Welcome to Cozy Wednesday!
I am excited to share my thoughts about
Death of a Red-Hot Rancher today!
Death of a Red-Hot Rancher (A Love Is Murder Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Ohio
Berkley (September 14, 2021)
Mass Market Paperback : 288 pages
ISBN-10 : 0593201566
ISBN-13 : 978-0593201565
Kindle ASIN : B08PYKMCJW
Love meets murder in this new cozy mystery series set in a quirky romance bookstore, with a heroine to die for.
Lizzie Hale may be the lucky owner of a successful romance bookshop, Love Under the Covers, but she’s decidedly un-lucky in love. Though she’s read almost every famous romance novelist, from Jane Austen to Nora Roberts, none have helped her figure out how to get—and keep—a man.
But Lizzie has bigger problems to worry about. Like murder.
When Brody Pierce, swoon-worthy ranch owner and resident bachelor, is found stabbed through the chest, hearts were heard breaking all over idyllic Tinker’s Creek. But when Lizzie’s aunt is implicated in the murder, she’s determined to clear her name. Lizzie quickly realizes that Brody was a hunk with many hidden secrets, and she’s soon leafing through a stack of suspects longer than Brody’s list of lovers.
With the killer still on the loose, Lizzie will have to find the truth before this act of passion ignites a fire she can’t put out.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
In this new series by Mimi Granger, we meet Lizzie Hale. Lizzie owns Love Under the Covers, a well-known romance bookshop in Tinker’s Creek Ohio. Lizzie may excel at recommending romance novels but she definitely does not excel in her own romantic relationships, And there is a handsome hunk in town that has all the ladies swooning. Even Lizzie thinks he is pretty easy on the eyes. Brody Pierce is a tall drink of water who gained his fame and fortune in Hollywood starring in a truck commercial and now owns a bison ranch just outside of town. Brodie stopped by Love Under The Covers for a special purchase and was surrounded by women the entire time he was in the store. Distracted he left his credit card behind when he exited the store.
Since Brodie hadn’t returned for his card a few days later Lizzie makes the trek to his home to return it and oh! my! what a magnificent home it is. The barn is spectacular too. When Brody didn’t answer the door she wandered over to the barn and found Brody . . . dead on the floor . . . stabbed in the chest . . . with his loyal dog Violet howling by his side.
But Brody was a man with many secrets and a good lineup of suspects that could have wanted the man dead. Even Lizzie’s Aunt Charmaine is on the list. Lizzie can’t stand for that so she starts her own quest to clear her aunt and find the real killer knowing she could be their next victim.
Lizzie was such a fun new protagonist and I was really taken with her bookshop, an old home she has set up with different sub-genres of romance novels each having its own room. Each is unique in its furnishings with places for people to relax and escape right into a new story. She is a smart savvy businesswoman who has definitely found her niche. She has a great sense of humor which is handy when working with her aunt Charmaine. Ms. Granger has surrounded these ladies with a great supporting cast including “a large dog of questionable parentage”, and a delightful park ranger that is assisting in the murder investigation.
I knew from the title that the red-hot rancher was going to die, but when Brody was killed I was sad. He was an interesting character that I would have liked to have gotten to know better. We did learn a lot of things about him while trying to catch his killer. He was clearly a man with a checkered past.
Because Lizzie read more into one incident she was scared her aunt had something to do with the man’s death. That was my only drawback in this book. An honest conversation would have cleared that matter up quickly and Lizzie could have still been caught up in the case. Other than that I really enjoyed following along as clues came together to create a very exciting ending.
Death of a Red-Hot Rancher
Your Escape Into A Good Book Travel Agent
About the Author
Mimi Granger began her publishing career writing historical romance. Many years later, there’s still nothing she likes better than a happily-ever-after…as long as there’s a little murder and mayhem thrown in. Her Love is Murder mystery series provides the perfect opportunity to salute the two genres she loves most—romance and mystery—and to play out every reader’s dream of owning a fabulous bookstore. Mimi lives outside of Cleveland with her own personal romance hero and two dogs: Eliot, an enthusiastic Airedale, and Lucy, who provides the inspiration for Violet in her stories (including the incredible amount of shed fur).
Mimi Granger is a pseudonym for Connie Laux and writes as Kylie Logan. Lucy Ness, and Casey Daniels too. She is the author of the League of Literary Ladies Mystery series
Thanks to the publisher I have 1 copy to give away!
I am giving away my review copy!
The contest is open to anyone over 18 years old
with a US or Canadian mailing address.
Duplicate entries will be deleted. Void where prohibited.
You do not have to be a follower to enter but I hope you will find
something you like here and become a follower.
Followers Will Receive 2 Bonus Entries For Each Way They Follow.
Plus 2 Bonus Entries For Following My Facebook Fan Page.
Add this book to your WANT TO READ shelf on GoodReads
for 3 Bonus Entries.
Follow Berkley Mystery on Twitter for 2 Bonus Entries.
Pin this giveaway to Pinterest for 3 Bonus Entries.
If you share the giveaway on Twitter or Facebook or anywhere you will receive 5 Bonus Entries For Each Link.
Contest Will End September 22, 2021, at 11:59 PM CST
Winner Will Be Chosen By Random.org
The Winner Will Be Notified By Email
and Will Be Posted Here In The Sidebar.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. Receiving a complimentary copy in no way reflected my review of this book. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”