Is love blind?
Spring is on the horizon as South Cove prepares for an Irish themed festival. and Amy prepares for her wedding. Aunt Jackie is still in the bloom of honeymoon happiness and bookstore owner Jill and top cop boyfriend continue to adjust to live-in couple status.
Even psychic neighbor Esmerelda seems to have (more than usual) secret relationships.
Not every relationship or marriages is shiny and fresh.
When a frequent visitor to the shop ends up dead in a new business is the spouse to blame?
He is one of two main suspects.
The beloved (by some) questionable by others comes under scrutiny.
Who will be sent fleeing from town?
Will Amy make it down the aisle?
Twists and zags will keep you speculating until the very end.

4 stars! Another very entertaining book by Lynn Cahoon. I love the small town South Cove setting, it seems like the kind of place where people help each other out, i wish I could visit! Highly recommended if you’re looking for a light weekend read.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed as in this review are completely my own.

A Tourist Trap Mystery Book 12.

A visitor is found dead in the local paint studio. The number one suspect is Esmerelda, the local police station receptionist and fortune teller. Will Jill and Greg be able to prove their neighbor is innocent?

This is a fun and friendly cozy mystery! I loved the characters and how they interacted with each other. It made them feel real and personal which helped me to connect with them. Jill was always busy doing something as she visited with people to find out the answers to her questions about the murder. It made the story continue to move forward even though they were at a standstill about what happened. It did bother me that it never said what the motive was for the murder. Anyway, I can’t wait to read more of the series! This was the first book I’ve read from the series and it was fine to read as a stand-alone. There is a recipe for Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake at the end of the book. Yumm! I would highly recommend this book to all cozy mystery lovers!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review!

First, I have to apologize for the lateness of this review. I'm just now emerging from the Covid hibernation. I’ve followed this series from the beginning. I feel like I know everyone of the characters as a friend. I like that the characters don’t just stay static with the same friends, jobs, romances. They are like real people with changing friendships, changes in jobs, new problems with new solutions. I can’t wait for the next book in the series.

Picture Perfect Frame

by Lynn Cahoon

Spring has arrived in South Cove, a small coastal town in California. Tourists are showing up, and businesses are gearing up for the St. Patrick’s Day Street Fair and the many festivals that will follow. Jill, avid reader and owner of Coffee, Books, and More, stays busy juggling her personal life centered around Emma her Pomeranian and Greg her boyfriend who heads up the police department. Her staff, including a new member Evie, work well together sharing responsibilities and functioning as a family. Jill’s best friend Amy is a bit of a bridezilla as she sets ups a second attempt at the perfect wedding; her fiancée’s family cancelled on the first scheduled ceremony.

Despite Jill’s acclaimed lack of creativity, she and Greg attend a painting event at the new Drunken Art Studio. Jill is unable to follow the directions that should result in a seascape, but her strengths as a nosey informal investigator are in full display when one of the guests shows up dead at the studio the next day.

Esmeralda, who handles administrative tasks for Greg, is a self-proclaimed psychic and also Jill’s neighbor; she is accused of the murder. Jill is convinced that the laid back Esmeralda, who catches flies and drives them to the mountains to release them, is innocent. Jill devotes herself to finding the real killer. In the process she discovers that some of her suspects have pasts they want to keep hidden as well as motives for killing the victim. Clearly, one of them is a murderer, and the identity is a surprise. There is also a happy personal twist at the end of Picture Perfect Frame that both provides closure and segues into the next book in the series.

I would like to extend my thanks to NetGalley and to Kensington Books for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: Mystery

Notes: 1. #12 in the Tourist Trap Mystery Series. Lynn Cahoon is good at providing background so it could be read as a standalone, but there are a lot of references to characters in previous books. My advice: Go back and read some of the earlier books in the series first. It is worth the time and effort.
2. Includes a delicious sounding recipe for “Chocolate Gooey Butter Cake.”

Publication: March 16, 2021—Kensington

Memorable Lines:

“As a lawyer, a lot of times the decisions the courts made weren’t about the truth. I don’t want someone to die and have the wrong person in jail for it. Or worse, for no one to be brought to justice. It doesn’t seem right.”

“I’ve always heard you can’t run from your problems because everywhere you go, you’re still there.”

“Of course we’ll schedule that lunch.” And then she opened the book and started reading. As a reader, I knew a dismissal when I saw it. I’d done it to others before too.

I enjoyed this trip to South Cove just as much as I've enjoyed my other trips. Another new business is opening in town which means new characters and us getting to meet them along with Jill., Amy and Justin are both being weirded out by the incoming wedding, Aunt Jackie is safely married and something even odder than normal is going on with Esmeralda. Then of course there is a murder. While I don't think this is the strongest mystery in the series, it was so satisfying on so many other levels I didn't even mind, I just love spending time with these characters.

This is a well-plotted cozy mystery. Even without a large suspect pool the twists and turns keeps the reader guessing. This characters are well-developed and likable. Great read for fans of the series but can also be enjoyed as a stand-alone for cozy mystery fans.

All thoughts and opinions are my own, and in no way have I been influenced by anyone.

Jill Gardner attends a paint-and-sip event at the newest Main Street business where, sadly, her brushstrokes convince her that she is not another Picasso Most of the time the event is fun, sharing time with her fiancé and friends, but one couple is more into sipping than painting. Greg, her cop fiancé, keeps an eye on them and is happy to see that they will not be driving back to the B&B where they are staying. But how did the wife get back to the art shop and turn up dead the next morning? And why?

The story is filled with Jill's efforts to "help" Greg in the murder investigation as well as prepare for her BFF's wedding and start planning her own. The mystery was fun and the interactions of the characters was enjoyable as always!

My rating: 1 of 5 stars, just meh.

Book 12 in the series.

I love this series, and have since I first stumbled across it in my local library. But lately I haven't been so thrilled. First there were all the holiday themed novellas that scrambled the time line, and then there was the somewhat of a cliff hanger of Aunt Jackie's weird behavior. But we got answers there, and a full length book, so I was happier.

This one disappointed me again. It just didn't keep my attention for long. I found myself putting it down for other books, before picking it up again days later. I finally finished, but it was a struggle.

I was hopeful that with this one, all the wedding blather would end, between Aunt Jackie's previous bridezilla behavior and now Amy's wedding. But it sure looks like Jill and Greg will be next up, so so much for that. Honestly, I'm sick of weddings and all the planning and money spent on them, even in fiction!

I will wait and hope for a better story in the next one though, because I really do love South Cove and the characters.

This was a fun cozy mystery and a nice distraction. This was a new series to me, but cozy mysteries are the one thing I find I can read out of order and it didn’t hinder my enjoyment at all. I loved the cafe/bookshop as a setting and the characters were unique and very interesting. The mystery was a little slow at times for me, but overall I did enjoy it. I saw the ending coming but the mystery was cute, I really liked Esmerelda with her vague predictions that were always spot on! Every town needs someone connected to the supernatural and this book found her being accused of a murder the amateur sleuth, Jill, is positive she did not commit. Luckily she has such a talented sleuth on her side and Jill takes the case!

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!

Familiar setting and characters make for an easy and enjoyable afternoon's read. These cozies won't set the genre on fire but they don't disappoint either.

There is a new shop in town where Jill is invited for a paint-and sip events. But the next day, one of the attendees that looked very drunk the previous night is found murdered in the shop. When one of Jill's friend is looking like a suspect, Jill can't help but start investigating. The book was as usual for that series entertaining and the twist in the end makes me look forward to the next book.

Jill is always happy to do what she can for any new business and that is why she attends a paint-and-sip event when it's normally something she wouldn't care for because she is definitely not a painter. She's having fun though because she is joined by her boyfriend and friends. Everyone seems to be having fun until an unruly couple causes a scene. The couple seems to be under the influence of alcohol so the business owner sends the two off with a designated driver. When the wife of the drunk couple is found dead the next day at the business from the night before Jill is shocked. The couple was from out of town so who would have wanted the woman dead. Jill wants to investigate but her plate is full with her business, helping her best friend with wedding plans, and just life in general. She is determined to do what she can though, especially when her neighbor is brought into the whole mess. Dive in and see if Jill can figure out who the culprit is and why they resorted to.murder!

Picture Perfect Frame is another winning installment in Lynn Cahoon’s Tourist Trap mystery series. And although this is the 12th book in the series, both the mystery and the hometown charm feel fresh and vibrant. And South Cove, California is the picture-perfect setting.

Jill Gardner, owner of Coffee, Books and More, and her boyfriend Detective Greg King are enjoying an evening out at a local “paint and pour” studio, joined by several friends and also tourists Steve Gunter and his wife, Nan, who imbibes too much and disrupts the session. When Nan is found dead at the studio the next morning, suspicion falls on Esmeralda as Nan was a client of her fortune-telling services. Could Esmeralda have committed the crime? Or is this a picture-perfect frame-up?

Tourist Trap is one of my favorite cozy mystery series. The warm, hometown atmosphere of South Cove makes you feel like you are visiting with old friends. Jill, Greg, Aunt Jackie, Toby, Deek, and Amy are almost like members of the family. But not only is this series the ultimate in cozy, the mystery, too, is top-notch, with enough twists and turns – and viable suspects – to keep you guessing throughout. I do wish less time had been spent on the subplot involving bride-to-be Amy. The “misunderstanding” could easily have been cleared up if she had just talked with Justin. There were no misunderstandings between Greg and Jill however, but we’ll have to wait to find out just what will happen on their next adventure!

Picture Perfect Frame is a delightful cozy mystery that lives up to the high bar set by its predecessors. Like a good wine, this series keeps getting better and better. I can’t wait to read the next installment!

Note: I received an ARC of Picture Perfect Frame from NetGalley and Kensington Books. The above is my honest review.

Princess Fuzzypants here: This is a long running series that has kept my interest thanks to the rich characters and the development of their relationships. The staff at Coffee, Books and More are like family as are the employees at the cop shop. So it is always a pleasure to see where their lives are taking them. And this time, there is a lot going on.

Amy has turned into Bridezilla before her upcoming nuptials, her anxieties not being assuaged by her well meaning but clueless groom to be. Jill is breaking in a new employee and juggling with her newly married aunt. And there is a new business in town where a tourist is found murdered. No one can figure out why this happened but the bereaved husband thinks Esmeralda caused it with readings she had done for the woman. Of course, with Esmeralda out of commission it affects not only her friends but the entire police department when they need all hands on deck.

Jill’s curiosity gets the better of her and she cannot resist snooping. Everyone, including her detective boyfriend, know they cannot stop her but at least, she shares intel and when things begin to get threatening, she takes the danger seriously. There is lots of intrigue and double dealing and secrets to go around. When the killer is revealed, the crime was committed for a pretty basic reason. But I am not going to reveal more. You will just have to read the book.

I cannot judge if the book would be good as a standalone since I have followed all the stories. I would suggest if you are looking for a new series with lots of material, you could find a good one here. Four purrs and two paws up.

Welcome to South Cove, a northern California coastal town where Jill and friends spend an evening at the local art studio with a little paint and sip event where tension saturates the room just as much as the paint saturates the canvas. Jill is actually pretty good with handling tension as she helps her BFF get ready for her wedding day in addition Jill not only manages a coffee/book shop but she also manages to keep honeymoon secrets, faith in her psychic friend/neighbor Esmeralda, and her wits when she is asking questions and hunting down clues. This time it seems that Jill needs to watch her back more than usual which keeps her roommate-boyfriend-Chief of Police close at hand to keep an eye on her. I found myself wanting to caution Jill but was happy to see that she did not take unnecessary risks as she has in the past. The character is so well written/created you cannot help but to develop reactions as you read the story. I was also very happy with the ending and hope that there are still a few more Tourist Trap Mysteries in store for us readers. As always, a recipe is located at the conclusion of the story and this one looks to be quite decadent and ooey gooey!

Picture Perfect Frame is a very well written cozy mystery. A well crafted plot and good character dynamics. Mystery fans will love this book.

Picture Perfect Frame by Lynn Cahoon is book twelve in the A Tourist Trap Mystery series. It can be read as a stand alone.
This well written Cozy has everything needed in a Cozy. There are plenty of twists and turns, relatable characters, humor, relationships, a lovable pet, great location (you will think you are on the beach), romance, and this one has a wedding. I didn't want to put it down!
I was given an ARC by Kensington via NetGalley for an honest review.

Picture Perfect Frame by Lynn Cahoon is the 12th A Tourist Trap Mystery. While Picture Perfect Frame can be read as a standalone, I do not recommend this as your first foray into A Tourist Trap Mysteries (Guidebook to Murder is a good place to start). It can be confusing in the beginning with the large cast of characters (trying to learn who each one is and their various relationships). Picture Perfect Frame contains Lynn Cahoon’s easy breezy writing style. Returning to South Cove, California is like visiting old friends. There is a diverse cast of characters from Jill to Esmerelda. The characters are developed and continue to evolve. There is a new business in South Cove run by Meredith Cole and her husband, Neal called Drunken Art Studio. They host paint-and-sip events. Jill, Greg, Amy, Justin, and others attend including Jill’s new barista, Evie Marshall. The evening is disturbed by an out-of-towner who enjoyed the sip part of the event a little too much. Early the next morning, the drunken painter is found dead inside the studio by Meredith. The victim’s husband is quick to point the finger at Esmerelda who has been acting odd recently. Jill and Greg know that Esmerelda is innocent, but it will be tricky to prove it. I thought the mystery was straightforward with a couple of suspects along with subtle clues. Jill did some sleuthing, but she did not do as much as in previous tales. I wish Jill had a more active role from beginning to end. She is busy at Coffee, Books, and More which is bustling with business plus helping Amy with her upcoming nuptials. Amy has turned into a bridezilla that does not have a stop button. Jill must calm Amy down and talk her off the ledge several times. Personally, I found the wedding planning overshadowing the mystery and the wedding details became tiresome after a while (Jill is a much more patient woman than I am). We also get to know the newest member of the Jill’s staff, Evie Marshall. She is new to town with her dog, Homer. Evie has ties to a former member of the staff. There is also the normal eating, drinking, chatting, and runs along the beach with Emma. The ending of Picture Perfect Frame leaves us with an unfortunate, but highly anticipated cliffhanger. While I found it sweet, I also found it frustrating. Picture Perfect Frame is a quick and easy book to read. I like how the series has progressed since the beginning. I look forward to the next A Tourist Trap Mystery. Picture Perfect Frame is a charming cozy mystery with wedding woes, a jammed-up medium, a freaked-out friend, a honeymoon hurdle, a drained detective, a blobby beach scene, a bonanza of books, and a cliffhanger at the conclusion.