Cover Image: A Trip with Trouble

A Trip with Trouble

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Member Reviews

Misty and her mountain lodge are hosting a women's motorcycle club for a week. All the women come with their own bikes and quirks, but it seems to be going okay, until one of the women is murdered on one of their rides. Misty, Brynn and Rocky are helping to solve the case. A great read with fun characters and a good plot. It makes me long to head to the lodge and see the fall colors and eat some good food.

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Pub date: 10/25/22
Genre: cozy mystery
Series: Mountain Lodge Mysteries, book 2
Do I need to read book 1 first? I think this one works well as a standalone BUT I also really enjoyed book 1, so I think you should read both!
One sentence summary: When the Mountaintop Lodge hosts female motorcycle club Dangerous Curves, hotel owner Misty will have to help solve the murder of one of their members.

This is becoming one of my fave cozy series! I live in NC and vacationed near Beech Mountain as a kid, and it's a great setting for a mystery. Dangerous Curves was full of fun characters, and I loved taking an armchair motorcycle ride with them along the Blue Ridge Parkway. The mystery was compelling, with some good red herrings and a satisfying conclusion. I love when cozies include some comedy, and there were two scenes that had me LOLing (turns out throwing hot apple cider at a burglar is very effective at stopping a crime.)

If you like cozy mysteries, I highly recommend this series. I'm looking forward to book 3 and more adventures with Misty, Brynn, Rocky, Patty, and Yeti (Misty's cat)!

Thank you to St. Martin's Press for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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Diane Kelly combines the beauty of the outdoors, a cozy and comfortable lodge, and a good heaping of mystery to keep you entertained with A Trip with Trouble.


Returning to the Mountaintop Lodge is going to be a wild ride. Misty is sold out for the week. Dangerous Curves, a lady’s motorcycle group, has reserved every room in the lodge for a week. Misty can’t be more excited. Upon checking in the group of ladies seems to be nice, charismatic and genuinely a good bunch of people looking to have some fun. Misty and her assistant Brynn even get asked to accompany the group on a ride, which to my delight they did indulge in. However, things go south when one of the members does not show up at an overlook where everyone has stopped. Misty helps the ladies look for their friend and unfortunately find her dead. Was it an accident or was it foul play? Misty with the help of Brynn and her handyman Rocky, try to get to the bottom of what’s going on with this mystery

I love when I’m reading a book and a place that pops up in the story. The tail of the dragon is a fun and beautiful ride although I have never done it on a motorcycle, I understand the thrill behind it. Now, with that being said, Diane Kelly knows how to bring the loveliness of the outdoors into the story. I love the fact that the majority of the story does take place outside. From fires and roasting marshmallows to fun motorcycle rides there is atmosphere all over this book. Now, there is kind of a twofold mystery within the story, and I enjoyed both of them. At one point I wondered if they were connected and was surprised when I realized the answer. The story told primarily from Misty's point of view, but those few chapters that we get from Yeti make me laugh every single time. and I love every single one of them. Diane Kelly knows how to draw the reader into the story, keep them entertained all the while, making them laugh and enjoy the experience all in one.

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Misty Murphy is recently divorced, has moved to the mountains, and now runs her own lodge. That’s a lot of change for one woman to handle, but she’s happy in her new life. It’s peaceful…at least it was until a guest staying at her lodge (a member of the Dangerous Curves motorcycle club) ends up dead. Now she’s determined to find justice for the poor woman. I have to say A Trip with Trouble, which I enjoyed quite a bit is unlike most cozy mysteries I’ve read. Usually there is a brief intro of characters and within the first few chapters a body turns up. That’s not the case here. In fact a body doesn’t turn up until a little over a third of the way into the book. That may sound odd, but in a way it was also quite cool. In fact it was like there were two mysteries to be puzzled out, with the first one being trying to figure out who was going to end up being killed. (I guessed wrong on that one, lol) A Trip with Trouble features a great set of characters and an engaging mystery with plenty of twists and misdirection. This is the second book in Diane Kelly’s Mountain Lodge Mystery series, and it’s a series I look forward to returning to again and again in the future. I’d like to thank St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of A Trip with Trouble.

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A Trip with Trouble is a delightful vacation for the mind. The author takes you on a delicious autumnal leaf peeping tour of the Blue Ridge Mountains and mixes in a bit of mystery along the way. I thoroughly enjoyed this getaway.

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A Trip with Trouble by Diane Kelly is the second book in the Mountain Lodge Mysteries and it continues to impress me! First, there’s the gorgeous location and the welcoming lodge. The way that Kelly describes it would make any reader want to vacation there. We also have a restaurant next door that caters breakfasts in the morning, and the descriptions are another reason I really enjoyed this book.

Not only do you have stunning descriptions of the lodge and food, but then there’s the well developed characters. I appreciate that Misty is 50 and the love interest is 47, and by the end of the book we get more growth in their very positive relationship. The two animals Yeti, the cat, and Molasses, the dog are adorable and add a fun element to the story… especially Yeti, since we get to see a bit into her thoughts as she watches the world outside her bedroom window.

The mystery was very well done too, but Kelly left enough clues that if you are paying attention you may be able to solve it before Misty and the gang. And in regards to the mystery I really liked that the love interest didn’t continually try to dissuade Misty from asking questions, and even helped her along the way.

Another fun book in the Mountain Lodge Mysteries, and I’m looking forward to book three in the series.

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Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read an ARC of this entertaining cozy. It's the second in a series, but although I didn't read the first book, I was easily able to catch up with the characters, and the story worked for me as a stand-alone.
Protagonist Misty Murphy, age fifty and divorced, owns a lodge on the beautiful Blue Ridge Parkway. A female motorcycle club, the Dangerous Curves, books the lodge as their base for a few days of rides and hikes to enjoy the fall foliage. One day, they invite Misty and her assistant, Brynn, to join them on a ride. All goes well until Gerri, one of the group's leaders, disappears. When they retrace their route in search of her, they find she has had a terrible accident and did not survive. But was it really an accident? There's some tension among some of the group members, and one of them isn't who she says she is. Several of them carry baggage in the form of vengeful exes and/or greedy family members.
Misty and her handyman/potential love interest, Rocky, do some sleuthing to help the local police investigate. Suspects abound, but Misty eventually puts the pieces together.
Most of the story is told from Misty's point of view, in first person. Interspersed are short chapters from the point of view of her cat, Yeti. Although I love cats, I didn't think Yeti's perspective added much to the plot.
The writing is good, with vivid descriptions of the mountain scenery. It made me want to stay at Misty's lodge. Overall, a well-done mystery. I would read more of this author and this series.

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A Trip with Trouble by Diane Kelly is the second A Mountain Lodge Mystery. It can be read as a standalone for those new to the series. I like Diane Kelly’s writing style. It is casual and friendly. I was quickly drawn into A Trip with Trouble. I enjoyed the picturesque descriptions of the Mountaintop Lodge and the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina. It sounds like a beautiful place to visit in the fall. Evidently, the Dangerous Curves Motorcycle Club thought so as well. They bought out the Mountaintop Lodge for the week to enjoy rides on the mountain roads and hikes on the trails. Unfortunately, one of the group ends up dead and Misty suspects foul play. Misty likes the motorcycle ladies and is determined to get justice for their fallen leader. I like Misty, Brynn, Rocky, Patty, and Yeti (Misty’s cat). It is a good cast of characters. I am glad that the author gave us an older protagonist. Misty is fifty and recently divorced. She has two sons in college. Misty is smart, independent, resourceful, and good with people. This makes her a great innkeeper. I enjoy the chapters told from Yeti’s point of view (I laugh often while reading them). Diane Kelly really captures a cat personality and antics. The mystery had several suspects which included a member or two of the Dangerous Curves and members of the victim’s “family.” I joined Misty as she set out to unravel the clues and find the victim’s killer. I like that she worked with the police. A helpful deputy may have overshared just a touch. While I had a clue as to who was behind the murder, I still had fun following Misty. The author has provided developed, realistic characters that you want to get to know better. I felt transported to North Carolina in the autumn. There is a touch of romance. Misty likes Rocky, but she is not ready to start dating. They have casual dinners at home, chats, walks, and evenings in front of the fire. I was sorry for A Trip with Trouble to come to an end. I am looking forward to Misty’s next adventure. A Trip with Trouble transports readers to the Blue Ridge Mountains with motorcycle mavens, falling leaves, greedy relatives, a hunky handyman, a scaredy cat, a fallen friend, a firebrand rider, and an indomitable innkeeper.

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A Trip With Trouble is the second book in Diane Kelly’s Mountain Lodge Mystery series. It takes place in the picturesque town of Beech Mountain, North Carolina. Recently divorced Misty Murphy purchased a Mountain Lodge that specializes in hosting groups. In this story, a female motorcycle club known as The Dangerous Curves has booked rooms in the lodge so they can enjoy riding the winding roads of the Blue Ridge Parkway during the spectacular beauty of the fall season.

When one of the club’s members dies suspiciously during a ride, Misty is determined to help find out whodunit. Misty works with law enforcement and also bounces ideas off of her assistant, her handsome handyman, and her friend who owns a diner across the street. Of course, there are plenty of suspects and several red herrings before the killer is revealed. The author always infuses her stories with humor. I laughed out loud at a funny scene involving capturing a robber from a canoe on a pond.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Sara Beth at St. Martin’s Press for my advanced reader copy. This novel will be published on October 25, 2022.

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“A Trip with Trouble” the 2nd instalment in the The Mountain Lodge Mysteries series by Diane Kelly. What a great follow up to book one. A Trip with Trouble proves that in the Blue Ridge Mountains, life in the fast lane could end in a crash.

I enjoyed the protagonist Misty Murphy, and her staff Brynn and handyman Rocky. I liked How the author gave both Misty and her cat Yeti, a voice throughout the story. I also enjoyed the fall cozy vibes as the biker chicks are leaf peeping in the Blue Ridge Mountains, North Carolina. I look forward to seeing how Misty's relationships grow in book 3.

The mystery is interesting and had lots of twists which kept me guessing. I had no idea who the killer was till Misty did.

I highly recommend this book to all my cozy friends. Can’t wait to read the next instalment.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from St.Martin Press and Netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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I read and enjoyed the first book in the series, so I had high hopes for this one. It didn't disappoint. Kelly does a great job of creating engaging characters and a solid mystery that pulls the reader in. Misty is a fun, relatable character. The pacing was just right to keep the reader sleuthing along. There's a bit of romance, but it's not overpowering, thankfully.

Lovely descriptions make this a perfect fall read! I look forward to future books in the series.

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This is the second book in this series, and I am loving it. I love the main characters, Misty, Rocky, Molasses, Yeti, Brynn and Patty. They just go so well together. A group of biker chicks, what could go wrong? Just like the bikers I know, these are really good folks, just out to enjoy life. It was fun meeting them. I enjoyed the story, the scenery and being with my Beech Mountain friends again. I can’t wait to go back for another visit. I received this book from NetGalley, but my opinion is my own.

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First book I've read in this series and I found it entertaining. I liked the characters and the mystery was interesting. I really liked the Motorcycle Club folks. The fact that there were 3 people to try and figure out who was going to be murdered was fun.

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

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A Trip with Trouble is the second book in Diane Kelly's Mountain Lodge Mystery series. And I loved it!

It's Fall in the North Carolina Blue Ridge Mountain town of Beach Mountain. Misty Murphy, 50, has started a new life for herself after her divorce and her sons going off to college, and now runs a mountain retreat lodge. She is hosting a women's motorcycle club, and almost immediately after the club's arrival, strange things happen, like odd phone calls, a strange van driving by, etc. When a terrible accident occurs, Misty helps law enforcement determine whether it was truly an accident or murder.

I like Diane Kelly's books, but I especially enjoyed this one! Descriptive and well-written, this had all the cozy seasonal Fall vibes, from the steaming cider to the falling leaves. The intriguing plot and mild suspense kept me hooked. I found the unusual murder interesting, and I liked Misty. She's relatable and grounded, and I enjoyed connecting with this warm, intelligent, mature sleuth. The secondary characters were all vividly written, and I loved reading about the all-female biker club! A solid whodunnit with a large pool of suspects, some red herrings, and a few twists, this is an excellent addition to what's become a favorite new series, though it's easily read as a stand-alone. Pick this one up for the perfect Fall cozy mystery!
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to review this ARC.

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Set in a mountain lodge in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, Misty is continuing her life as the new proprietor by welcoming the Dangerous Curves motorcycle group for the week. What should have been a fun-filled week turns into mystery and murder. This is the second in the series and the recurring characters are developing nicely. I look forward to more in this series.

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Misty Murphy welcomes the Dangerous Curves a female motorcycle club to her Mountain Top Lodge. She has a assistant Bynn O’Reilly a divorced fifty year old to help run the lodge along with her cat Yetti. Misty is friendly with her handyman Rocky who comes to help out where he can with his Bernese mountain dog Molasses. When the riders go out on a ride the next day Gerri ends up run off the road found dead in the woods. Her husband ran an RV dealership in Raleigh which she inherited from him when he recently passed away could his other family be behind her crash trying to take back the dealership. Was this an accident or manslaughter? Misty sets out to find out the truth with the help of the others staying at the inn. This was a very enjoyable story I would recommend to everyone fast paced easy reading.

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*3-3.5 stars. This is book #2 in a cozy mystery series by Diane Kelly set in the Blue Ridge Mountains. After her divorce, Misty Murphy opened Mountaintop Lodge in Beech Mountain, North Carolina, and this week, she is hosting a group of motorcycle mamas called The Dangerous Curves, who have come up from Raleigh to enjoy the fall foliage.

About midway through the week, the rider who is running sweep on the tail end of the group, fails to meet up with them at the appointed spot. An intensive search finds her bike wrecked and her body lying further down the hillside. Who could have wanted the woman dead?

Misty, her handyman Rocky, and the cleaning lady Brynn keep their eyes and ears open. Maybe they can help the local sheriff solve the case before everyone leaves at week's end.

I have to say the Blue Ridge Mountains are one of my favorite places to visit in the fall so I thoroughly enjoyed spending some time there in these pages. The murder mystery is intriguing with lots of red herrings and the characters are fun and lively. I like how the relationship is developing between Rocky and Misty--nice and slow. I will definitely look forward to reading more in this series.

I received arc from the author and publisher via NetGalley. My review is voluntary and the opinions expressed are my own.

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This is the second release in the definitive new cozy series " Mountain Lodge Mystery Series." Thank you to the publisher and to Net Galley for the opportunity. My review opinion is my own. The author has created a charming mystery series with wonderful charachters and fun sleuthing for the reader.

Its autumn in the beautiful blue ridge mountains and a ladies motorcycle club has come to stay at Misty's lodge while they travel the autumn color landscape during the day. They ask Misty to join them and she happily joins them for the first adventure. On their first trip the rider taking up the end of the group does not show up to their agreed upon stop. As the ladies and Misty investigate their missing friend clues abound, secrets come to the surface about the victim and soon Misty is involved in another murder investigation.

This next in series has a intriquing series of subjects, new charcters, some neferious and a in depth sleuth that kept me turning pages to conclusion. I enjoy this series and look forward to the next in series.

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Rounded up ...4.5 out of 5 stars. Delightful cozy series, this is 2nd in series, but can easily be read as a standalone.

Misty Murphy celebrated a momentous 50th birthday by signing her amicable divorce papers and purchasing her dream lodge in the mountains of North Carolina. Resilient, hard-working with a zest for life, she's looking forward to this upcoming week as a female motorcycle club has book the entire lodge. Death comes to a member of the club and Misty starts investigating with the help of her engaging new posse: Rocky, her live-on-site handyman and potential love interest. Brynn, her bohemian assistant manager and sidekick. Patty, the owner of the diner next door who provides breakfast for Misty and her guests.

Well-written with good pacing and intriguing mystery.

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The main character of A Trip With Trouble, Misty Murphy, is hosting a woman's motorcycle-riding group at her recently opened mountain lodge. The women have come to North Carolina to enjoy riding and seeing the beautiful fall colors in the area. The group is having fun on the trip and Misty and her assistant, Brynn, are enjoying getting to know this fun group of guests better. When tragedy strikes, Misty jumps right in to investigate the death of one of the riders.

This is a very fun series with a great setting. The mystery is interesting, with a few different possible suspects. Misty declares herself to be good at solving crimes and she is good at finding clues, but I think she jumps to conclusions a little too quickly. Luckily she has Rocky, her handyman, friend, and potential boyfriend, to keep her grounded. Most of the book is narrated by Misty, but there are a couple of chapters from the point of view of Misty's cat. Yeti's observations are cute and fun and also give the reader some information that Misty isn't aware of. The confrontation with the killer is a little far-fetched, but I think the overall ending of the book is really cute. This is the second book in the Mountain Lodge series. You don't have to read the first book to enjoy this one, but it's so good, I highly recommend it.

I received an advance copy of this ebook at no cost from NetGalley and St. Martin's Press, but my review is voluntary and unbiased.

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