I only grabbed this book because I was working on a Kindle challenge and needed a mystery. This was recommended, and it seemed to have a holiday theme, so I decided to try something a little outside of my usual reading fare. But ... it is super obvious that this is book 25 of a series. There are a million characters with tiny roles in the book, and it is obvious that people who have been reading the whole series would know all sorts of back stories or interpersonal connections. Jumping in the middle of a story this immediately put me at a disadvantage. Was it necessary to know all the old stories and relationships? Not really. I never felt lost. But, I think that I missed a lot of the heart of this story because I didn't really know the characters. Kathi Daley doesn't spend a lot of time digging into the characters because we are already supposed to know them. That leaves the actual story.

Well ... for a mystery novel, this one fell super short in my opinion. There is a murder that the main character's friend, Georgia, is suspected of committing. Inn owner Abby is apparently good at solving mysteries, so she puts her mind to this one. The problem? Because I don't have a deep relationship with these characters, I can't feel any depth about their issues. The mystery here is not a deep one. There wasn't enough of a mystery regarding suspects to keep me guessing. In fact, it seems as if the mystery is almost an afterthought here. Pages and pages and pages of this story are just mundane conversations between characters about things that don't drive the story at all. Seriously. I think there were ten pages devoted to finding the exact right cat for a girl who had asked for a specific type of cat for Christmas and how to convince the girl to take a cat that was close to her wish, with a small blemish being the only difference. [insert yawn]

I think that people who are already invested in this series will probably enjoy this story. I didn't. I could have been drawn in by a stronger mystery element, but I don't think that was the point of this story. I think this story works for those who have fallen in love with this community, so I don't think that my rating is indicative of what everyone's experience of reading this story will be. I'll give this two stars. It was okay.2023-reads audible-book holiday-not-romance3 s Joanie Hinton481 24

Christmas time at the inn and a film crew is going to film a cooking special with Georgia. When a man from the film crew and from Georgia's past is murdered, Georgia is the prime suspect. Georgia finally tells her closest friends the incident from her past about the victim and her friends rally to assist Colt in finding the real murderer. When the killer is revealed it reveals more of Georgia's past than even she knew.1 RO G'ma1,032 38

Christmas in the Candlelight is the twenty-fifth book in Kathi Daley’s heartwarming Inn at Holiday Bay series. The well-plotted storyline flows smoothly, and multiple twists and red herrings in the complex mystery keep the reader engaged. The setting is charming, and the well-developed characters are three-dimensional, compassionate, and caring. Whenever I pick up one of Ms. Daley’s books, I know I’m in for a treat, and I’ve never been disappointed. I highly recommend this series to readers who enjoy well-crafted, cozy mysteries.

After losing her husband and their infant son in a tragic accident, Abby Sullivan bought a huge old house in the charming town of Holiday Bay, Maine, without even seeing it. Once the house was renovated, she opened the Inn at Holiday Bay and found a home and a family. Georgia Carter, who has also overcome obstacles in her life, is the inn’s talented cook/baker and manager and stars in a cable cooking show once a month. Georgia and her Newfoundland dog, Ramos, recently moved back into the cottage with Abby, her Maine Coon, Rufus, and her terrier mix, Molly, while she and Tanner Peyton are working to resolve their issues. Police Chief Colt Wilder has arranged to borrow an officer from the main office to help during the holidays. Jeremy and Mylie Slater are both valuable assets who help with the inn’s day-to-day operations. Jeremy, Mylie, and Jeremy’s young niece, Annabelle, have settled into the recently renovated carriage house and are looking forward to the upcoming holidays.

As the staff at the Inn at Holiday Bay prepare for the many events they have planned for their guests and friends, Georgia’s new producer, Reno, and the crew from the television station have taken over the inn for three and a half days for the filming of Georgia’s Christmas special. Reno has decided to make several changes. One of those changes is to bring in Chef Brody Litman, with whom Georgia has an unpleasant past, to take the lead while Georgia participates in a supporting role. When Brody’s body is found in a less-than-desirable motel on the outskirts of town, the county sends a detective to take the lead in the investigation due to a conflict of interest for Colt; Georgia quickly becomes Detective Larson’s number one suspect. Meanwhile, everyone helps Mylie in her quest to fulfill Annabelle’s Christmas wish of adopting a fluffy all-white kitten.
2023-challenge read-in-2023 Suzanne128

This is the ?twenty-fifth book in The Inn at Holiday Bay series. I really enjoy this series and have enjoyed all of the books by Kathi Daley. Even though there is a murder, this series makes you want to move to Holiday Bay, well apart from the cold and snow, that is. But I love the community, friendship and how everyone is always there for each other. Abby is the owner of the Inn and she treats her employees very well. They are more family and friends than employees

In this installment, Holiday Bay is preparing for the Christmas activities at the in while Georgia's past is coming back to haunt her.?Georgia's cooking show is filming at the Inn which seems to be bringing on a lot of stress. Georgia's new producer is bringing in Chef Brody Litman who Georgia has an unpleasant past with. Brody is to take the lead while Georgia takes a supporting role which doesn't make her happy. When Brody's body is found in a sleazy motel on the outskirts of town and Georgia is seen on camera leaving his room earlier in the evening, she becomes the prime suspect in the case. Because of a conflict of interest for Colt, a detective is brought in to investigate. No one else is seen on camera leaving the victims hotel room so will Georgia be able to prove she didn't kill him??

If you haven't read this series, I recommend it. It is best to start at the beginning and read the books in order so you can get to know the cast of characters.?The reader starts to think of all the characters as family and can't wait to see what they are up to next2023 cozies fiction Nikki1,291 11

Book 25 of this really good cosy mystery book by Kathi Daley, set in Holiday Bay at a gorgeous hotel and guess cottages based on the bluff. It's the start of a few other series of Kathi Daleys, too.

In this book, it's nearing Christmas, and Abby and Georgia are fully booked, and this week, it's the filming of Georgia's Christmas cooking show. When Georgia finds out someone is working their way in on her show, she's less than pleased, especially when she finds out that someone almost scuppered her career as a chef when she first started.

A member of the team is found dead in the town, and one of Abbys dear friends is prime suspect, so she can not stand by and watch, thus begins her looking into the case.

The books in this series, whilst all standalone stories are best read in order of publication to preserve continuity of the characters and wider storyline.

I really enjoy this series and all the cosy mystery series by this talented author. If you enjoyed this book, try others by her; I highly recommend Cottage On Gooseberry Bay; The Bookstore at Holiday Bay; Resort at Castaway Bay; Rescue Alaska; Tess and Tilly Cozy Mystery and Zoe Donovan Cozy Mystery. Most of these series feature cross overs between themselves and The Inn at Holiday Bay.

I can't wait to read the next release. Darla Taylor1,626

It's Christmas in Holiday Bay once again. Abby and Georgia have a full inn including the people who are working on Georgie's television show. A storm blows through closing down the area, but things get worse when one of the guests winds up dead and Georgia is implicated. Abby sets out to help Colt find the real killer.

Kathi Daley is one of my top favorite cozy mystery authors and this book's a prime example of why. It's well-written and there's a wonderful cast of characters. The sense of family, friendship, ans support is strong in this book and the series. The mystery was intriguing and fun to solve. I was hooked on this captivating story from start to finish and I'm looking forward to the next book. I highly recommend both book and series which I think is best read in order, so you get a true sense of how it all started and who everyone is.christmas coast coastline ...more Jane FirebaughAuthor 6 books102

Christmas in the Candlelight is a wonderful addition to The Inn at Holiday Bay series and is a perfect read for the holidays.

Christmas cheer and murder make for a delightful mystery set in a lovely seaside resort in coastal Maine. Abby Sullivan who owns the resort is a lovable character, along with her boyfriend, Police Chief, Colt Wilder, and co-manager of the Inn, Georgia Carter.

With a film crew at the inn to shoot Georgia's Christmas special, a murder turns an already stressful production into a very complex mystery, with one of Abby's closest friends as suspect number one.

Great mystery that kept me guessing until the end.

I highly recommend this book and the whole series to anyone who loves a good cozy mystery.1 Pam1,290

I love this series. I get to read updates on many of the characters and the mystery is always a good one. This one was no exception I recommend this book and the entire series.

Amazon synopsis:
In book 25 in the series, it's Christmas in Holiday Bay and the whole town has pitched in to make it the best one yet. The inn is booked solid for the entire month between Thanksgiving and Christmas which means that Abby and her staff are working long hours to deliver the old fashion seaside Christmas they promised. As can be expected, there are a few glitches along the way but overall things seem to be right on schedule until a storm blows in, the lights go out, and one of the guests ends up dead.cozy-mystery Rose Mcclarin603 4

Everyone is excited about filming Georgia's Christmas Special at the Inn until the new producer adds a guest chef who happens to be Georgia's nemesis. The tension builds as production starts but when the guest chef is a no show plans quickly have to be reworked. Then the sheriff arrives and announces that the chef is dead things really get complicated and Georgia seems to be the top suspect. Abby gets involved in the investigation and that's when things get interesting. Then Lucy seems to be having problems with family members who show up but Shelby and Abby put their heads together and come up with a solution. Lots going on with a ton of twists and turns and a couple surprises along the way but in the end the killer is found and is a complete shock to Georgia. Great read. Claudia Cheyne907 8

Georgia is the prime suspect in the poisoning death of a well known chef in this installment of this addictive series. Christmas is quickly approaching. The Inn is fully booked for the holidays and the staff has been busy preparing and planning all the fun activities their guests look forward to. Georgia's cooking show taping is taking place at The Inn prior to all the guests arrivals. But Chef Litton (who Georgia met while attending culinary school) is making her life difficult. When he doesn't show up for the production everyone goes searching for him. It appears as though Georgia was the last person to see him alive. Lots of fun surprises involving the staff in this book. Sonny4

Although I d the concept of this series, this book sadly wasn't for me. I had picked it up as a quick mystery book to read and found myself struggling to get through a lot of it. The book felt it was all dialogue discussing ordinary things (such as plans for the cooking show, activities planned for the inn, finding a girl a white kitten for Christmas, and so on) with the murder being an afterthought. Even when the murder happened, it felt it was barely discussed in comparison to the amount of time spent focusing on menial conversations. I'm sure this book is enjoyable for devoted readers who've been reading since the first book that are invested in the characters' relationships, but I just couldn't muster much interest up for them.mystery Carola Mac156 2

Unexpected

I have loved this series from the time I stumbled to book 1. I just couldn’t let it go. I am just sorry they are not longer, I know I’m greedy I always want more. This one was unexpected, with information I didn’t remember or was completed and I always love seeing Colt and Abbie’s relationship. They are perfect for each other. Please never separate them! Now I wait for the next one. JoAn2,214 1 follower

Another lovely visit to Holiday Bay. These characters are so likable and well-developed now that I would love to visit the inn and visit with Abby, Georgia, Lucy and the other secondary characters that always contribute to the story.
A tightly woven plot with a few skillful twists and the tension ratcheted up as one of my favorite characters was the number 1 suspect in this mystery. From the first page, I couldn't put it down until all was revealed.cozy-mystery kindle-unlimited2 s Lisa Lalik116

Another great Holiday Bay story

I’m not sharing any details just know that sometimes you have to dig deep in the past in order to understand what is happening in the present. As with the other stories in this series, Kathi does an excellent job including a multitude of characters, that will bring this community to life. It takes some work from all of the friends to find the answers. You won’t be able to put this story down! Kandi A. Hudson476 1 follower

Interesting Murder

I d this story and was definitely an easy and quick read. The murder came fairly quickly in the read. The journey to who did it was a long one and I never guessed the culprit. I d the Christmas setting, and there is always some back story, this time related to the killer. I this series, and hope it continues. Marilyn Larkin304 1 follower

Again great job

Things are crazy at the inn with Georgia's cooking show taping and the producer adding a chef that had a past with Georgia made things worse. Until he ended up dead. Of course Georgia is a suspect and Abby sets out to clear Georgia. Someone from the past is involved and the murder is solved. A kitten is added for Annabelle and Mylie has great news. Elena90 1 follower

The best yet!



The Inn gives all three series grounding: it is the centerpiece where all the characters congregate. The Bookstore; The Bistro are good but they need the Inn. This book was great. We re-met almost everyone from earlier books. The mystery was interesting. As always it was a pleasure & I look forward to the next one! Dorothy Vannelli64

What does Rufus see under the deck?

Georgia is filming a Christmas special with Brody her former culinary teacher but then he ends up dead! Georgia appears to be the prime suspect because she is caught going to the motel room Brody was in. The investigation provides info about Georgia's past. Very good, enjoyable book. D1,150 19

When Brody Litman pushes his way into Georgia's life again, he tries to take over her cooking special. A night on the town leads Brody to his death. Georgia is the prime suspect! Who is setting her up for the crime?cozy-mysteries favorite-books Lauren Heiy122

The Inn at Holiday Bay: Christmas in the Candlelight

Enjoy this series, and the characters ate evolving nicely. This one has a murder, more about past history of Georgia, with a twist. Linda Vermillion226 5

Good book

I love this series. The books are quick reads and all the focus isn't on the murder. I love reading about the relationship between all the people involved. I how we tie in to the other books spun off this series. It almost makes me wish to own an inn. Elizabeth974

My review for Christmas in the Candlelight

I absolutely loved it! Another awesome book! I’m so happy for the great news we learn! This is a must read series! I can’t wait for the next book! Cheryl Mayo60

A Mystery and a Surprise

As usual, Kathy Dailey as written another great segment in the Inn at Holiday Bay series. I love these characters and feel I really know them. I recommend this book to everyone. Judith508

Christmas in the Candlelight

Again, this was an okay read. You could pretty much figure out who the murderer was if you watched for the clues. I flipped through several pages as I got bored reading about the victim. Nancy Jeffrey19

I love this book

I have read the whole series and all the books Kathi Dailey has spun off The Inn at Holiday Bay. The people in the books become your friends and they are in all of the books. You should start at the beginning. If you have read her books you will love this one Brian P. McGlynn31

I’ve read all 25 books, this one is back to the quality of that was expected. The plot is very good, there’s not too many characters to be confusing. It was a very good read and hard to put down . You can get the characters and synopsis from other , I really d this one Kirk488 3

Always fun to read

These books are filled with great characters, wonderful storylines, and make you feel you’re there.
No matter the time of year, Winter, snow storms, and winter activities are fun to read. Love these books! Deborah R Reader293 2

Times change

This book is so family oriented and fun loving ! Easy read and comfortable! Great characters and also loving pets!! JANE VAN HORN2,004 9

Great book

This is another great book in the Inn at Holiday Bay series by Kathi Daley. I can't wait for the next book. daley-kathi Rachel White247 1 follower

Autor del comentario:
=================================