This book was enjoyable to read. It was set in a charming town and featured personable characters. It fit the definition of cozy mystery to a t: small town setting and an amateur sleuth as its protagonist. The perpetrator of the murder near the end of the story came as a surprise to me. I highly recommend this book to other cozy mystery readers.

Peaches and Schemes is the third book in Anna Gerard's series set in a B & B. I jumped at the opportunity to read this as I have read the previous one, Peachy Scream though not the series début, Peach Clobbered.

To ensure the success of the Fleet House B & B in Cymbeline, Georgia has decided to broaden the services she offers and is adding receptions and weddings to her range. She is spreading the word by taking part in the Veils and Vanities Bridal Expo, taking place at Cymbeline High School, held twice a year and sponsored by Virgie Hamilton, the owner of Virgie’s Formals, and Roxanna Quarry, a Gen X event planner. All is going well until Roxanna tumbles out of a prop wedding cake. She appears to have been strangled to death, her own scarf wrapped around her neck...

Peaches and Schemes was a compelling, charming, fun cosy read. The cast is quirky, and protagonist Nina is spirited, peppy and amusing. The town of Cymbeline is filled with a terrific bunch of folks, and I really liked Harry Westcott who supported Nina in the story. There was plenty of drama to the highly entertaining plot, the mystery itself was well done and there were enough red herrings and twists to keep my armchair detective cravings satisfied. Nina has a curious relationship with Harry and I’m intrigued to see how it plays out in future books. Overall, Peaches and Schemes is a marvellous cozy and a very worthwhile read.

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my request from Crooked Lane via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

This is my first book in the Georgia B&B series. I enjoyed the storyline.

Nina Fleet is trying to market her B&B, Fleet House, as a wedding destination. She joins the bridal expo being hosted in the small town of Cymbeline, GA in hopes to get her presence known among brides-to-be. Unfortunately, at the expo Nina's friend is murdered and stuffed into a prop cake. They arrest the friend's business partner and Nina is sure they have the wrong person, so she works to solve the mystery herself.

This was good as far as cozies go and I appreciated the fact that Nina has a dog. I liked the descriptions of the town and the B&B. There was just something lacking in terms of me wanting to return to this place and seek out other books in the series. I am sure fans of the series already will enjoy this one and it is a good book to while away an afternoon with.

This was a well paced mystery with great action and plot twists. The characters were fleshed out and loveable, and I loved the romantic tension and humor in the book.

Peaches and Schemes by Anna Gerard is book three in the A Georgia B&B Mystery series. I love this series!
This time, Nina has set up a display for her B&B at a wedding expo hoping to book some weddings. During the fianle of the wedding gown fashion show, her new friend, Roxanna, is discovered murdered in a wedding cake prop.. Nina starts asking questions and might also end up like Roxanna.
This easy to read Cozy has plenty of suspects, relatable characters, humor and the start of a romance.
I was given an ARC from Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley for an honest review.

For Nina and Harry’s romantic attraction to each other, age was just a number. They complement each other and make an excellent sleuthing pair. Nina rarely believes in coincidence and with the surprising death of her friend, something was definitely wrong. I love the way she approached her investigation leaving nothing and no one unscathed. Nina had a natural ability to dig and get to the truth, which was how she was such a great investigator. In this cozy, she was at her best, sprained ankle and all.

Peaches and Schemes by Anna Gerard is the third book in Georgia B&B and I have to say not my favorite one.

While I love Nina investigating I prefer when she does her sleuthing with Harry, the main supporting protagonist. He adds the certain element of fun and different points of view and it is really interesting to hear them sounding out various ideas. Unfortunately it was not the case in this book.
There weren't that many characters and they all took a back seat and I found it lacking in this book. It was somehow bland.
The story was solid as always even though the culprit was quite obvious.
Furthermore I enjoyed Harry's predicament with a certain lady.
I was expecting that relationship between Nina and Harry would develop further by this point but it was not the case. I have to admit that it was a bit disappointing.
All in all a solid story.

While I received a free copy of this e-book from the publisher (via netgalley) all opinions remain my own.

I thought this was a fun mystery to read. The characters seemed real enough and relatable. Once I started, the pages seemed to turn themselves. The book had a fast pace but not so fast as to make you miss stuff. I really enjoyed that you didn't need to have read books 1 and 2 to understand it. Each of these books has a story of its own and that is a big plus for me.

Princess Fuzzypants here: B & B owner, Nina, joins a wedding expo to help build her place as a wedding destination. Her friend, Roxanne, is one of the planners. But shortly after Nina overhears an argument between Roxanne and Virgie, the other planner,, her friend tumbles out of a giant mock wedding cake- dead. Virgie quickly becomes the prime suspect and when she is released on bail, she disappears. Nina is convinced it is someone else to blame. And while she rescues Roxanne’s dog and takes him home, she finds numerous reasons to believe she is on the right track.

There is no doubt when there is an attempt on her life but it takes the efforts of her tenant and others who believe Virgie is innocent to search for the truth. It is all revealed in an exciting conclusion but I must admit I had the killer pegged from the beginning. The motive and the backstory however were a complete surprise and only enhanced my enjoyment.

I have liked the way Nina’s relationships have evolved, particularly with Harry. From nemesis to friend to who knows what, it has been fun watching them dance around each other. And the animals, even if they are only dogs, are a huge plus. You could read this story as a standalone or better still, pick up the thread from the start. It’s a keeper and a great summer read.

Five purrs and two paws up.

I think I love this book the best so far in the series! I never in a million years thought I'd come to love Harry's character so much when I first met him in book one. But he went above and beyond to prove that maybe sometimes he's really got a good heart that's not scheming something.

Harry happened to be back staying at the B&B, and Nina was surprised to run into him at a trade show. I had to laugh at his new venture, a hired plus one. And boy did he get in over his head with his first and only job! Nina's friend was murdered at a wedding expo fashion show, and she was going to stop at nothing to bring her justice and also prove that an older lady who was the woman's biz partner wasn't a killer. Nina was worried about a stalker being the killer and was trying to avoid a certain car. The dead woman's dog Gus was so darn sweet, I was hoping Nina would get to keep him, since he was already Mattie's playdate buddy. But Gus did get a good ending.

This showdown was absolutely epic and kind of typically Harry. But it took all the ingenuity of the parties involved to pull it off successfully. Luckily, it worked out and two people got a surprise happily ever after, while two more people were starting to realize something good. What a sweet and fitting ending! Have a few tissues handy for the happy kind of eye-leakage!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

This is the first novel I've read in the cozy Georgia B&B mystery series. While knowing what happened in the previous novels might have helped understand character actions in this one, I felt this story read well on its own. I do like an amateur sleuth and Nina (pronounced nine-ah) is a good one. When someone she knows is strangled, a friend of Nina's is arrested for the crime. Nina must uncover the real murderer by unraveling tangled relationships.

The characters were drawn well. Some were quirky, like Nina's sort of side kick, Harry. He's developing an interesting business. Having appeared in past movies, though not a star, he offers to act as a male companion to women needing one – in public settings only. Need a boyfriend at a family reunion? He's your man. But it does get him in some trouble as he and Nina get closer to revealing the villain.

I like to learn something when I read a novel and was introduced to trypophobia in this one. It describes a person's reaction to seeing a cluster of holes or dots. While unusual, the phobia did play a role in keeping the wrong person from being held for the murder.

This is a good cozy mystery for readers who like an amateur sleuth investigating relationships, both past and present, to solve the mystery. Gerard's writing style is easy to follow making this novel a good cozy mystery.

I received a complimentary egalley of this book from the publisher. My comments are an independent and honest review.

Peaches and Schemes by Anna Gerard is a brilliant mystery with a perfectly plotted crime. The characters are so wonderfully flawed and yet wonderful.

Who killed Roxanne, and what happened to Virgie?

Nina Fleet
Our sleuth is Nina, the ex-wife of a professional golfer and current bed and breakfast owner-operator. This installation brings with it some changes for Nina. Ones that aren't as easy to handle, yet she does a fine job dealing with them. Nina didn't find the body, but she ends up involved without even realizing it at first. Then, of course, later, she is out to find the culprit.

Nina is hurt during the course of the story and must rely on the assistance of Harry, who is still staying at the B&B (free of charge).

Harry Wescott
Harry has the perfect way to use his acting skills and make money now. He calls the business Plus1. If you need someone to attend a family, professional, or other function with you, look no further. Harry is here to play whatever type of boyfriend, friend, or whatever type of person you need for the right fee. Although, this time, he meets his match with a local doctor who expects more than even Harry is willing to do. When he isn't helping Nina, his time is spent with the good doctor.

The Mystery
Nina is attending the local bridal fair when she inadvertently overhears two private conversations involving people that Nina knows. Nina is still new in town and hasn't made all the local connections and such yet. So, these two overheard conversations put her in a very awkward position. Then her friend, Roxanne, is found dead in a giant cake that is the big finale. Now the first question is, was it an accident or murder? Well, come on, what do you think? So, Nina gets involved and to find out what happened to her friend.

Five Stars
I like that this series is different from many other mysteries that I have read with B&B owners. I like that Harry has situated himself in Nina's life. The two of them are cute together. I like when he calls her Secret Squirrel. My rating for Peaches and Schemes by Anna Gerard is five stars.

I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy from the Great Escapes Book Tours. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Thank you for dropping by! I hope you enjoyed this review of Peaches and Schemes by Anna Gerard.

Until the next time,
~Jen

If you would like to see other reviews like this one, check out BaronessBookTrove.com.

Dollycas’s Thoughts

To ensure the success of her Fleet House B&B Nina (Nine-A) has decided to add weddings and receptions to the services she will offer. She is hoping members are the wedding parties will want to stay at the B&B too. To get the word out she takes part in the semi-annual Veils and Vanities Bridal Expo sponsored by Virgie Hamilton, the sixtysomething owner of Virgie’s Formals, and Roxanna Quarry, a Gen X event planner. Her booth has been busy with brides-to-be asking for information. Nina is about to declare the event a success when the fashion show part of the event takes a deadly turn. During the big finale Nina’s new friend, Roxanna tumbles out of a prop wedding cake. She appears to have been strangled to death, the murder weapon, her own scarf.

There had been tension between the two event sponsors. Nina even overhears Virgie accuse Roxanna of stealing funds from their partnership. When she tells the police they believe that is enough motive to arrest Virgie for the murder.

Nina has a little stress in her life too as she learns her ex-husband is getting married again. Plus, Harry Wescott is still staying at her B&B and he seems to have a new money-making scheme he may soon come to regret. She has also decided to move Roxanna’s dog into the B&B until a new home is found. On top of all that she is of course digging into the murder investigation because while Virgie had the motive, means, and opportunity to kill her partner, Nina doesn’t think she is a killer. The trouble is she knows she is on the actual killer’s radar and that may prove to be a dangerous place to be.

Ms. Gerard has created some wonderful characters. I have enjoyed Nina from the start and in this third Georgia B&B Mystery Harry Westcott really surprised me and in a good way. He is still a schemer but he is really there for Nina this time. They are turning out to be a great team and maybe more . . . I don’t want to get ahead of myself or the author with this thinking. I do love their back and forth dialogue and his “Secret Squirrel” nickname for her. The new characters she introduced for this story are diverse and all brought something interesting to the mystery. As always the animal characters made my heart happy.

Again this author delivers a well-plotted and well-written mystery with multiple possibilities. I was very caught up in all the action and the actual guilty party never landed on my suspect list. The big reveal was full of surprise and suspense. Nina really didn’t know her friend Roxanna as well as she thought she did and that added some really intriguing twists including one that stuck very close to home. The ending was really a melancholy moment but by the final word, things seem to be looking up.

I have to say the author set a great pace with the entire story. There wasn’t a time I ever thought about putting the book down, except to sleep, and I couldn’t wait to get right back into the story the next evening and stay tuned in for a satisfying and exciting conclusion.

Peaches and Schemes was a Perfect Escape. Excellent characters, a captivating mystery, a wedding, a little romantic tension, and humor liberally placed throughout kept me entertained from beginning to end. I am so excited to see where Ms. Gerard takes her characters and her readers next.

Though this is the third book in the series about the owner of a small Georgia B&B which seems prone to being at the centre of murder investigations, I don’t think you miss out on too much background if you step into the series here. It was pretty easy for me to get a handle on Nina (pronounced NINE-ah - which I confess made me suspect her of pretentiousness right from the first page). Formerly married to a successful pro golfer, she got enough money in the divorce settlement to purchase Fleet House, her B&B, and is now working on making a go of it… which leads her to attend the local bridal expo as a stallholder, trying to promote her B&B as a charming wedding venue. When Nina’s friend, wedding planner Roxanne, is found dead at the climax of the bridal show, Nina’s already involved, like it or not, because just a little while earlier Nina heard a row between Roxanne and bridal shop owner Virgie. A row which could provide a motive for murder.

This is multi-layered, more so than most cozy mysteries I’ve met, without losing any of the charm they’re generally known for. There were a lot of moving parts in play which the author very deftly managed, not allowing the reader to find out until the climax what was a red herring and what was a crucial plot point. There’s also something which might be a very slow-burn romance going on between Nina and sort-of-tenant Harry, but frankly I don’t think Nina’s in the right headspace for a relationship at the present time. Maybe it’ll come to fruition in later books… once Nina’s managed to get past the specter of her ex’s high-profile wedding.

The only thing I had a bit of an issue with was Nina herself; the name pronunciation thing put my back up a bit right at the beginning because it felt so pretentious, and then the name of actress Sofía Vergara was mis-spelt as Sophia on the second page, which also made me feel kind of twitchy. This isn’t one of those romances set in the South which turns out to be inexplicably all-white in casting, thankfully; it’s actually a pretty diverse cast with representation from multiple characters of color, LGBT characters, and even a character with a significant disability who has a major part to play in the plot finale.

Overall this is well-written, but I did struggle to engage with Nina as the protagonist; she came off pretentious and privileged. I’ll give it four stars.

4.5 stars

This is third book in the Georgia B&B series by Anna Gerard.

Nina and Harry are back in another jam-packed mystery that will keep you guessing all the way through the story. I really enjoyed Harry in this one. Usually, he is a bit annoying and I want to slap him, but he showed some real emotion here and found I liked him so much better.

The whole death scene was pretty awesome, gruesome but awesome. I can just see that body tumbling out of the wedding cake at the most inopportune time helping to put the finger on just the wrong suspect.

I totally enjoy this series and really look forward to when another hits the bookstores or my Kindle account. Nina helps to shed some suspicion on one suspect and might possibly have accidentally sent the wrong person to the big house.

This is so fun to follow. The major recurring characters really resonate with me and I can’t wait to see what this author can come up with next.

Definitely pick this up if you are a cozy mystery lover.

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title. Opinions are completely my own.

Peaches and Schemes by Anna Gerard takes us back to Cymbeline, Georgia where Nina Fleet owns Fleet House which she operates as a bed and breakfast. She is taking part in Veils and Vanities Bridal Expo run by Roxanna Quarry, Nina’s new friend, and Virgie Hamilton. Nina happens to overhear Virgie get into heated discussions with two people before lunch and one of them is Roxanna. Nina is watching the expo’s fashion show finale while reeling from some unexpected news. The large prop wedding cake is opened, and Roxanna comes toppling out. It is soon apparent that Roxanna will not be hosting another expo. Nina wants to know what happened to her new friend, so she begins snooping around. It is soon apparent that the guilty party does not appreciate Nina’s nosy nature. Peaches and Schemes is the 3rd A Georgia B&B Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. I must admit that this series has grown on me (I was not sure after reading Peach Clobbered). Nina Fleet is a strong female protagonist who runs a charming bed and breakfast in a gorgeous Queen Anne. Harry Wescott is a charmer who adds humor to the story. Harry surprised me in this tale (in a good way). Harry and Nina make a great duo. I thought Peaches and Schemes was well-written with fast pacing. I enjoyed the whodunit. While I solved it early in the book, I wanted to find out why this particular person committed the crime. There are several people with motive to kill Roxanna along with a red herring. It is the details that help solve the case. Harry and Nina make a great sleuthing team. I loved the two dogs in this story. Mattie and Gus were adorable. Peaches and Schemes is a fun story to read. I like cozy mysteries that make me laugh. Peaches and Schemes is a lighthearted, humorous cozy mystery with an eventful expo, a maimed mate, Gus the Goldendoodle, a tryophobia terror, a suspicious silver sedan, and a helpful Harry.

Peaches and Schemes was a cute cozy mystery set in a small, southern town. It’s the 3rd book in a series- I haven’t read any of the others but I don’t think you absolutely need to. It took me about a week to read which is one of the reasons I’m rating it ⭐️⭐️⭐️. I just didn’t feel super motivated to pick it up.

That being said, if you’re looking for a palette cleanser/fun, easy read and you enjoy cozy mysteries I bet you’d enjoy this one. There are some cute characters and a fun setting!

Nina Fleet is continuing to keep her Bed & Breakfast afloat as she adds the wedding market into her repertoire. The Veils and Vanities Bridal Expo is the perfect place to begin. However, the expo turns into a nightmare when one of the expo’s sponsors, Roxanna, turns up dead in a huge wedding cake and her partner, Virgie, is arrested for the murder. The victim happens to be one of Nina’s new friends.

When Nina’s statement to the police facilitated Virgie getting arrested, she decides to investigate on her own and is shocked to discover her good friend Roxanna wasn’t the sweet girl she thought. Every time Nina turns around, she has another suspect to add to her list. She’s determined to get to the bottom of this mystery.

This is the third book in the series and I’ve loved them all. This one, though, is my new favorite. Each character jumps right off the page. Nina and Harry are my favorite in this series, along with Nina’s canine pal Mattie.

It’s a fast-moving plot with both humor and suspense mixed together. I was captivated from beginning to end. I was sure I picked out the killer, but I was so off the mark. I was quite surprised at the outcome…pleasantly surprised. It’s nice when author’s can keep you guessing as Anna Gerard did for me.

Although this is the third in a series, I do believe it can be read on its own. The mystery begins and ends in this book, but the main character’s growth starts with the first book and it’s so much more fun to start at the beginning. It felt like re-visiting old friends. I’m already missing them…until the next entry into this series...






FTC Disclosure: I voluntarily reviewed a free Advance Reader Copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.

It was a delight to be back at the Georgia B&B. Not that it is necessary to read any of the previous ones in order to enjoy this one. It will make it more interesting if you do though. This one kept me guessing and I didn't have a clue. Terrific characters and pleasant setting. Thanks to the publisher for providing a copy via NetGalley. I look forward to reading the further adventures of our lovely protagonist.

Peaches and Schemes is the third book in the Georgia B&B Mystery series by Anna Gerard.

Nina is an exhibitor at a bridal expo hoping to increase business for her B&B. She overhears a couple of arguments and then someone ends up dead during the fashion show finale.

I really enjoy this series! I enjoy the back and forth between Nina and Harry. The characters are well written. There were plenty of twists that kept me guess through most of the book.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) copy of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.