Savanna Shepherd has been working as an art authenticator, but after a painful breakup, she has moved back home and brought the family, of three sisters back together. Skylar is a lawyer, happily married with one child. Sydney owns her own dog grooming business and Savanna has started a job as an art teacher at the local grade school. She is thrilled when an old family friend and art collector, Caroline asks her to paint a mural. While meeting with Caroline, she notices that some of her paintings don't look quite right. Other things begin to happen, such as a dear friend of Caroline's dying after a visit and Caroline herself, having a couple of accidents. Caroline's eye for art, comes into use to determine what exactly is going on. All three sisters have an active life and want to help others, so they begin to snoop around to find out what is going on. Is someone trying to kill Caroline? What does her art have to do with what is happening?

I enjoyed this book, the first in the Shepherd Sisters Mysteries. It was a light, entertaining read with an interesting plot, strong, likable characters and a beautiful lake setting. I enjoyed getting to know the Shepherd sisters as well as Caroline's doctor, Aiden Gallagher, who not only helped with the mystery, but seems to be a possible love interest for Savanna. With this being the first book in a new series, the mystery starts off slow as we get to know the characters, but once it takes off, I was hooked and didn't stop reading and listening. There were a few times when Savanna was in danger with someone trying to scare her off, but she didn't give up when someone she cared about was in possible danger. There were not a lot of suspects, but enough that I was not positive who the culprit was, but I had my suspicions. It turns out I was right, but the motive was not as I thought. If you're a fan of Hallmark Mysteries then you will definitely enjoy this book. Overall, I enjoyed reading about the Shepherd sisters and look forward to more books by this author.

I read the second book in this series first and had to go back and start at the beginning because I loved the characters so much. Savanna, the main character, has a background in art authentication and has gotten a job as an art teacher at the elementary school. She has also been hired by a long time family friend, Caroline Carson, to paint a wall mural in her sitting room. Caroline is getting ready to turn 90 and would like to have the mural done by her birthday party, so Savanna is spending a lot of time at her house. Caroline is a feisty woman who knows what she wants and doesn't take no for an answer. But some strange things start happening and Savanna and her sisters as well as some other interesting characters try to piece things together. This mystery includes murder and theft and many people are involved to help it reach a conclusion. I loved the town of Carson, on Lake Michigan, and the characters in this book. I hope that there will be more books in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

An excellent starter to new series that is sure to be three times the fun, thanks to the three Shepherd sisters. Savannah Shepherd isn't a prodigal daughter but she has been away for ten years. Fresh from a break-up and ready to be her own person, the kind of person who wears fun clothes, teaches art to elementary children, and lets her hair down while enjoying time with her family (who have missed her terribly). The last thing she expects to find is a handsome cardiologist with a pixie cute daughter, a series of mysterious accidents involveing a dear family friend, or art forgery. It's stories like this one that keep me so enthralled with cozy mysteries. Reading about the love and support that the Shepherd sisters show to one another makes one feel warm and cozy. This is such a positive upbeat story, even though there is a murder and some very strange coincidences that cause Savannah, Sybil, and Sydney to be concerned. I also enjoy the way the girls are able to work with local law enforcement instead of it being an advesarial arrangement. The best for last part of this story is the recipe at the back of the book and the mention of mouth watering dishes mentioned throughout the story for the weekly Sunday family dinner. You can't help but want to be a part of this story while Savannah goes from clue to clue and suspect to suspect. BTW the second book is just as good as the first in every way!

Savanna Shepherd is going back to her hometown determined to make "you can't go home again" just a myth. She is leaving behind the big city with an unfaithful fiancé and a
high status job as an art authenticator to return to a small town with a job as an art teacher in the elementary school. Once home she reaches out to her "adopted grandmother", Caroline Carson, to reconnect with her family. Caroline is getting ready to celebrate her 90th birthday and asks Savanna to paint a mural for her. While are Caroline's painting, Savanna witness several unusual events including the death of one of Caroline's friends. But the more time Savanna spends at Caroline's home, the more she wonders if some of the "accidents" really are accidents.

The characters in this start of the series are already well-developed and the mystery was great! Look forward to seeing more of the other Shepherd sisters in the future!

Out of the Picture is the first in a new cozy mystery series from Hallmark. Consistent with Hallmark, the book was on the sweet and gentle side as far as cozies go. A recipe is included

The focus on and love the characters showed for Lake Michigan was awesome, as I don't see that area highlighted often in books. I read the book because of the art authenticator theme, and I enjoyed it and appreciated that although Savanna had left her art authenticator job she still used that knowledge throughout the novel. There are a lot of scenes with Savanna and her sisters, as well as her parents, demonstrating her close family relationships. And there are the makings of a potential future love interest. I recommend Out of the Picture for fans of light cozy mysteries.

SPOILERS:


Who was the second person in the SUV that tried to run Savanna and Skylar off the road? Felix is one. The only other person determined to be part of the scheme was Ryan, but everyone including the detective agree that Ryan wasn't part of the cons, was merely a bystander. Ryan probably knew more than he realized and would be useful for prosecution, but he wasn't a knowing part of the crimes. So Ryan can't have been in the car, because he can't be an unknowing bystander if he was in a vehicle that repeatedly hit Savanna's while trying to run it off the road. So who is the second person in the vehicle?

This isn't a spoiler, but what is Savanna's mother's job? We hear about it several times and it sounds like they think it's a big deal, but unless I missed it I didn't notice that they ever named the job or explained what she actually does.

The mystery wasnt my favorite but I really liked the 3 sisters and their dynamic. They each had a lot of personality and I hope we get to see more from each of them. I think it would be fun if the series alternated with different sisters switching off narrating different books. I liked the town and all the side characters especially their old lady friend. She was really funny. I'm excited to see what comes next

Terrific book from Hallmark Publishing! Author Tracy Gardner takes the reader in a different direction with this cozy mystery. It was nice not knowing where the story was going and each character was the suspect at some point or another. It has all the elements one wants in a Hallmark book—romance, nice people, small towns, and happy endings.

Cozy Mystery meets hallmark movie. It was good but I didn’t enjoy it as much as I though I would and it was easy to predict who the suspect was.

Cozy mysteries are my favorite and this is a very good one. The story is well developed and keeps you interested until the end. I highly recommend this book.

I enjoyed this book a lot. The subject matter of art authentication and the characters made this a interesting read. The characters seemed 'real' and I liked watching the relationships develop. It's well-written with just enough description provided without slowing the story line. I hope that there are more planned in this series.

Out of the Picture by Tracy Gardner
Book #1: A Shepherd Sisters Mystery
Source: NetGalley and Hallmark Publishing
Rating: 4/5 stars


As the old saying goes, you can’t ever go home, but Savanna Shepherd is determined to be the exception to that rule. After leaving the big city, her feckless fiancé, and her prestigious job as an art authenticator, Savanna is back home and settling in nicely. She’s secured a job as an elementary art teacher, she is living with her sister, and slowly melding back into life in her beloved hometown.

One of the first orders of business for Savanna upon settling in is reconnecting with her grandmother-of-the-heart, Caroline Carson. From childhood, Caroline has held a special place in the Shepherd sister’s lives and hearts. Seeing Caroline again is a special pleasure for Savanna and while she intended it to be a short visit to reconnect with an old friend, it turns into something far, far greater.

As Savanna reenters Caroline’s life, she discovers her dear friend is renovating her historic home, thinning out her impressive and vast art collection, and gearing up for her 90th birthday celebration. To that end, Caroline enlists Savanna’s help in the form of a lovely seascape mural to match the view out her sitting room window. With a new job, a new project, and a new life, Savanna is excited to get started, but almost immediately, that excitement is tempered by worry. Caroline, at 89-years-old is in remarkable shape, but her heart is acting a bit wonky which has led to some in-home testing and the presence of her personal physician, Dr. Aidan Gallager.

Though Caroline convinces Savanna the tests are nothing to be worried about, a series of events unfolds that only compounds Savanna’s worry. Following the sudden and unexpected death of one of Caroline’s dear friends, Savanna, Caroline, and Dr. Gallager all begin to wonder and worry. As the days and weeks leading up to the party unfold, more troubling events unfold in Caroline’s home that leads Savanna and company to believe there’s a very bad person out to harm Caroline, if not kill her. Though Caroline doesn’t want to believe it to be true, the evidence is mounting up the more questions that are asked and answers that are uncovered. If Savanna and company can’t figure out the truth of the situation soon, Caroline just may not make it to her 90th birthday bash.

The Bottom Line: You know what’s awesome when it’s combined? Hallmark Publishing and the cozy mystery genre! The Shepherd sisters are all quite delightful, each with their own distinct and lovely personalities, their parents are a wonderful support system, and the town itself is comfortable and perfect for the story and characters. The plot involves on of my favorite topics, art, and plays with a cast of characters that are easy to like, easy to root for, and fun to read about. With three sisters, I see a solid and entertaining trilogy in my future!

I have always liked cozy mysteries and Hallmark has done such a wonderful job bringing many of them to life on TV. It is no surprise that they found this talented author and her cast of witty characters to share with us Out of the Picture. I enjoyed it so much and was even stumped at the end. Very good.


Thanks Hallmark for the ARC.

Savannah Sheperd is returning home to her small town on Lake Michigan. She lost her job as an art authenticater, her fiance and her apartment. She was lucky to land a job teaching art at the local school and is happy being back with her two sisters and friends. The woman who taught Savannah to love art asks her to paint a mural on one of her living room walls and Savanna get involved in finding the art forgery expert who sold her friend fake painting. Accidents and death are part of the story as the sisters find out who is causing mayhem in their beloved town. A slower start but the pace picks up as the book goes on. A little romance mixed in makes the story fun. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Is there only mystery about the art?
The author of multiple books, Tracy Gardner, presents "Out of the Picture. A Shepherd Sisters Mystery", published by Hallmark Publishing. Savannah Shepherd, a former art authenticator has moved back to her hometown, the little beach town Carson. Now she is living with her sister Sydney and enjoying teaching art at the local elementary school. These two, and their oldest sister Skylar, are good friends with Caroline Carson. Savannah is asked to paint a beach scene mural for Caroline when Caroline's house is renovated in preparation for her ninetieth birthday.
A shocking death, an accident, questions about the paintings Caroline is selling off from her collection, there is a lot going on at Caroline's mansion. Too many incidents that call out to be investigated by Savannah. Will she be able to help keep Caroline safe? Will she be able to find out the truth? And what about her personal life?
This is the first book by Tracy Gardner which I have read. It is also the first one in Gardner's series about the Shepherd Sisters. I want to read more by her and cannot wait for the other volumes. The book holds real and well developed characters. It is easy to read and enjoyable and as usual, one of the typical Hallmark recipes, this time for Holy Yum Baked Chicken, is included. I highly recommend this book to all the readers who want a break and like romantic mysteries.
The complimentary copy of this book was provided by the publisher through NetGalley free of charge. I was under no obligation to offer a positive review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
#OutOfThePicture #NetGalley

Out of the Picture was an enjoyable cozy mystery type read. I enjoyed the fast-paced and there were enough twists and turns to keep me guessing. I will be looking for more books by this author.

Going back to your hometown always brings a look at the past with an eye to the future. Savanna comes home from Chicago after a breakup. Small town fun. A very enjoyable read.

I received a copy of this book for a honest review.

Out of the Picture is the first of the Shepard Sisters Mystery. Savanna Shepard has had a nasty break up and moves back to her hometown in Michigan (on the shores of Lake Michigan) and she is now an art teacher versus her previous career as an art authenticator. She is closer to her sisters ( Skylar who is a lawyer and Sydney who has a dog grooming business) and is glad to be back in her hometown. She is asked by an old family friend Caroline to paint a mural at her mansion and odd things begin to happen. There is a death, accident and Savanna begins to think that Caroline's collection of art maybe fakes. This was a delightful and fast paced mystery. Love the town and the sisters. This series has a lot of promise and look forward to seeing more in the future.

Out of the Picture, the first book in Tracy Gardner’s Shepherd Sisters Mysteries, is the picture-perfect book for a lazy afternoon by the lake. Enjoyable throughout, this book really shines in the way its characters immediately feel like long, lost friends.

Art authenticator Savanna Shepherd has moved back to her hometown following a tumultuous breakup. Hoping to reinvent her life, she takes a job as an elementary school art teacher and is commissioned to do a mural in the home of longtime family friend, Caroline Carson. When an elderly friend dies unexpectedly at Caroline’s house, at first, it is thought to be a heart attack. But both Savanna and Caroline’s doctor, Aidan (who apparently makes frequent house calls), are suspicious as the woman appeared to be in perfect health. As the story progresses, it becomes evident that something sinister is afoot, and Savanna and Aidan are in a race against time to solve the mystery and protect Caroline from harm.

The setting is, as is typical with cozies, charming in a way that makes it feel as if you, too, are coming home. The characters are engaging, especially Caroline Carson, who is virtually a second grandmother to Savanna and her sisters. Savanna is a strong character with deep family ties, and her burgeoning relationship with Aidan adds an intriguing romantic element. Her sisters, Sydney and Skylar, are uniquely drawn, even if it is sometimes difficult to remember who’s who when they are not engaging in their professions (dog groomer and attorney respectively). Even Savanna’s dog, Fonzie, is appropriately adorable.

Ms. Gardner’s writing flows beautifully, and she weaves the intricacies of art authentication seamlessly into a well-crafted plot. The mystery, too, is top-notch, with so many suspects, clues, and red herrings that it will keep you guessing until the end. I thought I had identified the perpetrator early on, but with so much misdirection, I had to second-guess myself several times.

All told, Out of the Picture is a delightful cozy mystery. It paints a bright future for author Tracy Gardner and what promises to be a fabulous series.

I received an ARC of this intriguing book. I very much enjoyed it. It follows a women brought back home to her sisters and taking a new job. It puts her in the middle of a mystery she needs to solve. The story is well written and moves along nicely. I very much enjoyed it.

This is a Hallmark mystery and my first by this author. I enjoyed this mystery as everything Hallmark publishes is always enjoyable and well done. Thank you to Hallmark Publishing and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own.

I always enjoy mysteries about art and this was a outstanding art based cozy mystery.

The protagonist is Savanna, who moved back to her hometown to teach art at the local elementary school. Savanna has given up her prestigious art authentication job at a gallery in Chicago after her broken engagement to the owner.. She has a great talent for art. The town featured is a beautiful shoreside town on Lake Michigan which adds to the story greatly . Beneath the surface of the small idyllic town mysteries lie and when a murder occurs Savanna and her sisters find themselves involved. Savanna finds her art talents called into play and she proves to be a savvy investigator and may have found her new forte.

I loved the charcters, the small town and the enjoyment Savanna has for her work . Savanna is a smart savvy protagonist. I love a positive upbeat mystery and this is such a fun read. i look forward to further books in the series.