Winter in Lofty Pines, Wisconsin means snow. And ice fishing, And unfortunately, also murder. Wallace Benson is found dead in his ice camp. Our heroine Rain, newly returned to town, finds herself investigating because Nick, husband of her BFF Julia, is one of the main suspects. Cozy readers know, though, that he's not the only one who had a dispute with the victim. The mystery part is trope-y to be sure but there's a good snap between Rain and Julia. And then here's Julia's brother Jace, a police officer and love interest of sorts for Rain. I liked the first book in the series; this one will be fine as a standalone. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. For cozy fans.

The second in this series is a likeable mystery. The two main characters, Rain and Julia, are predictable amateur sleuths and the outcome easy to guess.

“Long Overdue at the Lakeside Library" by Holly Danvers the 2nd book in the A Lakeside Library Mystery series. What a great sequel to book one, I thoroughly enjoyed this book!

I really like the Protagonist Rain, and her bff Julia they are relatable, fun and full of shenanigans. I was happy that Margie and Rexy the dog were in the story again too. Now could Rain’s love life start to blossom in book three with two possible suitors …

There were plenty of red herrings, twists, and turns to keep you wanting to find out what will happen next.

I cant wait for the 3rd instalment in this series, I highly recommend this to cozy lovers.

I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

I enjoyed this book but not quite as much as the first in the series. I loved the first one because I felt like it focused more on the characters with the mystery as a secondary plot. In this book, the main characters are already established so naturally the mystery is front and center. While that’s certainly not a bad thing, these characters were so interesting to get to know the first time around. I do feel like you can see the growth in Rain this book, I look forward to reading more in this series!

Book #2 in the series. I enjoyed this one much more than the first simply because it does seem to have a faster pace. The how of the murder was interesting. There were lots of suspects and I like how they were eliminated.

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for my eARC in exchange for an honest review.

What do you get when a widow, a fisherman, a chili cookoff and an annoying BF collide? The answer is this cozy mystery. The description of the library and setting was nice and seemed like a nice place to snuggle up with a good book. Rain as a character was ok but she needs to be left to her own devices to solve the crimes in the next installment Julia was just a little too intense and was a little bit of a distraction to me. It was a nice mystery and I will probably stop by the Lofty Pines Library for another adventure in amateur sleuthing with Rain.

Long Overdue at the Lakeside Library by Holly Danvers is the second book in the Lakeside Library Mysteries series. I requested to read this book because I wanted a book, a cozy mystery preferably, to help forget about the world we are all currently living in. With the pandemic and numerous lockdowns I felt I needed an escape and this book provided me with that so, thank you Holly Danvers.

The story centers on Rain who has decided to make Lofty Pines her permanent home and keep the log cabin library open all year round. During the annual Ice Fishing Jamboree, a man is found dead in his ice shanty and Rain's best friend Julia's husband Nick, has been named as the prime suspect. Rain and Julia start investigating what really happened to the murdered man and who is really responsible for his murder.

Rain is a lovely character with room to continue to grow within herself. The only downside of the story is Rain's best friend, Julia. She tends to act like a child in a lot of situations, especially ones when things aren't going her way. Overall though, this book is throughly enjoyable and a nice escape from our current reality. Thank you to Netgalley and Crooked Lane Publishing for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Recently widowed Rain Wilmot seeks solace in her family's heritage property in the small town of Lofty Pines, keeping the local library running through the depths of the Wisconsin winter. A peaceful, soothing setting to recover from trauma - until, that is, a library patron is found murdered at an ice fishing competition and her best friend's husband is framed.

What follows is a cozy sleuthy, whodunnit, set in deep snowdrifts and a welcoming library.

This was clearly book 2 in a series, but despite the references to past events, it does work ok as a standalone book.

What doesn't work, though, are some of the highly questionable decisions made by Rain and her offsider (and spouse of the accused), Julia. I know this style of book is centered around amateur sleuths but it felt like a step too far, and the character Julia became insufferable.

Overall, it was an enjoyable, if predictable, read.

~Many thanks to NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review~

Recently widowed Rain Wilmot has left behind her demanding corporate job and is now living year-round in her family’s Lofty Pines, Wisconsin, log cabin. Riding out her first winter there, Rain’s hopes of a a quiet and less demanding life are interrupted when she discovers local resident Wallace Benson’s dead body in his ice shanty during the town’s annual Ice Fishing Jamboree.

Before he died, Wallace had borrowed some cookbooks from the library which Rain has now found in the library’s book return box along with a puzzling note addressed to her and purporting to be from Wallace. As Rain grapples with trying to understand Wallace’s message to her, the police begin to focus their suspicions on her neighbor Nick, who is Rain’s best friend Julie’s husband. Things aren’t looking good for Nick, who seems to have been the last person to see Wallace alive. Worse, Nick has a nasty cut on his hand and a knife found in his tackle box are making the police believe they’ve found their prime suspect.

The police may believe they’ve found their killer, but Rain thinks otherwise and commences her own investigation with help from Julie and Jace, another friend.

Long Overdue at the Lakeside Library is the second book in the Lakeside Library Mystery series. This unique cozy mystery series has a lot going for it. Danvers’ characters are interesting and well-developed. Maybe it’s because I’m a born and bred Wisconsinite, but I think the unique setting makes the book special. A library in the beautiful and legendary Wisconsin Northwoods is my idea of Nirvana. And, where else, for example, would you find a murder mystery set at an annual ice fishing jamboree? Trust me, ice fishing jamborees are a BIG thing in Wisconsin and they can get very competitive. I’m already looking forward to reading the next book in the series

Talk about friends and the messes they can get you in. Rain had came back to keep the family library opened year around in Lofty Pines. Her best friend Julia and Nick live next door. As, Rain was in the library working Wallace Benson had come in asking about some cookbooks. He was going to make chili for the annual dump chili concoction the day of the fishing tournament. Wallace however comes up dead, and poor Nick is being blamed. What a wife won’t go through to prove her husband’s innocence. I loved how Rain made this old library warm and inviting with the new Franklin stove. Lots of accusations, twists and turns in this book but it was an awesome read. But I want to know whose boots those are at the end. Definitely will read the next book in this series.

I received an ARC for free from Netgalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

Long Overdue At The Lakeside Library is the second book in the “Lakeside Library Mystery” series. This series is growing quickly and is fast becoming a favorite. The characters are wonderful, inquisitive, intelligent, and kind. The location is to die for! The very idea of a lakeside log cabin library just gives you a feeling of peace and contentment. The mystery is thought-provoking without being too high-handed. Ice fishing takes on a whole new meaning in this delightful story.

Rain is a wonderful character. Her desire to spend all of her days reading and helping others find books is admirable and a secret wish for many bibliophiles. In the latest additions to the series, it is the annual chili and ice-fishing jamboree, and Rain is smack in the middle of it all. Her family’s cabin library is overflowing with patrons, and everyone is enjoying the fishing and the camaraderie. But not everything is honky dory. As the chili dump gets closer, murder invades the festivities, and Rain’s best friends are at the center of all the action. Rain and friends work the investigation and find several suspects, even though the police are determined to pin the murder on her friend Nick. Evidence suggests that several people had motives to kill the victim, and any one of them had the opportunity.

Things take a turn, and Rain finds herself in danger. Someone thinks she is getting too close to solving the crime and that someone isn’t going down without a fight. Clues are followed, suspects questioned, and chaos ensues. Before long, Rain and friends have found the killer, and the crime comes to a satisfying conclusion. But not before, Rain and company put themselves in a life-threatening situation. The lakeside cabin library is adorable and will keep readers amused, and might even give them a desire to experience what life is like out on the ice.

There are a few issues with Long Overdue At The Lakeside Library, I disapprove of love triangles, and the characters need to mature a bit more. Julia in particular, but Rain as well. I knew who the killer was instantly, but the mystery was interesting enough to read through to the end. I think most readers will enjoy this book and will learn a thing or two about life out on the ice in a place that turns cold weather into an event. I look forward to seeing where the author takes Rain in the next installment.

Long Overdue at the Lakeside Library is the second book in author Holly Danvers' Lakeside Library Mystery series. This is an intriguing murder mystery. I really like the characters. The main amateur sleuths are librarian Rain Wilmot and her friend Julia. This one is personal. Julia's husband Nick is accused of murder. Blizzard conditions make investigating difficult. Rain and Julia do a great job investigating, face danger and find answers. I am really looking forward to the next book in the series.

Rain Wilmot has decided to live year-round in Lofty Pines. Her family's library remains open to the surrounding community. When she meets Wallace Benson and assists him in finding a few cookbooks to prepare for the fishing tournament’s communal “chili dump," she doesn't realize the impact he would have on her life. When Wallace's body is found during the tournament and her best friend's husband is arrested, Rain decides to find the true culprit. Will she be able to find the truth before her number is up?
I really enjoyed this cozy mystery. The author expresses the setting so well that I could feel the cold during certain scenes. The characters are likeable, and I keep wanting to know more about them. It's an easy read, and there were no dull moments. The only thing I didn't like was the little cliffhanger the author left concerning Rain's new relationship. That was a little annoying. But I was going to read the next installment anyway. I received an advanced reader's copy from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

Rain and Julia could be the models for a "seriously amateur sleuths" poster.

I cringed at some of their decisions, cringed even while giving Julia some leeway given her husband Nick's position as the chief suspect. Rain's role seemed to be the more cautious one although, quite frankly, despite her courage and determination to help her friends, she didn't do a real good job of that most of the time. I cringed at her glee of hearing about a library patron's granddaughter who'd been troubled by the death of the victim because she knew him, without giving a second's thought at that moment to what additional harm such questioning might cause. Don't get me wrong. Rain seems a kind, caring person but, well, caring doesn't always lead to intelligent actions. I honestly alternately liked her and then a page or two later wanted to shake some sense into her.

Bottom line, the story moves along relatively quickly as we follow the two friends in their efforts to find the real killer.They're doing all this in the midst of a bitterly cold winter, too, which spoke to me as, ironically, just as I picked up the book to read, my own temps dropped into negative numbers. Finally, I should note, there is a budding love triangle, too, for those who enjoy that aspect of some cozy mysteries. At this point I'm probably intrigued enough by the setting and occasionally humorous situations Rain and Julia get themselves into to keep reading this series.....even while wanting to sit them down and give them a good shaking at times, I'm sure.

Thank you #NetGalley and #CrookedLaneBooks for the copy.

My review may not be eloquent but it is from the heart. I greatly appreciate NetGalley and the publisher allowing me to read an advanced digital copy. Also my reviews I don't give anything away...you can read the synopsis to find out what the book is about.

A great addition to the Lakeside Library Mystery series. I thoroughly enjoyed the story. The story kept my interest and kept me reading to figure out who did it. Well written there were some mistakes along the way but nothing that couldn't be overlooked....since it is an early copy from NetGalley I'm sure that the mistakes have been fixed.
The characters are wonderful with Julia being a librarian in the Northwoods. She also can't leave a mystery alone...she ended up solving it for the sheriff's department. I wasn't totally surprised on who the killer was...it was kind of predictable. But it was still a good story.
If you like cozy mysteries you will love this series.
Highly recommend

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for allowing me to read an advanced digital copy of Long Overdue at the Lakeside Library for an honest review. This is my honest to goodness review...

Another series where I am going to part ways.

From the beginning, the who-done-it was obvious. The author spent most of the book, which could have been skimmed without losing any context, beating around multiple bushes while dragging her readers through uninteresting dialogue before revealing the absurd reason and murder weapon.

Don’t be disheartened by this series; there are better cozy mysteries out there. So, keep looking, and soon you will find the right author, setting, and series which works for you.

The second book in the series and it was as enjoyable as the first.

Rain and her friend Julia work at the Lakeside Library. During a lake fishing contest a man turns up murdered and Julia's husband is the number one suspect. Of course Rain and Julia have to investigate for themselves (the police are always so incompetent in cosies!)

It was an interesting mystery set in snow and ice which always makes following up clues much harder. I did enjoy reading about a winter way of life which I have never experienced. Rain investigates methodically and carefully Julia just goes crazy but then it is her husband who has been arrested.

Rain's relationship with Jace develops a little although Jace needs to try harder. The author has introduced Ryan so now we have a love triangle which may progress things! I will have to read the next book to see what happens!

The second of a new series, Rain, a young widow is now settled in her new cottage at her hometown. The death of a library patron with the murder suspect is her bestfriend's spouse turns a MC to a Sherlock Holmes, with a free reign in doing detective work. That turned the novel downhill for me. The whodunit was quite easy to deduce and props for the red herring. Maybe Im just used to the lead working solo which ain't bad, just different. Still, looks like a promising series and maybe more to see at Lofty Pines. Thank you, NeGalley for this free ARC!

Rain and Julia are back on the case when someone they love is on the hook for the latest dead body to be found! It's wintertime and the snow is piling up and the girls need to unravel this mystery before one or both of them becomes the next to perish! I absolutely love the setting of a lakeside small town with a library in a log cabin! My absolute dream job! The characters are well developed and quite engaging so that you feel like you really know them! Lots of potential suspects to round out the "who done it" aspect of the story and keep you turning pages until the girls figure it out! Great storyline and wonderful introductions to new characters. I can't wait to see where these characters go in the next book!

Rain is settling in nicely since she decided to live yesterday round in the cabin cum library in winter Wisconsin. The town is preparing for a big ice fishing competition when a library patron’s body is found and the accused is close to Rain. I love the Midwestern setting, the talk of books, and all the sleuthing. This is a good cozy series, especially to read in the depths of winter. There is a cliffhanger at the end and I know which way I hope the next book in the series opens up.