Publication Date: 19th Oct 2022

4 Stars

One Liner: Slow but entertaining

Amelia Adams has turned her Scottish inheritance into a hotel. The Stone Manor Hotel is set to host its first-ever Christmas wedding of a millionaire and his young fiancé. Naturally, this resulted in an assortment of guests, quirky and annoying personalities, old grudges, buried secrets, blackmail, and high-voltage drama (with loads of booze for guests).

Amelia gets a call from a mysterious stranger who wants to tell her something important. This sets things in motion, resulting in a few attacks, deaths, and chaos. As if that’s not enough, her friend and celebrity painter, Lorcan, seems to be in trouble.

With the impending wedding celebrations and a killer on the prowl, it’s up to Amelia to get to the bottom of the mystery and save the day (without becoming the killer’s next victim).

The story is in Amelia’s third-person POV, with a few chapters in Lorcan’s POV.

My Thoughts:

The book is the second in the series but works well as a standalone (I haven’t read the first and could follow this without much effort). There’s enough info about the previous book but scattered in bits and pieces. This prevented info dump and kept the focus where it should be.

The pacing is slow and steady. It doesn’t pick up the pace, but the writing is easy and engaging. Also, the book is 400 pages, so the plot is detailed, and takes time to get to murder and sleuthing. While this usually irks me, I d the (recurring) characters and their interactions, so it wasn’t boring at any point.

The generous doses of humor and the setting are major plus points in the book. The rooms in the hotel are pretty interesting and named after famous mystery writers. Guess what’s the best room in the hotel? Agatha Christie’s suite, of course!

The main characters seem easy to and have a few quirks that make them a wee bit flawed. There are a few eye-roll moments (which are expected).

The climax and ending are well done without being over the top. It took me a good while to guess the killer, but I’m glad I got it right. A certain revelation was unexpected though it fits with the overall plot.

To summarize, Mistletoe and Murder is a solid cozy mystery and a wholesome entertainer. It is lighthearted, funny, and satisfying. A bit of pace could have made it even better.

I’m tempted to check out the previous book to know Amelia’s complete story and look forward to reading more from this series.

Thank you, Bloodhound Books, for the eARC. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the book.

**

P.S: The word unkindly is used a few times (in similar situations), and ‘he said with a cool look’ repeats twice on the same page. Another round of quick editing should remove these minor bumps.
2022 arcs bloodhound-books ...more25 s Anissa913 284

A 3.5-star read for me. I d the setting very much. It's days til Christmas, it's cold, and there's also a wedding booked at the main character's hotel. All the ingredients for this girl to enjoy this. The characters were well done (Gideon could star in his own spin-off series) and the dialogue was tight but I have to admit the mystery felt a bit drawn out (seriously, there's no reason for this to be a 400-page book). Granted there's a lot else going on here and also many couples in various stages of couplehood are included. I didn't read the first book but it's clear that readers are supposed to care about the couples a lot here (and for those not quite coupled up yet, that they get there with the one they pine for soon) and while I didn't dis any of that, I didn't care that much. I was much more here for the murder mystery.

I read this through Kindle Unlimited.2022 christmas-and-winter-mysteries library-borrowed-kindle-unlimited ...more24 s Mackey1,110 362

Mistletoe and Murder was exactly what was needed to nudge me into the festive spirit this year. I didn't want to read a full on over-the-top holiday book just yet, it's just too soon, and this cozy little mystery was perfect.

Amelia Adams made her dreams come true when she refurbished her inherited Scottish mansion into a luxury hotel. This Christmas season the hotel is booked for an upscale wedding and she couldn't be happier. But things begin to go sideways as the guests arrive, each with their own dynamic personalities and, of course, a murder afoot.

Mistletoe and Murder is the second book in this series but I had absolutely no trouble at all knowing who was who and what was what. It easily could be a stand alone except for the fact that I now want to go back and read the first book. This is a wonderful cozy regardless of the time of year you read it but it is perfect for the holiday season, of course. books-read-2022 fiction-general holiday-themed ...more3 s Shelby2,989 83

So this novel was my book club read for December and as it's a #2 in a series I of course had to read the first novel first. I'm actually really glad I did. I think I enjoyed this story more knowing the characters and having read them back to back a lot of the placement of things made more sense. There's a lot of hidden passages and rooms in the manor and they're laid out more clearly in the first novel so I felt I had a better idea of the floor plan than some of my friends did.

the first book in the series this is also a bit slower of a mystery to develop. The pacing in these books is a little drug out. They could both have stood to be around a hundred pages shorter and wouldn't have lost anything from the story. This time around the manor is fully converted into a luxury hotel and Amelia is prepping for her first holiday season, one with a big name wedding set to take place. Of course when bodies start showing up it throws a big old monkey wrench in the festivities.

For the most part I enjoyed this story. I would have preferred Jack to not have been gone for half the story, but otherwise we got to spend time with all the best characters from the first novel. There's some questionable decision making in this story as Amelia and Gideon get sucked into trying to figure out exactly what's going on. Those two are definitely the instigators to everything. Still this was a fun read and I'd look for further books in the series. I the environment of this little Scottish town and the cast of characters that are friends and work with Amelia.angst artists-and-the- chefs-servers-food-service ...more1 Tracey Nesbit Gascoigne53 1 follower

Absolutely loved this.... I adore Christimas, snow and murder mysteries so it ticked every box!1 Dawn Gregory263 2

What a great book. Loved the characters so much that I will have to buy the first book1 Sandra Cook193 5

This story comes out October 19, 2022. The paperback is available October 5, 2022. This is a delightful one of the best cozy mystery, with Amelia Adams from the 1st book titled" The Murderous Affair at Stone Manor," when you find out how Ameila Adams with her bother Toby, and her best friend, Sally, Amelia also inherited the place from her godmother, other characters that have become family. The dilapidated mansion is turn into a luxurious hotel. The second mystery of the Amelia Adams is called "Mistletoe and Murder." by Author Laura Stewart. This story is so great with family and friends , or just family. New additional characters come inside this story. A wedding parties coming to the mansion now a fancy hotel. Then something happens, a call for Amelia, then a mysterious death. Then also couples Sally, and her groom to be, Hamish. Amelia is with Jack Temple. They all are in Glencarlach that is voted one of Scotland prettiest villages. A lot of winter times fun. Toby is with actor Gideon Fey. They have a place together in the village. This is a wonderful cozy Christmas theme, exciting entertainment, & great greeting for reading this time of year. I was hooked with each page of this novel to the ending.This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.Show full review Alison Hartley115 1 follower

A cosy whodunnit set in a remote Scottish hotel at Christmas time, what’s not to love.
This is the second in the Amelia Adams series, I haven’t read the first and although it refers back to it in parts it didn’t detract from the story, it just made me want to go and read the first book next!
Amelia is hosting her first Christmas wedding at the hotel and really wants everything to go well but as the guests arrive, a lot of whom are very wealthy or famous, there are a series of break-ins, intruders, murders and missing items. On top of all that the snow starts to fall bringing with it the possibility of being trapped.
I really enjoyed this story however there are a lot of a characters and I did find it confusing at first. It is also a slow-moving story with regards the murder and mysteries but it is written in a way where you got to know more about the characters and I was quite happy to just follow along with them. Although it is set at Christmas it is not overly festive so if Christmas isn’t your thing, then don’t let it put you off.
An interesting read with lots of twists and turns, perfect for wrapping up warm on those cold afternoons.
Alli Thompson99 4

A whodunnit set over the Christmas period. Amelia Adams has turned the Scottish mansion she inherited into a hotel. The holiday season is looking busy with the upcoming wedding of a self made millionaire and his young fiancé. But as a string of shocking events unfold, Amelia must turn her attention from merriment to murder.
This was a nice murder mystery with just the right amount of humour. It had the feel of Agatha Christie and Richard Osman. It is the second book in the series and, although I hadn’t read the first, it didn’t affect my enjoyment. I will be getting the first book now though!! I really d the characters, particularly Amelia and her boyfriend Jack. A great seasonal murder mystery, not too heavy. Thank you Bloodhound Books for the ARC. Kathy3,611 259

This book should cure me of reading Christmas murder mysteries for all time. Well...at least for this year? Oh my goodness, how to describe the characters and action in this over-the-top Christmas offering. I didn't read the first Amelia Adams book where she apparently inherits a Scottish mansion and decides to turn it into a luxury hotel. There are signs early on that Amelia is not going to let the police take care of things when she is available for investigating, arranging, following up and recording conversations that should serve to hang a guest or two. The number of incidents and characters involved in these incidents is astonishing considering these people have come to her Inn for a Christmas wedding. The characters are colorful, the action non-stop.

Kindle Unlimitedchristmas-murder4 s Mary Ryan926 20

This is the 2nd book in the series but my first and I found it very easy to read as a standalone.

I loved the setting of the Manor in a very snowy winter and the whole locked room type vibe. It felt very atmospheric.

This was a nice cozy read despite the murders that took place, and I enjoyed the links to international events and particularly Agatha Christie. The characters were well done, some easy to and some just downright nasty. I was quite captivated and read it in a day. I'm already looking forward to hopefully a third book.

My thanks to Bloodhound Books for an advance copy of this and this is my honest review Susan Blissett119

Overall, I enjoyed this book. It felt a little slow to begin with, but built up pace as the story developed. The sense of community and friendships were lovely to read about and I enjoyed it being set at Christmas time, although there were a lot of characters to remember. The story is well thought-out and humourous, and I can tell that the author spend a lot of time working on how all the characters fitted together and the outcome of the story. The ending did feel a little far-fetched and complicated, but all lose ends were tied up very well.

I received an ARC copy from BloodHound Books for an honest review, thank you, and all thoughts are my own. Sarahlovesbooks76495 12

This is the second book of Laura Stewart's series following Amelia and her Scottish literary hotel. I think it would stand alone as a story without having read the first, but I did find it easy to drop straight into, already knowing a number of the characters.

Amelia is holding a wedding ceremony during the Christmas period at her hotel. The bride and groom have a number of requests to fulfill, and Amelia is battling the weather to manage them all. When one of the hotel guests is murdered, will the wedding go ahead and can Amelia solve the crime before her name and that of her hotel are ruined?

I enjoyed the story, a lot of interesting characters, and a fun cosy Christmas mystery. Rebecca Charlesworth399

Was great to catch up with Amelia and the gang, Gideon is just such a character he always puts a smile on my face. Although this is the second book by the author around the same characters, it can be read as a stand-alone. Amelia has the mansion she was left up and running as a boutique hotel up in the Scottish highlands. Coming out of a busy holiday season and in to a Christmas wedding and the chance of snow fall that may cut the village off Amelia has her hands full, oh and add to the mix there are some shenanigans going on between the guests, a body, an air of mystery and Amelia is playing Miss Marple. For me cosy crime that’s lighthearted and easy to read. Caroline337 5

I enjoyed this book, and am grateful to Bloodhound books for sending me an advanced copy to read and review.
I felt at times that I had missed out by not reading the previous book in the series, but overall it was fine and as the story progresses I was drawn in and didn't worry about it.
Amelia is a able main character and the other characters all bring alot to the party.
This felt slightly longer than your standard murder mystery, and yet at no point did the story drag.
Will look out for more books by this author. Bobbi Wagner4,371 44

I enjoyed reading this holiday mystery. This is a new author for me which I look forward to seeing more from in the future. This is a well written story that brings Christmas and suspense together in one hard to put down story. A fast paced story that is engaging and had me turning pages fast. The characters are relateable and brought life to the story. They had me guessing on who done it and coming back for more. I really enjoyed reading this book. I highly recomend this book. James A. Butler44 1 follower

What’s Next - A Wedding or Murder

Stone Manor is always full of surprises. Rather than a quiet Christmas in her new Inn Lucy has booked her first wedding! As the rich and famous guests begin to arrive a mysterious stranger dies when she meets him in her Folly. Then the secrets start to build…how many people will die…will one of them be Lucy. Help yourself to a healthy helping of mystery British style in this exciting read. Jane Welchman84 2

This is a fabulously well written book for sitting by the fire with the twinkling Christmas lights in the corner with a hot chocolate in hand. I loved this book and so happy I got an advance copy to read and review. The ending could well have been written by Agatha Christie herself.
A truly excellent read of crimes and whodunit. Sian Powell57 1 follower

This Amelia Adams Sequel is absolutely fab, set at Christmas Amelia is about to host Christmas and a wedding at Stone Manor Hotel but not every guest is who they say they are and soon strange happenings and bodies are arousing Amelias detective instincts

This book is funny, page turning and romantic all in one

I loved it
Autor del comentario:
=================================