7th in the Year-Round Christmas mystery series, this one’s set at Easter in Christmas Town, when many shopkeepers are taking a break, or doing inventory and ordering their stock for the upcoming ‘Christmas in July’ extravaganza. As usual, it’s narrated by Merry Wilkinson, operator of Mrs. Claus‘s Treasures shop and daughter of the town Santa.

This installment concerns Merry’s friend Vicky Casey, owner and head chef at a Victoria‘s Sake Shoppe. She’s recently gotten engaged to Mark Grosse and implies that our heroine might be a bridesmaid. But now Vicky has things on her mind besides how many hot cross buns to make for Easter week. She and Mark are buying a big Victorian house near Merry’s place.

It turns out the house is more a tearer-downer than a fixer-upper, reportedly cursed, and the previous owner is recently deceased. Soon at least one unpleasant stranger arrives in town with an inheritance claim, and there are questions about whether the house was legally available for sale. If that wasn’t nightmare enough for a budding bride, Vicky confides that things are going bump in the night at the big old house. When a body turns up the overgrown garden, Merry's going to need all her investigative chops to find the killer and get the wedding back on track.

This is a brisk, breezy read as Merry digs into the cursed history of the house and the ill-fated family that used to live there. As usual, local gossip fills in many gaps. The recipes are delightful. It’s an ideal beach read.

I enjoyed this book. The investigation is complex & interesting. Normally in cozy mysteries the details of the investigation are weak & the middle of the book suffers, not in this book. Also when there’s a lot of characters coming & going I get confused as to who people are, not in this book. They are very clearly detailed. #ASlayRideTogetherWithYou #NetGalley

A Slay Ride Together With You. Fun series with wonderful characters and a good mystery. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher.

A Slay Ride Together With You is the next installment in Vicki Delany's Year-Round Christmas mystery series. Vicky has just announced not only that she is engaged but also that she is buying the Cole House with Mark. Everyone in town believes the Cole House to be haunted and anyone who lives there will be cursed. While Vicky and Mark don't initially believe in such tales, they soon start hearing unidentifiable noises at all hours of the night. With neither of them getting much sleep, Merry agrees to stay the night and get to the bottom of these "hauntings." Unfortunately, what Merry, Mark, and Vicky discover is a dead body. With Mark as the prime suspect, Merry and Vicky have their work cut out for them to solve this case before the big wedding day.

A Slay Ride Together With You is a charming holiday cozy mystery. I love that even in Spring, I still get the Hallmark Christmas vibes from this series. The characters are all fun and quirky. The mystery was reasonably intriguing and kept me guessing. I will definitely be recommending not only this book but the entire series to anyone who loves a good cozy mystery. I can't wait to read about Merry and friends' next adventure!

Thank you so much to Netgalley and the publisher for my review copy.

This was a wonderful cozy mystery with a great plot and memorable characters. A very enjoyable read.

This was a fun, cute cozy mystery! I love the theme throughout, and I will definitely be continuing with the series.

Should have read the previous books in the series, but that didn’t stop me enjoying the story. The friendship between Merry and Vicky is very strong and the whole town pulls together when there’s a body found in the grounds of Vicky and fiancé Mark’s new house. A decent mystery that keeps you guessing until the end.

We return to Rudolph, New York. Merry'. Bff , Vicky Casey is getting ready to marry Mark Grosse.They made a decision to buy a house and just not any ole house. No siree. They buy the Cole House. The house no one would dare go around, the cursed house. As soon as they close and move in strange things begin to happen. Noises that can't be explained, footsteps and doors being knocked on and no one around. All that good stuff haunted houses are famous for. Then Jim Cole shows up claiming he has legal rights to the house but does he? And when he ends up dead Mark is #1 suspect . Is the Cole House really cursed/ haunted or is there something a bit more sinister going on? Can Merry weed thru the clues to clear Marks name without over stepping the boundaries or worse end up being the next victim .
This was a great book .

I first started out the series with the previous installment and I had been very enthusiastic about the overall vibes and the cosy all-year round Christmas fest. The ambiance was here again in this new book, but the investigation didn't reel me in. I'll definitely have to start from book one though. I love the concept.

Merry Wilkinson lives in Rudolph, New York, deemed "Christmas town" and owns Mrs. Claus's Treasures, a gift shop. She's also best friends with Vicky Casey, who owns the local bakery. While talking with Vicky one day she learns that Vicky and her fiancé Mark Grosse, a chef at a local inn, are purchasing a long-vacant Victorian mansion that has been dubbed as haunted. Not wanting to say anything, she just congratulates her.

But then the troubles begin: a man accosts them in the street, claiming the Vicky stole the mansion out from under him and he is the rightful owner. Even though neither of them believe it, Vicky is a bit shaken up. Later Merry learns that Vicky -- and Mark -- have been hearing noises at night, more creaks than an old house should offer up. There's also knocking at both front and back doors -- but no one is there. After Mark arrives home from work, the women tell him, and he starts to search outside -- but not for long. A body is discovered, and Mark has the person's blood on him from trying to turn them over. Now he's a suspect in the murder, and Vicky asks Merry to help clear his name. But in doing so, will she once again put herself in harm's way?...

I have to be honest and say that I have not read every book in this series, but I wish I had. I love Ms. Delany's other series, and this book has the same charm as the others. It pulls you in at the beginning and makes you want to continue to read it all in one sitting. The characters are believable, the settings descriptive; so much so that I want to visit Cole House myself. I love Victorian homes, and I love old mysteries within mysteries, so this book was perfect for me to read.

I love the fact that the author managed to convey both sadness in the previous owners of the home while encouraging the happiness of a new couple who would be beginning their lives together soon. But will the wedding occur with the death hanging over them? It becomes apparent that this was a homicide, and Mark may have had a motive -- or did he? That's the pleasure of reading these stories. You are given a plethora of suspects, and then you must weed them out to find the true culprit. And, of course, Merry does -- as we know she will do.

The climax of the story is suspenseful, as it should be. There is nothing light about it; and it is not until the epilogue (last chapter) that we see the new beginnings come into focus. When we discover the reason for the killing it seems tragic at the very least; and it lets us see that almost anyone can be deranged in their thoughts. A definite plus for the ending. I am glad I read this and now will have to go back to the ones I missed and start all over. Highly recommended.

I was given a copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

I am so glad that I found Vicki Delany. Her writing is fun and the mystery in the books is witty and interesting to read. The charachters are varied and likeable, and there are many twist and turns, both with plot and characters that makes the book very fun to read. Really enjoyed this and will be sure to check out the previous books in the series.

Definitely recommend if you are looking for a cozy murder mystery.

Of the four mystery series that Vicky Delany (a/k/a Eva Gates) writes, this series is my favorite, since it takes place in Rudolph, NY where the Christmas spirit lives year-round (except for the killers). I was thrilled to be able to read this newest book, which is #7 in the series.

I knew that this story took place at Eastertime, but after reading the book, Easter activities were only mentioned a few times. All along I felt that the story should have taken place during the pre-Halloween month of October since there is a spooky old house featured prominently in the story. Regardless, I did enjoy the book immensely.

Ms. Delany has such a vivid imagination, and she can describe situations and characters with such accuracy and depth. Some of the scenes in this book are brilliantly described, and one can’t help but “live” them. I was at the edge of my seat in the last few chapters.

I was delighted to catch up with Merry, the protagonist, and the usual cast of characters, plus get to know many new ones. I was extremely engaged from the very beginning, and I could hardly put the book down. I read it extremely fast, and I was almost surprised that it came to an end so quickly.

The plot is very intriguing and complex, and the ending was very satisfying and everything was nicely tied up. I must say that I did figure out who the killer was about 75% into the book, and I liked that very much.

I highly recommend this book as well as all the books by this author.

Thank you to Net Galley and Crooked Lane Books for making an advance reader’s copy available for me to read and post a personal review. I also thank Ms. Vicky Delany for the amazing mysteries she writes for the enjoyment of all of us readers.

A Slay Ride Together With You, book number seven in Vicki Delany’s Year-Round Christmas mystery series, is a fast-paced, entertaining mystery with plenty of suspects to keep the reader guessing and turning the pages.
This time around, Merry Wilkinson is engulfed in the murder of a truly unlikable victim who is found on her best friend Vicky Casey's new, historic property. There is another, concurrent storyline involving Vicky's plan to publish a cookbook, and the attention her efforts attract. The resulting storyline is complex, well-written, and fun to read. The characters are engaging and realistic, and the wedding in the midst of all the action gives a touch of romance.
I highly enjoyed reading this novel and look forward to more. I was happy to receive an ARC of #ASlayRideTogetherWithYou from #NetGalley.

Rudolph, New York, shop owner Merry Wilkinson’s best friend Vicky Casey is newly engaged to Chef Mark Grosse and is moving into the historic Cole House–a home surrounded by drama, intrigue, and a possible haunting that is in desperate need of renovation. The wedding is just three weeks away, but all is not bliss for the newly engaged couple as estranged relatives of the late owner fight over her will. Then, late one night, Vicky and Merry come across a dead body in the garden of Cole House–and Mark is the one standing over the corpse.

As Detective Diane Simmonds focuses on Mark as the prime suspect, Vicky asks for Merry’s help to clear her fiancé’s name in time for the wedding. As they dig deeper into the connection between the house, Cole relatives, and town residents, past and present, it becomes clear that plenty of people wanted the victim dead.

With a bakery to run, the busy Easter weekend fast approaching, a house to renovate, and a fiancé to clear of a murder accusation, Vicky’s wedding may end up on the chopping block. It’s up to Merry to put aside the chocolate bunnies and stuffed rabbits and help her best friend save her wedding–and her life.

This was a cute story, and I like how it explored the depth of Merry and Vicky’s friendship. The family history parts were a bit boring at times, but I enjoyed the story.

Rudolph is promoted as America's Christmas Town but it does celebrate other special days with style! Easter is usually a little lower key which is good because as it moves closer Merry Wilkinson’s Mrs Claus Treasures store is the least of her worries! Merry’s best friend, Vicky and fiance Mark, have bought a large, run down, and apparently haunted house in a very nice part of Rudolph and decided they'll be getting married in three weeks!

When a body is discovered in the grounds of their new house, Merry is determined not to get involved, but what's she to do when people tell her things? As the wedding gets ever closer and the investigation is still ongoing, Merry and Vicky begin to look more closely at everything they know. Someone, however, has no intention of getting caught and, as the danger gets ever closer, could there be a funeral taking place rather than a much anticipated wedding?

Book seven in this great cosy series doesn't have anything to do with Christmas but somehow that doesn't matter. I always enjoy catching up with Merry and Vicky and trying to solve everything before they do. This time I failed miserably even though I was sure I knew exactly who was responsible?

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Crooked Lane Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. This is a great addition to a fun series and there are yummy recipes included as well. What's not to like?

Our mystery follows Mark and Vicky in this book. They purchase a historical home that needs a lot of work and a body is found on the property. Thus our investigation begins. I always like the friendship between Merry and Vicky, it is really nice to see such strong female friendship. The potential movement in the town rivalries is a welcomed change. It gets old always disliking something for no reason. The mystery was interesting but not necessarily the strongest. But I liked a lot of the side characters Cindy I thought was quite empathetic (didn’t love how Merry and her mother treated her for really no reason). I hope we get more of Russ. He is one of my fav characters in this series. Maybe him and the detective?!?!? Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

It was nice to beat the summer heat by taking a trip to our favorite Christmas town, Rudolph, New York. While it is close to Easter, not Christmas, Merry and crew have plenty going on. Vicki and Mark have decided to get married and have bought a house to boot. It is an old, run-down house with a very interesting history. Vicki is writing her cookbook, and Merry is trying to help her find a publisher as both ladies gear up their businesses for the coming Christmas in July festivities. When Vicki and Mark start having issues with a heir to the last owner of their house and rumors of the ghosts and the haunting of the place, they are trying to down play everything until Mark discovers the man's body in their yard. With Mark now a suspect and the wedding only two weeks away, Merry needs to get busy going thru the multiple suspects our victim has amassed as folks done wrong. As always it a good time whenever you visit Rudolph, its fun folks and holiday vibe. Thanks to #NetGalley, #CrookedLaneBooks, and the author for the chance to read. #ASlayRideTogetherWithYou, #VickiDelany, #bookreview, #bookideas,#retiredreader

I love this series and this book did not disappoint me. The characters are fun and I always feel like I’m visiting with old friends. I recommend this series almost everyday.

A Christmas holiday village starring Merry and her friends and involving a haunted house? Yes please! This is my favorite series by Vicki Delany (although all of her series are so very good) and I was delighted to see that there was a new work out. This one has all the attributes you look for in a Delany book-a small business owner detective and her baking friend, unique settings, eccentric elders, hilarious pets, and a general coziness among the dead bodies. So enjoyable to get to spend more time with Merry and company! Recommended.