Julie Anne Lindsey

Thanks to author Julie Anne Lindsey for a digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

This is number three in the series, and the second one I've read. You could start with this one and not feel lost, as the author gives enough backstory to keep any reader in the know. Featuring Bonnie Balfour and her kitty Clyde, Beating the Wrap begins with Bonnie decorating her sweet second chance store "Bless Her Heart" for the fall holiday contest in the town of Bliss, GA. She show more discovers some mean notes written about her stuffed in the store's gratitude box, and when she learns they're written by a grumpy competitive retailer across the square, she goes to meet with him and hopes to smooth his ruffled feathers. The next day the retailer is discovered dead and Bonnie is a suspect.

Thankfully Bonnie's beau is the hunky sheriff, Mason, who tries to keep her out of danger throughout the well-written cozy as Bonnie tries to find the murderer. There are several possible suspects and Bonnie is determined to solve the mystery, sometimes with the aid of her feisty grandma Gigi.

Bonnie is a 40-year-old divorcée, who returns to find herself in the small southern town where she grew up. As a stress reducer, she bakes. So she is always bringing cookies, cakes, and sweet goodies to share with others. The author paints an engaging picture of Bliss as a place where everyone knows everything about everybody. Boyfriend Mason describes it as "Everyone's always smiling and waving and lifting their chin in recognition when you drive by or make eye contact, even if you've never seen the person before in your life." Coming from the urban city of Cleveland, his experiences of Bliss are a good contrast to Bonnie's.

What makes this novel a cut above the usual light-weight cozy is in addition to starting her new business and getting used to being single again, Bonnie is redoing the rundown lake house she has just purchased and moved into. She paints, refurnishes, adds pillows, paintings, and other accessories, and all the redecorating creates another dimension to the story. She's building a life out of making old things new again, whether with her store, her house, or even herself.

Bonnie's thoughts to herself sum up the message of the novel: "Being back home was supposed to be about finding myself, even if that meant standing out from time to time, in good ways, and never blending in for someone else's comfort at the expense of my own." So if you're looking for an entertaining, well-written cozy murder mystery with a likeable heroine, set in a charming small town, with a potential romance in the coming books, this is the book for you. show less

Terrific fast-paced suspense story accompanied by a sweet romance. On the run from her abusive ex for two months, Gina thought she was finally safe in Great Falls. Then she spots Tony in town, passing out flyers for his "missing" girlfriend. Desperate to escape before he finds her, Gina asks PI Cruz Winchester to build her a new identity so she can safely disappear. Instead, Cruz insists that stopping Tony rather than hiding from him is the only way to be safe.

From the moment she walked show more into his office, Cruz felt the need to help Gina. The more he heard of her story, the greater his need to protect her grew. As a PI, he has more freedom of action than his law enforcement brother and cousins, but he also knows they have his back if he needs them.

I enjoyed watching the relationship between Cruz and Gina develop. Their connection was evident from the moment they met, as were the sparks of attraction. I loved Cruz's kindness and compassion and the respectful way he treated her. Though she had a few moments of self-doubt about her judgment, Gina found it very easy to trust Cruz and his family members. The time they spent together trying to find Tony and keep her safe gave them the chance to get to know each other. I loved Cruz's teasing and flirtatious ways and noticed that they sometimes hid a bit of vulnerability as he recognized the strength of his feelings for her. Gina acted a bit more cautious, but the better she got to know Cruz, the more comfortable she was flirting back. Both worried about whether their relationship would continue after the case was over. I loved the ending and seeing the realistic progress of their relationship. Cruz's big moment was sweet, and typically Cruz.

The suspense kept me hooked from beginning to end, equally psychological and action-oriented. The fear that Gina feels knowing Tony won't give up leaps of the page, as does her guilt whenever he harms someone in his zeal to get to her. The feeling of impending doom wars with her optimism when Cruz gets involved. From the moment Tony first appeared to the final confrontation, I could see his growing desperation. I loved seeing the rest of Cruz's family get involved and how each of them played a part in the resolution. The final confrontation kept me on the edge of my seat as Gina faced her worst nightmare. I loved how she kept her head through it all.

Though this was the first of this series I read, I definitely want to read the previous books. I can't wait for the next one!

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Excellent blend of suspense and a second chance romance. Max is the explosives expert on the Tactical Crime Division team. When he hears about the bombs in Grand Rapids, he suggests to his boss that the team get involved. Max has an ulterior motive in that his ex-wife and infant son live in that city. They may be divorced, but Max still loves Allie and wants to protect her. Allie divorced Max a few months earlier because she couldn't handle how work always came before the family with Max. show more She moved to Grand Rapids to put some space between them and try to move forward with her life.

I liked the rekindling of the relationship between Max and Allie. It is evident from the start that they still love each other. Max is super-protective thanks to the things he has seen, and even though divorced, he calls Allie to warn her of the bombings. Allie tends to be a bit more relaxed and trusting, which was one of their marriage issues. Be that as it may, they still have an amicable relationship. Allie welcomes Max to her home when he arrives in town. I loved Max's sweet scenes with his son and the evidence of how much love he has to share. The time he spent away from Allie made him realize how many things he did wrong during their marriage. He yearns for a way to fix it but doesn't know if he can.

Spending time with Max reinforces that Allie still loves him and reminds her of why they parted. She had a hard time with the way he put other peoples' families ahead of theirs. But when Allie gets an up-close and personal view of what Max does, she begins to understand him and what drives him. The ending had me on the edge of my seat as Max was in the fight of his life to save Allie. Both of them realized life was too short to throw away what they had together. I loved the epilogue and the changes it showed in their relationship.

The suspense of the story was fantastic and kept me turning the pages far into the night. The team's pursuit of the serial bomber was well portrayed in its successes and frustrations. An early look into the mind of the serial bomber showed his determination. The intensity ramped up as Max and the others closed in on the bomber. The apartment scene had me glued to the pages as I felt like I was right there with Max. When the final confrontation came, the bomber's methods and intentions were terrifying. Max's coolness under pressure was terrific, and I loved how Allie kept her head and found a way to help. show less

Thanks to Julie Anne Lindsey & BookFunnel for a digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

This was a fun cozy mystery and while it had all the earmarks of the genre (amateur sleuth with a pet, hate-to-love relationship with a hunky cop, charming small town vibe, baked goods, and "punnish" title), it was also well-written and cleverly plotted. This was a book I can easily rate 4 stars.

Bonnie Balfour is in the process of getting a divorce and has moved back to the small show more town of Bliss, GA where she grew up. She's seeking a fresh start as she opens a second chance dress shop and boutique on the town square. Soon after she discovers the body of a wealthy widow, she becomes the main suspect in the murder investigation. Determined to find the real murderer and clear her name, she ends up putting herself in danger.

What makes this book a satisfying read is that Bonnie is likeable, strong and independent; no one is unbelievable or silly; the plot keeps moving along with clues and suspects (and of course some red herrings). The story kept me guessing as to who was the murderer, and I especially liked the theme of second chances. The only thing that could make it better would be including the recipes of all Bonnie's delicious-sounding baked goods. show less