How can you not like a book that includes Moonshine Cocktails recipes at the end?

Miranda Trent is hired by the Big Sky corporation, a prominent graphical design company, to put on a four day bonding workshop for the company. It's perhaps the biggest job she's tackled with her still relatively new business and it turns out to be even more of a challenge than she'd imagined. Not only does the corporate big-wig want it to be more competitive than bonding but the prize is, uh, you won't lose your job if your team wins. Miranda feels lucky that the administrative assistant sent along to assist is an ol' high school friend, well, at least until that old friend is found holding a bloody rock in her hand over a dead body. More amazing, the workshop isn't canceled. Determined not to let her old friend take the blame, Miranda sets out to find clues and the guilty party, all while hosting the various competitions and gatherings.

Although the book seemed to start slowly, it did allow new readers to get to know Miranda, her mother, and the reasons Miranda was willing to take on such a demanding, stressful job. Although I'd read the second installment of this now three book series, it was a nice refresher for even me and set up new readers nicely. Miranda is likable, hard working, loyal to friends and family and, genuinely seems to love the isolated beauty of her home It doesn't hurt that a handsome forest ranger is a neighbor, I'm sure. Ah, Austin, such a good guy. Heck, there's even an adorable puppy, Sandy. All this and a beautiful setting, not to mention some tasty moonshine and, hmm, romance?

In any case, oh, yes, the murder. Who killed Burns? Why? Was it one of the workshop participants that are still involved? I've got to admit, I was kept guessing until the end. Sabotage? How does forest ranger Austin get involved? Is Rowena innocent? How much do people change after their high school years? Will Miranda regret inviting Rowena to stay at her place for the duration of the workshop? Why does Tobin insist on those last minute changes? Is he really as cheap as he seems? Or, is he something worse than just cheap? Who... oh, never mind. You're just going to have to read the book for the answers to these and many other questions.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #KensingtonBooks for inviting me to shadow Miranda's frighteningly competitive bonding workshop. Looking forward to my next visit. I think I'll skip the sessions and just settle for sitting in the rocker on the porch under one of her mom's quilts while I scratch Sandy's ears.

This is the third book in the Paint And Shine Cozy series by author Cheryl Hollon. I have read the previous in series and enjoy this series with a unique theme. Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley . My review opinion is my own.

In this series we return to Kentucky to find Miranda expanding her business into adventure tours with art and whisky. This is proving successful with team building until rumors abound of firing of those who do not place well in the team building games. When a murder occurs Miranda and friends are on the case.

The sleuth was well crafted into the story. This was a interesting look at corporate team building activities and Miranda expanding her business. I like the series as its unique and interesting

Miranda's touring business is booming in Death a Sketch until one of the participants in the teamwork-fostering group is found dead. I enjoyed the storyline and the characters, it was definitely a fun read.

The third in the Paint & Shine Mysteries has Miranda running a team bonding excursion for an outdoor sporting company. Things immediately get off to a rocky start when she learns that it is less of a bonding experience and more of a chance for the company to fire multiple people at once. Things get even worse when the boss is found dead, and her friend is found over him with a bloody rock. Miranda starts to investigate, and things get weirder as the events start to be sabotaged. Miranda must find the killer before she's next.

I really enjoyed this cozy. mystery! I haven't read the previous two, but I definitely want to go back and do that now. I though the ending/wrap up wasn't as satisfying as some mysteries, but I really enjoyed the journey to get there (clues, characters, etc.).

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

In rural Kentucky, business is booming for Miranda Trent’s unique Appalachian adventure tour company, Paint & Shine. But sometimes murder lurks amid the peaceful mountains, scenic views, and moonshine …
I really like Miranda and her business. It’s a great series with lots going on. This latest group on a employee retreat keeps her busy.
#DeathaSketch #NetGalley

This ARC was provided to me via Kindle, Kensington Books and by #NetGalley. Opinions expressed are completely my own.

I truly appreciate a good cozy mystery, this held up to the challenge. Lovely characters and a wonderful story.

I enjoyed this book although the reveal of the killer was kind of a cop out of the investigation. I was surprised by who the killer was but there were no clues given throughout the book. The characters are great. #DeathaSketch #NetGalley

I received a free copy from the publisher through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it

I like Cheryl Hollon's books and I've been enjoying this Paint and Shine mystery series. I jumped on the chance to read this one. Death a Sketch is the third book in this series and follows Miranda as she builds her business, organizing adventure tours with art and moonshine. In every book she solves another mystery. In this book she's organizing a multiple day team building workshop for a group of people from a sportswear company, ofcourse things don't go as planned. There are some last minute changes in how management wants the workshop to run and high stakes, as well as a murder.

This mystery took a bit of time to really start, but that worked here. We first get to know a bit about the participants in the workshop and what management is like for this company. We get to see how these last minute changes are pushed through and get a feel for the company culture and the pressure on the participants to do well in this workshop. Then someone dies and it's up to Miranda to figure out who killed him and why, while continuing this intensive workshop. I liked the set-up for this mystery and the way Miranda has to continue the workshop while one of the participants is likely the killer.

I felt that there wasn't as much investigating in this one, although that didn't bother me too much as the book is fun to read and I liked reading about all the workshop activities. There are lots of undercurrents and secrets as well. It did bother me a bit how it got resolved as I have no clue how Miranda and the sheriff figured it out and the ending felt a bit rushed. I would've liked a bit more wrap up about what's happening next with the participants of the workshop and their jobs, as well as more explanation about how they figured out the mystery. I didn't feel like there were enough clues to figure out this mystery as the reader, but I did enjoy reading the mystery and following along.

This is a great series so far. I like reading about Miranda and her business. The combination of art, adventurous hikes, food and moonshine makes for a fun theme of the series. I also enjoy seeing Miranda find her place in the community and reading how she handles the business challenges. This book had her romance with Austin develop a bit more, which was nice to see. I liked reading about her friendship with Rowena. It also made for a good reason for Miranda to get involved in the mystery to make sure her old friend didn't get blamed for it. I enjoyed reading about the various workshop activities in this book as it varied things up a bit from previous books. There is quite the variety of activities.

To summarize: This was another great read in this series. I am enjoying this series and the combination of themes with the hikes, art, food and moonshine. This book had a fun set-up for the mystery as Miranda organizes a multi day workshop and one of the participants dies. I liked how Miranda got involved and how she tried to solve this. I did feel there isn't as much investigating due to the workshop, but I liked the way the workshop was the focus of the book and reading about the various activities. The murderer came as a bit of a surprise and I would've liked a bit more hints in that direction. The ending felt a bit rushed to me with the wrap up and explanations feeling a bit rushed. I like reading about Miranda and her business and seeing how she finds her place in the community. There's some romance too and her relationship with Austin progresses. I enjoyed reading this one and look forward to the next one.

Ordinarily I enjoy this series, but this was was so crammed full of activities, my head was spinning. Miranda Trent is contracted by a large sporting goods clothing manufacturer to organize team building exercises for 10 employees. The arrogant, obnoxious CEO shows up and spins the entire contest on its head. The winners are enrolled in the fast track management program; the losers are fired. Oh yes and there is a murder. As a small business owner, I think MIranda is too trusting. She had not received the 50% down payment before the workshop began. I would not have let that happen Anyway I hope the author tones down the crazy stuff and goes back to the simpler elements Paint and Shine. Not really a 3 star but, more like a 2.5 stars

When a company books a team building event with Miranda’s Paint and Shine she’s excited as the money will help her build out her distillery, keeping the family’s moonshine going. When the participants arrive, Miranda is ready, but one of the business leaders decides he wants this to be more competitive and determine who in the company will keep their jobs and who will be let go. This leads to angst and murder, leaving Miranda wondering how things came to this and trying to figure out whodunit.

This is a really fun series. I love the setting in the Kentucky Appalachian Mountains and the initiative that Miranda has. If this were a real business, I’d likely be on my way to Kentucky after signing up for one of these events. The book reads fine as a standalone, so no worries.

cozy-mystery, amateur-sleuth, Kentucky, friendship, business, law-enforcement, small-business, small-town, attempted-murder, investigation, cocktail-recipes*****

The Paint and Shine Mystery series takes place in a small town in Eastern Kentucky that is in the middle of the Daniel Boone National Forest. Miranda Trent has moved back to Kentucky from New York after she inherited her uncle’s Red River Gorge homestead and has started a new business including painting and hiking and is getting ready to begin making moonshine from her uncle's recipe. She has taken on a sideline of doing outdoor work on teambuilding seminars and this is her first client. However, the client company and management have a radically different take on the purpose and implementation of the process. Then one is grievously wounded, and a possible witness goes into shock and things really get interesting! A good read!
The characters are true to life and the mystery is very well done and totally enjoyable.
I requested and received a free temporary e-book copy from Kensington Books via NetGalley. Thank you!

This is the second book I've read in this new series by Cheryl Hollon. The first book didn't appeal to me, but I wanted to give Death a Sketch a chance. I'm pleased that I did, I found the book to be entertaining and well played.
Miranda Trent is doing a team building challenge with a large corporate group, but unfortunately someone doesn't want to be a team player.
I enjoyed the easy friendship between Miranda and Rowena, after years of separation. I hope she will have a recurring spot in future books.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
#DeathaSketch #NetGalley.