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.

This is the seventh book in the Year Round Christmas Mystery series. In it Merry and Vicky are preparing for Vicky's upcoming wedding.

Vicky and her fiancé Mark are buying a home with a local history and decades of neglect. Soon after moving in, a long lost relative of the previous owner claims that the home should be his and begins causing trouble.

One evening, Merry and Vicky hear mysterious noises in the home. They start searching top to bottom. When Mark gets home he searches the grounds and comes across a dead body. It's the body of the long lost relative.

Mark is considered the prime suspect by the police since he found the body and had a history with the victim. It's up to Merry and Vicky to identify the true killer before the wedding.

This is a great book and a great series.

#ASlayRideTogetherWithYou

What makes people kill? Surely something life shattering or a perceived threat? Greed? Tangled emotions? Money? So many reasons. Yet, Vicki Delany managed to come up with a new one for me. Nope, not telling, but definitely gives one pause.

I won't detail the plot, that's what the blurb is for, but it manages to combine a spooky, maybe haunted old mansion, romance and wedding plans, food, and dogs. Mattie/Matterhorn is main character Merry Wilkerson's Saint Bernard and he is definitely not to missed. Actually, that'd be hard to do since he weighs in at 170 pounds. You'll meet Merry's best friend Vicky Casey, who is owned by an "ancient" Golden Labrador. That's not the big news about Vicky, however. She's not only getting married but plans on buying a house with husband-to-be and chef Mark Grosse. You guessed it. The house in question is the rumored haunted mansion that even now rather spooks Merry, who remembers it not to fondly from her youth. Oh, and did I forget to mention that Merry's father is Santa Claus? Well, the official Santa Claus of Rudolph, New York, anyway. Her mother is every inch a diva, a famous but retired opera singer. Rounding out this basic cast is Alan Anderson, Merry's boyfriend, a woodworker who doubles as Santa's head toy-maker at public events. If you haven't noticed, Rudolph is, as the subtitle says, a town dedicated to all things Christmas, even as Easter approaches.

Unfortunately, being dedicated to Christmas doesn't mean bad things don't happen. When Mark is found standing over a dead body in the garden of the garden of the home Vicky and he just bought, Merry can't help but be caught up in the investigation. So, who killed the Jim Cole? It isn't like he didn't have enemies. Even his former wife and supposed girlfriend seem to have had flashing dollar signs in their eyes when they believed they might inherit a huge sum from him. Maybe the daughter he'd basically deserted and ignored? The legal terms of the old homes title add complications. Toss in spooky sounds at night that spook everyone, including Merry, and you'll even be wondering if there are ghosts involved. Will Vicky ever get that cookbook she's writing done? It isn't like she doesn't have a few other things on her mind, like her job, finding new staff, a rapidly approaching wedding day, and the almost mind-boggling repairs their new home will require to keep her occupied. And....enough teasers.

Bottom line, I enjoyed revisiting Rudolph to catch up with Merry and the gang again. It was fun to get a dose of Christmas spirit when not focused on the investigation and creaky boards and sounds. I liked the regular characters and, as always, smiled while rolling my eyes as Merry's mother put on her diva persona as needed and even showed some great investigative skills herself. And, don't forget, Santa knows. Well, not whodunit, but Santa, Noel Wilkerson in the real world, does seem to always manage to show up when he's needed. Rudolph sounds like a delightful place, much of it within walking distance of everything else. As for the mystery, while I wasn't expecting the reason behind the murder, it all made sense in a sad kind of way. People are complicated. The friendship between Merry and Vicky isn't, however. They're simply there for each other, no matter what or when. That's good as it is going to take two heads to sort out the clues and red herrings of this one. Thanks #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for inviting me for an early peek at the goings-on in Rudolph. Always a pleasure to soak up that Christmas spirit of kindness and caring that dominate, even amidst unpleasant circumstances.

"A Slay Ride Together With You (A Year-Round Christmas Mystery #7)" by Vicki Delany is actually set at Easter with a touch of Wedding theme. Merry's best friend Vicky is getting married, writing a cookbook and starting some major home renovations of the old house she and her fiancé just bought together. Wow, that's a lot at once. The real kicker is the house is supposedly haunted and there's distant relatives of the previous owner trying to get their hands on the house.

That relative is found in the backyard, having been hit over the head with something. Vicky's fiancé is suspected because of their legal issues and him finding the guy. Merry and Vicky do their usual investigation. The reveal was a definite, "Ha hah! I knew it moment for me." Though, I did waver a bit here and there throughout the story.

I am glad to hear the issues withe neighboring town may start to be worked out. It was getting a bit old, especially when they were constantly out to get Rudolph. Time for them to work together. Especially since they really could be helping each other economically speaking at the very least.

The seventh book in the Year Round Christmas mystery series delivers another awesome cozy mystery to read. Vicky asks Merry for help in clearing her fiance of the murder in time for them to get married. The victim had numerous problems with several people so there are plenty of suspects. Great characters with awesome relationships to each other. As usual the story is excellent. Thanks #Netgalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for the eARC in exchange for a honest review. All opinions are mine.

A Sly Ride Together With You takes place in Rudolph, New York where a shopkeeper named Merry is preparing for Easter. Her best friend, Vicky is marrying Mark is a few weeks all the while they are moving into an old home.
When they find a dead body Mark is the one standing over the victim and becomes the prime suspect. It is up to Merry to solve this crime and exonerate Mark. This is harder than it sounds because there are so many people that wanted the victim dead.

I love this series and the characters that live in this delightful "Christmas all year round" series.

Canadian-author, murder, investigation, friendship, friends, family, family-dynamics, pet-dog, small-town, small-business, amateur-sleuth, local-law-enforcement, New-York-state, series, Lake-Ontario****

Merry Wilkinson is the owner of Mrs. Claus’s Treasures in a town that promotes Christmas all year long. Best friend Vicky and fiancé Mark just bought an infamous haunted house to renovate and are planning their wedding even as the property is under siege by warring lawyers disputing ownership. Then Mark discovers a body in the garden! Merry gets tagged to be sleuth in charge and the madness reigns. Excellent escape/beach reading.
I requested and received a free temporary EARC from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

#YearRoundChristmasMysteryBk7 #CanadianAuthor