Mrs. Claus solving crimes? Yes please! Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC! It was so fun and cozy! I’ll definitely be catching up on the rest of this series!

If you’re looking for a mystery that’s more heartwarming than harrowing, this one’s a gem. I’ll definitely be back for the next installment!

This is one of my favorite series! The setting is so much fun and I love the characters. This is one cozy mystery series that works for the main character to be so involved with the crime solving, since the police are usually more focused on baking. :)

This was everything that I was looking for from a sixth entry in the Mrs. Claus Mystery series, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed from the previous books in this series. It was written well and had that character development that I was looking for. It left me wanting to read more in this series and from Liz Ireland

This is the sixth book in the Mrs. Claus Mystery series by Liz Ireland. I love the author’s fantasy world set in the North Pole. There are a few villages, Santaland is where most of the action takes place.

Firefighter Sterling Redwinkle was about to propose to Juniper, friend of Claire and April. As the investigation progresses, we see April’s dodged a proverbial bullet; the body count increases, and motives run rampant. We even have a reindeers Wobbler and Cannonball vying for the affections of Flouncy a doe from the Vixen herd.

I enjoyed this trip through fantasyland. I can always count on Liz Ireland to pull me out of the real world into the North Pole to visit and investigate strange deaths. The characters are wonderful and unique. The story is well-plotted, fast paced, and in my opinion exciting.

The book is a standalone story but I would read them from the start in order to get a better understanding of the recurring characters.

Netgalley allowed me to read an advanced readers e-copy of the book. These are my opinions. This series always moves to the top of my read pile.

I enjoyed this foray back into the world of April Claus and all the ridiculous goings-on at the North Pole. In this cozy mystery, Claire's bridal party is threatened and then an elf is killed via poisoned flowers. As the days count down to Claire's wedding, April has to find and stop the murderer before it's too late!

While I enjoyed this story, at times it felt like there was too much going on. Several background characters were brought to the forefront, and a few new characters were introduced, in addition to the wedding (and a Valentine's Day chocolate competition thrown into the mix!) April felt more isolated in this story, and I missed her conversations with Juniper and Claire. That said, the story was well-written and I look forward to reading the next installment!

"Mrs. Claus and the Very Vicious Valentine (Mrs. Claus Mystery #6)" by Liz Ireland is Valentine's Day, Christmas and Wedding themed. It is Christmas themed due to it all taking place in Santa Land and you can't not get a bit of Christmas theming there. The Valentine's Day theme since it's set around Valentine's Day and there are events taking place with that holiday in mind. Then the Wedding theme because April's friend and fellow transplant to the frigid north, Claire, is getting married in this book.

April, family and friends are all trying to help Claire and Jack have an amazing wedding. Unfortunately, there's some scary threats and poisonings going on to put Claire in cold feet territory. That's in addition to her acting odd. So, to keep Claire from postponing or canceling her wedding, April, is determined to solve the case in less than 4 days. She squeaks in on solving everything the day off the wedding.

I have to say that this book in this series kept me guessing the most. I would think I was starting to figure things out, but then there would be something new to lead me somewhere else. In the end, I was starting to put it all together just a smidge ahead of April.

Jake and Claire are getting married, the reindeer are vying for female attention, and Valentine’s Day looms. Then, Juniper’s beau is poisoned and it seems someone is more interested in framing the local florist than framing a photo with their sweetheart.

Can April figure out who is killed Sterling while also being days away from Claire’s big day? What’s a matron of honor to do? Mrs Claus will dig in and try to figure it all out, even if she is strapped for time and it could put her on the killer’s naughty list.

This series is SO much fun! I mean, who wouldn’t want to be married to Santa? Even if you have to solve a few murders along the way? the author does a great job at keeping the Christmas theme while still setting the stories at other times throughout the year. It’s fun and cozy while showing a side of the Elves you’ve never seen before.

Wedding bells are in the air this Valentine's Day at the North Pole.

April Claus's friend Claire, and Jack Frost, are getting married, but Claire doesn't seem to be herself.

Meanwhile their dress fittings take a turn for the worse when Juniper's new boyfriend dies while delivering her Valentine, which includes a poisoned rose.

And just to cap of a bad Valentines, April is worried the spark has gone from her marriage with Nick.

Will April be able to find the murderer and keep the wedding and her own marriage all on track?

********

I always enjoy this series but this may be one of my favourite books yet.

Thank you Kensington Publishing for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I hadn't realized this was a series, but it became abundantly clear from the get-go. Unfortunately I didn't find a single character all that appealing. While I enjoyed the over-the-top names and setting (Santaland), I just couldn't connect with anything. The main character, April, is Mrs Claus but besides the prestige that comes with the position it doesn't seem like she does anything helpful or useful with the position. Her husband, Nick, seems absent and their relationship is more like two ships passing in the night. Her mother in law comes off as overbearing and uninterested in her daughter in law. April doesn't seem like a particularly good friend either (re: Claire and Juniper), yet I can't really figure out what she does with at least 60% of her day. She's trying to solve murders with little background, and even then doesn't seem to do a particularly good job of it. She basically runs around accusing people of things and isn't the least big apologetic at the damage done to people's reputations.

The author tries to misdirect so much that it becomes painfully obvious, which took a lot of fun out of reading.

If you're a fan of this series, it will probably still be entertaining.

(note: I am no longer a bookseller; I review books on my Goodreads and YouTube).

This book was so ridiculous on the best way possible! Fantastic setting, so many puns, so much fun, so over the top but so committed to the bit that it all works. I stayed up past my bedtime to finish this. I was convinced I knew who'd done it- but I was wrong! This whole book was such a delight. I can't wait to double back and read the rest of the series.

There are those who will find this offering lighthearted and whimsical. I did not. Much too kitschy. However points for originality.

I just love this series and 'Mrs. Claus and the Very Vicious Valentine' did not disappoint. The book is filled with Liz Ireland's delightful whimsy as she creates a world where it is easy to suspend disbelief and enjoy a good mystery in which spectacular characters abound. The series just gets better and I recommend it highly to all age readers.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Reading Mrs. Claus and the Very Vicious Valentine felt like slipping into a warm, whimsical snow globe I never wanted to leave. Liz Ireland’s April Claus is such a relatable, down-to-earth heroine—even if she happens to live at the North Pole—and her mix of humor, determination, and heart made me root for her every step of the way. The Valentine’s Day twist was a delight, adding just the right amount of romance to the frosty mystery. By the end, I was grinning, guessing, and wishing I could stay in Santaland a little longer.

Wedding bells are ringing - but people are dropping. While the bride seems distracted people close to the wedding are dropping fast. Can Mrs. Claus figure it out before the wedding?? And is there still romance in her marriage? Great read!

I adore this quirky series. To be honest, while the mystery is always intriguing, I'm there as much to lose myself in the fantasy world of SantaLand as for the mystery. I mean, cranky flying reindeer feuding over Flouncy, a flirtatious female reindeer from the Vixen herd, naturally. A stuffed up, talking snowman. A police station jail cell that is more hotel room than cell. Flying sleighs, with or without reindeer power, note. I mean, the are quite up-to-date there. Cut throat candy competitions. And, oh, so many other fun, quirky bits of this North Pole that don't quite match up with the long time traditional image. Heck, Santa is even not only young but hot. Sorry, ladies, he's married. April Claus is an amateur sleuth who always seems to find herself in the middle of some wrong doing, even murder.

That's the case here. Who killed elf fireman Sterling Redwinkle just as he seemed about to pop the question to his elf girlfriend Juniper? With a poisoned rose, no less. That's just the beginning. April is on the case but also caught up in preparations for BFF Claire's upcoming wedding to private detective Jake Frost. Yes, related to Jack Frost. Even better (well, maybe....you'll see) she's to be married at Castle Kringle, home of the extended Claus Family. Current Santa Nick is simply holding down the job while waiting for his nephew Christopher to reach adulthood but has proven a caring, wise Santa. April often wishes she had his way with words. Well, when she isn't fretting that the romance is fading this go-round. She even resorts to taking one of those generic magazine quizzes to determine if he's drifting away from her. Yes, they read those magazines in SantaLand, too, it seems. In any case, given her busy schedule, which involves lots of chocolate (a woman after my own heart) and snooping, er, looking into the murder, she barely has time to focus on anything else. She's even desperate enough investigating to descend into Hades. Nope. Not explaining that one. You'll just have to read. Honest, it isn't what you're thinking. Grin.

Bottom line, as noted, I thoroughly enjoy this series and the various novellas that pop up periodically. The characters, many of which are elves or.....nah, not telling, are quirky and have personalities all their own. the Dowager Mrs. Claus is a force in her own right and harbors no nonsense but, well, we get to see another side of her here, too. Claire has a surprise for April, too, not to mention Jake. Yikes, is the wedding off? Murder does have a way of dousing one's enthusiasm. In any case, if you're looking for a fun mystery with quirky characters, even if it involves talking reindeer and snowmen, this one is for you. Heck, I normally don't read stuff in the fantasy realm, either, but this one has me hooked. Thanks #KensigntonPublishing and #NetGalley for allowing me to time travel and have this early peek at how SantaLand celebrates Valentine's Day. I'm already waiting impatiently for the next chance to drop in on April Claus and the whole crew. Hope she doesn't eat all the chocolate before I get there.

Dress fittings for Claire's wedding becomes a deadly affair in Christmas Town. Claire and Jake Frost are getting married on Valentine's Day, but someone is not happy about it. Even Claire seems to be having second thoughts. Mrs. April Claus, as her best friend decides to get very involved when fellow bridesmaid, Juniper's boyfriend, Sterling drops dead during what should be the final fittings for the dresses. As festivities for both the wedding and Valentine's Day progress, April is investigating and aggravating elves and snowmen alike. By the time we reached the end of this one, I decided to just avoid Valentine's Day next year though or at least skip the Chocolate Festival and it's many competitions!
This series is always a fun read. The characters invariably make me laugh. At the very least I usually have the culprit on my radar screen, if I haven't identified them by the reveal, but I have to say this one caught me completely off-guard! I had pretty much zeroed in on someone else. Overall this was an entertaining way to spend an afternoon. I ended the day having some laughs and an intense craving for all kinds of tasty treats!
Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest review.

I love the clever premise of this series. In this 6th book, April Claus, ex-pat American and wife of the current Santa Claus, is helping her best friend plan her Christmastown wedding for Valentine’s Day. The wedding is only a few days away but Claire and Jake Frost seem to be having a few challenges before the big day. Claire, in particular, has suddenly decided to leave almost all the decisions to April’s mother-in-law and seems completely uninterested in everything.
While doing the final fittings at Madame Neige’s dress shop, Juniper’s new boyfriend appears and suffers a fatal event. The local florist is implicated in his death and April wants to help get this resolved before Claire and Jake’s wedding.
April’s also feeling her own marriage might be in a rut after four years, particularly when there’s so much evidence of Valentine’s Day romance all around her.
Once again, the author does a lovely job of tying all loose ends as April solves the crime just in time!

April is helping Claire get ready for her wedding. During this time, preparations for Valentine's day are going on. Suspicious things start happening and then a death occurs. There is enough confusion that it is unknown who is the target for all of this evil. It is a good read to find out and a good surprise ending. The author is able to come up with another surprising way to create a mystery in Santatown

It's almost Valentine's Day in Christmas Town and April Claus's best friend is getting married at the castle. But first there's a murder of one of her friends. He dies right in front of April and the rest of the bridal party at the fittings for their wedding dresses. Then there's an attempted murder and a bride who seems to be having second thoughts. April knows she has to help solve the murders so that the wedding can take place.

Not my favorite in the series and I'm not particularly fond of April's meddling but overall not a bad addition to the series.