I see why everyone has been raving about this series. It is perfect to read during the holiday season. I absolutely loved the setting. After a canceled wedding, Holly has returned home to Mistletoe, Maine where her family runs a tree farm. The descriptions in and around the farm were so festive. Along with holiday treats, crafty shopping and even pictures with real reindeer, visitors can partake in numerous games to get them in the festive spirit. I loved the names especially Gingerbread Goes to Hollywood where contestants have to recreate a scene from a movie out of gingerbread men and houses! So fun. To top it all off Holly has a cat named Cindy Lou.

I really liked Holly and watching her find her footing once again. I adore that she is tinkering with making adorable jewelry to sell in the shop. I was refreshing to see such a positive relationship between a mom and daughter as well. A lot of times that is not the case in many stories. The chemistry between Holly and Evan was an added bonus. I loved their banter and can't wait to watch their relationship develop.

The mystery kept me guessing and stumped for a good majority of the story. There were quite a few suspects, red herrings and twists that kept me second guessing my main suspects.

I definitely look forward to continuing this series!

I loved the cozy elements of this mystery with the Christmas theme. That said the story was not my favorite and struggled to keep me invested.

Half way between an OK and like rating for me. There were elements that aren't my favorite like the over done running home after being dumped and a possible love triangle, but Twelve Slays (a bit miss leading with the 12, it's not a blood bath) was a quick, escapist Christmas cozy read. I thought the follow up, Twas the Knife, gets better.

I received my copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

This is the first book in in the Christmas Tree farm mysteries. Holly White comes because the family Christmas tree farm to heel from her fiancé canceling their Christmas Eve wedding. Because with a name like Holly White and you grew up on a Christmas tree farm then of course you have a Christmas Eve wedding. But it’s not smooth sailing especially when you stubble on to a dead body. And get yourself involved in solving it when you father is the prime suspect.

I loved this one more than I thought I would. This one is the prefect read for the reader who wants a Christmas read, but doesn’t want a rom com or a romance.

This book got lost within all the other books I was reading. While looking for something to read this month, I came across it again.

I loved the characters in this story! What an interesting bunch: There's the main character, Holly, who is delightful and always has a quick comeback; her mom, who comes across as wonderfully maternal, but maybe encourages her daughter to search into who killed the dead woman more than she should have. Her dad, who is the main protector of his family; Cookie, who is a bit older and has always lived life to the fullest and the sheriff, who likes Holly, but has a secret that keeps him from wanting to get involved.

The mystery is well done, and I can't wait to read more by this author!

A great book by a fantastic author. The writing is excellent and the mystery keeps you turning the pages. Characters are well developed. Highly recommend.

Holly moves back to her parents Christmas tree farm in Mistletoe, Maine after a terrible breakup. She is trying to distract herself because the wedding was set to be on Christmas Eve. A few days before they Christmas tree farm was suppose to start their yearly reindeer games, the head of the historical society is found murdered on the farm.

This was a cute cozy mystery and I can honestly say that I didn't guess the ending prior to when I was suppose to. Also, the romance in the books is so adorable that I swooned the whole time.

I would definitely recommend this as a fun Christmasy read.

I would like to thank Crooked Lane Books for providing me with a free electronic ARC of this book, via Netgalley. Any reviews I give are done obligation free, and are unpaid… well, unless you count getting this book for free… but we won’t go there. ;-)

This is another one of those books I read last year and have been slack about writing a review for. Sorry… I AM getting better at this, but do still have about half a dozen titles in my “get off your butt and review them now!” pile.

‘Twelve Slays of Christmas’ was a new series and new author for me. Thankfully it was the first book in the series and so I could really settle down and enjoy it rather than try and play mental catch up. And, yes, I am aware that Jacqueline Frost is a pen name (JACK Frost… get it? ;-) ) and the author also goes by Julie Chase and Julie Anne Lindsey and I can honestly say I don’t think I’ve read any of her other works under any of these names. Actually, all the best authors have pen names… Or so I’m told.

Anyhow, now we’re sorted out that nitty gritty let’s get back to the review. I read it just before Christmas and, as with all good Christmas themed books, they truly are best to read around Christmas time. Even if my Christmas time is in summer and snow, frost and maple tree farms could not be recreated here… I feel I can still leave a truthful review. Oh, and no, I didn’t kill anyone with a fence post or freeze a pickle to a tree either. ;-)

I want to say I liked this book, as I truly did. But it did have a few moments that made me question why I liked it so much. I mean the characters, setting, all of that was original and a perfect cosy crime world build. But I have to say, I found the constant sugar overloaded foods eaten and discussed (with barely a protein or vegetable in sight) did make me feel a little ill. Maybe a sugar overload for this reader is a normal high sugar diet for another?

Then there was the main character’s speech. She was a grown woman, I get that coming home can make you regress, but even when talking to herself she used very childish terms like “tummy” instead of stomach. It was just a little too childish for me. BUT! These faults could very well just be ME, the reader, and not the fault of the books. I just feel I need to mention them as they did start to chip away at my enjoyment of the book and have me question why I was still reading it.

Oh, and there should have been more detail given to the jewellery making. I love cosy mysteries that include craft, and love it even more when the author knows enough about the craft to go into interesting detail about how it’s done. Just “turning bottles into ear rings” isn’t enough for a craft lover like me. Let’s talk lampworking, mandrels, and kilns for cooling the glass pieces slowly….

All the same I am glad I did read it all. Those few minor flaws aside, it was indeed a good small town America cosy crime. And if read at Christmas time, it fitted perfectly into my daily routine of prepping myself mentally for the holidays.

The formatting and layout, for Kindle, was excellent and can’t be faulted. So many places fail to format their books correctly for all digital platforms so it was good to see ‘Twelve Slays of Christmas’ done right.

Would I recommend this book to others?

You know what? I REALLY would! The issues I’ve mentioned – I freely admit they are probably faults with me the reader and not the book. Others may happen to like the sugar overload, babyish talk, and skimmed over craft work. Who knows?

But, yes, this was a good first book in a new series and one I honestly feel lovers of small town America cosy/ mysteries would enjoy. Especially those of you who, like me, enjoy that magical build up to Christmas in everything you do and read.

Would I buy this book myself?

I think I would have, and have to say here and now that I am KICKING myself for missing getting the next book in the series off Netgalley when I had a chance. The eBook prices on Amazon are a little higher than I’d usually pay… but prices are rising now that people have realised eBooks are just as good as paperbacks so I can’t complain. Plus, at just over $11 Australian, that is a fair price for a fun little cosy like ‘Twelve Slays of Christmas’ or its sequel ‘Twas the Knife Before Christmas’. So yes, I would buy them… in fact I will be buying the second one… closer to Christmas. ;-)

In summary: Despite a few hiccups, a good first book in a potentially fantastic cosy/ mystery series.

This is not only the first book in a new cozy mystery series, but the author's debut. She did a wonderful job with the mystery as well as the magical and cozy setting of Mistletoe Maine. Holly White returns home to Mistletoe after her fiance breaks off their engagement for another woman. Holly is sure that the family business, Reindeer Games Christmas Tree Farm, will be just what she needs to heal her broken heart and put her life back together. It is almost Christmas, so keeping busy is also on Holly's agenda. The Twelve Day of Reindeer Games at the farm, plus cookies and hot cocoa, are really packing in the tourists and locals. All is going well, until Margaret Fenwick. the head of the Historical Society, shows up with citations for Holly's father for not adhering to the historical code of the town. When Holly finds Margaret beaten to death, her body gruesomely stuffed into the Reindeer Games sleigh display the owners and staff at the tree farm immediately become suspects. Holly's father, Bud, was seen arguing with the annoying woman just before her death, making him look like a strong suspect. Holly knows her dad is not a killer, so in true cozy fashion, she is on the case to clear her father and find the murderer.

I love cozy mysteries as well as Christmas stories, so this combination was a winner for me. The background theme of a Christmas tree farm and all the holiday events really added to the plot of the book. The mystery was well paced with several suspects and some red herrings. I really enjoyed Holly as the protagonist. She is dealing with personal issues, but puts that aside to help her family. She is smart and intuitive, as well as having a sense of humor and being a bit sassy. She did get herself into trouble a couple of times due to her sleuthing, but luckily for her, the new sheriff in town was there to make sure she was okay. The secondary characters were all well-written and added to the story and atmosphere. It looks like there will be some romance in the upcoming books in this series, and I am looking forward to seeing where that goes. I like that Holly designs jewellery and will be able to stay for awhile in Mistletoe using her artistic business as an income to see if she can make a living at it. A fun story and especially a fun Christmas Caper. 4.5 Stars, rounded up to 5. The publisher, Crooked Lane Books, generously provided me with a copy of this book to read. The rating, ideas, and opinions shared are my own.

Jacqueline Frost aka Julie Chase is a new to me author. The cover for Twelve Slays of Christmas is what first caught my attention. The blurb had me wanting to read the book. I never expected to fall in love with Twelve Slays of Christmas so hard or so fast. Jacqueline made me want to visit Mistletoe, Maine and Reindeer Games Tree Farm. Her descriptions of the town and properties made it very easy to visualize everything happening.

Three days after her cheating ex-fiancé called off their Christmas Eve wedding, twenty-six-year-old Holly White finds herself back in Mistletoe helping out at her parent’s Christmas tree farm. While waitressing at the Hearth (the tree farm’s cafe), Holly overhears Paula from the maple farm next door complaining about Margaret Fenwick, the president of the Mistletoe Historical Society. It seems as of late, Margaret has been hounding various people in Mistletoe in order to make sure their businesses are up to code and Historical Society’s standards. Some of those people include Holly’s own father, Bud, who has a very public argument with Margaret. When Margaret is found dead moments later, the police suspect Bud may be involved.

From the very beginning, I loved Twelve Slays of Christmas. I loved the characters of Holly, her parents, outrageously funny Cookie, Holly’s friend Caroline, and especially Sheriff Evan Gray. Jacqueline has written a story that encompasses Christmas, with fun events and yummy snacks. The mystery was great. In fact, I was completely surprised by the who and why. I am so looking forward to the next book in this series.

I was given a copy of this book by the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Holly White returns home to her family's Christmas tree farm in Mistletoe, Maine just in time for Christmas after her fiancé dumps her, just before their wedding, and just in time for the first murder in their town in forty years.

When her dad is at the top of the suspect list, and it starts to harm the family business, Holly decides to start investigating. Sheriff Evan Gray tries to keep her from investigating, especially when she starts getting anonymous threats, but Holly keeps at!

This was a great start to a new series. I really enjoyed this and look forward to the next book.

Although I read this one a bit after Christmas, the story took me right back to December. I thought that the setting of the book is interesting and I loved all of the holiday activities that Mistletoe, Maine has to offer. I'd certainly make a visit there. The mystery kept my interest and I enjoyed the various twists and turns. It's written in a nice easy reading manner. I'll be looking for additional books by this author.

The Twelve Slays of Christmas is a the premier offering of author Jacqueline Frost and. The first of her Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series. Holly White left her home at the Reindeer Games Christmas Tree Farm to attend college and pursue a career in Portland, Maine. She had met her fiancé there and had planned her future Christmas Eve wedding at the tree farm from there. When just two weeks before the wedding her fiancé calls it off, Holly quits her job, packs up a moving truck with her belongings, and heads back to the farm.

Although there is much to do in cancelling the wedding, she expects to be there to assist her parents during their yearly Twelve Days of Christmas events. What she doesn't expect is to be the one to find town elder Margaret Fenwick, the head of the historic society, dead at the edge of their property soon after she had ruffled several folks feathers at the family cafe.

Holly's natural curiosity, especially when she wants to be sure her father, Bud, is cleared of any pending charges, places Holly at odds with new town sheriff, Evan Grey. Once Holly begins receiving threats, however, it becomes more protective than combative. As the investigation proceeds, the clues mount up, but more suspects are eliminated than highlighted. In fact, although the clues are there, it isn't until the very end that the culprit becomes apparent.

In this well written novel, Ms. Frost has spun an intricate tale of new beginnings, new friendships, and homecomings. She paints a lovely landscape for her story with rich and colorful characters. I greatly enjoyed this book and do look forward to the second in the series. I do recommend this book!

Thank you for the chance to review this book, however, unfortunately, I was unable to read and review this title before it was archived.

For Christmas crazy people like me this series is a dream come true with a farm called Reindeer Games (with real reindeer) in the town of Mistletoe and a protagonist named Holly with her cat Cindy Lou Who. It's simply everything a Christmas cozy should be. As a matter of fact, I think you could read it on the 4th of July and instantly find yourself in the holiday spirit! The mystery of how the local historical society Scrooge is found dead, clobbered with a wooden stake from the tree farm and left in a sleigh on the grounds, is complex and suspenseful. The characters are well-developed and I especially enjoyed Holly's close knit family and the descriptions of the fun Christmas activities they've created for the tree farm. Could someone book me one-way ticket to Mistletoe, please?

This is the perfect cozy mystery to get you in the Holiday Mood. Holly White has returned home to Mistletoe, Maine after cancelling her wedding. Her parents own and operate Reindeer Games a Christmas Tree Farm. There are twelve days until Christmas and the Reindeer Games are getting ready to begin. The head of the local Historic Society has been causing trouble all over town. When her body is found on the farm Holly sets out to solve the murder. The local Sheriff is a transplant from Boston who is determined to solve the murder and keep Holly safe. The mystery was good, lots of suspects and red herrings, and the solution made sense. The town and characters are a lot of fun. There is a lot of Christmas, Cookies and Hot Chocolate. Enjoy

Holly White moves back home to her family's Christmas tree farm after her fiance dumps her for a yoga instructor right before their Christmas Eve wedding. Instead of having time to lick her wounds, she's wrapped up in helping her parents through the farm's busy season, which gets ever-so-more complicated when the disliked president of the local historical preservation society turns up dead-- murdered via giant wooden candy cane. Wanting to clear her family farm's reputation, Holly White sets out to discover the truth, but quickly learns someone doesn't want her asking questions...

This book is cute. Maybe a bit too cute. It's easy to forget this is a murder mystery, especially because our resident sleuth, Holly, never actually solves the crime-- the big reveal is as much a surprise to her as it is to readers. The book is Christmas overload. The town is called Mistletoe, the farm Reindeer Games, and there's enough references to sugary baked goods to make your stomach gurgle.

But luckily for me, I was in the mood for a book that combines violent death with Christmas cheer. I'm not often a fan of romantic subplots, but I found the relationship between Holly and Sheriff Evan Grey charming. And all the characters are very cat-positive, which seems absolutely a necessary feature in a cozy mystery to me. This book is the start of a new series written by the same author who pens the "Kitty Couture" series. There are some of the same flaws in both, mainly in the overly reactive, childish main character. Everything with Holly is too much. She gets ridiculously upset (or sorry, or guilty, or embarrassed) at the tiniest things. She clutches those pearls so hard she could turn them into coal. That was a deal breaker for me with the Kitty Couture series, but, hey, it's Christmas. Cozy mystery fans will love Twelve Slays of Christmas.

Holly White returns to her parents Christmas tree farm, Reindeer Games, in Mistletoe, Maine after her fiancé dumped her for a yoga instructor. Determined to get over being dumped two weeks before her Christmas Eve wedding Holly throws herself into helping around the farm. All of that changes when the president of the Historical Society is killed on the property. After realizing that the farm employees are the prime suspects Holly starts her own investigation.

The Local sheriff, Evan Grey is investigating Hollys father and finally makes a deal with Holly to keep her out of trouble. I really liked this book and hope that there are more in the future. This was a fun cozy mystery and I love the Christmas theme!!

I enjoyed reading this story. The mystery was interesting. Sheriff Evan Gray is my favorite character.

I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher for an honest review.