Scan barcode
jmj697mn's review
5.0
Love, love, LOVE this series. This one did not disappoint. I totally relate to Becca as a character (especially with the love life.... :P) and I can't wait to see what she gets up to next. Highly recommended for fans of cozies.
librarianlinda82's review
3.0
I enjoy Paige Shelton's cozy mysteries. I didn't enjoy this one as much. I can't pinpoint why on this one. I am going to continue to read the series.
cj_mo_2222's review
4.0
Becca Robbins and a few of the other vendors from Bailey’s Farmers’ Market agree to set up booths at the Swayton County Fair. Business starts out extremely slow and the vendors are grumbling. Unfortunately, it takes a murder to draw crowds to the fair, and Becca once again finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation.
The murder investigation in this cozy mystery keeps my interest for most of the book, although it does stall a bit in the middle. The real story in this book is Becca’s love life. She is torn between her boyfriend Ian and police officer Sam. Becca had given into temptation and kissed Sam in a prior book and now she’s trying to make up her mind, without hurting anyone. She is shocked when her second ex-husband Scott shows up as a vendor at the fair, and this further complicates things in her personal life.
Everything in the murder mystery is resolved, with the help of a little “gypsy magic” which is tied into the fair’s background and some of the vendors there. Becca is a likeable character even if she is confused in her love life and this series keeps improving with each installment. Fans of Sheila Connolly or Lorna Barrett should enjoy this clean, cozy series by Paige Shelton.
The murder investigation in this cozy mystery keeps my interest for most of the book, although it does stall a bit in the middle. The real story in this book is Becca’s love life. She is torn between her boyfriend Ian and police officer Sam. Becca had given into temptation and kissed Sam in a prior book and now she’s trying to make up her mind, without hurting anyone. She is shocked when her second ex-husband Scott shows up as a vendor at the fair, and this further complicates things in her personal life.
Everything in the murder mystery is resolved, with the help of a little “gypsy magic” which is tied into the fair’s background and some of the vendors there. Becca is a likeable character even if she is confused in her love life and this series keeps improving with each installment. Fans of Sheila Connolly or Lorna Barrett should enjoy this clean, cozy series by Paige Shelton.
daybreak1012's review
4.0
I'm very familiar with the characters and voice of this book, being the fourth in an ongoing series. I like the main character quite a bit. This installment kept me guessing right to the very end, worked in some interesting twists, and ended with a decision by the main character that I liked very much. Looking forward to the next book in this series.
morticia32's review
3.0
I really like this series, but this one feels like the weakest of the lot. The last quarter of the book dragged for me.
One thing I definitely liked about the book is that Becca finally resolves the annoying love triangle that she had been stringing along for way too long. the love triangle trope in cozy mysteries is seriously starting to get on my nerves. Authors ask us to suspend reality while reading their books, putting in convoluted plot lines, and then they throw in the love triangle, and it's almost too much for me to bare (most of us know that finding one significant other is hard enough, finding a potential second S.O., nope. Heading into Mary Sue territory there...)
All in all, I liked most of the book and I certainly like the series well enough to continue on, with help from my local library.
Spoiler
After the big roller coaster "accident," I felt like the author was just kind of padding things to hit a specific length, instead of just tying the plot up.One thing I definitely liked about the book is that Becca finally resolves the annoying love triangle that she had been stringing along for way too long. the love triangle trope in cozy mysteries is seriously starting to get on my nerves. Authors ask us to suspend reality while reading their books, putting in convoluted plot lines, and then they throw in the love triangle, and it's almost too much for me to bare (most of us know that finding one significant other is hard enough, finding a potential second S.O., nope. Heading into Mary Sue territory there...)
All in all, I liked most of the book and I certainly like the series well enough to continue on, with help from my local library.
rebeccasreadingrambles's review
4.0
Another really enjoyable book in this series that I am liking more and more with each book. This one was a little different because it's main setting was a county fair in the next town and didn't center around Bailey's farmer's market. I enjoyed the change of scene and the new characters, but when Becca went back for a quick visit to the market to say hi to her friends, it was like returning to a cozy home. The mystery was interesting and I did NOT see the ending/explanation coming at all. Why would anyone want to kill Virgil? It all came together in a nice twist. As for Becca's relationship problems.... I can't wait to see what drama the next book brings.
Spoiler
I really like Ian, but I wasn't sad when he and Becca broke up. THANK GOODNESS this awkward situation didn't drag on and on. I was so happy in the end when Becca and Sam seemed to find happiness and hopefully Ian can still be a friend because I like his characters._kristiew_'s review
5.0
excellent book! the love triangle reached a conclusion and I enjoyed the "spooky" setting at the fair...and may think twice before going into a corn maze again lol!
dollycas's review
5.0
A few of the vendor's from Bailey's Farmer's Market are taking their products to the Swayton County Fall Festival. The festival director thinks their unique products will bring in new customers to the festival. After the first day the vendors think they have made a big mistake. This festival is dead, hardly any people there at all. That is until one of the carnival workers is founding hanging from his rickety Ferris wheel, dead from a gunshot wound.
Funny how murder brings out the people out to the fair, including one of Becca's exes. He just happens to be running one of the games at the festival and he is acting quite suspicious. Becca just can't help herself. She has to work her way through a myriad of clues, lies, and secrets to "find a kernel of truth before the killer starts stalking her."
Dollycas's Thoughts
I love the setting! A fall festival with a huge corn maze and dilapidated rides and maybe even a ghost. Paige Shelton always surprises and never disappoints. A carny with a spider tattoo on his neck!!! Mysterious owners, a creepy little town, and gypsy magic. This story should have come out at Halloween but I am not complaining. I fell right into this story and there is more than one maze in this story. We are led through the clues and hit a few dead ends and have to back up, regroup and chart a new path. Masterfully plotted, just masterful!!
I did miss the regulars at Bailey's a bit but the new characters were quite colorful and unique. Scott Two's appearance at the festival gave us a peak at Becca's past and of course Sam helps out the local police a bit and is in just the right place at the right time.
On top of solving the crime Becca is also making a very important decision of her own. She also learns what Scott has been up to these past few years. I also loved the addition of another furry friend.
Head to the bookstores online or brick and mortar and harvest the homegrown mystery today. A jam packed who-dun-it that will "a-maize" you!
Funny how murder brings out the people out to the fair, including one of Becca's exes. He just happens to be running one of the games at the festival and he is acting quite suspicious. Becca just can't help herself. She has to work her way through a myriad of clues, lies, and secrets to "find a kernel of truth before the killer starts stalking her."
Dollycas's Thoughts
I love the setting! A fall festival with a huge corn maze and dilapidated rides and maybe even a ghost. Paige Shelton always surprises and never disappoints. A carny with a spider tattoo on his neck!!! Mysterious owners, a creepy little town, and gypsy magic. This story should have come out at Halloween but I am not complaining. I fell right into this story and there is more than one maze in this story. We are led through the clues and hit a few dead ends and have to back up, regroup and chart a new path. Masterfully plotted, just masterful!!
I did miss the regulars at Bailey's a bit but the new characters were quite colorful and unique. Scott Two's appearance at the festival gave us a peak at Becca's past and of course Sam helps out the local police a bit and is in just the right place at the right time.
On top of solving the crime Becca is also making a very important decision of her own. She also learns what Scott has been up to these past few years. I also loved the addition of another furry friend.
Head to the bookstores online or brick and mortar and harvest the homegrown mystery today. A jam packed who-dun-it that will "a-maize" you!
koshkemeow's review
4.0
3.5
The maize pretty much had nothing to do with the plot until the last 20ish pages. Pretty typical cozy mystery though maybe a little too neat.
The maize pretty much had nothing to do with the plot until the last 20ish pages. Pretty typical cozy mystery though maybe a little too neat.