Christmas season in Mistletoe is time for celebration and the Reindeer games. To add to the
festivities, the Antiques Roadshow is also in town. While Holly is dining out with friends, a person
attempting to steal a holiday ornament is stopped by the owner, Alice. Unfortunately, Alice finds the
thief dead outside her cafe later in the evening and becomes a suspect. When the ornaments are
revealed to be desired by collectors, Holly wonders if participants at the roadshow are involved. While
Holly is determined to clear Alice, she must deal with her husband's, family's and friends' concerns
about the early stages of her pregnancy.
Love returning to Mistletoe to catch up with the characters and read about the changes in their lives.
#AWonderfulChristmasCrime #CrookedLaneBooks #NetGalley

Innkeeper Holly White has a lot to be joyful about this season, until an attempted robbery throws the town into suspicion in the sixth installment of the Christmas Tree Farm mysteries from bestselling author Jacqueline Frost.

As Christmas descends on Mistletoe, Maine, Holly White has an extra gift for the season: a new baby on the way. Her husband, Sheriff Evan Gray, has been worried about her elevated blood pressure, and Holly has agreed to take this year easy. Being idle has never been one of Holly’s gifts, so when Evan surprises her with tickets to the town-wide dinner, she and her many cravings thank him. But when a thief tries and fails to steal an antique ornament from the dinner’s holiday display, it’s clear that someone is on the naughty list.

The thief manages to escape, but after dinner, Holly spots their lifeless body. It’s clear that someone in town was keen to kill them. Evan is less than jolly to find his wife at the scene of yet another holiday homicide and asks her to promise that she’ll leave the investigating to the police. But Holly has never been one to turn down a challenge and has to get creative with the help of a few of her friends in order to find this killer.

Will she and her friends be able to stop the killer and uncover the motive behind the attempted robbery, or will the killer strike again and paint the town a bloody red?


Where to start? So this is my opinion.

I love the cover, I love the concept. I didn't enjoy this book as much as I'd hoped. I appreciate Netgalley, Crooked Lane Books, and Jacqueline Frost for gifting me the book to read. I would never have requested if I'd realised that this was part of a series as it mentioned not much, but history, which was clearly from the other books, so I got a bit lost. Although the FMC is portrait as a kind, thoughtful, compassionate person, I just found the way she went on irritating, she seemed to enjoy putting herself in danger and when her husband made sure she stayed out of things the book was stale with filling. Filling that doesn't need to be there. it was just dragged out. Yeah, that's probably the best way to sum up the book. It was dragged out.

Julie Anne Hatcher aka: Julie Anne Lindsey, Bree Baker, Jacqueline Frost, and Julie Chase is one of my favorite authors. I can always count on a great cozy when she choses to write in this genre. The sixth book in the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery does not disappoint.

Holly Gray is trying to stay out of sleuthing to protect her baby, herself, and her future family life. Everyone is concerned about her blood pressure. Her family and friends know her too well. As hard as she tries to keep her promises to stay out of it, she is often caught crossing the lines. It isn’t intentional but that is how she is wired.

Her friend, Alice, is the prime suspect in the death of a burglar of her business. The woman tried to steal a Yule Goat during the first portion of the progressive dinner the town was having. The woman returned to secure one or more Yule Goats. She was found by Alice outside the café already dead.

I enjoyed the red herrings, the plentiful suspects and motives. I had a strong suspicion of who the murderer was. I was surprised by the motive.
Again, Holly is joined by her friends and family in trying to keep her safe. I enjoyed the subplot of the stolen blowup snowmen and it’s resolution.
This is an uplifting story just in time for the holidays.

I was given an advanced e-copy by Netgalley and these are my opinions.

Back in Misitole,Maine feels like going home. A wonderful Christmas crime was such a great addition to the series. Holly and her friends have to help find a killer who is trying to ruin another friend. This series always makes me want to go to Reindeer Games Farm enjoy all the fun the family has for guests. If you are looking for a nice cozy mystery with some holiday charm this is the series for you

I love love love this series! Every book just gets better and better! And this one is no exception! When I am feeling really down there is no better series to go back and read than this one. Holly's hijinks with Evan, Libby, Carolyn, Cookie, and her wonderful parents keep me riveted to these stories. I wish this family actually existed.

I love all of the different mysteries, and this one was exceptionally well done. It really wasn't until the end that I figured out who the murderer was and by then it was almost too late! The inclusion of the Antiques Roadshow was delightful and something I remember fondly over the years, occasionally watching just to see what kind of goodies people brought to be evaluated. I love that that same feeling of nostalgia was written into this story.

There were so many different angles and suspects it was hard to know who to keep watching! However, I love the chase. It's what keeps me reading cozies and this one is just a great example of what a really great cozy should be like. I really hope this series continues on for a great many years. Love love love this series!

Thanks to Net Galley, the publishers, and to Jacqueline Frost for the ability to read and review this book. All opinions are my own and are completely honest.

I've loved all of the books in this series so when I saw this one was coming out I jumped on the chance to read it and was not disappointed. This series has everything you could want in a cozy mystery and I will keep coming back for more when they come out!

My thanks to NetGalley and the publisher, Crooked Lane Books, for letting me read and review an advanced copy of ‘A Wonderful Christmas Crime’, by Jacqueline Frost.

Holly White is once again almost overwhelmed with the activities of Christmas; helping at her parents Christmas tree farm, fulfilling orders for her handmade jewelry, getting together with friends, and doing things with her husband, Evan, the Sheriff in Mistletoe, Maine. When Evan takes her to the doctor they get a new surprise, causing more anxiety along with pure joy.

Unfortunately, there is a pattern of murders in town every Christmas (this is the sixth book in the Christmas Tree Farm Mysteries), and this year is no different. Even with Evan’s warnings, Holly and her friends cannot stay out of the investigation, regardless of how many threats and warnings Holly receives.

These Christmas cozy mysteries are a delight to read. The characters are fun and the storyline is engaging. I can’t wait for the next chapter in Holly and Evan’s life, even though I will have to wait another year.

Welcome back to Mistletoe, Maine where once again our sleuth finds herself investigating the annual murder. Only this time she's investigating from a distance as she just found out that she and Evan are going to be parents! With the help of her friends she's able to visit the Antiques Roadshow to combine looking into possible suspects and doing some Christmas shopping.
I would love to visit Mistletoe and the Reindeer Games Farm! The games sound like so much fun and Cookie is a hoot. This is one of my favorite series and I can't wait to meet Baby Grey!

Thanks to Crooked Lane Publishers and NetGalley for the ARC

No matter how hard she tries she just can’t stay out of trouble. This was another great trip to Mistletoe. A story full of fun surprises and twists.

Thank you to the author for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Am I crazy for reading a Christmas mystery in May? Perhaps. Did it scratch an itch I had for a a good cozy read? Definitely!

Loved
- Holly and Evan’s relationship
- Holly’s frustration about being sidelined and smothered with care
- I actually felt bad for the villain at the end. I saw it coming, but it still made me sad

Meh
- The whole crossword thing was just oddly shoehorned in
- Possibly because I read it in May, but good lord the level of Christmas is overwhelming. This is not a book that takes place at Christmas. This is a Christmas book about Christmas during Christmas time with Christmas themes

Overall, it’s a great book when you just want a festive escape from the real world. I just might recommend reading it in November/December instead of May!

This is one of my favorite cozy mystery series and when I saw the newest one available on NetGalley I had to request it. I love reading books set at Christmas time and this series usually hits the mark 100 percent with all of the Christmas references and adventures but I felt this one was just a little lacking in that area. I don't know if it is because they spend more time away from the Tree Farm or if it suffered in my mind because I was in a stressed time when I read it. I do think the next entry is set up to hit it out of the park though and I am excited for next year.

The town of Mistletoe, Maine is preparing for Christmas. The usual tourists are in town. But, this year, the Antiques Roadshow, is also in town. Holly White is enjoying life with her husband, the sheriff. And she has found out that she is pregnant with their first child. All is good.

That is, until an out-of-towner is found murdered. She was trying to steal a valuable artifact from a local restaurant owner. The owner is suspected of the crime. But Holly and her friends don't think so. They set out to find the true murderer.

Overall, I liked this book. My one criticism is that it really went down quite a few rabbit holes. That's true for many cozy mysteries. We learn more recipes and find out how people smell more than we would like. But this book could really get off track at times. Thankfully, the author was able to get the train back on the rails relatively quickly. All in all, I would recommend this book for all cozy mystery fans.

Another Christmas in Mistletoe and another murder.

Holly White and her friends stumble upon the body of a would be thief at her friend Alice's cafe. But Holly's sure Alice isn't the killer.

However with a baby on the way she's promised to not get involved with another murder and risk catching the ire of another killer.

But with a now well known reputation as the 'Gumdrop Gumshoe', even when she tries not to get involved, opportunities to investigate keep popping up.

My Thoughts:

This is probably my favourite in the series since the first book, and it really feels like the series has fully developed.

The 'Gumdrop Gumshoe' shtick has in some ways added a real legitimacy to why Holly needs to investigate (other than being nosy), and her trying not to investigate rather than running straight into danger was both refreshingly different to the last few novels and gave a great bit of subplot (and were both factored I'd bemoaned after reading previous books).

This has to be one of my favourite Christmas crimes series. It is such a magical setting and if I could find a real place like it I'd never leave.

No matter the actual time of year, a visit to Mistletoe is always delightful ful. The protagonist is expecting and therefore she tries to not investigate, but she just can’t help herself. Another fun cozy in the series. You will be eager for another visit.

Christmas has always been a big, happy deal in Mistletoe, Maine, especially for Holly White and her family at the Reindeer Games Christmas Tree Farm. Now happily married she and husband Sheriff Evan Gray have discovered that this year they have even more to celebrate. Having assured everyone she will take things easy over the festive period, the discovery of yet another dead body in December, and a friend installed as the main suspect, make this a very difficult promise for her to keep. Information can, of course, be gained via the Internet and word of mouth, and, almost without trying, Holly finds herself in possession of useful information and ideas, much to Evan's dismay. As Christmas Day grows ever closer, can she find the vital clues to prevent this year's big day being her last?

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, Crooked Lane Books, but the opinions expressed are my own. I loved this. I'm a sucker for a Christmas cosy at any time of year, and this didn't disappoint in any way.

Things are hopping in Mistletoe, Maine at Christmas time with the Antiques Roadshow in town and, of course, the annual murder.

At the beginning of the story, we find out that Holly and her husband, Sheriff Evan Gray, are going to be parents. This means that Evan doesn’t want Holly to investigate the murder, which takes place at her new friend Alice’s restaurant, with Alice as the main suspect. Alice stopped a woman during the town’s progressive dinner from stealing her Yule Goat and the woman ended up murdered with Alice as the suspect. Even though Evan technically sidelined Holly, her sister-in-law Libby is on the case as a private investigator and will help Alice prove her innocence.

I liked how the story started out with a lot of suspects because everyone in the dining room saw the murder victim try to steal the Yule Goat and heard it was valuable. Then there were people involved in the Antique Roadshow itself who were suspects as well as the victim’s business partner.

The side story about Libby trying to discover who was stealing inflatable snowmen was fun and the discovery of who was stealing them made for a very heartwarming moment. There is also a storyline of a man who had a crush on Caroline and his new wife coming to town and that was pretty funny.

I figured out the killer easily, but was baffled for a motive, so that kept me thinking “it can’t possibly be, because why?” The moment the killer is revealed is a tense moment because nobody suspects this person and Holly’s life is at risk. Fortunately, Libby and Evan came to the rescue in time.

I love this series and the characters are great with each other in their friendship and how life changes for them. I really hope we get more stories, even though Holly is pregnant. I feel we should get at least one more for the baby’s first Christmas. It would be nice if their new house would be finished in time for that, but I can’t see how that could get done in time, but it is a book, so it is possible.

Thank you NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

J really enjoyed this book. This is a good Christmas themed cozy mystery .
. Holly tries ot to get involved in a murder mystery

Holly White has it all: a loving husband, a wonderful family, and a magical place where she grew up. Christmas is around the corner, and she's looking forward to all the fun that comes with it. But even so, she just received better news: she's going to have a baby. She, and everyone around her, is thrilled at the idea; and learning that her blood pressure is elevated, they're also determined to keep her relaxed.

Which would be easy, except when Holly and her gal friends go out for an evening of food and fun, someone tries to steal an antique goat from a new friend, Alice, who owns the restaurant. The thief gets away, but the goat is saved...at least for a while. When Holly and her friends return to the restaurant, they find Alice outside in the snow, lying next to a dead person -- the same one who tried to steal the goat -- the goat in Alice's hand. Now Alice is the main suspect in the murder, and Holly is forbidden by everyone from trying to find who the real killer. Can she work behind the scenes and still find out who did it? Or will her overprotective friends refuse to let her out of their sight and allow Alice to be taken in for a crime she didn't commit?

This is the sixth book in the series and I have read them all. I have also loved them all. As I've stated before, I love the fact that the characters evolve in each book, their lives moving along as it does in real life. While I am happy for Evan and Holly, I do hope that the series continues even with a baby in the picture. After all, other authors have done so, so I have hope!

As to the mystery, there is more than one: Holly is taxed with trying to solve a crossword puzzle in the daily paper by Christopher, who's been a fixture in the Whites' life, and whom she believes to be Santa Claus. But is he? She also continues (extremely discreetly, or so she thinks) investigating, while making a new mommy friend in someone who is in town for the antique show. But the antique show is giving signs of being in trouble, and Holly wonders if it's connected to the death.

Leaving it up to Evan, and her sister-in-law Libby, who is a private investigator, she only hopes that they will listen to her arguments. Being constantly watched is making her somewhat cranky, and it doesn't help with the morning sickness she's feeling.

But it's unexpected when she finally figures out who the murderer is, and her only question is will she be able to get out of trouble or will she and her unborn baby face their final moments? I loved the climax and how it's done, giving us all the backstory that we need, and solving another Christmas mystery in time to enjoy the holiday. Recommended.

I was given an advance copy of this book from the publisher and NetGalley but this in no way influenced my review.

This series has consistently worked for me and I was very excited to see the newest entry on NetGalley. It delivered all the things that I want from this books--community, good ship, and the ongoing effects of consistently finding dead bodies. Would recommend this cozy mystery series to anyone any day of the week.

<i>Thank you to the publisher and NG for the ARC.</i>

Holly receives some very exciting news at the beginning of the book that keeps her from second guessing whether or not she should solve the mystery, but of course, she does anyway! It's always fun to revisit old friends and I will always wish I lived someplace that had real Reindeer Games! Fans of the Christmas Tree Farm mysteries will enjoy this one!