Susan F. (scoutmomskf) -
Terrific start to the new series. I am a huge fan of the author's romantic suspense books, and this book continues the trend. The main character was believable, the small-town setting was fun, and the townspeople were distinctive and quirky.
Angel returned to her hometown after a long career as a Navy pilot. Her twin daughters are off to college, and she is beginning her new life by opening a unique shop inspired by her travels. Her grand opening is two weeks away, and she's immersed in getting the shop ready. All of that comes to a screeching halt when she discovers the murdered body of an old friend in her shop. The murder weapon is one of her Russian Santas, and her fingerprints are on it, making her a prime suspect. After being questioned and quickly cleared by Detective Trinity Colson, her childhood BFF, Angel is determined to help identify the killer.
Angel has been away from Stonebridge for a long time, and as she catches up on the local gossip, she gets ideas about who might know something about what happened. Trinity isn't happy about Angel's plans but knows she can't stop her, so she lays some ground rules. I liked that Angel isn't trying to go around or interfere with the official investigation; just trying to help. The victim had many people with reasons to dislike her, so the suspect list was long. Angel's methods are believable, and we learn about different residents as she talks to them. I loved following Angel and her thought processes as she pursued the clues and exposed motives. The possibilities kept me guessing until the very end when an intense confrontation brought everything together.
A hint of romance running through the book adds a little complication to Angel's life. A longtime widow, she didn't expect the feelings stirred up when she met Nate, the owner of the local coffee shop. I enjoyed their encounters and seeing her embrace this new step. Nate impressed me with his care and support of Angel at the end. There also seems to be a bit of mystery to his past. Hopefully, their relationship will be further developed in the next book.
I loved the secondary characters in the book. Angel is close with her family, and I enjoyed getting to know her sister, Crystal, and her brother, Bryce. It was sweet to see her reconnect with her BFF Trinity. Their interactions over the murder and Angel's actions are significant. My favorite character is Angel's pet parrot, Ralph. He is a trip with his commentary and plays an important role in the resolution of the mystery.
Angel returned to her hometown after a long career as a Navy pilot. Her twin daughters are off to college, and she is beginning her new life by opening a unique shop inspired by her travels. Her grand opening is two weeks away, and she's immersed in getting the shop ready. All of that comes to a screeching halt when she discovers the murdered body of an old friend in her shop. The murder weapon is one of her Russian Santas, and her fingerprints are on it, making her a prime suspect. After being questioned and quickly cleared by Detective Trinity Colson, her childhood BFF, Angel is determined to help identify the killer.
Angel has been away from Stonebridge for a long time, and as she catches up on the local gossip, she gets ideas about who might know something about what happened. Trinity isn't happy about Angel's plans but knows she can't stop her, so she lays some ground rules. I liked that Angel isn't trying to go around or interfere with the official investigation; just trying to help. The victim had many people with reasons to dislike her, so the suspect list was long. Angel's methods are believable, and we learn about different residents as she talks to them. I loved following Angel and her thought processes as she pursued the clues and exposed motives. The possibilities kept me guessing until the very end when an intense confrontation brought everything together.
A hint of romance running through the book adds a little complication to Angel's life. A longtime widow, she didn't expect the feelings stirred up when she met Nate, the owner of the local coffee shop. I enjoyed their encounters and seeing her embrace this new step. Nate impressed me with his care and support of Angel at the end. There also seems to be a bit of mystery to his past. Hopefully, their relationship will be further developed in the next book.
I loved the secondary characters in the book. Angel is close with her family, and I enjoyed getting to know her sister, Crystal, and her brother, Bryce. It was sweet to see her reconnect with her BFF Trinity. Their interactions over the murder and Angel's actions are significant. My favorite character is Angel's pet parrot, Ralph. He is a trip with his commentary and plays an important role in the resolution of the mystery.
