Book picks similar to
New Beginnings & Murder by Lori Woods


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Doomed by Dessert


CeCe Osgood - 2018
    That's what Abby Little wants. Just to be normal. Yeah, good luck with that. Life is getting strange for Abby Little. Is it finally time for her to admit to the secret she's been hiding for years? Or can she disregard the flickers coming from the enchanted realm? When a fire consumes her dessert shop, she takes solace knowing she has insurance until she finds out the policy was cancelled due to a missed payment, a payment her paramour, Alan, was supposed to mail for her. Furious, she threatens to kill him. Days later, he turns up dead, and the police determine the prime suspect is Abby. Seeking to prove her innocence, she ignites her own investigation and learns Alan had his own secrets. As her real world collides with the enchanted realm, Abby not only faces the crazed killer, but also discovers an age-old truth: nobody's normal.

Murder on Lot B


London Lovett - 2019
    The land of movie stars and perpetual sunshine has a stylish new force to be reckoned with— Poppy Starfire, Private Investigator . Poppy recently moved out on her own and is eager for a taste of independence and to prove to her retired Uncle Sherman that she is capable of running the Starfire Detective Agency. Her brother Jasper has also joined the agency. Poppy prides herself on being a skilled investigator but so far the cases have been scarce and to say the least uninspiring. But that all changes when Anna Colton walks through the door. Anna’s brother Roger, a famous stuntman for the local movie studio has died in a well publicized accidental fall. Only Anna’s not convinced it was an accident. It’s up to Poppy and Jasper to peel away the layers and uncover the truth. Who killed Roger ‘Rowdy’ James? Transport yourself back to the golden age of Hollywood in book 1 of London Lovett's brand new historical Starfire Cozy Mystery series.

Dead on the Vine


J.M. Harvey - 2014
    Helena's Violet Vineyards, has a husband who would rather date a teenager than raise one, an emotionally unstable daughter with a violent ex-boyfriend and a staff of two who treat her more like a mother than a boss. But she can handle all of that. After all, things could be worse. Much worse.Claire is preparing for the bottling of Violet's Vintner's Reserve, hoping to stave off bankruptcy for one more year, when her neighbor, Kevin Harlan, is found murdered in her vineyard. That's awful enough, but when her daughter is arrested for the murder Claire is forced to pursue the real killer on her own, placing herself and everyone she loves in the line of fire.

Friends and Foes: A Read Wine Bookstore Cozy Mystery Book 1


L.C. Turner - 2020
    

Who Shot the Serif?


Daisy Robyns - 2019
    Jamie confronts Earleen Culp, the ruthless owner of the local stationery shop, in front of the most popular breakfast spot in the small town of Cedar Valley. Of course, Earleen professes shock and innocence, so when she’s found dead in front of Jamie's home the next morning, Jamie becomes the prime suspect.Jamie's one cross-stroke short of acquittal, and even her best friend has her doubts. But Jamie's not the only one in town with a motive for wanting Earleen silenced for good. To clear her name, Jamie's going to need every last drop of ink in her quill. With the hot police chief Ridge, and her makeup artist friend Nora on her side, she’s prepared to go out with a flourish if that's what it takes to catch the real murderer. She’s desperate to save her hand lettering business, but will her quest lead her right into a killer’s snare?

Deadly Medicine


Joanna Neil - 2018
    As if that isn’t enough to contend with, she’s suddenly faced with the untimely death of her friend, estate agent, Jenny Carter. The police want to write it off as accidental, but Sarah is convinced that’s not the case. So, while she’s looking after Jenny’s pregnant dog, chasing down Rhode Island Reds and arranging for the sheep to be sheared, she also does her very best to track down Jenny’s killer.

Academy of Unpredictable Magic: Books 1-3


Sadie Moss - 2019
    I know—it’s in my blood.Unfortunately, not all people from magical bloodlines have powers, and at 22, I’m several years past the age they usually appear. So I’ve resigned myself to a boring, magic-less life.Then something strange happens…I get stuck in the middle of a bar fight, and instead of just punching the guy back, I blow a hole in the wall.So… I guess I do have powers. But they’re unlike anything I’ve ever seen before. This shit is definitely not normal.And it seems the magical authorities agree, because they give me a choice: either I go to school to learn to control my crazy new magic, or they’ll take it away. Permanently.Now if I can just survive the bitchy mean girls determined to take me down a peg, the mysterious attacks on students, the three hot-as-hell guys who don’t seem turned off by my prickly exterior, and the professor who makes me long for detention, maybe I’ll get out of here in once piece.Wouldn’t bet on it though.Welcome to the Academy of Unpredictable Magic.Book Two: TrialsI survived my first semester at the Academy of Unpredictable Magic. Apparently, the universe took that as a challenge…For years, Unpredictables have been brushed aside by the rest of the magical community. Now people are starting to pay attention—and I’m not entirely sure that’s a good thing.I’ve always been content to fly under the radar, but now that we’ve been invited to participate in the Inter-academy Trials, the entire school will be in the spotlight.As if trying to sort out my feelings for the four insanely gorgeous men who all want to date me wasn’t enough, now I’m juggling magical games, deadly plots, unexpected allies, and notoriety I never asked for.All right, second semester. Do your worst.Book Three: ThiefSomeone at this school is keeping a secret.Someone is stealing what doesn’t belong to them.And we might all be in danger…I’m still recovering from the chaos of the Trials, but there’s no time to fall behind.Strange things are afoot at the Academy of Unpredictable Magic, and somehow, I’ve found myself in the middle of it all again.On top of that, even as I start to fall harder for the four men who have worked their way into my heart, an unexpected revelation threatens to upend everything between us.But Elliot Sinclair doesn’t go down without a fight.I’m just not sure who I should be fighting…This boxed set contains the first three books in the Academy of Unpredictable Magic series, a medium-burn reverse harem story intended for ages 18+, featuring a badass chick and the four sexy men who fall in love with her.

The Case of the Missing Finger: A Cruise Ship Cozy Mystery


Cheri Baker - 2021
    Two years later, with her children grown and the rest of her life ahead of her, she's ready to have the adventure she'd planned before her life was turned upside-down. She's excited to visit the U.S. Virgin Islands on her very first cruise.After boarding the most beautiful cruise ship she's ever seen, Ellie's surprised when she's assigned a cabin inside the cruise line's new singles club at sea, but she quickly sees that her new friends aboard could use some advice when it comes to romance. Unfortunately, Ellie's matchmaking efforts are interrupted when a fellow passenger finds a finger with a big diamond ring on it in her Sangria Surprise!Passengers are scandalized and tongues are wagging all around the ship. The ship's security chief seems eager to brush the crime under the rug while others are eager to point fingers at Ellie's favorite bartender. After thirty years married to a small town police chief, Ellie's picked up some sleuthing skills of her own, and she knows that justice demands honest answers to the questions rocking the ship. Who does the finger belong to? How did it end up in the boozy drink special of the day? And what other secrets lurk beneath the Caribbean sun?It's all hands on deck for adventure with this matchmaking sleuth.

Invincibles Boxed Set Books 1-4


Heather Slade - 2021
    They save lives. They challenge each other. And they protect the strong women they fall for. The men and women of the INVINCIBLES get the job done.In this four-book boxed set, Slade will take you on a global journey of espionage, passion, danger, and desire. As these fearless operatives conquer perilous obstacles, one thing is crystal clear: they’re INVINCIBLE.

Building Colorado Dreams


Milan Watson - 2020
    As the sleepy little town comes to life, a new romance unfolds with every story. Building Colorado Dreams includes Books 4-6 in the Colorado Crazy Series. Although each book can be read alone, read them in sequence for a better reader experience.Twilights in ColoradoRiley is looking for a new start. Sky is running from a life she didn’t choose. When they meet they’re as different as Cowboy Boots and Manolo Blahnik’s. Can the magic of White Horse Creek help them find love?Autumn in ColoradoLacy’s never been a gambler. Andrew has never shied away from a bet. She was a cheerleader, he was the jock. She was sweet, he was arrogant. Bought together years later, the sparks are hard to ignore. Will Lacy’s gamble pay off, or are the stakes just too high?Winter in ColoradoStacy’s a rancher in a man’s world. Griffin escaped the city to work through his past. As a small town sheriff he expected a sleepy little town, but he soon learns that only the unexpected can be expected in White Horse Creek.The Colorado Crazy series are ranch romances guaranteed to tease your senses and make you dream of cowboys again.

Panic at the Pier


Mel McCoy - 2019
    They head down to Cascade Cove, Florida, where her eccentric grandpa, Larry, and sassy cousin, Emma, run a pet boutique on the boardwalk. Antics between Rugby and Emma’s feisty cat, Misty, quickly ensue, but that’s just a small price to pay to spend quality time with her family while preparing the boutique for the busy season. But then her plans are quickly capsized… Soon after arriving, a mystery unfolds, starting with the washed-up body of a local landowner, a lost corgi carrying an antique locket, and a family secret that may hold the key to the puzzle. Will Sarah be able to wade through the wave of suspects in order to piece the puzzle together? And will she solve the mystery before peak season ends up being a flop? Join Sarah and the rest of the gang at Larry’s Pawfect Boutique in this fun Whodunit Pet Cozy Mystery Series. So, get nestled in your favorite chair, put on a pot of tea, and escape into the cozy beachside town of Cascade Cove!

Texas Troubles


N.C. Lewis - 2017
    How is that for her first few days in a quiet little Texas town she never wanted to live in? Thrust into the middle of a murder mystery with a dwindling pile of cash and very few leads Ollie starts digging. Along the way, she teams up with an oddball reporter, a dreadlocks flashing lawyer, a grandma who teaches mixed martial arts, and a stray dog named Bodie. Can she discover the identity of the killer in time or will she end up being the next victim? If you like cozy mysteries, clever animals, southern charm, and coffee, you'll love Texas Troubles, the first in a fun series of Ollie Stratford Murder Mysteries set in a small Texan Hill Country town, with all its quirky inhabitants. Pick up this page turner today!

Picked to Death


Maggie West - 2016
     What they find is more than they bargained for. When they score a box of antique vases at a local auction in nearby Round Bottom, it sets off a chain of events that makes a competing picker see red. But that’s not the worst of it. Someone in the tight-knit picking community ends up dead. Can Sherri and Carol discover the murderer from a treasure trove of suspects before the crime gets buried along with the the town's most hated victim? Picked to Death is a clean, short read. It’s perfect for lovers of cozy mysteries that feature an amateur sleuth.

New England Clam Murder


Summer Prescott - 2015
     Divorced caterer Becca Rogers feels more than a little bit out of her league when she roams the ballrooms of the rich and shameless, serving the finest seafood in the region. Finding herself smack dab in the middle of a very mysterious set of circumstances when her ex-husband’s new socialite wife is murdered, Becca’s normal existence gets turned upside down as she learns that nothing is as it seems and no one can be trusted. Filled with twists, turns and a lively cast of characters, this Cozy Mystery will keep you guessing until the very end. Click the “buy now with 1 click” button at the top of the page OR Read it for FREE with Kindle Unlimited.

A Caffeine Conundrum


Angela Ruth Strong - 2018
     Sassy city girl Tandy Brandt moves to the small town of Grace Springs to start a coffee shop, never imagining she'll be competing with local beauty queen Marissa Alexander and her dream of running a tea house. Unfortunately, the current store owner dies before selling the location to either of them, and they both become murder suspects. The unlikely pair team up in an attempt to discover the real killer, though with the secrets in Tandy's past and Marissa's infamous clumsiness, they could be their own worst enemies. Despite their differences, they follow clues to question a sweet, apple pie baking antique store owner, a GQ Santa in the retirement center, and a hipster millionaire with no social skills. Will they be able to figure out whodunit and prove their innocence before one of them goes to jail...or worse?