A charming cozy that digs deep into our characters’ backstories and challenges their perceptions of the past and each other. Highly recommended.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was not paid for this review.

I enjoyed this book. I picked it up because I had read one of Amanda Flower's Magic Garden books and enjoyed it. The framing device of this was similar to the Magic Garden books: a young woman is now the caretaker for something magical that gives her clues on how to solve the case. In this book, the protagonist, Violet Waverly, has recently moved back to her hometown to be a caretaker to a tree watered by a magic spring which gives the bookstore the tree is located in a magical essence. This essence gives Violet clues about what's about to happen and how to solve the case - if only she can decipher them.

Like many cozies, it involved a disagreeable person being killed, and a friend of the protagonist being suspected of the crime. There's also a potential love interest in the form of the chief of police, but the obstacle of Violet being the caretaker: how can she explain the tree and the magic in the bookstore? Is she going to be alone like her mother and grandmother? (Although, I have to wonder how she's going produce the next caretaker without have some companionship? I was also curious how she never noticed the magic of the bookstore growing up; as this is the third book in the series, maybe it was covered in an earlier book?)

As long as the reader accepts the conceit of the magic bookstore, it's a fun book. If magic and mystery don't mix for you, then this probably isn't the book for you.

Recommended.

I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley.com and voluntarily chose to review.

Murders and Metaphors is a cute cozy mystery with all the usual elements. I personally believe this type of book is excellent for relaxing. If you want literary fiction, you won't like this book.

In this third installment of the Magical Bookshop Series, we are back in Cascade Springs with Violet and Grandma Daisy of Charming Books. Where books magically match themselves to customers.

January is time for the Ice Wine festivities and Violet is not feeling it this time. She's had her heart-broken before and the one responsible is sure to be in attendance. Which means Violet will not be. No matter what. Not even magic is going to get her to go!

However Grandma Daisy has arranged for the book shop to host former resident and current book writing sommelier, Belinda Perkins, book signing. Belinda left town long ago after a fight with her sisters. One of those sisters may be still carrying a grudge and after the throw down at the book signing, one of them is left dead!

While Violet is almost certain sister Lacey is innocent, she herself turns to the magical bookshop for assistance. And as usual the help is spot on! But will it save Lacey or just leave them both out in the cold?

This is such a fun series and Amanda Flowers is one of the best at cozy mysteries. I love Faulkner, the crow. The characters are very well written and it's what I would call an intelligent cozy!

Well Done!

Netgalley/February 12th 2019 by Crooked Lane Books

Book number three in this series does not disappoint!
I was delighted to see this series picked up by a new publisher. Hopefully we can look forward to many more books in this series.
This cozy includes a magical bookstore where the books choose you; and a resident crow that talks.
The bookstore keeps picking the book Little Women to help Violet solve the murder in this latest installment.
The whodunit was well written and kept me guessing.
The characters are top notch and interesting.
I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading the next one.
I voluntarily reviewed an advance reader copy of this book.

A visit to Cascade Springs with Violet Waverly and Aunt Daisy was the perfect antidote for a sad day. With the death of a hometown girl who had returned for a book signing of her latest book, Violet must prove her friend's innocence. The charm just isn't in the bookstore's name, but in all the characters and their relationships. The mystery is solid and I can't wait to return to Cascade Springs for my next visit. Highly recommended!

This is my first book from ""A Magical Bookshop Mystery"" and it is not going to be the last :)
Violet has to solve another murder before the police is arresting the wrong person. IIf you look for mystery and romance, this is it!
Thank you Netgalley for this wonderful book.

A great edition to this series. I couldn't wait to finish this book.

Violet once again finds herself discovering a dead body. With her grandmother and bookshop encouraging her to help her friend out, Violet looks for clues to figure out who the murderer is. While handsome Sheriff Rainwater wants her to be safe..
As Violet has to deal with being followed by a PI and running into Nathan and his hostile family, she unknowingly puts herself in danger. There are plenty of suspects and people with ulterior motives. With each bit of information uncovered, I was engaged trying to put the pieces of the mystery together. The twist for me was not the killer, but the supporting player, who showed his true side to Violet. It tied up that subplot so well.

The secondary story of choosing new members for the Red Inkers also introduces us to interesting characters. I like how the author keeps the town and the people as part of the story and enriches the background of Cascade Springs. The bookshop, Emerson and Faulkner add just the right touch of magic.
Violet comes to decisions about moving forward with her life and choosing the man to build a future with. It was a big step for Violet and I cannot wait for the next book to see what comes in next.

Violet and her grandmother Daisy are doing a book signing at one of the local wine grower's home. There's a confrontation between sisters, the author disappears and Violet starts getting ready to leave when she notices her cat has sneaked away from her tote. She goes outdoors to run him down and finally locates him in the field of grapes. Unfortunately, he's discovered a dead body...

Crooked Lane Books and Net Galley allowed me to read this book this book for review (thank you). It will be published February 22nd.

The dead woman is their author and there are plenty of suspects. She's a wine reviewer and she could be cutting and nasty about the wineries products. She even had a fight with one at the signing table. But who killed her?

My favorite part is the crow that talks (and makes sense), the cat who gets in the way and helps a bit, and the bookstore that tries to give Violet clues by opening book pages and showing hints. The police chief sounds luscious, too.

With a hint of romance, lots of hate, and no end of potential killers, this one holds your attention and just makes you wonder which one it could have been. It read up fast, was busy and was enjoyable. See if you can figure the killer out...

A famous sommelier and wine writer returns to her hometown for a book signing and Cascade Springs turns out in full force. But when the author is found dead, Violet comes to the defense of her BFF Lacey to keep her from being charged with the murder of her estranged sister.

Violet and her Grandma Daisy run the local bookshop, which is filed with magic to match the right book with the right reader at the right time. And the bookshop says that Violet needs to read Little Women right now. But first Violet must figure out what the bookshop is trying to tell her through the book.

Amanda Flower is a gifted and talented author of several series that I read religiously. She develops strong characters and has solid story lines that will capture your attention and have you ready for the next entry in the series.

Another excellent edition to a wonderful series! Full of twists and turns that leaves you wanting more and enjoying each moment until the end when the killer is caught.

Murders and Metaphors is the third book in the Magical Bookshop Mystery series. I love this series! The thought of a magical bookstore with an enchanted tree growing in the middle makes me happy in itself. Add in that customers visiting Charming Books get magically matched with the perfect books.....and I'm just totally sucked in by this series. I wish Charming Books were real! I would be there all the time! :) I wonder what my perfect book would be??

Violet Waverly runs Charming Books with her grandmother Daisy. She's taken over as caretaker of the shop and the magical tree as well. It's been six months since she left her old life to come back to Cascade Springs, NY to help her grandmother. While she loves the shop and her grandmother.....Violet has already had to solve two murders (with the help of her grandmother, the magical shop, Emerson the Cat and a crow named Faulkner, of course). Surely things will calm down now.....

But, of course, that doesn't happen. An author is stabbed to death with a grape cutting knife at the annual Morton Vineyard ice wine harvest. Violet, Daisy and the Red Inkers writing group are back on the case! Who put the wine expert on ice? Violet is determined to catch the killer!

This story is a great addition to this delightful cozy series! The mystery is interesting and engaging with plenty of twists and suspense. I like Violet as a main character. The side characters are all quirky and awesome. In this newest book, there are some nice developments in background story and character development. Can't wait to see how things develop in future books! The last few pages made me smile. Grandma Daisy is coming into her own! :) I was a bit surprised by the solution to the mystery, although it does make perfect sense. I just didn't see it coming. All in all, a very entertaining and fun read. I love Emerson and Faulkner. My favorite character though is Daisy....she's just lovely...and feisty when she needs to be!

Amanda Flower never disappoints. I enjoy every book I read by her. I will definitely continue reading this series. Her Magic Garden series, Amish Candy Shop cozies and Appleseed Creek series are also favorites.

**I voluntarily read an advanced readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are entirely my own.**

Amanda Flower third book to this series and it gets better with each book.
it is great to get back into the life of Violet and Grandma Daisy again and the enchanted book shop.
I just love this book with a bit of magic and paranormal through out . Not overly done .
I'm glad that Violet romance is coming together at last could it be Nathan or David .you'll have to wait and see.
I was surprised who the killer was never guessed.
Thank you so much for my request nettgalley and Crooked lane books it was worth waiting for .
I would recommend all Amanda flower's books to read.
If I could I would give this book more than 5 stars.

This was a great fun cozy mystery with likeable characters and a few twists.
I very much enjoyed this book.

3.5 stars

Violet and Grandma Daisy, as well as the magical bookstore, are back again. This time, they are preparing for a book signing by a popular, yet somewhat demanding, author.

Flower’s latest is part of a series, but it can be read as a standalone. There is enough backstory provided to bring a new reader up to speed without having info dumps. While an enjoyable story, I was able to figure out the murderer in this one a bit quicker than in prior books. However, It is always a joy to return to these characters, who are beginning to feel like family. I like the fact that the story is not overwhelmed by the romance angle, though I do enjoy Chief Rainwater, making this a great addition to the cozy mystery series.

Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy from that galley, but I wasn’t required to provide a positive review.

I couldn't get into this book. The magical elements were not believable and the characters were distracting.

Murders and Metaphors is my first book by the author and the third book in the A Magical Bookshop Mystery series.

This is a very entertaining and a fast-paced cozy mystery about Violet and her grandmother Daisy and their bookstore in Cascade Springs, New York. Charming Books is an enchanting bookstore, where the books help Violet solve mysteries. In this installment, it was Little Women by Louisa Alcott, coincidentally the same book she chose to work on for her PhD dissertation.

I loved the mystery and the setting—this one takes place during the Mortons’ annual ice wine harvesting party in Cascade Springs. Charming Books is hosting a book signing for Belinda Perkins at this event, and the Mortons are hoping to use this opportunity to promote their ice wine label.

It was fun watching Violet solve the mystery following clues from passages in Alcott’s Little Women. With the help of her pets— Faulkner, the crow that talks and Emerson, a tuxedo cat—Violet tracks down every clue. Despite warnings to stop meddling in police investigation, Violet is determined to solve this case since Lacey, a sister of the victim and Violet's friend is the main suspect.

I  enjoyed reading Murders and Metaphors. I liked the author's writing style and the engaging characters that she created. I found Violet and her eccentric grandmother to be likeable characters with their quirky pets, the cat and the crow.

I love the vivid descriptions of the vineyard and surroundings in Cascade Springs. I thought the weather was perfect as it took place during the winter, creating a chilly atmosphere throughout the book.

The mystery was well plotted, the clues and red herrings were all well done and the story moved at a quick pace. I would love to see Violet and the Police Chief, Rainwater take their friendship a step further as the series progresses. Besides, what with Grandma Daisy’s surprise announcement, Violet will be needing an extra set of hands at the bookstore. I look forward to reading more about the people of this quaint village and can’t wait to see what mystery Violet has to solve next.

Overall, an entertaining read. I would recommend this book to those who love a good cozy mystery.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for an Advanced Readers Copy in exchange for an honest review.

Murders and Metaphors is a brand new addition to the Magical Bookshop Mystery series. It is packed full of colorful character suspects. Violet takes to the streets of the village in pursuit of a murderer. The magical essence of the bookshop chooses the book Little Women to help solve the crime. Like all of Ms Flowers books, there are elements of mystery, suspense, intrigue, and most importantly humor! Grandma Daisy, Police Chief David Rainwater, Emerson the cat, Faulkner the crow, and many of your favorite village characters are all present for this installment. It's a terrific book!

Another great visit to Charming Books and the cast of characters in the town. The author does a phenomenal job of character development as each character, including the shop cat and bird, have unique and well developed personalities. The plot in this particular book was quite good with a slight surprise when the villain is revealed. It was interesting getting Violet's friend Lacey's back story filled in more. I love how you get to know the townspeople so much better in each book and it honestly makes you want to just keep on reading so you don't have to say goodbye at the end of the book. I can't wait for the author to write more of this series!

I thought this was such a perfect continuation of the Magical Bookshop series! The characters are all absolutely wonderful, and it was fun to see how the murder tied in to this small town. Of course, Grandma Daisy is hilarious, and Violet is a wonderful main character! I was happy to see the Red Ink writer group expanding, and can’t wait to see how those new characters will tie in to future books.