I'm not a huge fan of cozy mysteries, but I warmed up to this one almost from the first page. By the time I finished, I was positively toasty!

This is the sixth in the author's "Fixer-Upper" mystery series, and since I've not read any of the other five, I went in with a bit of trepidation. But at no time did I feel at the slightest disadvantage; this one stands on its own beautifully (although finishing it did make me wish I'd read the rest - yes, it's that good). The author does an outstanding job of filling in background from the previous books - which should make series fans who may have forgotten a detail or two happy as well as those of us new to the game.

Part of the reason I enjoyed this so much is because I saw a bit of myself in lead character Shannon Hammer, who BTW has the perfect last name for a building contractor, which she is. I, too, fondly remember childhood years following my father around as he pounded nails, screwed screws and tackled home remodeling projects (once in a while letting me help). Unlike Shannon and her younger TV-star sister Chloe, though, I forgot everything I ever learned from dear old dad once I left home for college.

As this story begins, Chloe is returning home to Lighthouse Cove for the first time in a while, bringing with her the cast and crew of her very popular home improvement show. The intent is that Chloe and her co-star, Blake Bennett, will film their restoration of one of the elegant Victorian homes for which Lighthouse Cove is known. Included in the cast of characters is the show's particularly nasty producer - who "fires" cast and crew members with regularity, Chloe and her husband- the latter of whom just happens to be her husband.

Because of Shannon's building expertise, she'll be working alongside her sister on the show. Just before starting to film the first segment in which one of two homes will be selected for a redo, the sisters go for an inside look at the one they're hoping will be chosen and find something that can't be repaired: A dead body. Someone, it seems, had it in for producer Bree. But who? After all, virtually no one involved in the production liked her, except possibly her husband.

But the show must go on - and so it does, as does the investigation led by the local police chief, who seems to have put Chloe on his list of prime suspects. As filming begins, though, still another murder victim turns up and an extension ladder suddenly collapses with Chloe at the top. Clearly, someone's ratcheted up the action in Lighthouse Cove - and it's up to the police, with help from Shannon (who, for the record, has found several dead bodies over the course of the series), to identify the perpetrator before someone else bites the sawdust.

I especially enjoyed the details involved in filming the TV show as well as the strong characters like Shannon, Chloe and Shannon's handsome, ex-Navy SEAL boyfriend, Mac Sullivan. One of my objections to cozies is the headstrong, overbearing females who can't keep their noses where they belong and run off willy-nilly despite protests and outright warnings from law enforcement. There's almost none of that here; Shannon respects the police chief (a childhood friend), is quite capable and always does her "thing," but she does it sensibly without alienating everyone around her. That alone, I hasten to add, makes me eager to read more in this series. Many thanks to the publisher, via NetGalley, for the opportunity to read and review an advance copy of this one.

Charming characters in a unique setting enliven A Wrench in the Works, the sixth Fixer-Upper Mystery.

Sisters Shannon and Chloe grew up working in their dad’s construction company. Shannon took over her dad’s company when he retired. Chloe moved to Hollywood and stars in a fixer-upper show.

Chloe decides to go back to her hometown to film a season of her show with the help of her sister’s construction team. When someone on the production is killed and Chloe is threatened, Shannon investigates.

Despite being part of a series, A Wrench in the Works works well as a stand-alone. The characters and their relationships are genuine. Setting the mystery behind the scenes on an HGTV-type show is innovative. I would have liked the puzzle to be slightly harder to solve. However, I am looking forward to the next book in the series.

A Wrench in the Works is recommended to cozy readers looking for endearing characters in an unusual setting. 4 stars!

Thanks to the publisher, Berkley Mystery, and NetGalley for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Contractor Shannon Hammer is happy to welcome her contractor sister Chloe back home. It’s been ten years since she last lived in the family home in Lighthouse Cove. She left after high school to find her way in Hollywood, and she became one of the stars of the Home Builder’s Network show “Makeover Madness.” They want to film several episodes in Lighthouse Cove focusing on the Victorian architecture so prevalent in this historic town. Chloe co-stars with Blake Bennett, an older man with whom she has a terrific stage presence. They are complimented by a devoted crew headed by Sergio, a strong, handsome carpenter full of charm.

It isn’t until the entire crew arrives in town that Shannon meets the executive producer, Bree Bennett, wife of star Blake Bennett. Bree keeps the show running, making most of the important decisions and carrying them out. However, she has a nasty temper and is rude to most of her immediate staff as well as the stars and workers on the show. Bree routinely fires them, never meaning for the firing to stick, until she fires her husband Blake. The network has decided to start a new show without Blake and featuring Chloe and Sergio as soon as these segments are complete.

Chloe has recruited Shannon to be on the show while in town. They arrive at the Bloom house, a rundown but appealing, well-designed Victorian home, early on the first day of shooting. As they examine the house, they discover Bree’s dead body on the fireplace hearth. Shannon calls the police chief, Eric Jensen, who promptly arrives and cancels any shooting within the home. As Jensen processed the scene with his own crew, a search is made to find Blake Bennett. He is discovered drugged in his trailer where he slept the night before. Could he have killed Bree in his present state? How many other disgruntled employees could have done the deed?

The next day Shannon discovers another dead body on the porch of the mansion. The town’s rich kid, now an annoying adult, is actually the reason Chloe has stayed away so many years because of an incident in high school. Later, while filming some outdoor shots, Chloe falls from an extension ladder rigged to fail. Who would want Chloe dead?

This was a charming, very cozy mystery centering on Shannon and Chloe yet involving many other characters with distinct roles. The plot advanced smoothly with several twists to follow. The suspense ratchets up when Chloe becomes a target. There is speculation on which the villain is, townspeople or TV crew, as everyone discusses events, yet this is not excessive. The action keeps going without stalling on any one event or person.

A very delightful journey following our charismatic and compelling heroines in the sixth entry of the fixer-upper mystery series. I hope to visit with them again soon.

Contractor Shannon Hammer's sister Chloe has come to Lighthouse Cove to film some episodes for her popular home improvement show and wants to feature Shannon. Chloe was unhappy in town and left right after high school. Now Shannon finds out what happened to cause her to leave.

Shannon also learns about the ins and outs of making a television show and all of the personality conflicts involved. Chloe's executive producer Bree is a toxic personality who delights in stirring things up. She also delights in firing her staff which the staff has learned to ignore.

When Shannon and Chloe are looking over the property that they are going to rehab, they find Bree dead on the hearth of one of the fireplaces. They also find her husband, and Chloe's co-star, drugged in his trailer.

Since Chloe had had a loud argument with Bree the day before, Shannon needs to put on her detective hat and find out who really killed Bree. Then when a man who had been using emotional blackmail on Chloe for years is also found dead in the house, Shannon's task becomes even harder.

Shannon wonders if the deaths came from something in Chloe's past or whether they had to do with a possible new television show which will oust her old co-star and bring in a younger hunk to be her partner.

I enjoyed the mystery and the information about Victorian houses. This is not the first book in the series but I had no trouble following what was happening. I would like to read earlier books to learn more about Shannon's previous cases and how her friends and boyfriend came into her life.

Shannon, a carpenter, and her sister Chloe, who has a hit tv show doing makeovers work together to renovate an old Victorian house. Bodies are found, people are threatened. Great main and supporting characters. Not to be missed.

I like Kate Carlisle's other series, the Bibliophile mysteries, but was ready to ditch the Fixer Uppers after finding the fourth one really bad. But I decided to read this one for review to see if there was an improvement, and I was happily surprised to enjoy it. Shannon Hammer's sister, Chloe (I don't think I remember her having a sister), is in town to shoot her hit home renovation television show with one of Lighthouse Cove's old Victorians as the location under repair. Chloe has made herself scarce since high school, which wasn't a happy time--this explanation was enough for me to explain why I don't think she existed earlier in the series. Of course, a body shows up on set and sets off the events of the story.

This time we get more than one murder victim, which is kind of exciting, but the story is never really very tense and I figured out the killer pretty much right away. Still, the sister relationship was nice and that Shannon and Chloe aren't polar opposites like so many sets of siblings in stories like this. the action could have moved a bit faster, and Shannon really needs to be a bit smarter in her investigating if she's going to snoop around. If you like this kind of cosy mystery, you might like spending time in Lighthouse Cove. Just take my advice and skip book 4!

Shannon's sister, Chloe, is home and Shannon is so excited as she rarely visits. The fact that Chloe is filming her show there is more exciting as Shannon is going to guest on the show, helping her with renovations.

Unfortunately, eager to get their first day of filming started, Shannon and Chloe go into the chosen house and find the show's producer, Bree, dead next to the mantelpiece. Her husband, Brock, is found drugged in his trailer. Who killed Bree? There's no love lost between her and anyone, and therefore no shortage of suspects. Chloe is supposed to meet with the network about a show with a new co-host, as Bree has cut Brock out of the deal. Home owners who were hoping to make the cut for the show are also angry with Bree for not choosing them.

There's a good balance between the mystery and catching up with Chloe. Shannon also finds out why Chloe avoids coming back to town and they resolve the situation.

Those who are interested in seeing the Shannon-Mac relationship develop won't have much here, though all is well. And Chloe gets a little romance of her own, which hopefully means we'll see more of her.

Ultimately, the mystery kept me on my toes and the pace kept the story moving quickly but was not rushed. Recommended for cozy mystery lovers who will not be disappointed in the latest installment to this series.

A WRENCH IN THE WORKS, the sixth book in the Fixer-Upper Mysteries by Kate Carlisle, is an entertaining addition to a delightful series! Protagonist Shannon Hammer’s sister, Chloe, is the co-star of Make-Over Madness on the Home Builders Network. Chloe has brought the show to Lighthouse Cove for a feature on Victorian houses (something Lighthouse Cove is famous for) and has talked Shannon into being on the program renovating a decrepit home. I loved the “behind-the-scenes” tricks on the do-it-yourself home renovation television show and the author has cleverly woven her plot into the filming of the segments. The reader is also introduced to words and techniques used to restore the historical homes. I enjoyed learning about the various tools, Victorian styles, and repairs that are used without it detracting from the story.

The book has everything you might think a reality tv program might have from a tyrannical producer to jealousy over stardom to flirtations to comradery between the staff. When the producer is found murdered, Chloe is immediately a suspect since she had been fired and was heard loudly arguing with the victim. Shannon wants to help but finds her sister has been harboring a long-time secret. It doesn’t help that Chloe had been on the wrong side of the law in her youth and has a strong mistrust of authority. Ms. Carlisle weaves in family relationships and I loved seeing Shannon and her sister learn to overcome the past and the secrets that kept them apart. This subplot adds an emotional depth to the story. There are enough suspects to keep it interesting and the pace of the plot moves quickly, keeping the storyline flowing. I had a hard time putting the book down when it was time to tend to other responsibilities and I found myself trying to find time to squeeze in ‘just one more chapter’. I am counting down the days until the next installment in the Fixer-Upper Mystery series!

In this next book of the series we are introduced to Shannon's sister Chloe, who is coming to town to shoot her very popular DIY show and Shannon can't wait to catch up. Excited about having the chance to work with her sister in their chosen fields Shannon isn't sure how she'll do with actually being a part of the show. Shannon soon learns that things are all the are cracked up to be when it comes to being on a hit show. There seems to be a lot of behind the scenes fighting and most of it is due to executive producer Erica. Erica enjoys firing people left and right and has no qualms about telling people what she thinks. She's the boss and wants everyone to know it. So its no surprise hen Shannon and Chloe go to look over the house they will be working on they discover Erica's Who killed her and why? She seemed to have had plenty of enemies but who was angry enough to kill her. Shannon is worried because her sister and Erica didn't get along, she even fired her before they started taping. Shannon knows that she will have to do everything she can to keep her sister out of range of the police. When it looks like someone has it out for Chloe, Shannon is determined to uncover the truth and keep her sister out of harms way. This is such a terrific series filled with a great cast of characters and the lead one, Shannon, truly shines throughout the read. The premise is great and I love the strong women that the author portrays throughout the book. I can't wait to see what Shannon gets into next!

Shannon's sister has come home to visit and brought her Hollywood TV crew with her to film her show. When a body shows up in the first house, things don't look good for her sister. Once again the series does not disappoint! Great characters with strong personalities and depth enhance a great multi-layered plot to keep you entertained and intrigued! I absolutely can not wait to visit these characters again!

In this sixth outing for the "A Fixer-Upper Mystery" series, contractor Shannon Hammer's sister Chloe is in town to shoot a special for a popular fix-it TV show. A tempestuous producer can't help but rile up both production staff and townspeople--it's not any wonder she ends up dead. With Chloe a potential suspect (or target!), Shannon must keep her ear to the ground for clues while continuing Victorian house restoration work for the TV show's production.

I've really enjoyed reading this series, especially when Shannon and other characters go in to details about different problem areas of houses and how to rehab them. Would recommend this series to cozy mystery enthusiasts and readers who enjoy mystery with a home improvement angle. Reading the previous books is helpful but not required.

Shannon's sister Chloe is coming back to visit for the first time in what feels like forever, and she is isn't coming alone. She is a successful DIY star for home repair, and she's bringing her show with her. Shannon and her crew are going to work with Chloe and her show on several sites around town and film a rehab with some other smaller jobs, but it seems that someone doesn't want that to happen. Is this about Chloe, or the show? Shannon once again finds herself knee deep in the middle of a murder investigation, but this time it hits very close to home. At the end of the day, all that matters is that she keeps her loved ones safe.

This is the 6th in the Fixer-Upper series by Kate Carlisle featuring Shannon Hammer. This time Shannon's sister Chloe is in town as a co host of a popular home repair cable show. The interaction of the sisters is fun as they make use of the construction skills they were both taught by their father. Murder and mayhem, some of it dating back to their teen days, ensues and is, of course, resolved. I like the non-main characters as well as the sisters. Even the "bad" guys/gals are interesting. A quick, enjoyable read.

excellent addition to the series. they are super fun to read. very beach read, fluff fun, but fun none the less.

Although I don't watch a ton of home renovation shows, I've been known to take in a Trading Spaces or two (back in the day when it was good). So it was fun to have this mystery set in the behind-the-scenes setting of a reality TV show.

I also liked the relationship between book series star Shannon and her sister, Chloe. The whole backstory of why Chloe never comes home felt well done to me, and I'm hoping she'll be in some future books, too.

Shannon wasn't very smart about her detecting, and I hate it when otherwise smart women make stupid decisions (like constantly going by themselves to confront suspects or explore dark, vacant old houses). Other than that, though, this was a fast and satisfying read!

Book copy provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

As Kate Carlisle writes two of my favorite cozy mystery series, this and the bibliophile novels, it’s always easy to write a review for her latest. Shannon’s sister Chloe stars in a popular home show that’s coming to film a renovation in Cabot Cove along with her cast and crew. Thrilled to be working together again, the sisters also have to solve not one, but two murders, while someone is trying to make Chloe the third victim. Shannon, along with her mystery writer boyfriend, Mac, have her back, as they race to solve the murders. Not only do you get a murder but each book is always filled with great renovation tips as well. Throughly enjoyable.

3.5 Stars. I’ve read all of the books in the Fixer-Upper Mystery Series, but you could start reading the series with this book and be fine. I enjoyed the mystery, though the ending felt a bit rushed. I also enjoyed the relationship between the main character and her sister. Some long leftover high school drama was annoying and could easily have been left out.