Julie Anne LindseyCritiques

This is such a fun series and I can't wait to dive into book 3 in February. I really appreciate Lindsey's ability to help the read feel what the characters are feeling. I feel like this book went a little fast when it cam to the whodunit and I wanted there to be a bit more suspense in it. Overall this was a SOLID read and I can't wait to dive into the next book.

I love Bonnie & Clyde! As the series began Bonnie Balfour moved back to her hometown in Bliss, Georgia. It’s simply a joy to know she’s making her second-chance shop a success with one new marketing idea after another. Clyde didn’t put his best paw forward in the first impression he gave to Bonnie and although he hasn’t changed his thieving habits their love is mutual at home and at the store. They’re definitely a dynamic duo that knows how to rescue one another!

Bonnie’s parents, Bud and Blossom own a flower farm aptly named Bud and Blossom’s Flower Farm. They are lovely but the absolute personality of the family is Gigi and she is simply grand for a grandmother, mother, and mother-in-law. Gigi’s nickname for her daughter and husband is hilarious since she considers them to be busybodies and is fitting for their business of choice as well.

This cozy series is filled with southern charm and sweet goodness from the name of the hometown to Bonnie’s shop name of "Bless Her Heart" to baking nights with her grandmother to friendships old and new. Julie Anne Lindsey infuses humor into the storyline and it’s always natural to the dialogue and captivating. There’s also a budding romance on the horizon and possibly two.

I can’t wait to read the next steps for Bonnie and Clyde.

p.s. If you haven’t visited the author’s website, please don’t miss clicking over to discover the series prequel of "When Bonnie Met Clyde" available as a free ebook or audiobook.

Cami is upset, Gretchen is suspected of murder and no one knows why Cat is back in town. It’s just another day in Bliss for Bonnie and Clyde. Forty and happily in love with HANS and then another dead body shows up and Bonnie’s determined to make sure her friend doesn’t go down for the murder. Flared Stiff is yet another fun adventure with Bonnie and her pals...and it’s finally July first and she gets to see HANS at that months’ much anticipated centerfold!

Julie Anne Lindsey has so many wonderful cozy mystery series, and while I can’t choose a favorite, the Bonnie & Clyde mysteries will always be dear to my heart because I have a loving and sassy black cat that is a lot like Clyde, and I’ve been a true crime lover since I was in high school.

In Flared Stiff, the fifth book in the series, we get a lot more movement on various character’s romantic relationships, we get to finally see what calendar month Bonnie’s handsome sheriff boyfriend is on, and go along for another wild ride, including boat bombings, while Bonnie solves another mystery with the help of her friends.

We don’t see Thelma or Louisa in this book since Lindsey gave them their own spin-off series and they’re busy planning a miniature donkey wedding. But we do get more of Gretchen and her plant whisperer aunt (hopefully they’ll be getting a spin-off series too!), and a lot more of Cami, Bonnie’s bestie, and Cat comes back to town just in time to babysit Bonnie and for a secret mission that I’m sure we’ll see play out in an upcoming book in the series.

Another fun, fast read and I’m super excited for book six in the Bonnie and Clyde Mysteries.

In Julie Anne Lindsey’s spin off series Louisa and her prize winning hen and the cottage community of Meadowbrook are the stars of the show. When a local food critic is poisoned at her souffle shop, falls on top of her and dies Louisa is back on the case to prove she didn’t do the dastardly deed. We meet a few new faces and some old ones we were introduced to in the Bonnie and Clyde series as the author expands her Bliss and Cromwell communities and it all works!

No Farm No Fowl is a spinoff from Julie Anne Lindsey's Bonnie and Clyde series, and I am so happy that we get to read more about Louisa and her chicken, Thelma, as well as getting to learn more about the quaint village they live in.

Louisa has a great side-kick who is surly and a wonderful balance to Louisa’s always sunny personality. We also get to learn more about Louisa’s neighbor and probable love interest, Eli. The reveal on him was a fun surprise and will tie in well with upcoming books, I imagine. Lindsey always shines when it comes to writing fun, quirky, and well developed characters. How can a miniature donkey wedding not be amusing?!?

Another fun and fast read of a cozy mystery series by Lindsey and I’m already looking forward to book two.

It’s been an amazing journey watching Patience grow over the course of three books and all I can say is that I want an update on what’s happening on Pony Island these days! Surely after their HEA Patience and Sebastian, Max and Claire and Adrian continued to act like the Scooby gang and find secret tunnels and all sorts of mischief. Take the time and get to know these people. It’s worth the time!

Looking for something to tide you over between Stephanie Plum novels? Meet Patience Price. Quirky, unlucky when it comes to stumbling over bodies...or parts of bodies, and torn between two exceptionally hot men. She attracts killers like Tasty Cream entices her. A fun series that will brighten your day!

Patience is starting over and has hung her shingle in her hometown. She is settling in well to her new profession until she is called on to represent her old boyfriend. His mom is completely convinced that he did not do it, but Patience thinks that turn about is fair play. She finally decides to look into it and what she finds is shocking. Patience must find out what is really going on before it is too late.

This might just be my favorite Julie Anne Lindsey book yet! A hint of romance, quirky humor and an interesting locale make this a must read in my opinion. Patience leaps right off the page as her adventure kicks on when she returned to Pony Island after being terminated from the FBI...where she worked in human resources. Hoping to set up a counseling service on an island where everyone knows everyone’s business may not be the brightest idea she’s had but it’s the one she’s going to run with if she makes it through the first two weeks at home alive, that is. Is she the bumbling sidekick to Sebastian’s 007, a future Jane Bond in her own right or the flower child her parents always wanted her to be? Determined to find her own path I can’t wait to see where the next two books take her.

*I read the 2022 version of this book

After reading the prequel of "When Bonnie Meets Clyde" I knew I wanted to read the entire series. I was also hopeful that Bonnie’s dream would come true of opening a second chance boutique and with her courage to adopt Clyde it seemed many new possibilities were in Bonnie’s future. With the opening of Bonnie calling, "Welcome to Bless Her Heart!" I was thrilled for the new beginnings for Bonnie and Clyde in her hometown of Bliss, Georgia leaving a marriage only bringing her heartache in Atlanta far behind.

Bonnie specializes in revitalizing women’s clothing and household décor turning an item from discard to desired, from outdated to having a second chance, all at affordable prices. Clyde is now an indoor cat rather than an alley cat and supervises and keeps Bonnie company whether at home or at the shop.

I loved that Bonnie’s recreating herself too enjoying the freedom to be herself and that Clyde is continuing with his feline pleasure of stealing shiny objects although now they’re most often from Bonnie’s window display. I won’t reveal how but Clyde’s even become his own fashion aficionado.

One of the treasures of reading any story written by the author is the pleasure of her artistry with words. My favorite in this book is, "A heavenly shade of apricot backlit the world as the sun prepared for its nightly rest."

The cozy itself is filled with Southern charm and small town life with rumors galore but with everyone coming together in moments of need. Just don’t be surprised if you’re hungry for home-baked pastries as you read this cozy!

I simply can’t wait to spend more time in Bliss, Georgia with Bonnie and Clyde.

Thanks to author Julie Anne Lindsey & BookFunnel for a digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

Amateur sleuth Bonnie Balfour once again finds herself compelled to solve a murder that occurs in her small southern town. She is lucky that her boyfriend is the hunky sheriff. In this episode, a dislikeable out-of-towner is murdered and a prize-winning hen goes missing. Additionally, Bonnie's grandmother Gigi is opening a new coffeeshop/bakery called Oh My Goodies. The town is also home to a book store called What The Dickens. Thelma, a new friend of Bonnie's, is the owner of Louisa, a blue ribbon-winning chicken. And Bonnie's pet cat is named Clyde. Plus the book titles. This is a cozy, after all, so it's not surprising that the names are smile-inducing.

What I like about Bonnie is that after an acrimonious and painful divorce at age 40, she leaves the big city and opens "Bless Her Heart," a cute second chance shop in her home town of Bliss, Georgia. (And another cutely named business). Bonnie "sees the beauty and possibility in everything" which she puts to use by sprucing up and reinventing castoff items. Readers will realize that Bonnie has reinvented herself in the process.

In each book Bonnie ends up solving a murder that she can't resist investigating even though it's dangerous. In this episode Bonnie meets with a therapist where they discuss her panic attacks. I really appreciated the acknowledgement that discovering bodies and solving murders which end up putting her in danger are affecting her. In addition, they discuss why she feels the need to interject herself into murder investigations. I haven't come across this topic in any cozy and think it balances out the typical cozy lightheartedness.

This is book four in the series, but author Lindsey includes enough backstory details that you can easily read this one first without feeling lost. To sum it up, this is a traditional cozy with several possible suspects, a surprise murderer, light romance, the warmth and familiarity of a small town, and the promise of more mysteries to come.

What a treat to meet Bonnie Balfour visiting her parents and friends in her hometown of Bliss, Georgia. Bonnie is enjoying wandering the town square to enjoy the revitalization efforts spearheaded by her friend Camilla (Cami for short) Rose Swartz and meets a furry little black feline that is quite an accomplished thief of all things pretty and shiny. In Bonnie's case a pretty red ribbon. Even though one knows from the title that the little black cat is named Clyde I loved the reveal to Bonnie.

I adore the addition of felines in cozy mysteries and particularly when it is obvious that the author has had the pleasure of living with a cat as the descriptions of interactions with their surroundings and their humans capture the magic of adventure, unconditional love, joy and laughter brought to each day shared.

The short story is a charming introduction to the characters and I can't wait to read more of this series!

Bonnie Balfour’s fourth exciting adventure takes her to the *gasp* wilds of Cromwell where she and Clyde find their kindred spirits in Louisa Eggers and her hen Thelma. Louisa lives in Meadowbrook, a small cottagecore community that her not so nice ex wants to redevelop into a upscale destination resort. When Ben ends up dead and Thelma goes missing Bonnie and Louisa are on the case! Come visit with Bonnie and Clyde, Lexi, Gigi and of course HANS. You won’t be disappointed!

With Eyelet Witness, the fourth book in the Bonnie and Clyde Mysteries, Julie Anne Lindsey once again proves that she is the Queen of Cozies!

Lindsey’s characters are ones any cozy mystery reader would want to be friends with, they have lots of heart, make the reader smile with their humor, and are always there for each other… even if the suspect is from the rival neighboring town.

The mysteries are always good with lots of suspects and a couple of red herrings thrown in to keep you guessing. And what I really, really love about the books in this series is that Lindsey gives us a full story, but by keeping the pages down closer to 200 than 300 we don’t get all the filler of the sleuth going over the clues a hundred times. With so many books in this world to read, I don’t have time for filler!

Looking forward to the spin-off series with Louisa and her chicken, Thelma, as well as book five in the Bonnie and Clyde Mysteries, Flared Stiff, which comes out May of 2022.

Disappointed by this book, it seems like every geeky obsession is mashed into the book, comic con, renaissance festival, online gaming, but they are all just mentioned or are background scenes for the novels action no real flavor. That and I found all of the characters either unlikable or boring. Not really sure why I bothered to finish it.
The smart geek girl was fooled by the person she spent the most amount of time with, her work subordinate Warren. Who talked his way into her house, drugged her before she started to suspect him, then blabbed away confessing all of his crimes. Then she had to be saved, not the type of heroine I was hoping for.

3 ½ stars
This has a lot of the tropes of a cozy but it’s fast paced plot that put’s the main character Winnie and her Granny in danger make it read like a page turning thriller.

It’s not just the two main characters that are in danger, the farm that they own and the business that they want to expand is in danger as well.



My biggest criticism of the book is that not a lot of character development aside from Winnie and Colton, but I understand that as a first book in a series you need the world building and then add in the swift plot that doesn’t leave a lot of room for quirky side characters.


The next book in the series is due out April 28th 2020 according to goodreads and I’m looking forward to getting it, I want to see what happens when the cider shop opens and what’s next for Winnie. In the meantime I plan to give the authors Geek Girl Mysteries a try.


Cozies Reading Challenge

I enjoyed this intriguing romance and I voluntarily chose to review this story. I've given it a 4.5* rating. This started almost at the very beginning to grab me and kept me turning the pages. It was a pretty fast read and even though I found out fairly early who the culprit was, the story wasn't over till they got him. A sick mind can think of plenty of stuff. Not really for the under 18 readers. Onto my next story.½

Find Bliss In Bliss!
With contents like “I should get manicured more often,” “I was wondering if you lived under a bridge”, and “I want to be your life raft” Julie Anne Lindsey knocks this one out of the park! More Gigi, more feels and Bonnie and Clyde trying not to get involved in the investigation into the death of the curmudgeon shopkeeper across the square is a real page turner to say the least! And the last sentence is to die for!

Thanks to author Julie Anne Lindsey for a digital advance reader copy. All comments and opinions are my own.

This is number three in the series, and the second one I've read. You could start with this one and not feel lost, as the author gives enough backstory to keep any reader in the know. Featuring Bonnie Balfour and her kitty Clyde, Beating the Wrap begins with Bonnie decorating her sweet second chance store "Bless Her Heart" for the fall holiday contest in the town of Bliss, GA. She discovers some mean notes written about her stuffed in the store's gratitude box, and when she learns they're written by a grumpy competitive retailer across the square, she goes to meet with him and hopes to smooth his ruffled feathers. The next day the retailer is discovered dead and Bonnie is a suspect.

Thankfully Bonnie's beau is the hunky sheriff, Mason, who tries to keep her out of danger throughout the well-written cozy as Bonnie tries to find the murderer. There are several possible suspects and Bonnie is determined to solve the mystery, sometimes with the aid of her feisty grandma Gigi.

Bonnie is a 40-year-old divorcée, who returns to find herself in the small southern town where she grew up. As a stress reducer, she bakes. So she is always bringing cookies, cakes, and sweet goodies to share with others. The author paints an engaging picture of Bliss as a place where everyone knows everything about everybody. Boyfriend Mason describes it as "Everyone's always smiling and waving and lifting their chin in recognition when you drive by or make eye contact, even if you've never seen the person before in your life." Coming from the urban city of Cleveland, his experiences of Bliss are a good contrast to Bonnie's.

What makes this novel a cut above the usual light-weight cozy is in addition to starting her new business and getting used to being single again, Bonnie is redoing the rundown lake house she has just purchased and moved into. She paints, refurnishes, adds pillows, paintings, and other accessories, and all the redecorating creates another dimension to the story. She's building a life out of making old things new again, whether with her store, her house, or even herself.

Bonnie's thoughts to herself sum up the message of the novel: "Being back home was supposed to be about finding myself, even if that meant standing out from time to time, in good ways, and never blending in for someone else's comfort at the expense of my own." So if you're looking for an entertaining, well-written cozy murder mystery with a likeable heroine, set in a charming small town, with a potential romance in the coming books, this is the book for you.

Winnie has gone to the Potter pumpkin patch to pick up her order then she and Dot go to the ice cream parlor. While there a puddle grows under her truck. What is it? When she finds out what it is, once again, against Colton's advice, she is out to find out whodunnit.

I enjoyed this story. I think it is the best of the series so far. Colton's family comes to town and we learn more about him. I liked that he starts letting his guard down although he still has his cop face when Winnie provokes him and investigates.

The townspeople are always ready to help. Once again Dot brings an injured animal. This time a goose who is after Winnie's blood. His family is fun especially brother Blake. Add to all this Civil War reenactors and an enemy from the past and quite a lot is going on. As usual I did not see whodunnit until the end. Not what I expected on either front.

There is sooo much to love about the Bonnie and Clyde Mysteries by Julie Anne Lindsey! She knows how to write characters that quickly become your friends and make you want to move to whatever town she’s writing about. The relationship between Bonnie and her grandma, Gigi, is so sweet with a side of sass on both of their parts. And I was instantly smitten with two new characters, Thelma and Louisa… Lindsey had mentioned doing spin-offs with some of the characters, and this is a duo I would love to see more written about.

Besides wanting to be BFFs with all of the main characters, I feel a real kinship with the town of Bliss, Georgia because it reminds me so much of the small town I live in, especially the revitalization that the downtown is going through and all the cute shops and eateries in the downtown area.

Along with the wonderfully developed characters and the fantastic descriptions of the town, Lindsey is able to keep the pace of her books steady with lots of things going on, but not having the main character spend all of her time interrogating people or looking for clues. Sure, there is some of that, but each book includes so many more fun scenes… and Bonnie actually works at her store instead of never being there, like so many other cozies end up doing.

And while most cozy mysteries series have a romantic relationship that has some issues… mainly communication, Lindsey handles the parts with Mason and Bonnie very well. While there is some drama, it fits into the story and Lindsey doesn’t make it linger for long. I have a feeling book four is going to really heat up in the love department.

Super excited for book four, Eyelet Witness, which comes out on December 15, 2021, and if you haven’t read any of the Bonnie and Clyde Mysteries, what are you waiting for?!?

I really enjoyed this romantic suspense. I voluntarily chose to review this and I've given it a 4.5* rating. First off lets just say, there is a lot of violence and dead bodies. In this case, it's a serial killer. There's a lot of action, a lot of false leads and a lot of man hours trying to track him down. This was pretty intense and it's something that could happen to a lot of us. Be aware when you go out alone, like for a daily run. We all need to do that more. Not for the under 18 readers.½

Terrific fast-paced suspense story accompanied by a sweet romance. On the run from her abusive ex for two months, Gina thought she was finally safe in Great Falls. Then she spots Tony in town, passing out flyers for his "missing" girlfriend. Desperate to escape before he finds her, Gina asks PI Cruz Winchester to build her a new identity so she can safely disappear. Instead, Cruz insists that stopping Tony rather than hiding from him is the only way to be safe.

From the moment she walked into his office, Cruz felt the need to help Gina. The more he heard of her story, the greater his need to protect her grew. As a PI, he has more freedom of action than his law enforcement brother and cousins, but he also knows they have his back if he needs them.

I enjoyed watching the relationship between Cruz and Gina develop. Their connection was evident from the moment they met, as were the sparks of attraction. I loved Cruz's kindness and compassion and the respectful way he treated her. Though she had a few moments of self-doubt about her judgment, Gina found it very easy to trust Cruz and his family members. The time they spent together trying to find Tony and keep her safe gave them the chance to get to know each other. I loved Cruz's teasing and flirtatious ways and noticed that they sometimes hid a bit of vulnerability as he recognized the strength of his feelings for her. Gina acted a bit more cautious, but the better she got to know Cruz, the more comfortable she was flirting back. Both worried about whether their relationship would continue after the case was over. I loved the ending and seeing the realistic progress of their relationship. Cruz's big moment was sweet, and typically Cruz.

The suspense kept me hooked from beginning to end, equally psychological and action-oriented. The fear that Gina feels knowing Tony won't give up leaps of the page, as does her guilt whenever he harms someone in his zeal to get to her. The feeling of impending doom wars with her optimism when Cruz gets involved. From the moment Tony first appeared to the final confrontation, I could see his growing desperation. I loved seeing the rest of Cruz's family get involved and how each of them played a part in the resolution. The final confrontation kept me on the edge of my seat as Gina faced her worst nightmare. I loved how she kept her head through it all.

Though this was the first of this series I read, I definitely want to read the previous books. I can't wait for the next one!

#netgalley

So many times the first book in a series is excellent and book two gets the dreaded sophomore slump, but not Seven Deadly Sequins by Julie Anne Lindsey. Book two may be even better since the main characters are becoming even more developed and we get to meet some new characters.

One of the many things that I really enjoy about this series is that Lindsey didn’t make Bonnie instantly rich by inheriting something, but instead she is actually struggling to make ends meet. But I think book three is going to get really interesting because of some of the events in this one….

I also enjoy how Lindsey deals with Sheriff Wright trying to persuade Bonnie not to investigate. Sure, he constantly tells her not to, but you can actually tell that he cares about her and isn’t saying it because he doesn’t think she can do it. So many books just have the love interest telling the main character not to investigate, and while it gets boring fast, it also feels like that they don't believe the main character has the smarts to do so.

In Seven Deadly Sequins we get a feel for even more of the town and get to enjoy Lindsey’s detailed descriptions. And the mystery is even more nuanced in this one with lots of red herrings and an interesting ending.

The Bonnie and Clyde Mysteries is one cozy mystery series I am very excited to keep reading.