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Apple Orchard #14
Hot Cross Guns
Murder ruins everything.
It’s the start of fall in Pine Grove, which means the leaves are vibrant, the coffee is warm, and the days are crisp and cool. Autum really is the best season in upstate New York.
But bottle blonde Teeny has her 65th birthday coming up, and for her, that's ruining all the good stuff about fall. Teeny HATES her birthday, and she doesn't want anyone to know hold old she is.
But then one of Teeny’s many evil exes turns up in town — with an enormous birthday float — and makes a big deal of Teeny's upcoming birthday in front of everyone in town.
The nerve of this guy!
Teeny is furious, of course, and she dresses the guy down in front of half the town. But then the evil ex turns up dead at a hot new local bakery, and Chief Flanagan identifies TEENY as the top suspect in the murder...
It’s up to Chelsea and Miss May to solve the murder. Because if they don’t catch the real killer soon, Teeny is going to have to spend her birthday alone, in JAIL. No one wants that.
It’s the start of fall in Pine Grove, which means the leaves are vibrant, the coffee is warm, and the days are crisp and cool. Autum really is the best season in upstate New York.
But bottle blonde Teeny has her 65th birthday coming up, and for her, that's ruining all the good stuff about fall. Teeny HATES her birthday, and she doesn't want anyone to know hold old she is.
But then one of Teeny’s many evil exes turns up in town — with an enormous birthday float — and makes a big deal of Teeny's upcoming birthday in front of everyone in town.
The nerve of this guy!
Teeny is furious, of course, and she dresses the guy down in front of half the town. But then the evil ex turns up dead at a hot new local bakery, and Chief Flanagan identifies TEENY as the top suspect in the murder...
It’s up to Chelsea and Miss May to solve the murder. Because if they don’t catch the real killer soon, Teeny is going to have to spend her birthday alone, in JAIL. No one wants that.
167 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 3, 2021
About the author
Chelsea Thomas
56 books807 followersEveryone loves a secret.
So here's a good one...
...Chelsea Thomas is technically two people, married writing team Chelsea and Matthew Thomas.
Matt and Chelsea write cozy mysteries set on an apple orchard in upstate New York. They also write television and film. As screenwriters, they have worked with several studios, including Nickelodeon, SONY and CBS.
Chelsea and Matt are graduates of Duke University and they are members of the Writers Guild of America. And they are USA Today Bestselling authors.
Chelsea enjoys spending time with animals and practicing yoga. Matt loves playing music. They both enjoy spending time near the water.
Want a free novella PLUS a free cozy mystery cookbook?
Join the Chelsea Thomas Reader Club at www.chelseathomasauthor.com.
So here's a good one...
...Chelsea Thomas is technically two people, married writing team Chelsea and Matthew Thomas.
Matt and Chelsea write cozy mysteries set on an apple orchard in upstate New York. They also write television and film. As screenwriters, they have worked with several studios, including Nickelodeon, SONY and CBS.
Chelsea and Matt are graduates of Duke University and they are members of the Writers Guild of America. And they are USA Today Bestselling authors.
Chelsea enjoys spending time with animals and practicing yoga. Matt loves playing music. They both enjoy spending time near the water.
Want a free novella PLUS a free cozy mystery cookbook?
Join the Chelsea Thomas Reader Club at www.chelseathomasauthor.com.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
August 26, 2021
Chelsea, Miss May, and Teeny are at a local coffee house when they see a man sitting at a table in the far corner. Teeny immediately recognizes him as one of the magicians she dated in the past. The Great Gregory apparently left things in tatters with her, and when she confronts him, all she wants is some money that she lent him, which he refuses to acknowledge. After the blowup, they go to see her sister Peach, who admits she hired him for Teeny's "surprise" birthday party.
Teeny is definitely angry and refuses to attend the party, but Chelsea and Miss May talk her into it. Bad idea. When Gregory is found dead by Chelsea, Teeny is the main suspect. Now the three women have to once again start a murder investigation to find a killer, or Teeny won't have this birthday or any other in the company of her friends...
This is the fourteenth book in the series, and I must admit that I haven't read any of the others. I know, I know...but now that I've read this one, I've already got the first and am going back to start at the beginning. That's how good this book is.
The three women are a hoot, each in their own way. Miss May is no nonsense, and she wants everything done the way she expects -- even if she comes up with ideas that don't seem practical. Teeny is a cook who takes her frustrations out on the people who come to her restaurant -- even if her recipes are bad ideas. And Chelsea just goes along with it all -- even when very strange words come out of her mouth at the most inopportune times. She just isn't good at thinking on her feet. Oh well...
Together these three women make the strangest team of crime fighters that I've ever come across. And also the most endearing. They are funny, loyal, caring, and will do whatever it takes to get the job done. Even if the police can't. Because the police are a tad inept. Not that it matters. Chelsea is dating a detective, and while he's cute, he's not sharing information, so the three are on their own....trying to figure out if another magician killed Gregory...
Because that's the direction the investigation is going, but they're not sure how to find out who wanted him dead. His assistant, who wants to do magic on her own? His agent, who had a beef with him? Or another magician, because he wasn't well liked? With a plethora of suspects, and a lack of clues, they set forth to the big city (Manhattan) and are determined to find out. Unfortunately, the killer would rather they didn't -- and is willing to kill again to keep a secret.
When the ending comes, whether it's a surprise or not doesn't matter, because it's fun to watch how they put thing together and come out on top. Yes, there is a surprise twist, but even that is interesting to see when we find out the truth of the matter. Once again, everything is fine in Pine Grove...at least for the time being. Highly recommended.
I received an advance copy from the author, but this in no way influenced my review.
Teeny is definitely angry and refuses to attend the party, but Chelsea and Miss May talk her into it. Bad idea. When Gregory is found dead by Chelsea, Teeny is the main suspect. Now the three women have to once again start a murder investigation to find a killer, or Teeny won't have this birthday or any other in the company of her friends...
This is the fourteenth book in the series, and I must admit that I haven't read any of the others. I know, I know...but now that I've read this one, I've already got the first and am going back to start at the beginning. That's how good this book is.
The three women are a hoot, each in their own way. Miss May is no nonsense, and she wants everything done the way she expects -- even if she comes up with ideas that don't seem practical. Teeny is a cook who takes her frustrations out on the people who come to her restaurant -- even if her recipes are bad ideas. And Chelsea just goes along with it all -- even when very strange words come out of her mouth at the most inopportune times. She just isn't good at thinking on her feet. Oh well...
Together these three women make the strangest team of crime fighters that I've ever come across. And also the most endearing. They are funny, loyal, caring, and will do whatever it takes to get the job done. Even if the police can't. Because the police are a tad inept. Not that it matters. Chelsea is dating a detective, and while he's cute, he's not sharing information, so the three are on their own....trying to figure out if another magician killed Gregory...
Because that's the direction the investigation is going, but they're not sure how to find out who wanted him dead. His assistant, who wants to do magic on her own? His agent, who had a beef with him? Or another magician, because he wasn't well liked? With a plethora of suspects, and a lack of clues, they set forth to the big city (Manhattan) and are determined to find out. Unfortunately, the killer would rather they didn't -- and is willing to kill again to keep a secret.
When the ending comes, whether it's a surprise or not doesn't matter, because it's fun to watch how they put thing together and come out on top. Yes, there is a surprise twist, but even that is interesting to see when we find out the truth of the matter. Once again, everything is fine in Pine Grove...at least for the time being. Highly recommended.
I received an advance copy from the author, but this in no way influenced my review.
September 6, 2021
3.5 stars
Tenny is about to have a big birthday and she is not happy about turning another year older. When she discovers her sister Peach is not only planning a surprise party for Teeny, but also hired Tenny's ex The Great Gregory, one of her many magician exes and one who owes her money to boot. Miss May and Chelsea convince Teeny to attend the party and Chelsea is excited to have Wayne as her date. At the party Teeny seems to be having a good time but when it comes time for the magic show, the magician is a no-show. That's fine by Teeny and Peach agrees to pay the man and kick him out. As Chelsea leads the search for the missing magician, she has a very bad feeling. Naturally, she stumbles across his dead body, shut inside one of his tricks. Oh dear! There goes her date with Wayne. Teeny was spotted yelling at the magician only the day before and naturally Chief Flanagan thinks Teeny is the prime suspect for murderer. As Wayne and Chelsea have butted heads in the past, he wants to make it up to her by allowing her to investigate without telling him anything. He, in turn, won't reveal anything the police have uncovered. Wayne's new "don't ask, don't tell" policy may come at a price of Chelsea, Miss May and Teeny can't figure out who killed Gregory before someone Teeny gets arrested? Meanwhile, Tom Gigley has asked Miss May to search for a missing woman he believes is his true love. He has very little information to go on though. Can they find a needle in a haystack?
This is one of the better entries in the series. Picking up where the last one left off, barely a week after solving their last murder, Chelsea and Wayne are now an item. The relationship plot is much better this time around but I think she moved too quickly. I do appreciate the more realistic approach to romance though. The mystery is very tight. It kept me guessing and turning pages into the night. I did not end up guessing entirely correctly. The murderer had every right to be angry but there's something missing from the motive. The writing style is as usual with fewer typos/grammatical errors, aside from one big continuity error. Miss May knows Gertrude's name before they are introduced, however, she could have overheard it, in which case Chelsea should have asked "Who's Gertrude?" In the end Chelsea hints her time in Pine Grove is coming to an end! Oh no! Tom Gigley's plot didn't add anything to the story. I didn't get the point of it.
All the mentions of Italian food had me drooling and hoping my family can visit Arthur Ave. again soon. Try Signore Borgatti's homemade macaroni. That's where Miss May bought her cavatelli. It's all handmade by the Borgatti family. YUM! I also loved the mention of white pizza, the only way to eat pizza, until the pizza maker RUINED IT with garlic olive oil. If I ever go there I will have to say JUST dough and cheese, no oil. I really want one of Teeny's macaroni and cheese paninis. I have to remember that this winter and pull out the panini press and make some mac and cheese! I couldn't find a recipe for mac and cheese IN muffins but I thought that sounded great too.
Chelsea is still a little stunted in her growth. She hasn't grown a lot in cleverness but she does have more confidence. Her patented "catch a killer" move comes into play here at the worst, most dangerous moment which is very silly. I do relate a lot to her though, being an introvert who loves books and talks to animals... and inanimate objects. Miss May is a little quiet in this story. Her romance is starting to bloom but she's resistant. I hope it works out. She'll be lonely if Chelsea leaves. Teeny is still annoying. I cringed at the first page and had to stop and read something of a slightly higher literary quality but returned to the story. I have every sympathy for Teeny not wanting to make a big deal out of her birthday. As she notes, when you're a KID getting older is something to celebrate! It's not the same once you reach adulthood.
Teeny's sister Peach has a larger role in this story. The sisters fight a lot but I think Peach has a good heart and truly wants Teeny to have a happy birthday. Peach really is a peach, under her crusty, sarcastic exterior. Wayne has matured a bit but since he's the one who wants to date Chelsea so badly, I agree with her that he should open up more. Answer her one simple question! He doesn't have to tell her his life story all at once but HE does know everything about HER so it seems unfair. His don't ask, don't tell policy seems fair enough but how does he expect the ladies to stay safe and catch a killer if he's not one step behind or sharing information? IF he wants to solve a murder before her, he needs to ask for their help. However, I grew to like him enormously when I learned his food dislikes. THANK YOU! I don't like parmesan cheese (my dad, nieces and nephews can't get enough). I also don't like tomato. I'm a very bad Italian. Worse than Wayne, unless he doesn't like tomato either.
The Great Gregory was not so great. The guy was arrogant, mean, bullying and had it coming. No one deserves to be murdered but as far as fictional characters go, yes he did deserve it. His assistant, Hera, seems like a mean girl at first but the more Chelsea got to know her, the more I liked her and felt sorry for her. Did she kill her boss? She had a very strong motive, means and opportunity. Another good suspect is Gertrude the Great, an up and coming magician who wanted to buy Gregory's tricks before he was even laid to rest. She seems unemotional about his death and denies even knowing him but the magic community isn't that big. She obviously had HEARD of him and knew he was dead. What's her deal? She's kind of snippy and rude, very unfriendly. Then there's Mr. Bicker, Gregory's supposed manager. From the initial phone call, I'd say the guy was fishing for information and lying about his identity. He's unpleasant and doesn't have anything nice to say about the dead man. Could Mr. Bicker have bickered with Gregory one last time before killing the magician? One final suspect is the mysterious curly haired man at Teeny's party, Sean Wabble. He seemed to be nice and polite at the party, lacking self-confidence and kind of whiny. I don't think he has it in him to murder someone, even if he has a great motive.
Other characters that appear in this book include Miranda, Wayne's ex. On the surface she's nice but once Chelsea talks to her more, Miranda becomes competitive and snooty. I can tell she's trying to insult Chelsea and make Chelsea feel insecure without being obvious about it but she IS obvious. I feel bad for Chelsea. There's also Melody, a female magician. Melody is unfriendly, unhelpful and clearly competitive. She doesn't support her fellow magicians at all. She is in a dog eat dog profession I guess. She should at least support Hera because they're young women starting out at the same time. Sadly, Chelsea keeps referring to Melody's assistant as "chubby." This is the 21st century, let's not fat shame people OK? Let's also not refer to people by their ethnicity or race. The authors always do this and they're young enough and have been around enough to know this isn't polite.
It sounds like the series may be coming to an end soon. I'm interested in reading the next book to see what happens to the characters. This series is recommended for fans of Stephanie Plum who want something more simplistic and cleaner.
Tenny is about to have a big birthday and she is not happy about turning another year older. When she discovers her sister Peach is not only planning a surprise party for Teeny, but also hired Tenny's ex The Great Gregory, one of her many magician exes and one who owes her money to boot. Miss May and Chelsea convince Teeny to attend the party and Chelsea is excited to have Wayne as her date. At the party Teeny seems to be having a good time but when it comes time for the magic show, the magician is a no-show. That's fine by Teeny and Peach agrees to pay the man and kick him out. As Chelsea leads the search for the missing magician, she has a very bad feeling. Naturally, she stumbles across his dead body, shut inside one of his tricks. Oh dear! There goes her date with Wayne. Teeny was spotted yelling at the magician only the day before and naturally Chief Flanagan thinks Teeny is the prime suspect for murderer. As Wayne and Chelsea have butted heads in the past, he wants to make it up to her by allowing her to investigate without telling him anything. He, in turn, won't reveal anything the police have uncovered. Wayne's new "don't ask, don't tell" policy may come at a price of Chelsea, Miss May and Teeny can't figure out who killed Gregory before someone Teeny gets arrested? Meanwhile, Tom Gigley has asked Miss May to search for a missing woman he believes is his true love. He has very little information to go on though. Can they find a needle in a haystack?
This is one of the better entries in the series. Picking up where the last one left off, barely a week after solving their last murder, Chelsea and Wayne are now an item. The relationship plot is much better this time around but I think she moved too quickly. I do appreciate the more realistic approach to romance though. The mystery is very tight. It kept me guessing and turning pages into the night. I did not end up guessing entirely correctly. The murderer had every right to be angry but there's something missing from the motive. The writing style is as usual with fewer typos/grammatical errors, aside from one big continuity error. Miss May knows Gertrude's name before they are introduced, however, she could have overheard it, in which case Chelsea should have asked "Who's Gertrude?" In the end Chelsea hints her time in Pine Grove is coming to an end! Oh no! Tom Gigley's plot didn't add anything to the story. I didn't get the point of it.
All the mentions of Italian food had me drooling and hoping my family can visit Arthur Ave. again soon. Try Signore Borgatti's homemade macaroni. That's where Miss May bought her cavatelli. It's all handmade by the Borgatti family. YUM! I also loved the mention of white pizza, the only way to eat pizza, until the pizza maker RUINED IT with garlic olive oil. If I ever go there I will have to say JUST dough and cheese, no oil. I really want one of Teeny's macaroni and cheese paninis. I have to remember that this winter and pull out the panini press and make some mac and cheese! I couldn't find a recipe for mac and cheese IN muffins but I thought that sounded great too.
Chelsea is still a little stunted in her growth. She hasn't grown a lot in cleverness but she does have more confidence. Her patented "catch a killer" move comes into play here at the worst, most dangerous moment which is very silly. I do relate a lot to her though, being an introvert who loves books and talks to animals... and inanimate objects. Miss May is a little quiet in this story. Her romance is starting to bloom but she's resistant. I hope it works out. She'll be lonely if Chelsea leaves. Teeny is still annoying. I cringed at the first page and had to stop and read something of a slightly higher literary quality but returned to the story. I have every sympathy for Teeny not wanting to make a big deal out of her birthday. As she notes, when you're a KID getting older is something to celebrate! It's not the same once you reach adulthood.
Teeny's sister Peach has a larger role in this story. The sisters fight a lot but I think Peach has a good heart and truly wants Teeny to have a happy birthday. Peach really is a peach, under her crusty, sarcastic exterior. Wayne has matured a bit but since he's the one who wants to date Chelsea so badly, I agree with her that he should open up more. Answer her one simple question! He doesn't have to tell her his life story all at once but HE does know everything about HER so it seems unfair. His don't ask, don't tell policy seems fair enough but how does he expect the ladies to stay safe and catch a killer if he's not one step behind or sharing information? IF he wants to solve a murder before her, he needs to ask for their help. However, I grew to like him enormously when I learned his food dislikes. THANK YOU! I don't like parmesan cheese (my dad, nieces and nephews can't get enough). I also don't like tomato. I'm a very bad Italian. Worse than Wayne, unless he doesn't like tomato either.
The Great Gregory was not so great. The guy was arrogant, mean, bullying and had it coming. No one deserves to be murdered but as far as fictional characters go, yes he did deserve it. His assistant, Hera, seems like a mean girl at first but the more Chelsea got to know her, the more I liked her and felt sorry for her. Did she kill her boss? She had a very strong motive, means and opportunity. Another good suspect is Gertrude the Great, an up and coming magician who wanted to buy Gregory's tricks before he was even laid to rest. She seems unemotional about his death and denies even knowing him but the magic community isn't that big. She obviously had HEARD of him and knew he was dead. What's her deal? She's kind of snippy and rude, very unfriendly. Then there's Mr. Bicker, Gregory's supposed manager. From the initial phone call, I'd say the guy was fishing for information and lying about his identity. He's unpleasant and doesn't have anything nice to say about the dead man. Could Mr. Bicker have bickered with Gregory one last time before killing the magician? One final suspect is the mysterious curly haired man at Teeny's party, Sean Wabble. He seemed to be nice and polite at the party, lacking self-confidence and kind of whiny. I don't think he has it in him to murder someone, even if he has a great motive.
Other characters that appear in this book include Miranda, Wayne's ex. On the surface she's nice but once Chelsea talks to her more, Miranda becomes competitive and snooty. I can tell she's trying to insult Chelsea and make Chelsea feel insecure without being obvious about it but she IS obvious. I feel bad for Chelsea. There's also Melody, a female magician. Melody is unfriendly, unhelpful and clearly competitive. She doesn't support her fellow magicians at all. She is in a dog eat dog profession I guess. She should at least support Hera because they're young women starting out at the same time. Sadly, Chelsea keeps referring to Melody's assistant as "chubby." This is the 21st century, let's not fat shame people OK? Let's also not refer to people by their ethnicity or race. The authors always do this and they're young enough and have been around enough to know this isn't polite.
It sounds like the series may be coming to an end soon. I'm interested in reading the next book to see what happens to the characters. This series is recommended for fans of Stephanie Plum who want something more simplistic and cleaner.
August 31, 2021
Fall is in the air making this a seasonally appropriate book this time of year to get you in the mood. The big event however is Teeny's birthday that she adamantly doesn't want and after her ex-boyfriend magician is found dead, maybe her sister should've listened. As usual Chelsea and the gang jumps in to identify the culprit before one of them gets arrested.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 31, 2021
I enjoyed this story but I did not like how they seemed to have no regard for the actual police. It kind of turned me off a bit like the characters were getting to cocky.
I like how Chelsea and Wayne are finally dating and can’t wait to see their journey. Teeny is still a hoot, You never know what she will come up with or say next.
The mystery has plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. I continue to enjoy this cozy mystery series. I find them to be entertaining and the plot moves at a steady pace that keeps you engaged.
I can’t wait for the next instalment and it could be our last!
I recommend this book/series. It can easily stand alone but I recommend you read the series from the beginning.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review
I like how Chelsea and Wayne are finally dating and can’t wait to see their journey. Teeny is still a hoot, You never know what she will come up with or say next.
The mystery has plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing. I continue to enjoy this cozy mystery series. I find them to be entertaining and the plot moves at a steady pace that keeps you engaged.
I can’t wait for the next instalment and it could be our last!
I recommend this book/series. It can easily stand alone but I recommend you read the series from the beginning.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review
February 24, 2022
This was another good mystery in the series. In this one Teeny is about to have a birthday. She is not happy about it. Then her ex shows up and he is murdered. Now Chelsea and Miss May have to figure out who is behind it. Luckily they solve it and all is well for now.
September 26, 2021
Chelsea, Miss May and Teeny are searching for clues after the magician at Teeny's birthday party is killed. I enjoyed reading this book very much and look forward to reading the next book in the series. I recommend this book to everyone.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 2, 2021
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. I enjoy the small town setting, and the three main characters are hilarious. They take it upon themselves to solve the recent murder, and they get on peoples nerves, stick their noses in, and they keep going until they figure it out. Along the way Teeny, Aunt May and Chelsea keep their sense of humor, even though they get frustrated with each other, they are the best of friends. This book is fast paced, a page turner and interesting.
August 31, 2021
Miss May, Chelsea and Teeny go to their favorite cafe for coffee when Teeny sees one of her ex boyfriends, a magician sitting with his personal assistant at one of the tables. When she marches over their over Miss May and Chelsea's objections, she yells and argues with him telling him to get out of her town. But, he tells her he has a job at a birthday party in town. It just happens to be Teeny's birthday next day and she puts two and two together and figures her sister Peach is plotting something for her birthday even though she has told everyone, she will not celebrate her birthday! Their relationship is a typical sister relationship and she confronts Peach who tells her she is planning a party with a magician for her birthday! Teeny loses it and says she refuses to go. But against her better judgement, she condescendingly listens to Miss May and Chelsea and goes. Then things go downhill from there. Chelsea finds the magician who is supposed to entertain is murdered. With Teeny being the number one suspect, Miss May, Chelsea and Teeny must investigate to clear Teeny. Who were the magician's enemy? With so many suspects popping up, how are they going to find the right one? I love this series with 3 great main characters and of course we can't forget Chelsea's detective boyfriend, Wayne as well as the town attorney, Tom Gigley who wants the 3 girls to find a lost woman - lost in his mind, who after seeing her once, forgets to get her contact information. With lots of laughs, we are taken through a mystery with lots of twists and turns and red herrings until the very end! This is a great series with fun characters you get to know well. I received and ARC of this book but the opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
August 31, 2021
Who Killed the Magician ? . . .
Another beautiful Fall season is coming with all the things Teeny loves… well, MOST of them. Her birthday is also imminent, and she is sensitive about revealing her age. Unfortunately, her sister, Peach, ignores her discomfort and hires Teeny’s ex, Gregory, as the magician entertainment for a huge party, and he brings an enormous float announcing her age. She publicly chastises him in front of everyone.
So when Gregory the Great’s body is found by Chelsea under the trapdoor of his stage, and very obviously dead, Chief Flanagan looks at Teeny as the primary suspect! Can Chelsea and Miss May find the real murderer and clear Teeny’s name?
I enjoyed reading this cozy mystery book with plenty of interaction among the characters. The story line is intriguing, entertaining, and filled with mystery to keep the reader excited and involved. Grab your copy and see what Chelsea and Miss May find out in their investigation.
Another beautiful Fall season is coming with all the things Teeny loves… well, MOST of them. Her birthday is also imminent, and she is sensitive about revealing her age. Unfortunately, her sister, Peach, ignores her discomfort and hires Teeny’s ex, Gregory, as the magician entertainment for a huge party, and he brings an enormous float announcing her age. She publicly chastises him in front of everyone.
So when Gregory the Great’s body is found by Chelsea under the trapdoor of his stage, and very obviously dead, Chief Flanagan looks at Teeny as the primary suspect! Can Chelsea and Miss May find the real murderer and clear Teeny’s name?
I enjoyed reading this cozy mystery book with plenty of interaction among the characters. The story line is intriguing, entertaining, and filled with mystery to keep the reader excited and involved. Grab your copy and see what Chelsea and Miss May find out in their investigation.
September 5, 2021
The ladies have one heck of a case this time around and we learn the Teeny had quiet the fascination with magicians at one stage! All seems right in the world in the time since there last case, unfortunately Teeny's sister Peach decides to throw a surprise part for Teeny which leads up to ... you you guessed it a murder, but not just any murder it's the magician Peach hired who also happens to be a guy Teeny use to date oops! With this one I really had no clue who the killer was, I kept switching who I thought it was and end the end decided I would have to wait and see and it was quiet the surprise as to who and why. As always there are plenty of laughs, loveable characters as well as suspicious ones along with enjoy the ups and downs of Chelsea's love life and a who dunnit that keeps you guessing.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 22, 2023
I received a copy from Booksprout.
This is my honest opinion.
This book, as it states in the title, is the 14th book in the Apple Orchard series. For the most part, the series is pretty well-written. It has interesting plots, and thanks to "Teeny," who reminds me of Lola from the Stephanie Plum series, is rather amusing. The foods mentioned make me hungry. In this 14th book, a magician meets his fate at Teeny's party, and Chelsea, Miss May, and Teeny solve the crime. Also, they are asked to find the lawyer's (Tom Gigley) missing crush. They accomplish their missions, and we learn a little more about Chelsea's love interest (Wayne, the "beefcake"sheriff.) Although this mystery (as all of them in the series,) can be read as stand-alones, I recommend reading the entire series from the beginning.
This is my honest opinion.
This book, as it states in the title, is the 14th book in the Apple Orchard series. For the most part, the series is pretty well-written. It has interesting plots, and thanks to "Teeny," who reminds me of Lola from the Stephanie Plum series, is rather amusing. The foods mentioned make me hungry. In this 14th book, a magician meets his fate at Teeny's party, and Chelsea, Miss May, and Teeny solve the crime. Also, they are asked to find the lawyer's (Tom Gigley) missing crush. They accomplish their missions, and we learn a little more about Chelsea's love interest (Wayne, the "beefcake"sheriff.) Although this mystery (as all of them in the series,) can be read as stand-alones, I recommend reading the entire series from the beginning.
August 28, 2021
Peach throws a birthday party for Teeny with a magician for entertainment! Much to Teeny’s hatred of her birthday hell breaks loose when Teeny finds out and discovers her ex is the magician in question! When she’s listed as suspect number one when he’s found dead Miss May and Chelsea get to work proving she’s innocent!
I love these three together. They are hilarious! I love the original storylines and well written books. The twists and turns and complicated plot twists are my favorite! I love the books when you don’t knew who dunnit until the end! I love this series and highly recommend this book and this author!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I love these three together. They are hilarious! I love the original storylines and well written books. The twists and turns and complicated plot twists are my favorite! I love the books when you don’t knew who dunnit until the end! I love this series and highly recommend this book and this author!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 25, 2021
Chelsea, Miss May and Teeny are back again for another fantastic installment in the Apple Orchard series. It’s Teeny’s birthday and her sister has thrown her a birthday party even though Teeny hates them. She is making the best of things until the magician who was hired to entertain at the party is found dead and the police point their finger at Teeny as the murderer. Can our ladies find the real murderer before Teeny ends up in jail? Plenty of red herrings, lively antics from the ladies, some sweet romance, and a second murder will keep you reading far into the night! One of the best in this series!
August 25, 2021
The ladies are back and it is Teeny's birthday! Her sister Peach decides to throw a surprise birthday party for Teeny at her B&B and books the Great Gregory as the entertainment. Problem - Teeny is not into celebrating her birthday and she dated Gregory years ago and hates him. Peach asks Chelsea to find Gregory to tell him not to perform, but she finds his body in one of the stages for his tricks. Miss May, Chelsea and Teeny have to find the killer before Police Chief Flannagan charges Teeny with the murder.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 2, 2021
Hot Cross Guns is the 14th book in the Apple Orchard Cozy series by Chelsea Thomas.
It’s Teeny’s birthday and she isn’t happy about it. An ex of her’s turns up dead at her party and she’s the prime suspect. Miss May and Chelsea have to help her figure out who is really responsible.
The three take several road trips which are always fun for the reader. They are also working on a “missing” person case for Tom Gigley. Chelsea misinterprets a situation with Wayne and then makes things more awkward like only she can. If you’re a fan of the series, you won’t be disappointed!
I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
It’s Teeny’s birthday and she isn’t happy about it. An ex of her’s turns up dead at her party and she’s the prime suspect. Miss May and Chelsea have to help her figure out who is really responsible.
The three take several road trips which are always fun for the reader. They are also working on a “missing” person case for Tom Gigley. Chelsea misinterprets a situation with Wayne and then makes things more awkward like only she can. If you’re a fan of the series, you won’t be disappointed!
I received an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) of this book and I am voluntarily leaving an honest review.
September 2, 2021
Birthday with Murder for Teeny!!!
When Teeny's Magician Ex-boyfriend came to town to perform for Teeny's birthday party and he is found dead by Chelsea, Teeny becomes a prime suspect. Chelsea, Miss May, and Teeny have to jump right into the investigation to clear Teeny before it's too late.
This book is a fun, lighthearted laugh out loud cozy mystery with wonderful characters, a fast-paced mystery that is very entertaining. I would recommend this book to any cozy mystery fan especially animal lovers. I am looking forward to read the next books in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review
When Teeny's Magician Ex-boyfriend came to town to perform for Teeny's birthday party and he is found dead by Chelsea, Teeny becomes a prime suspect. Chelsea, Miss May, and Teeny have to jump right into the investigation to clear Teeny before it's too late.
This book is a fun, lighthearted laugh out loud cozy mystery with wonderful characters, a fast-paced mystery that is very entertaining. I would recommend this book to any cozy mystery fan especially animal lovers. I am looking forward to read the next books in the series.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review
September 9, 2021
this time out, Miss May and Chelsea have another murder to solve but this time it's Teeny
that's in trouble if they don't get it resolved. Teeny is getting ready to celebrate her
birthday but she's not looking forward to it. She also doesn't want anyone to know how old
she is. One of her exes shows up in town with a birthday float in tow. He's making a big
deal of her up coming birthday in front of everyone and Teeny is not pleased. She goes after
him for making such a big deal but when he ends up dead, she's in trouble.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
that's in trouble if they don't get it resolved. Teeny is getting ready to celebrate her
birthday but she's not looking forward to it. She also doesn't want anyone to know how old
she is. One of her exes shows up in town with a birthday float in tow. He's making a big
deal of her up coming birthday in front of everyone and Teeny is not pleased. She goes after
him for making such a big deal but when he ends up dead, she's in trouble.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 17, 2021
Teeny is turning 65 and does not want a party. Her friend hires a magician for a party though and it turns out to be an ex of hers. They find him dead before the party and she is the number one suspect. Love this group of women as they follow clues and make you laugh out loud at their antics. The detective boyfriend is trying to help. The storyline is a great murder mystery, complete with twists, surprises, drama and misleading clues. Could not put the book down and did not want it to end. Terrific ending. Well done again.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
January 18, 2023
This is the 14th in the series. The main characters are Miss May, Teeny and Chelsea. The of them are once more looking into the death of a magician at a party for Teeny's birthday. Teeny hates birthday parties but her sister set one up for her and hired a magician to work it. Only Teeny hates birthday parties and she had dated the magician and hated him as well. Her friends talk Teeny into going and they find the magician murdered. Once again the chief tries to make them into the killers and they once again set out to prove it isn't them. They manage to find another body before they can figure out who did it. Now can they figure it out before they end up as the next bodies ?
August 22, 2021
Teeny is not a fan of celebrating her birthdays. A sister who disregards past romance and present wishes kicks off a lethal chain of events that puts Teeny on the suspect list
Can the ladies free Teeny from suspicion and solve the case? Will Wayne and Chelsea finally get their tell all date? Will they survive that kind of risk if they do?
Sleuthing , sisterhood, mysteries, humor and romance make Pine Grove a great book place to visit and a fun and insightful destination
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Can the ladies free Teeny from suspicion and solve the case? Will Wayne and Chelsea finally get their tell all date? Will they survive that kind of risk if they do?
Sleuthing , sisterhood, mysteries, humor and romance make Pine Grove a great book place to visit and a fun and insightful destination
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 28, 2021
It's miss trent's birthday and her sister peach decides to throw her a party even though she knows teeny hates them and the magician is a former beau who is owes teeny money. All hades breaks lose and gregory the magician is found dead and the suspect drum roll teeny. What's a girl to do but help her friend out by finding the real killer but not stumble upon another body well looks like two murders the girls have to solve.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 3, 2021
I was glad to see an addition to this series after a long wait and it was well worth waiting for. The main characters are as funny and feisty as ever. The storyline was fun and the mystery well plotted.
Chelsea, Miss Mae, and Teeny are back to sleuthing when a magician is murdered right before his next performance. Of course the wisecracking trio gets involved to help their inept small town police force solve the case.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
Chelsea, Miss Mae, and Teeny are back to sleuthing when a magician is murdered right before his next performance. Of course the wisecracking trio gets involved to help their inept small town police force solve the case.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
May 24, 2023
I am a fan of the Apple Orchard cozy mystery series. With interesting characters like Chelsea, Miss May, Teeny, Big Dan, Peach, and Wayne, I enjoy "visiting" them and following along on their adventures in Pine Grove, New York. In this book, Teeny is turning 65 and Peach inadvertently invites Teeny's magician ex-boy "The Great Gregory" to the party to perform. When he ends up dead, their search for the killer begins. There are interesting suspects, sleuthing throughout New York, and Chelsea and Wayne's developing romance. I can't wait to see what happens next!
August 26, 2021
This was another wonderful addition to this series. Miss May, Chelsea and Teeny need to work quickly to solve the murder at Teeny’s birthday party. This murder leads them into the world of magic. While investigating the first murder Miss May and Chelsea stubble on another murder victim. Because of the relationship of the two victims it is clear the two cases are tied together. Teeny, Miss May and Chelsea do solve both murders but not without endangering themselves in the process. Chelsea and Wayne had a special agreement during this investigation so that they didn’t jeopardize their personal relationship.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 29, 2021
Fall is coming and she is looking forward to it except for her birthday is coming up. She has never told people her true age so she is mad when an ex comes with a float with her age all over it. She is so angry at him that she lets rip in front of half the town. He ends up murdered and she is the suspect. Can she prove she did not do it? Who did it? See how she gets on
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 31, 2021
Maybe I say this with every Chelsea Thomas book, but I think every Apple Orchard book gets better and I have loved them since book 1! The characters are very relatable and feel like old friends. The mystery keeps me guessing and the interactions make me laugh out loud! Warning…reading the end left me eager for the next book, even though each story is complete in itself.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 2, 2021
Chelsea, Miss May and Teeny are at it again. It's Teeny's birthday and she doesn't want a party but her sister is throwing her one. And invited one of her ex boyfriends to perform magic. However, the ex is found dead and Teeny is the main suspect. You will love reading this mystery adventure as Chelsea, Miss May and Teeny solve this mystery. Another fun adventure around the Apple Orchard. You won't be disappointed.
September 2, 2021
Each book in this series gets better and better. The characters are superb, the mysteries vary and the touch of romance is always there. This book has gone beyond the other super books that they have written. Whitty, charming, heart-warming. It's all there in Hot Cross Guns! It's a must read for all you cozy mystery fans!
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
September 8, 2021
This time Chelsea, Miss. May, and Teeny must figured put who murdered a magician. As always they use their sleuthing skills while doing their every day activities. This book was a quick read and fun. The book has all the expected funiness we have cimd to love about these characters. I would recommend this book if you like cozy mysteries.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
August 24, 2021
I like these ladies. I find Chelsea, Miss May and Teeny a hoot. Teeny has an issue with her birthday. She hates it with a passion. Interesting. It is so much fun. The ladies get into a lot of drama. It is fun to read because the ladies never seem to give up on the mystery.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.
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