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aframel2335's review against another edition
emotional
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
pagesofpeace's review
3.0
Book three in the Antique Bookshop Mystery series
Jenna gets wrapped in another murder investigation, but this time it’s the bride to be, Missy, who ends up dead and her soon-to-be husband, Blake, seeks out her help. During that investigation, secrets from Jenna’s past turn up and she herself becomes a suspect. This series is the definition of a cozy, small town mystery if that’s what you’re interested in.
Jenna gets wrapped in another murder investigation, but this time it’s the bride to be, Missy, who ends up dead and her soon-to-be husband, Blake, seeks out her help. During that investigation, secrets from Jenna’s past turn up and she herself becomes a suspect. This series is the definition of a cozy, small town mystery if that’s what you’re interested in.
simplymeagreads's review against another edition
4.0
I loved the premise of this book. I loved the faithful dog companion and the setting. I loved the mystery and the twists and turns.
This book contains mild language through out.
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
This book contains mild language through out.
Thanks to NetGalley for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
littleoortcloud's review
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
thisandthatwithkaren's review against another edition
5.0
"Bound by Murder" the 3rd instalment in the "An Antique Bookshop” Mystery series by Laura Gail Black. I loved it even more than the first 2 books. This is one of my favourite series
Antiquarian bookseller Jenna Quinn loves the romance in the air—until her ex-fiancé, Blake Emerson, walks in with his bride-to-be, Missy Plott. Blake continues to profess his love for Jenna if she’ll have him back, no matter the consequences. And the consequences are grave, indeed, when Missy turns up dead.
I really loved this story, there were Bridezillas, mean girls, friendship, betrayal along with a little romance and murder. What’s not to like! I read almost in one sitting but finally succumbed to sleep with only a few chapters left.
The mystery moved at a good pace, was interesting and I thought well plotted. I loved the characters living in Hokes Folly especially Jenna’s BFF Rita and now Shelby. Overall I found it to be a very entertaining read.
I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends. I’m looking forward to book 4 to find out what Jenna does next.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Antiquarian bookseller Jenna Quinn loves the romance in the air—until her ex-fiancé, Blake Emerson, walks in with his bride-to-be, Missy Plott. Blake continues to profess his love for Jenna if she’ll have him back, no matter the consequences. And the consequences are grave, indeed, when Missy turns up dead.
I really loved this story, there were Bridezillas, mean girls, friendship, betrayal along with a little romance and murder. What’s not to like! I read almost in one sitting but finally succumbed to sleep with only a few chapters left.
The mystery moved at a good pace, was interesting and I thought well plotted. I loved the characters living in Hokes Folly especially Jenna’s BFF Rita and now Shelby. Overall I found it to be a very entertaining read.
I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends. I’m looking forward to book 4 to find out what Jenna does next.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
the_sassy_bookworm's review against another edition
3.0
⭐⭐⭐ -- Great cover on this one!
I read and enjoyed the previous book in this series, so I was looking forward to diving into this one. Alas, I just did not enjoy this one as much. First, I hate romantic relationship angst in my cozies. If I want to read that I would have picked up a romance. And this book had way too much of it. The second issue was how over the top Missy's character was. We get it, she is a "mean girl". However, he actions were ridiculously over the top and she entered cartoon villain territory every time she was on page. Aside from those two issues, the book was pretty good. The mystery kept me guessing. I love the setting and Jenna remains a solid lead (who should definitely dump Keith...just saying.
I read and enjoyed the previous book in this series, so I was looking forward to diving into this one. Alas, I just did not enjoy this one as much. First, I hate romantic relationship angst in my cozies. If I want to read that I would have picked up a romance. And this book had way too much of it. The second issue was how over the top Missy's character was. We get it, she is a "mean girl". However, he actions were ridiculously over the top and she entered cartoon villain territory every time she was on page. Aside from those two issues, the book was pretty good. The mystery kept me guessing. I love the setting and Jenna remains a solid lead (who should definitely dump Keith...just saying.
reader_cheryl's review against another edition
4.0
Bound by Murder
Book 3 in the Antique Bookshop Mystery series
by Laura Gail Black
Bound by Murder summary from Penguin Random House:
The birds are singing, books are selling, and the Hokes Bluff Inn has begun to host weddings on its property. Antiquarian bookseller Jenna Quinn loves the romance in the air—until her ex-fiancé, Blake Emerson, walks in with his bride-to-be, Missy Plott. Blake continues to profess his love for Jenna if she’ll have him back, no matter the consequences. And the consequences are grave, indeed, when Missy turns up dead.
All evidence points to Blake, who was the last one to see her alive. He begs Jenna to help him clear his name. Blake’s mother, Gwendolyn, is also bent on exonerating her son. Jenna doesn’t believe Blake could have killed Missy, and she starts digging for suspects. It could have been Missy’s ex-boyfriend, who proclaims a love for her he says only death could sever. Or might it have been Missy’s bitter little sister, who was secretly besotted with Missy’s ex.
Evidence turns up that links Missy's death to embezzlement and another murder—crimes that had falsely implicated Jenna herself less than a year ago. As Gwendolyn continues to beg Jenna to help prove her son’s innocence, Jenna wonders if Blake could truly be innocent.
Jenna has to choose whether to risk it all—her reputation, her growing relationship with her boyfriend, and maybe her life—or let a possibly innocent man go to prison.
My Thoughts
I was drawn into this story the minute Jenna’s ex-fiancé, Blake Emerson and his new fiancé, Missy Plott, walked into Jenna’s antique bookstore, Twice Upon a Time. These two characters bring Jenna’s backstory into the present and it’s a whopper. A slow revealing of the past occurs because Jenna is reluctantly drawn into solving Missy’s murder. The tension increases because Jenna’s boyfriend, Detective Keith Logan, can’t get past Jenna trying to help Blake, the man who abandoned her when she most needed him.
Jenna’s backstory is what really drew me in to this novel. Traveling with Jenna as she began to unravel not just Missy’s murder, but her own past kept me reading. Keith Logan’s attitude regarding Jenna and her history with Blake got a little old, but I laughed when one of the other characters (finally) set him straight.
I enjoyed reading Bound by Murder. Recommended.
Other books in the Antique Bookshop Mystery series:
For Whom the Book Tolls
Murder by the Bookend
Publishing Information:
Crooked Lane Books
Hardcover: 288 pages
ISBN-10: 1639100962
ISBN-13: 978-1639100965
Publishing Date: Sept. 6, 2022
Thanks to #Netgalley for providing a copy of #BecauseICouldNotStopForDeath
Book 3 in the Antique Bookshop Mystery series
by Laura Gail Black
Bound by Murder summary from Penguin Random House:
The birds are singing, books are selling, and the Hokes Bluff Inn has begun to host weddings on its property. Antiquarian bookseller Jenna Quinn loves the romance in the air—until her ex-fiancé, Blake Emerson, walks in with his bride-to-be, Missy Plott. Blake continues to profess his love for Jenna if she’ll have him back, no matter the consequences. And the consequences are grave, indeed, when Missy turns up dead.
All evidence points to Blake, who was the last one to see her alive. He begs Jenna to help him clear his name. Blake’s mother, Gwendolyn, is also bent on exonerating her son. Jenna doesn’t believe Blake could have killed Missy, and she starts digging for suspects. It could have been Missy’s ex-boyfriend, who proclaims a love for her he says only death could sever. Or might it have been Missy’s bitter little sister, who was secretly besotted with Missy’s ex.
Evidence turns up that links Missy's death to embezzlement and another murder—crimes that had falsely implicated Jenna herself less than a year ago. As Gwendolyn continues to beg Jenna to help prove her son’s innocence, Jenna wonders if Blake could truly be innocent.
Jenna has to choose whether to risk it all—her reputation, her growing relationship with her boyfriend, and maybe her life—or let a possibly innocent man go to prison.
My Thoughts
I was drawn into this story the minute Jenna’s ex-fiancé, Blake Emerson and his new fiancé, Missy Plott, walked into Jenna’s antique bookstore, Twice Upon a Time. These two characters bring Jenna’s backstory into the present and it’s a whopper. A slow revealing of the past occurs because Jenna is reluctantly drawn into solving Missy’s murder. The tension increases because Jenna’s boyfriend, Detective Keith Logan, can’t get past Jenna trying to help Blake, the man who abandoned her when she most needed him.
Jenna’s backstory is what really drew me in to this novel. Traveling with Jenna as she began to unravel not just Missy’s murder, but her own past kept me reading. Keith Logan’s attitude regarding Jenna and her history with Blake got a little old, but I laughed when one of the other characters (finally) set him straight.
I enjoyed reading Bound by Murder. Recommended.
Other books in the Antique Bookshop Mystery series:
For Whom the Book Tolls
Murder by the Bookend
Publishing Information:
Crooked Lane Books
Hardcover: 288 pages
ISBN-10: 1639100962
ISBN-13: 978-1639100965
Publishing Date: Sept. 6, 2022
Thanks to #Netgalley for providing a copy of #BecauseICouldNotStopForDeath
kristirose's review
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75