Murder Fir Christmas
by Joyce and Jim Lavene
Murder Fir Christmas will have you humming carols and ho-ho-ho-ing quicker than the Big Guy’s sled makes it around the world!
~Back Porchervations!!
Masterfully written…filled with intrigue, action, laughter, joy, and a mystical beauty that touched my heart, MURDER FIR CHRISTMAS has beat out every book this year to become my number one favorite book of 2015.
~Lisa K’s Book Reviews
This has mystery, humor and a touch of paranormal that combine to entertain you.
~readalot
Murder Fir Christmas
(Christmas Tree Valley Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
New Series
Print Length: 208 pages
Publisher: J. Lavene (December 1, 2015)
ASIN: B016APS2PI
MY REVIEW
Joyce and Jim Lavene write wonderful stories, where the mystery and characters keep me coming back for more.
Bonnie Tuttle’s family had come from a small town in Tennessee, but she left to strike out on her own. Now, her new job as a wildlife ranger and her ailing mother have brought her back to Sweet Pepper and Christmas Tree Valley. Small towns can be a bit claustrophobic. Not only does everyone know your name, they know your business.
Some people thought she was stubborn, but she believed she was just determined.
Bonnie and Matthew are drawn together by circumstances and events out of their control.
Her first day, she is forced to deal with a fire, a couple of murders and a snowstorm. She also meets some ghosts. In Sweet Pepper they are accepted as a part of life. They can be helpful, even going so far as to open the door for the ladies. But are they good or bad? Will they help her or hurt her? Could that slight puff of air on your neck be a friendly ghost or your worst nightmare? How about the stuck door? Do they not want you to leave?
She has friends in the animal world. They are drawn to her when in need of help, but will they return the favor when she is in trouble?
Oginali became my favorite character. He is persistent, patient and determined.
I love the Indian mysticism. I am reading about a protector of the animals and earlier I was watching a TV show about their Extinction.
The Native American beliefs and mountain magic make all things seem possible in Bonnie’s world.
If the mystery isn’t enough to chill your bones, Joyce and Jim do a great job of bringing back memories of the need to shovel and plow the snow, scraping the windshield as the car warms up, and the dangerous driving. I do not miss it!
The humorous writing keeps the story light, even though there is plenty of murderous greed to go around.
In case you work up a hunger, we have some delicious Christmas recipes to share.
I received a copy of Murder Fir Christmas by Jim and Joyce Lavene in return for an honest review.
4 Stars
SYNOPSIS
Down the mountain from Sweet Pepper, Tennessee is Christmas Tree Valley, a place filled with hundreds of Christmas tree farms where generations of growers have made people’s lives brighter. Yet even here in this quiet, postcard-perfect corner of the world, darkness and murder can still stalk the night.
Federal Wildlife Agent Bonnie Tuttle has always had a special gift with wild animals. It was one of the reasons she decided to train with the wildlife agency. She’s spent the last ten years in Alabama working, but her mother needs her home and she’s back despite all the bad parts of her life she hoped to leave behind.
Her first day home begins with a fire on the island in Sweet Pepper Lake and the death of Harvey Shelton, the wildlife agent she’s supposed to replace. Bonnie manages to rescue dozens of animals from the fire – including a wolf pup that was shot with the same bullet that killed Harvey.
Now she’s hot on the trail of Harvey’s killer and trying to reintegrate the wolf back into the wild even though he seems to want to stay with her. Yet old memories persist in the small community where she grew up, and the killer now seems to believe that she has what he killed Harvey for. All she has to do is figure out what that is before it’s too late.
Christmas Recipes included!
About The Authors –
Joyce and Jim Lavene write award-winning, bestselling mystery fiction as themselves, J.J. Cook, and Ellie Grant. They have written and published more than 70 novels for Harlequin, Berkley, Amazon, and Gallery Books along with hundreds of non-fiction articles for national and regional publications. They live in rural North Carolina with their family.
Author Links
www.facebook.com/joyceandjimlavene
http://amazon.com/author/jlavene
https://twitter.com/AuthorJLavene
Purchase Link:
GIVEAWAY
Tour Participants
December 2 – Back Porchervations – Review
December 3 – Lisa Ks Book Reviews – Review
December 3 – readalot – Review
December 4 – Community Bookstop – Review
December 4 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – Review
December 5 – Babs Book Bistro – Review
December 6 – Moonlight Rendezvous – Review
December 7 – Bubble Bath Books – Review
December 8 – Cozy Up With Kathy – Review
December 8 – Mochas, Mysteries and Meows – Review
December 9 – fuonlyknew – Review
December 10 – 3 Partners in Shopping, Nana, Mommy, &, Sissy, Too ! – Review
December 10 – fundinmental – Review
December 11 – Mallory Heart Reviews – Review
December 12 – Shelley’s Book Case – Review
December 13 – Laura’s Interests – Review
December 14 – Jersey Girl Book Reviews – Review
December 14 – Socrates’ Book Reviews – Review
December 15 – View from the Birdhouse – Review
December 15 – Book Babble – Review
Have you signed up to be a Tour Host?
Click Here Find Details and Sign Up Today!
~~~~~~~~~~~~
To see all my Reviews, go HERE.To see all my Giveaways, go HERE.If you like what you see, why don’t you follow me?
Look on the right sidebar and let’s talk.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Leave your link in the comments and I will drop by to see what’s shakin’.
If you have a problem commenting, look for the twitter, facebook…buttons.
Thanks for visiting fundinmental!
I love books written by Joyce and Jim Lavene … they are awesome reads!!
Me too. Good luck and happy reading.
I adored this book. It just grabbed my heart. I can’t believe they were able to put so much into this one and it never felt awkward. Lots going on and such fun!
So true. I really enjoyed it and love that cute cover.
I enjoyed the review, thank you.
Thanks, Rita. Good luck and thanks for stopping by.
A helpful review thank you.
Thanks, Mary. Have a great weekend.
I never heard of this book or author but you have me interested. Though I like more intense mystery.
Pingback: Sherry's Shelves #60 - Books & Fun-fundinmental