I really enjoy this series. This is the second in the series. Again, it is Christmas time in Mistletoe, Maine. Holly White is again at the center of investigating a murder. She needs to clear Caroline, her friend and main suspect.
All is not rosy with Sheriff Gray. The characters are fantastic. The writing well-done and the mystery is well-crafted.
I found this to be uplifting in the end. I didn’t like the chauvinistic thread throughout the book but it was resolved near the end.
This is one of a few holiday themed cozies I’ve read and it put me in the mood for the holidays. The ending just gives you hope. I loved the note from Christ0pher.
Looking forward to another installment.

‘Twas the Knife Before Christmas: A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery
By Jacqueline Frost
Crooked Lane
November 2018

Review by Cynthia Chow

Although Christmas is celebrated throughout the year in Mistletoe, Maine, it has really kicked in the two weeks before the actual day. Holly White certainly has her hands full working on her family’s Reindeer Games Christmas tree farm as she judges their fun holiday competitions and oversees the construction of their new inn. The town’s annual tree lighting is more appropriate for Halloween though when the oversized candy bowl holds not just thousands of peppermints, but the body of Derek Waggoner. The son of a prominent judge had a reputation for being handsy and inappropriate with women, most recently with Holly’s best friend Caroline West. Her admirable verbal takedown of Derek on a date set up by their parents unfortunately had gone viral, and when combined with the weapon being a customized knife Caroline lands at the top of the suspect list.

Knowing that there’s no way Caroline could have committed a murder, Holly’s not about to let anything stand in her way of proving her friend’s innocence. Even if the biggest obstacle might be Sheriff Evan Gray, the man who recently saved Holly’s life and publicly gave her a sizzling kiss. Evan only has Holly’s safety in mind, something not out of bounds considering the multitude of threats and near-death experiences she encounters while attempting to investigate. Holly’s insatiable curiosity and need for answers has her dodging cupcakes thrown by an infuriated woman scorned, enduring crippling Cross-fit workouts, and nearly being crushed to death by a bottle recycling container.

Holly’s impulsiveness and refusal to listen to authority can perhaps be attributed to her youthful twenty-seven years of age. It also leads to her being overwhelmed not just with tree farm duties, but with customized glass jewelry orders that she mostly ignores as she prioritizes her investigation. Thankfully, a little unexpected assistance may come in the form of Christopher, a bearded, jolly contractor with an assortment of diminutive and efficient assistants. It’s impossible not to fall in love with the town of Mistletoe, especially one that celebrates the season with blind cookie decorating contests, holiday bingo, and blindfolded sled races. The most intriguing element of the novel is the reason Evan has been so absent from Holly’s life, a plot twist sure to lead to more adventure and shenanigans in the future. This truly is a Christmas mystery that can be enjoyed throughout the year, as it delivers more than its share of genial small-town camaraderie, descriptions of delectable seasonal treats, and a hint of Santa wish fulfillment.

Excellent! I was happy to see this second book in the series lives up to the first. I've loved them both. Holly is a great sleuth, and I love the cast of characters around her. These are folks I'd be friends with. The setting is somewhere I would love to visit. The mystery is strong with several serious suspects. Holly is in more danger in this book than I find in the typical cozy mystery, which adds a nice layer of suspense to the whole story. Highly recommend!

Really enjoyed this book. It was well written with good strong characters and the setting is beautiful.
Holly White lives in Mistletoe, the town that loves Christmas, helping at her family's Christmas Tree farm and working at her own jewellery business. When a local business man is found dead just hours after Holly’s friend Caroline had a very public argument with him Caroline is accused of his murder. Holly sets out to prove that Caroline is innocent but in the process finds her own life threatened.
Can she help find the killer before she becomes the next victim and without upsetting her fledgling relationship with Evan the local Sheriff

’Twas the Knife Before Christmas

by Jacqueline Frost

I have to applaud Jacqueline Frost for ’Twas the Knife Before Christmas, the second book in her Christmas Tree Farm Mysteries. Full of the Christmas spirit, it is a fun read and a delightful cozy mystery. The story begins with an introduction to the engaging town of Mistletoe, the main character Holly, and the setting of Reindeer Games which is Holly’s family’s Christmas tree farm. Unfortunately, a murder is discovered at a very Christmasy unveiling. Holly is determined to find the murderer who is also trying to frame Holly’s friend Caroline. Sheriff Evan Gray is equally determined to keep Holly alive despite her dangerous investigative efforts.

’Twas the Knife Before Christmas is a solid mystery with interesting and well-developed characters. The plot has twists and turns, some romance, and a little Christmas magic, making it a cozy mystery you won’t want to miss this Christmas season.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Crooked Lane Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: #2 in the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery Series but works well as a standalone.

Publication: November 13, 2018—Crooked Lane Books

Memorable Lines:

…she’d taught me to love art the way she loved life: voraciously and with spirit.

Unfortunately, Mom and I also shared a soft personality. We were bleeding hearts, givers of fifteenth chances, and avid avoiders of conflict, at least when the problem only concerned ourselves. Basically, we’d fight black bears with our hands for someone else, then let the bear eat us if we thought he was hungry.

The homes in Derek’s neighborhood were oversized and overpriced. It was the kind of place where people with four-car attached garages parked outside all summer just to show off their vehicles and further inflate their already out-of-control egos.

‘Twas The Knife Before Christmas
A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery, Book #2
Jacqueline Frost
5 Stars

Synopsis:

A Christmas delight, ’Twas the Knife Before Christmas will charm the stockings off readers of Joanne Fluke and Leslie Meier.

It’s out of the cupcake tin, into the fire for Holly White’s best friend, Caroline. Can Holly clear Caroline’s name in time to go caroling?

When a body turns up in the dumpster behind Caroline’s Cupcakes, Holly White is horrified to learn her best friend Caroline is the main suspect. Everyone in town, including Mistletoe, Maine’s sheriff, saw Caroline fighting with the victim on the night of his death. Worse, Caroline’s fingerprints are all over the murder weapon, a custom-designed marble rolling pin.

Now, just ten days before Christmas, Holly’s up to her jingle bells in holiday shenanigans and in desperate need of a miracle. Juggling extra shifts at her family’s Christmas tree farm and making enough gingerbread jewelry to satisfy the crowd is already more than she can handle—and now she has to find time to clear her best friend of murder. Add in her budding relationship with the sheriff, and run-ins with an ex-fiancé looking to make amends, and Holly’s ready to fly south until springtime.

But her Sherpa-lined mittens come off when Caroline is taken into custody. Can Holly wrap up the case in time for Christmas…even after she gains the true killer’s attention? Find out in ‘Twas the Knife Before Christmas, Jacqueline Frost’s second pine-scented Christmas Tree Farm mystery. (Goodreads)

Review:

The writing style flows smoothly and it defines the characters very clearly by their actions and words. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and she brought Christmas alive in my mind. I could picture all of the trees, decorations and great food in my mind. I felt like I was right there in Mistletoe, Maine, and I wanted to stay and enjoy the Christmas spirit.

The characters are well developed and well rounded. Holly is smart, caring and loyal. The relationship between her and her parents is very heartfelt and she is so happy that she came back home. Although she has not been back for long, she has made some lifelong friends.

The mystery was well plotted and there were enough clues to sift through and suspects to consider, and I thought it was not easy to solve. In fact, the real culprit was not even on my radar. I would not have even cared if there was no mystery to solve, I was enjoying spending time with Holly and all of her friends and family.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I thought this book (and series) was very good and I am looking forward to reading the next one.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.

Okay, I have to be honest, I went into this book not expecting too much. I thought the story would be a bit OTT, and that I wouldn’t be abe to take it too seriously, but that I wouldn’t mind, because it’s a Christmas story and you can get away with that in Christmas stories.I didn’t expect to get really invested!

When Holly’s best friend, Caroline, is accused of the murder of Derek Waggoner, whose body is found in a giant bowl of mints at the town’s annual Christmas Lights ceremony, Holly sets out to prove her innocence. But doing so attracts the attention of the killer, putting Holly in danger for the second Christmas in a row.

While this is the second in a series, it stood alone well enough. The book filled me in on the details I needed to know from the previous book, and most of the focus was on the events of this one.

As i said, I got quite invested in Holly and her friends. I wanted Caroline to get out of jail. I wanted to know why Sherriff Gray seemed to have pushed Holly away after kissing her quite publicly and dramatically last Christmas (I actually really loved Sherriff Gray a lot just in general). Even the minor characters had really distinct personalites and I really enjoyed getting to know them.

I was a bit annoyed that when the murderer is finally revealed, they have a big villain monologue while they train a gun on Holly. I did raise my eyebrows a little bit at the suggestion that the real Santa did have something to do with Holly getting out alive, as well as a few other Christmas miracles. But hey, didn’t I say you can get away with a lot in a Christmas book?

I do have the first book in this series on my Kindle and I intend to read it closer to Christmas (when I am hopefully through my ARCs and have finished my 2018 challenges). I’m definitely looking forward to revisiting Mistletoe, Maine, even if I am doing it in the wrong order.

(Thank you to the Publishers and NetGalley for providing me with a free copy of this book in exchange for a review)

Time to get into the holiday spirit and line up the holiday themed mysteries - Christmas is just around the corner. I love reading mysteries tied to holidays and this series is a nice addition to my list. While it is the second in the series, it can easily be read as a stand alone. Here we have the small town of Mistletoe, Maine and Holly White and her family and friends. Holly's family owns the local Christmas tree farm (scene of the crime in the previous book), The Hearth (think the inside of a gingerbread house with yummy baked treats) and, soon to be completed, an inn. While Holly helps run the family business, once the inn is completed, she will become the innkeeper. For now she lives in the guest house with her cat, Cindy Lou Who and, in what little spare time she can find, makes glass jewelry. Her best friends own a cupcake shop and, I for one, would be hard pressed to stay away. When it comes to cupcakes, I need an intervention.
Holly is also directing the construction of the inn, on a deadline when a killer strikes close to home. Her friend, Caroline, who is co-owner of the cupcake shop, is framed for murder when the body of a local investor is found spoiling the large bowl of peppermint candies in the town square during the Christmas tree lighting festivities. If that wasn't enough to cast a dark cloud over the crowd, Caroline was very public in her altercation with him. She had been forced to go on a date with him and he had been less than a gentleman, becoming grabby. She called him out on it and now he's dead. The murder weapon was her monogramed knife.
The mystery was solid and satisfying and the characters well drawn. My only bone to pick is with the romantic thread involving Holly and Evan, the cop on the case. I had hope for them after the ending in the previous book but it went nowhere. I want them to either get their relationship going or kick it to the curb and move Holly on to another guy. One more reason for me to look forward to the next book in the series.

The second installment of the Christmas Tree Farm mystery series. Holly White moved back last year and has stayed in town. Her family runs the Christmas Tree Farm Reindeer Farms and they have a cafe and are planning to opening an Inn and she is running her own jewelry business. Her friend Caroline is the daughter of the mayor and often is forced to attend events per her Dad's request. The latest is a local investor who is a little too friendly and Caroline warns him that he will regret it if it happens again. Unfortunately for her, he is found dead the next day and she is the prime suspect. Holly has her hands full but she plans to prove her friend did not murder anyone. This is an entertaining holiday themed cozy which does not disappoint. Highly recommend and looking forward to the next installment

Apparently this is part of a series but this story read very well as a stand-alone. Cute village, cute characters, cute murder.....lots of cuteness and holiday cheer. I would sound like the Grinch if I got very critical of this cozy holiday mystery. It wasn’t a bad story....in fact I enjoyed the quick read but I thought the behavior of Holly (what else would she be named living in a town called Mistletoe?) came across as really juvenile when it came to her love life. I recommend this if you are looking for a very cozy holiday mystery to fill some time. I want to thank NetGalley for the advanced copy for review.

A delightful addition to a charming series. I am amazed at how much I enjoy these stories since I don't celebrate Christmas. Family, friends, a hint or two at romance, and a murder to solve, of course, all add up to an entertaining and engaging tale.

Holly is finally settled into a new life in Mistletoe, Maine when her friend Caroline is arrested for the murder of Derek, a jerk who, suffice it to say, has a number of people who might want him gone. That he's found in a jar (of sorts) of candy is odd, to say the least, but it's part of the Christmas theme of this quick read. Holly's got a fun family, great cat in Cindy Lou Who, and a somewhat repenitent ex-fiance who wants to compete with her new love interest. This is classic cozy territory. Occasionally the Christmas themed stuff gets to be a little much but Frost knows when to roll it back. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. You can read this as a standalone. I liked the first one and I'm looking forward to the next installment!

‘Twas the Knife Before Christmas by Jacqueline Frost is the second book of the cozy A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series. Each book in the series has it’s own mystery to be solved so they can be understood as a standalone. However, the characters do return from the first book so there is a bit of character building carried over from book to book.

In the first book of the series Holly White had returned back home to her parents Christmas Tree farm in Mistletoe, Maine after her fiance had broken up with her two weeks before their wedding. After jumping in and helping her parents to take her mind off of her troubles Holly had begun to feel at home again and decided to stay in Mistletoe.

Now a year later Holly has made plenty of friends in the small town and has a slight love interest in her life with things going well for her and her parents business. However when a body is discovered that Holly’s friend Caroline had been seen fighting with the night before along with her monogrammed knife Holly finds herself again looking to find a killer to clear her friend’s name.

A Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series is definitely one for those that absolutely adore the Christmas holiday. Each book is just filled to the brim with holiday goodness from the events going on to Holly’s pet cat, Cindy Lou Who. As silly as some may seem it never fails to put a smile on my face and buried within all of the over the top holiday happenings there’s also a pretty solid mystery to solve to keep readers guessing and turning the pages. Can’t wait to see what happens next to Holly and the residents of Mistletoe.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

A nice cozy full of Christmas spirit. It was the first in this series and I loved both the cast of characters and the settings.
The romance part seemed a bit weird and I keep wondering if it's a romance or a weird type of friendship.
The mystery was good and kept me guessing till the end.
A good book, perfect for Christmas time.
Recommended!
Many thanks to Crooked Lane Books and Netgalley for this ARC

This is a wonderful cozy with a huge dollop of holiday cheer! 'Twas the Knife Before Christmas follows our amateur sleuth, Holly, as she sets out to clear her friend's name all while getting ready for Christmas. Caroline, who owns the cupcake shop, is arrested after a very public argument with local investor and womanizer, Derek. The clues don't add up for Holly, so with her friends and family, she works around the clock to free Caroline.

Frost provides a very likable cast of characters and a well paced mystery. This one is a page turner, and I was reaching to read it at every chance I got. The suspects and clues kept me guessing throughout the story. The only sticky part was the romance between Holly and the town's sheriff, Evan. At times, I found Holly a bit frustrating and immature in respect to this.

I highly recommend this cozy for a holiday read!

Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane books for an ARC in exchange for review.

It's Christmastime in Mistletoe, Maine once again. Holly White is gearing up for all the holiday festivities and helping out with the family business, Reindeer Games Christmas Tree Farm. They are renovating and expanding to add an Inn for guests, but construction is way behind schedule. She's also trying to cheer up a friend who just had a really bad experience at a benefit dinner. Her date, the son of a local judge, behaved badly...and they had a fight. To kick off the holiday season, everyone goes to the town's tree lighting ceremony. What should be a fun holiday gimmick -- guessing the number of holiday mints in a giant glass bowl -- turns for the worst when Caroline's handsy date is found dead inside the glass bowl, covered in Christmas candy. Not only is that a terrible waste of lovely mint candy.....but Caroline is a murder suspect. A knife from her cupcake business emblazoned with Caroline's initials is the murder weapon. It might just take a Christmas miracle to prove that Caroline didn't stab Derek.....

This cute, enjoyable holiday cozy mystery got me in the mood for the Christmas season. :) I love the background theme of a Christmas tree farm...especially in a small town named Mistletoe. :) Finding the murder victim in a huge dish of candy was also a nice touch. I wanted the killer arrested not only for killing Derek the Handsy Jerk, but also for ruining the lighting ceremony and huge glass container of candy gimmick. I just kept imagining how pretty that big glass bowl filled with peppermints under all the lights would have been....until a body was stuffed into it. What sort of grinch does something like that? All is revealed by the end of the book! The mints however were a lost cause....

I enjoy this series. The characters are fun...from Holly White the main character clear down to Theodore the pet goat. I'm always a sucker for holiday themed cozy mysteries...and this series never fails to entertain me. The mystery is nicely paced....it's just Christmas-y enough to be fun....and there are enough twists and turns to keep the plot interesting. And, a couple special Christmas miracles are thrown in for good measure. All in all, an enjoyable holiday cozy with lots of feel-good moments. I will definitely continue reading this series!

Ho, ho, ho....Merry Christmas! :)

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own. My guess....there were 20,947 candies in the giant bowl before the addition of a Dead Derek.**

If you would have ever told me I'd fall in love with a Christmas cozy series, I'd have said you were nuts. Come on, I'm just not that jolly. However, I have fallen in love with Frost's newest addition to last year's debut. A new murder has taken place right as the festivities for Christmas Tree Farm are beginning. This time, Caroline is not a suspect and instead the police are looking at her friend Holly.Mistletoe, Maine has one of the cast of characters I've met in a long time. The reader really gets sucked into this Christmas obsessed town and quickly attaches to many of the characters. Like most cozies, there is an element of romance, but it's not overwhelming and I dare any reader not to cheer on the main couple. In addition, the mystery element was fun and satisfying.

I was initially worried that the author couldn't sustain a mystery centered around one particular holiday year after year. However, that is no longer the case and I can't wait to see what happens next. If you love great characters, good mysteries and a fun setting, you have to give this series a try!

‘Twas the Night Before Christmas is the second book in Jacqueline Frost’s Christmas Tree Farm mysteries. In this story, Holly White’s best friend is caught on social media dressing down her date for the evening at a charity dinner. Although set up by their parents, her friend Caroline West is not about to put up with the grabby behavior of her date and calls him out on it. However, this makes social media outlets and the local news the following morning. But by the following night there is so much more to tell when this man is found dead in the city “guess how many mints” activity.

As Holly White tries her best to protect her friend, Caroline, she puts herself in the crosshairs of a killer. As the story unfolds we find true friends in Caroline, photographer Ray Griggs, widow Cookie Cutter, and, of course, from local sheriff Evan Grey and his younger sister Libby.

As Holly works at her parents’ cafe, the Hearth, oversees the building of their new inn, and works to clear her best friend’s name, the killer gets closer to her. After several threats, tries culminates in a breathtaking conclusion when the actual killer is caught.

I did enjoy this book and do look forward to the next book in the series. I do recommend this book and the entire series!

Holly White has barely recovered from her almost death last Christmas while investigating a murder when another murder finds her this Christmas. The town lothario winds up stabbed to death and left in the town square's gigantic peppermint candy bowl. Unfortunately Holly's best friend and town cupcake maker, Caroline, is the main suspect. Can Holly solve this murder before becoming a repeat customer of the "almost dead" club?

This series is my guilty Christmas pleasure. Holly and her family are what you think of when you think of Christmas. First, they live in Mistletoe, Maine where the twelve days of Christmas is celebrated with the Reindeer Games. You have blindfold gingerbread house building and snowman building contests. The town plays Christmas music and every store is decorated. A little murder is thrown in to make things even more interesting.

You will laugh, scream and cry with Holly at every turn. Her love life is interesting. She is kind of dating the local sheriff but they have yet to get on the same page at the same time.

In book two, Holly's family is building an inn at the Christmas Tree Farm and I am interested to see how the dynamics change in future books with this addition.

If you love Christmas and murder together you need to get this series ASAP.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.

'Twas the Knife Before Christmas is the perfect, cozy mystery to curl up with this winter season! I felt the holiday spirit and fell hopelessly in love with these amazing characters. I can't wait to read more books in the series because I have a feeling that Holly White is going to be one of my most favorite sleuths!