé, Chef Mark Grosse are moving into the historic Cole House. This home is deemed a haunted house. One evening, Mark hears a noise and goes out to investigate. Merry and Vicky quickly follow after notifying the police. They find Marc standing over a body. Marc becomes the police’s prime suspect.

We have plenty of suspects as the victim was a nasty, litigious man. I enjoyed the twists and turn and the ability to dislike Brittany Pettigrew for the spoiled little rich girl she is.

I like the quaint town ready to celebrate any holiday as if it were Christmas. The author captures the joy, the scenic descriptions, and the charm rather well. We’re also provided a mystery.

I enjoyed the reveal and the recurring characters. Vickey’s father was a favorite for me in this episode of the story arc.

Netgalley and Crooked Lane books provided me an advanced reader’s copy. I am not required to leave a positive review.

it's springtime and Merry Wilkinson’s best friend Vicky Casey and fiance Mark Grosse have just bought the long-abandoned Cole House. Vicky and Merry come across a dead body of a distant Cole relative, and Mark is the prime suspect. Plenty of people hated Jim Cole. Vicky & Mark are busy with the upcoming Easter weekend, home renovations and a hastily planned wedding so Merry does her best to help them find the real killer.

I generally try to avoid true Cozies because it’s just so hard to find any that don’t have a lot of quality issues, and tend to stick to historical mysteries or what I would call elevated cozies instead whenever I’m seeking this style of mystery.

But…What a pleasant surprise Vicki Delany has turned out to be! These are definitely true cozies, but the quality of the mystery and the writing is so much better than what you generally see in the genre. The books also manage to impart excellent atmosphere (semi-holiday but mostly bakery-themed, in this case) and keep things light, as befits a cozy mystery.

The motive for murder that we get here is definitely a little silly, but it makes sense with the story and feels appropriate to the subgenre. Highly recommended (along with Delany’s other series) if you’re looking for a light, fun mystery with loads of seasonal vibes that comes with a solidly plotted mystery.

Come back to Rudolph, New York in the latest addition to this entertaining series. Masterfully written, it will keep you guessing until the last page

What do Easter, Christmas and a haunted house have in common? It's Easter time in America's year-round Christmas town of Rudolph, NY, and a local historic Cole home is said to be haunted in this 7th installment of the Year-Round Christmas Mystery series.!

Shop owner and local sleuth Merry Wilkinson's best friend Vicky has become engaged to her boyfriend and Chef Mark and bought the town's historic Cole home that needs a lot of TLC and repair. As the wedding nears, there are a lot of spooky things happening at the house, a distant Cole family relative trying to get the house back, and new employees at both Merry's shop and Vicky's bakery.

Jim Cole is found dead outside of the Cole House when Mark goes looking for the reason behind the noises coming from outside that have scared both Vicky and Merry. The local police think Mark may be their prime suspect. Merry needs to work fast to get Mark off the suspect list and the case solved so that the wedding can go on as planned. She will need the help of her parents, co-workers and the bride-to-be to pull this off. Also, the help of three adorable canine helpers. Who can resist any story with cute dogs?

This is just what you need at the end of a long hot summer to get you ready for cozy reading fall season. It has humor, mystery, great characters, and plenty of red herrings to keep you turning pages. I did not get a lot done, while I was reading this book. I kept wanting to keep reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the chance to read and give my honest opinion of this book.

A Slay Ride Together with You by Vicki Delany transports readers to Rudolph, New York where the residents are getting ready for Easter and enjoying a little downtime after the rush of the holidays. The story is easy to read. The pacing is leisurely and there are repetitive details. The characters are friendly and quirky. Merry’s father is jolly while her mother is definitely a diva. The mystery has a squeaky wheel getting axed and Vicky’s fiancé as the prime suspect. Merry, naturally, must prove Mark’s innocence (Vicky is her best friend). There are plenty of suspects since the victim went out of his way to antagonize people. Merry must work quickly, since Vicky and Mark’s wedding is just around the corner. While I knew who did the deed very early in the book, I did not know why they did it. Merry asks questions and searches for clues. Merry and Vicky visit the neighboring town where the residents are not fans of Rudolph. I am hoping the rivalry between the towns will be resolved soon. If the two towns worked together, they would both benefit. A Slay Ride Together with You is the seventh A Year-Round Mystery, but it can be read as a standalone. The descriptions of Vicky’s pastries will have your mouth watering. I liked that the story had a Christmasy feel despite it being spring (my mother would love Rudolph). A Slay Ride Together with You is a cute cozy mystery with a ramshackle domicile, a dispatched stroppy, diner delights, a pushy hopeful pastry chef, a rushed wedding, an adorable St. Bernard, and hopefully a happily ever after.

Somehow I've missed this series, making this a standalone for me. This explains why I was a little confused at first about the Christmas theme when the novel is set at Easter (and it's coming out in the autumn to boot!). Once I understood that it's the town and the spirit of Christmas, I settled in for a classic cozy that sees Merry help her friend Vicky after Vicky and her fiance Mark buy a home that needs a lot of work. A lot of work that leads to a murder that sees Mark become a suspect. There are multiple suspects it turns out and Merry and Vicky sort through them quickly. Good characters. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. I'll look for Merry and company again.

This is an enjoyable 7th installment in one of my favorite cozy mystery series, Vicki Delany's Year Round Christmas mystery series, which is set in Rudolph, NY, a year-round Christmas town.

While I enjoyed the usual characters and the plot, which involved Merry Wilkinson's best friend, Vicky Casey and her soon-to-be husband, it was somewhat disappointing to me. It's set at Easter and except for the shops, there wasn't a whole lot of Christmas going on here.

Still enjoy the series though and it's one I'd highly recommend.

A Year around Christmas Store mystery. Great series. We visit Merry helping her best friend clear her fiancé of murder. Fun cozy mystery, good writing.

This was a nice cozy little mystery. I haven’t read any of the previous ones but it seems to stand alone.
Based on the title I was expecting a mystery taking place around Christmas. However it’s just in a town that celebrates year around.
It’s a fast moving story and I was surprised by who the killer actually was. Definitely check it out

Cozy Mystery featuring a New York Christmas themed gift and decor shop owner as she turns sleuth to clear her best friend's groom-to-be after a man's found dead in their garden.

5/5 stars: This is the seventh entry in Delany's Year-Round Christmas Mystery series that takes place during Easter and is set in Rudolph, New York, which is a Christmas themed tourist town, and features a Christmas themed gift and decor shop owner as she turns sleuth to clear her best friend's groom-to-be after a relation of their new home's former owner's found dead in their garden. With plenty of twists and turns, Delany has masterfully crafted a mystery that deftly balances the suspects and weaves in plenty of clues and red herrings that will leave you pondering the whodunit until the final reveal. I really appreciate how Delany's plot unfolds and the clever resolution. With wit and humor, Delany's writing and character work are stellar; the characters are well-rounded and complex while remaining incredibly likable. It's so much fun to catch up with Merry, her friends, family and the charming town folk of Rudolph. Merry's a delight and I love to see her romance with toymaker Alan continue. Oh and one mustn't forget Marry lovable St Bernard, Matterhorn AKA Mattie and Alan's sweet Jack Russell Terrier Ranger. Additionally, I love the small town holiday atmosphere Delany's created. Even when the book takes place out of “season” like this one (Easter) it's still chock full of holiday feels and vibes. And of course Delany's included some very delicious sounding recipes. YUMMY! While you could read this as a stand-alone, you'll gain so much more by reading the series from the beginning; so be sure to pick up book one, Rest Ye Murdered Gentlemen.

I received this eARC thanks to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books in exchange for an honest review. Publishing dates are subject to change.

A SLAY RIDE TOGETHER WITH YOU is the seventh book in the Year-Round Christmas Mysteries by Vicki Delany. What do you get when you combine a year-round Christmas-themed town with Easter week and things that go bump in the night at a purported haunted house? You get a page-turning story with heartwarming vibes, a puzzling mystery to solve, a wedding to plan, and Mrs. Claus’s Treasures. Protagonist Merry Wilkinson, owner of said Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, is a terrific character. She’s a bit sassy, puts up with her know-it-all employee with some tongue-in-cheek humor, and knows when to provide support to her friends when they need it the most. Ms. Delany has developed a multitude of characters to inhabit the city of Rudolph, New York, and mostly are people you’d want to spend time with and call friends. Especially Merry and her father, Noel, who just happens to be the town’s official Santa! These characters are what make this series so endearing and make me come back for each new release.

No matter how wonderful the characters are, this is still a cozy mystery and boy, does it provide a doozy of a ride! From investigating her best friend’s haunted house and its tragic history, to clearing her best friend’s fiancé from being a murder suspect, to breaking up a food fight, Merry has her hands full. The well-plotted clues will keep the armchair detective on their toes and with many suspects to consider, it will be a challenge to zero in on the killer. Ms. Delany is an expert at writing perfectly paced tales with twists to keep the reader engaged and guessing. A Slay Ride Together With You is a terrific way to get your Christmas fix with a fascinating whodunit!

Welcome back to Rudolph where Christmas is celebrated year round. Merry’s best friend, Vicky, is getting married! Vicky and her fiancé Mark have bought the run down, long vacant Cole House just outside of town. But someone is not happy with the sale of the house and when that person ends up dead, Mark is the prime suspect.
The author provides several other good suspects, but it’s up to Merry to discover the real killer.
Thank you Netgalley and Crooked Lane Books for an early copy of this delightful mystery This review is my opinion.

Vicky and Mark set a wedding date and purchase an old fixer upper to start their married life in. at first, it appears the house may be haunted, but when a body is found on the grounds of the home, the hauntings stop while the police scrutinize Mark a their main suspect. Can Merry help her friends before the wedding? Because every wedding needs a groom.

This is one of my favorite series. I love the animals in it as well as our main female protagonist, Merry. Each entry in the series is well written with a wall, planned out mystery filled with red herrings, suspects and second-guessing, until you finally got to the end and realize whodunit. It’s wh