Pulp Friction by Julie Anne Lindsey is the second book in the Cider Shop Mystery series.  Now that Winnie and her grandmother have the orchard back on its feet.  Winnie is hosting the first wedding event.  The only problem is that the groom is drinking heavily and gets into a scuffle with Winnie's ex Hank.  When the groom is found dead shortly after, Hank is the main suspect and is also on the run.  Winnie jumps into the investigation and soon becomes the target of the killer.  I love the setting and characters in this series.  The mystery was strong enough with plenty of misdirection to have me questioning myself.  The book ended with a cliff hanger guaranteed to make you want to read the next installment.

Pulp Friction is a great follow-up to the series launch, Apple Cider Slaying. Following Lindey's Christmas-themed beginning to the series, it was a pleasure to read about Smythe Orchards in the spring, full of life (no pun intended) and promise for the seasons ahead. 

Readers looking to start this series, but don't want to read about Christmas in the summer months, could very well read Pulp Friction without having read Apple Cider Slaying. While the characters relationships carry over, there isn't any major plot points that would necessitate reading the series in order.

I recommend this series to readers looking for a charming whodunnit, as well as those interested in hobby farming or cider making.

This is the second story in the Cider Shop Mystery. I enjoyed the first story which features a cider shop in West Virginia. The story is very atmospheric and evocative of the small town, mountains and rural life of the characters. The tone is very down home and I enjoyed the peek into country life the author offers.

The characters are likable and suitably quirky, there's a sexy by-the-book law enforcer and a well-plotted mystery that takes some brain power to figure out. 

This story will definitely make you want to drink cider and maybe spend some time in the country.  It's a well-written book and a nice follow up to the first story in the series.

The ending hints at another series-wide mystery which gives the Cider Shop Mysteries some much welcomed depth and complexity.

This is the second book in the series but can be read as a stand alone. I had not read the previous book but it did not matter and I was able to follow everything clearly. Previous events were touched open so everything made sense.

This was a cosy murder mystery and easy to read. I did guess who had done it and was correct but there were plenty of red herrings and I definitely did not guess the why! 

I would read more in this series. Thank you for providing an arc.

I love seeing winnie finally getting to open her shop! I'd love to actually be able to visit there. In this book we see her ex in the hot seat. Great book!

Time for another mystery with Winona Mae Montgomery and her Granny Smythe, as they get happily to grips with running a cider shop on the old orchard farm. The outdoor beautiful, dignified wedding scenes framed by apple trees and wildflowers, really took my breath away at the start of PULP FRICTION. Winona is making income from hosting a wedding and doing the catering. She’d have liked the happiness to last beyond the first chapter, though.

Blossom Valley, Virginia used to be such a quiet spot. Then Winona split up with her ex-boyfriend Hank, put herself through college, and started this cider shop. Life hasn’t been the same since. A new police officer in town took on the post of sheriff and he’s been kept busy solving murders. We’ve no sooner met the cast than unpleasantness occurs and at the end of the evening, the new groom is found dead under his wedding car.

Since Hank has vanished, Winona thinks – as do others – that he may be on the run, either from his evil deed or because he knows something and is afraid. But Winona goes to quite extraordinary lengths for Hank during this tale, leading me to think that she still has feelings for him, even as she tells herself that Hank is just too good at manipulating her and getting what he wants. At the same time she is getting better acquainted with Sheriff Colton which puts her in some awkward spots.

The rest of the stunningly good cast include the town senior men and woman, some new faces attending the wedding, and Winona’s good friend Dot, a National Park Ranger and animal rescuer, who this time rescues some livestock bigger than kittens. This is getting to be my favourite mystery series and the Cider Shop Mystery books are only on the second one so far. The accomplished author Julie Anne Lindsey has also written the Geek Girl's Guide to Murder series which blends a tech-savvy lady with Renaissance fayres. Her work is going from strength to strength. I enjoy the outdoors setting so much in PULP FRICTION and we get to consider some home blends for spiced ciders. What could be nicer? Summer evenings and cold cider, a perfect combination.

Wow.  I just read this in ONE DAY. Which may not seem crazy, but for me that is some kind of record.  Needless to say, I loved it!  The writing is so perfect for a cozy mystery and the story is crafted in a way that grabs hold and doesn't let go.  The descriptions of Granny's apple orchard, the cider shop, and the town were so great that after the first book, I immediately researched an apple orchard to go visit, and now after this book I am brainstorming ideas of how to spice up some apple cider later this fall.
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The Cider Shop Mystery series is now solidified as one of my all time favorites!
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I was so excited that Winnie's dream of opening a Cider Shop was realized and I loved reading about it and imaging that I could visit sometime.  The descriptions of her different creations had my mouth watering and I loved how creative she is.  Unfortunately for her, another murder takes place in front of the shop, and practically under her nose! I love Winnie's drive to protect her shop's reputation, no matter how much danger it puts her in.
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Also we get a glimpse into Colton's past and I am so here for it! He is a complex character and I cannot wait for more of him!  His interactions with Winnie just seem so genuine and I love that he is the silent caring type. I also loved seeing more of her best friend Dot and some of the others in town.
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I am a naturally suspicious person, so I trust absolutely no one (except Winnie's inner circle), so I had some good ideas about who the murderer was, but there were so many other twists and aspects of the mystery that completely shocked and awe me.  I so appreciated how this mystery was laid out and the tricky windy path that Winnie takes to finally get at the truth.

Princess Fuzzypants here:  OMC!  Winnie has a habit of getting herself into real danger and it is a good things she has friends who come to her rescue.  This time the cider house is doing well.  In fact, she is hosting a wedding party.  But it is not all celebrations when the groom wanders off in a huff and ends up dead.  And things don’t look good for Winnie’s ex-boyfriend who was seen fighting with the groom and disappeared after the murder.
She doesn’t believe he is a killer but he has a bad habit of showing up unexpectedly in her home and refuses to give himself up.  Then there is the bridesmaid who also has scarpered off.  And even the bride herself is acting strangely.  Who is the victim and who is the criminal?  And what does it have to do with a hidden crop that is worth a ton of money?
With her propensity for getting into trouble, you might think it would slow Winnie down but our girl keeps going and going.  It makes for an exciting and entertaining read.
Five purrs and two paws up.

I enjoyed my first trip to the Smythe Orchard in West Virginia in Apple Cider Slaying, and was delighted to go back to see what Winnie, Granny Smythe and all their friends and acquaintances were up to. In this story Winnie is hosting a wedding at her Cider Shop. She notices her ex-boyfriend arguing with the groom and is not sure if it is about his closeness to one of the bridesmaids or something else entirely. Later during the reception, she hears a scream and runs to where the bride is cradling her groom who is dead, having been run over by a nearby truck. Hank has run and of course is the main suspect. Winnie is worried that this murder will put a black spot on the reputation of her Cider Shop, so she plans on doing a bit of investigating on the side.

There is a lot happening in this story that kept my interest high throughout.The mystery of the murder is front and center, but there are also other storylines involving relationships, fears and saving the Smythe Orchards. The mystery is well written with just enough red herrings to have me guessing. I loved the final reveal and takedown as well as the motive, which had me doing some research of my own. The characters are continuing to be developed as the series continues and I am looking forward to some of the budding relationships growing stronger. The puns and play on words with the characters adds just another bit of humour to this series. I am looking forward to the next book in this series and I definitely recommend it to cozy mystery lovers.

Winnie's cider shop is up and becoming a big hit.  Weddings are a new event but murder makes Winnie ex a prime suspect.  Winnie decides to solve this mystery putting herself in the sights of the killer.  Colton and her friends save her. She uses her head, and manages to bring Colton to them.  enjoyed the characters and plot.

Besides having a big mouth Winnie is a bit naive and jumps into situations without much thought. Lucky for her the sheriff has a soft spot for her. Her intuition is right on point and her sleuthing techniques ain’t bad she just gotta be more subtle with her questioning. Looking before she leaps should be a mantra for her. She seems to be a magnet for trouble, which makes the story very intriguing. With a killer on the loose, she needed to fit the puzzle pieces in their right spots before things become too deadly for her.

The first book in the Cider House mystery series was my favorite cozy series debut last year and this second book in this series was even better than the first one. 

The recurring characters are delightful (and I hope to see more of them), the West Virginia apple orchard setting is lovely, and murder at a wedding is an interesting spin.

Absolutely loved this book!! Highly recommended for cozy mystery fans!!

Dollycas’s Thoughts

We are back in Blossom Valley just in time for a wedding at Smythe Orchards. Winnie’s is so excited to have her new cider shop used for weddings and local events. She knows this is the way to make the orchard fruitful and helps keep the place open year-round. But this time, the wedding ends on a sour note, and Winnie’s ex Hank right in the middle of it. He had a dust-up earlier with the groom and now that groom is dead. Winnie knows she should stay out of it but finds herself slicing through the clues to juice the real killer before Hank winds up behind bars.

I loved the first book in this series, Apple Cider Slaying, and couldn’t wait to get my hands on this book. The author exceeded my expectations.

I find Winona Mae Montgomery to be an excellent protagonist. She is smart, and for the most part, thinks things through but like all amateur sleuths just sometimes finds herself in the thick of things she never imagined could happen when she leaps into something. Her friend Dot is a reliable sidekick and a strong character in her own right. Winnie is close to her grandmother and they make a great team running the orchard. We learn some new things about Sheriff Colton Wise as he and Winnie grow closer. Hank is still hanging around and is sometimes his own worst enemy. They are also several animal characters that have their own unique personalities. What I love is all the characters are engaging and realistic in their own ways. They continue to grow and become more endearing.

The mystery was very intriguing and unfolded at a perfect pace throughout the book. There were plenty of suspects and twists and turns and a real edge of your seat moment to grab my attention and hold on tight. I wasn’t totally surprised when the killer was revealed but I had discarded this person earlier.

I love the apple orchard theme. I love visiting local orchards and we can never have enough apples in the house.

A well-plotted mystery, wonderful characters, and a terrific setting make Pulp Friction a must-read.

I do encourage you to read Apple Cider Slaying too so you can get to know these characters from the beginning.

Winona Mae Montgomery should be enjoying a quiet peaceful life running her cider shop in her grandmother's orchard with her cats Kenny Rogers and Dolly.  However, she decided to use her barn as a wedding venue and her first wedding was going great until someone was murdered. Since her ex-boyfriend is the top suspect she now finds herself involved in a murder investigation.

This story is a great mixture of friendship, mystery, unsuspected twists, romantic tension and a cliffhanger. Thanks to Kensington and NetGalley for an ARC. The opinions expressed are my own.

I loved this book and found it very well written. I enjoyed reading it and also loved the characters. Looking forward to reading more from this author.

Welcome to Blossom Creek where Winnie Mae Montgomery saved her Granny's orchard by opening up a cider stand and event venue opened year round. And also solved a murder. She's enjoying hosting a June wedding  that could really get her business the right kind of word of mouth. That is until the groom is found dead during the reception and her ex is in the crosshairs as the perpetrator. That gets Winnie's juices flowing, especially the crime solving ones. Thoroughly enjoyable book with a well plotted mystery and engaging character. Totally fun read! Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

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<blockquote>Thanks to Winnie's new cider shop, Smythe Orchards is out of the red and folks can get their fix of the produce and other delectable products they love all year round. The locals are even booking the shop for events, including a June wedding! Winnie couldn’t be happier to see the barn filled to the rafters for the big bash—until her doting ex, Hank, is caught in a heated argument with the groom. Winnie plans to scold Hank after the party, but spots him running off instead. And when the groom turns up dead, apparently hit by the honeymoon getaway car, Hank is the main suspect. Now Hank is on the lam, and it’s up to Winnie to get to the core of the truth—before the real killer puts the squeeze on her . . .</blockquote>

<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51064907-pulp-friction"><em>Pulp Friction</em></a> is the sequel to Julie Anne Lindsey's <em>Apple Cider Slaying</em>, and I'm honestly so stoked. After the murders and struggles at Christmas, Winnie has finally got her cider shop up and running! So successfully in fact that she even opens it up as a wedding venue – which turns out not to be as good for business as she hoped, because the groom gets murdered in her orchard.

I really enjoyed it! I like Winnie's relationships with her family and friends, and I'm so glad to see Dot and her menagerie being a large part of the story again. (I am a little disappointed that I guessed wrong on Chekhov's Alpaca, but I was <em>close</em>.) The fact that Winnie is constantly supporting and being supported by her friends and family really makes me happy, and the way that she's still learning from and about the people she's known for decades felt really realistic to me! As did her non-traditional path through higher education, because quite frankly Winnie running her own busines <em>and</em> trying to survive Finals week is heroic on its own. I was also quite amused by the introduction of Hank's sister as the more traditional style of "No, we're going to investigate this ourselves!" cozy investigator when Winnie was quite prepared to leave her sleuthing days behind her. The feeling of a small town where you'll know someone who knows everyone still works, although apparently I now twitch whenever a character treats NRA stickers or posters as a neutral background detail! No, I don't understand it either, I will count it as my completely unrelated gripe for this review instead of the inexplicable heteronormativity.

On that note, the potential reunion with Winnie's ex, Hank, that was set up at the end of the last book, is immediately quashed at the start of <em>Pulp Friction</em>, in favour of more <em>very</em> slow burn with the Sheriff. I found Hank <em>exceptionally</em> frustrating as a character, which I think I was supposed to, but also <em>ugh</em>. The Sheriff however has grown on me, and I'm genuinely fond of his deadpan humour and worry about Winnie. The c-plot about a reporter sniffing around with a crush on Winnie's grandmother made more sense when it became plot relevant, but otherwise I was just kinda put off by people teasing a grandmother about Some Dude who couldn't take a hint. (Again, this is probably going to end in heteronormativity, and I don't know how considering all of Granny Smythe's weaponised needlework friends are <em>right there</em>.)

As for the main plot: I liked the set-up a lot, and the investigation itself was interesting, but the ending and its villain monologues didn't quite hang together for me, I think because so much of it hinges on guesswork for so long, and because the motives for the <em>initial</em> set of crimes felt baffling to me. Plus, the way that so much of the plot depended on characters going into hiding despite it only making things <em>worse</em> for them swung between believable and artificially slowing down the plot, so I can't say for certain how well the pacing is going to work for anyone else. However I can say that the tension and the actual <em>investigation</em> were really well done; I accidentally mainlined the middle third of <em>Pulp Friction</em> in a couple of hours because I didn't want to put it down. Plus the narration manages to be funny and heartwarming; I'm dearly fond of Winnie and her approach to life.

One thing that I will note is that I believe that Julie Anne Lindsey's other series are suspense titles, and it <em>really</em> shows here. The ending (and the Sheriff's backstory) is very much set up to a sequel, and tonally it feels much more like a thriller than it does a cozy mystery. This isn't bad! I found it very effective, especially for the way tension builds, I just hadn't expected "cozy" and "suspense" to go together quite this well.

The long and the short of it is that I really enjoyed <em>Pulp Friction</em>, it was a fun sequel to a book that I really liked, and now I'm desperately shaking Goodreads to try to make the third book come out faster.

[This review is based on an ARC from Netgalley.]

Winona Mae Montgomery (Winnie to family and friends) thinks she has put trouble behind her. She managed to solve a murder, get her Granny off of the police suspect list for it and now the family orchard is financially in the black. On top of that the orchard, Smythe Orchards, is becoming known far and wide for its yummy offerings and now as a venue for local events. Winnie is looking forward to a wedding being held on their property. Great for business, right? Wrong. Winnie's ex-boyfriend, Hank, shows up and, at the wedding, has a harsh exchange with the groom. When Hank storms off, that should have been the end of it. Instead it turns out to be the end of the groom and the police (the sheriff is Winnie's current boyfriend) are laser focused on arresting Hank for murder. Winnie may not love Hank the way she used to but that isn't any reason to sit back and let him take the rap so she sets out to track down the real killer.
The mystery kept me engaged from beginning to end and I was happy with the various twists and turns plus the red herrings that kept me from guessing the killers identity. Winnie, her granny, Delilah, Colton, all are well developed characters. I'm already looking forward to another visit to Blossom Valley and the Smythe Orchards.

Loved it. This is a delightful series. An interesting variety of characters. A clever murder mystery. A hint of a possible romance. I look forward to reading the next one. Entertaining and engaging cozy.

This second installment in the cider shop series is another sweet success. Winnie hosts a wedding for a local bride from a prominent family and her groom who are both now living in Louisville, Kentucky. The joy quickly ends when he is found dead on the side of the barn and Winnie's ex-boyfriend Hank has suspiciously fled the scene after being awfully close to one of the bridesmaids. Although Sheriff Wise warns her not to get involved with the investigation, this mystery hits really close to her home and possibly her heart.

This series has quickly become one of my favorites. Winnie is a strong female main character, not one to shy away from hard work, plus I really admire her devotion and loyalty to her grandmother who not only raised her from childhood, but also remains her highest priority. Her best friend Dot, a park ranger and lover of all animals, is fun, spunky, but also has the ability to reign Winnie in when she sees her starting to cross the line of interfering with police business; that is, if she sees her. Winnie and Sheriff Wise, now known more by his first name Colton to her, continue to build trust and friendship moving forward. Interesting plot twists and a motive for murder I never saw coming. Read in two sittings. Eagerly awaiting the next installment!!

Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for an ARC of this book.  My review is voluntary.