Fun and enjoyable, Violet and grandma Daisy were placed on the spot when the famous bestselling author Belinda died on the night of the book signing they were hosting. Belinda was not just any author she was a wine critic and she was also Violet best friend Lacey’s sister, with whom she had a very bitter relation. Finding out the culprit of this murder mystery before Lacey is charged with murder is crucial for violet. Following the clues from the magic tree in the middle of the bookstore was a mixture of frustration and stress for violet who was having a hard time grasping the meaning of what the tree was trying to say. To top it off her relationship with the chief of police was moving into newer territories. This book had a wonderful storyline with great characters, I especially like Chief Rainwater, I would say this is a definite must-read.

Oh, my goodness, what fun! I own, but haven't had a chance to read the previous entries in this series, so this was my first experience with Violet and crew. And I loved it!

I know that coming into an already-established series I missed a lot of the character-building that took place in the earlier books, but it's to Flower's credit that I didn't really feel lost. She recapped any pertinent facts nicely, without any info dumps, and I felt comfortably situated within the context of the story.

In this book, a wine critic with ties to Cascade Springs is murdered during a community event, and Violet has a personal stake in the outcome of the murder investigation. Grandma Daisy plays the sassy sidekick, and Sadie, Lacey, the Inkers, and Rainwater the supporting roles. It's a merry chase, and I was still guessing who the culprit was right up until the reveal.

Huzzah for the magical bookshop, and for this series!

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for the chance to read this book!

I did enjoy the story of the magical bookstore, and the legacy of guardianship entrusted to the caretakers. I liked the idea of the tree magic, and I really wish I could walk into a bookstore that knew which books I wanted. I would probably walk away with hundreds, but anyway.

For a cozy mystery I felt this one was a little off, and I didn't really like the reasoning behind it. I did however see a lot of potential in the setting and the characters and I'm happy to try some of the other books in the series.

This was an ARC, but there were many spelling and grammar errors that really need to be corrected before it goes to print too. Four stars.

In this the third installment of the series, I found more to like about it.
I totally adore the magic aspect because it's well written without being corny.
A delightful, well versed plot kept me turning the pages. And the characters that I'm coming to love felt like a visit with old friends.
The more I read of this series the better I like it.
4.5 stars

Who doesn’t believe in Magic. The bookshop seems magical, the tree,the crow, the cat, and books, special books for each who come. They are also participants of a local author doing a book signing, who also a famous wine critic. Something went wrong and led to a murder and Violet investigates. The author has a unique way of drawing you into this story and helping Violet with another murder. Given ARC by Net Galley and Crooked Lane for my voluntary review and my honest opinion.

amateur-sleuth, women-sleuths, magic, cozy-mystery, law-enforcement *****

Excellent! The specialty of the bookshop is providing the customer with just the right book, and in the case of the keeper, the book and pages that provide the clues to solving murders. Violet has returned to her grandmother and the hometown she fled some years before only to find out that she has inherited the position of keeper. That is a secret and there are other things involved, but the magic of the bookshop has proved very important in past murder investigations as well as the current one even if she can't tell the police chief who is her love interest.
There are problems with the town's prominent family that are related to the past, and that causes a lot of stumbling blocks in the investigation of the murder of a former resident who alienated everyone in her path. The investigation is well plotted, the characters certainly are, and the magic of the bookshop is craftily done. I really enjoyed reading it!
I requested and received a free ebook copy from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

This is the 3rd installment of the magical bookstore series. I love this series and honestly, it just keeps getting better. It’s January and Violet and Grandma Daisy are hosting a book signing party for Belinda Perkins, being held at the Morton Family Vineyard during the Ice Grape Harvest. Belinda grew up in Cascade Springs and left many years ago and is estranged from her sister Lacey one of Violet’s best friends. Belinda is a famous sommelier who is in town for her book signing and to do a review on the Morton’s Ice Wine. The family is considering taking the wine national. Lacey and her husband Adrien are catering the event and Lacey attempts to contact Belinda so they can have a chance to speak. Belinda freaks out and causes a giant scene. Emerson the cat escapes Violet’s tote bag and she goes out into the Vineyards to search for him. After chasing Emerson and catching him on her way, back to the house she trips over what she thinks is a root and learns it is Belinda with a grape knife in her back holding a letter from Lacey. Lacey becomes the prime suspect in the murder and Violet is determined to find the real killer There were lots of people who had motive including an ex-husband and winery owner who her last review ruined and her other two sisters. The bookshop keeps sending Violet messages and dropping Little Women all over the shop. Violet is really trying to understand what the shop is trying to tell her. The clues are there but the ending is shocking. Love all the twists and turns in this story as well as the ending. Sadie has a possible new love interest and Violet finally lets Chief Rainwater know he is the one for her. I cannot wait to see what is up next for Grandma Daisy, Violet and everyone else in Cascade Springs. Cannot wait for the next installment.

I received this copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. An enjoyable cast of characters that you like spending time with. A lot of suspects to look at trying to figure out whodunit. I love the bookshop trying to help Violet along the way.

This book was such a joy to read, I am having a hard time finding the right words to convey how much i truly loved it. The author wrote the mystery in such a way that you as a reader is totally emersed and invested in it and the outcome. Even though there is a touch of magic throughout the story, it doesn't deviate from the main plot line and the internal struggles the characters have. Although this is a cozy mystery, there are still heavy topics throughout which makes the story so real and relatable while still being able to get lost in the words. This is definitely a book to read again and again.

I don’t go into arc reviews expecting to fall in love. That expectation is simply too high and shouldn’t be a bar to hold books accountable to. It’s subjective. We all fall in love with different kinds of characters as well as different tones of writing. That being said, I fell in love with Murders and Metaphors.
At the heart of this book is a magical bookstore that helps its caretaker, Violet, solve her small town’s too frequent murders. The bookstore itself sounded like a level of heaven. It’s an enchanted bookstore fueled by an ageless living tree where whatever book you’re looking for or need will find you. I feel like I could sit there for weeks, a feeling I get at many a brick and mortar bookstore but few fictitious ones.
The murder itself puts the flavor of suspense and urgency on every page. As a reader, you’re never able to forget that there’s a broken family grieving, an unknown killer on the loose, and more suspects than a safe small town should be able to produce.
My final thoughts on the book? It’s delicious reading and a perfect weekend distraction.

The magical book shop is doing it again! Helping Violet solve another murder. When someone is murdered at a book signing Violet feels that she has no other choice but to help solve the murder in order to clear her friend. With the bookstore throwing copies of LITTLE WOMEN at her every time she turns around, Violet is having a hard time figuring out what the bookstore is telling her this time around. As always, Chief Rainwater is there to discourage Violet from snooping, but he knows it is a useless cause. Suspects seem to be coming out of the woodwork, but finding the murderer before Violet gets hurt proves to be a difficult task. Not only is Violet trying to solve a murder, but she is also trying to deal with her feelings towards David Rainwater. Having just taken over the Caretaker position at the bookstore Violet assumes that she is destined to be single the rest of her life, but is that really what is expected of the Caretaker? Can Violet trust David with the secret of the bookstore?



I really enjoy this series and am so glad that the author found a publisher to continue writing it! I love the uniqueness of the bookstore and how it helps Violet to solve murders. As always with this authors writing there are animal characters. And boy are they characters! Faulkner the crow cracks me up with his quotes and sayings and general grumpiness. And Emmerson the tuxedo kitty that seems to be an escape artist is entertaining as well. The town of Cascade Springs has many entertaining people characters as well. They keep the reader chuckling and trying to guess who the killer is. I love Chief Rainwater, but I do have a complaint. I wish that the author would decide what she wants Violet to call him. I find it very unromantic for her to constantly be referring to him as "Rainwater" or even "Chief Rainwater." I think to make their romance a bit more believable Violet needs to have a more personal way of talking about him. Either call him David or Chief. That's just being a bit nit picky maybe, but it bothered me while reading. The mystery was pretty good and had a few twists and turns that kept me guessing as to "who-done-it." I was pretty surprised when it was revealed! If you are a cozy mystery fan then definitely give this series a try.



**I received my copy from Netgalley. All opinions are my own**

I enjoyed the wine info but not the main character. I am so tired of the storyline woman attracted to police chief, keeps important information to herself and gets annoyed when she's not privy to confidential information.

The "Magical Bookshop" is one of my favourite series and was very happy when I saw this ARC.
It was great too meet againg Violet and the cast of characters plus all the elements that make this series so lovely.
I enjoy the book, loved everything. It seemed a bit strange at the beginning but after few pages I was hooked and couldn't put it down.
Hope there'll be soon another instalment and we'll be able to read other adventure.
Highly recommended!
Many thanks to Crooked Lane and Netgalley for this ARC

Thanks for the early review copy!

I recommend this novel to fans of mystery or cozy fiction. It was well-written and interesting novel.

Amanda Flower is a gifted author who never disappoints me.
Murders and Metaphors is a well told tale, featuring the murder of a sommelier.
When someone close to Violet is a prime suspect, she turns to her magical bookshop to find the answers.
I love this series because the characters are so real, that I find myself with a group of friends whenever I open one of these books.
This story has everything I look for in a cozy mystery, a well told story, unique characters and plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader engaged from beginning to end.

I volunteered to read and review an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

I received a free copy of MURDERS AND METAPHORS (Magical Bookshop Mystery Book 3) by Amanda Flower in exchange for an honest review. Violet Waverly and her Grandma Daisy, as owners of the only local bookstore, are participants in a book signing by a local author and famous wine critic. When the book signing is ruined by a murder, Violet’s mystic bookstore pushes Violet to hunt for the murderer.

I haven’t read any of the other books in this series, but I was still able to enjoy this story. After reading this one, I intend to read the first two. I recommend this book to fans of cozy mysteries, animal friends, and magical twists.

#MurdersAndMetaphors #NetGalley

If you’re a book lover like I am, you’ll be drawn to this series about a magical bookshop that helps owner, Violet Waverly, to certain books that will help her solve a murder. This time out, it’s winter in Niagara Falls and it’s time for the ice wine celebration and even though Violet is still smarting from the end of a love affair, her grandmother has booked a famous sommelier to host a book signing at the store. Violet is forced to put her broken heart on the shelf when that same celeb is found murdered. Can Charming Books help Violet find the real killer? This is such a delightful series, with a spunky heroine and a store full of some very special books