It’s the spooky season in Pinewood, Arizona, and when Genevieve Winterland isn’t creating killer new recipes for Sweet Dreams Ice Cream Parlour, she’s helping BFF Brandon Summers prepare for the party of the year. Brandon’s parents own Hidden Treasures Bookstore, where famed horror writer Jack Kelley is launching his latest novel on Halloween night.
Brandon’s dad isn’t thrilled that the arrogant Kelley, who was once sweet on Mrs. Summers, has chosen their store for his big event. Still, there’s no denying the author draws a huge crowd. Which makes it hard to narrow down a suspect list when Kelley drops dead onstage—the victim of a shocking murder straight out of his own book.
Fresh off Pinewood’s last cold case, Genevieve is happy to let the police handle this one. But when frosty Detective Christie zeroes in on Brandon’s dad as her prime suspect, Genevieve decides to take matters into her own hands. Can she get the scoop and solve the mystery haunting her hometown?
Review
Just like the first book in the series I enjoyed reading this installment. I like how persistent Genevieve is when is comes to wanting to solve the case. In the second book a local horror author drops dead at his own book signing. Genevieve is determined to understand why and who may have done it. It was surprising to know who the real person was behind the murder. I still like when the book is set in the ice cream shop and whenever the puppy Butterscotch is talked about. It’s a fast paced cozy mystery that I love being back into. I would recommend this book to people who like or who just starting out reading cozy mysteries like myself.
Rating 4 ⭐️
I’ll like to think the author and women on writing for allowing me to read and share my honest review.
Review: Murder by Milkshake is a fast-paced, cozy mystery that follows high schooler Genevieve while she is in charge of her familys ice cream shop. A lot of werid things are going on in her small town, such as her teachers showed up missing and dead. So Genevieve takes it upon herself to know what happened and why.
This was my first time reading a cozy mystery. I always wanted to start reading them. I’m glad it was Murder by Milkshake. I do like that the ice shop was incorporated into the story a lot. I could actually see the setting and characters there having their conversations discussing who could have done it.
I also like the dog Butterscotch. Not only is it a cute name, Butterscotch is a cute dog in the story.
I now want to continue on in this series because it’s fun, fast-paced, and fits right into the fall time.
I want to thank the author and women on writing for allowing me to read and give an honest review.
Rating 5 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
Synopsis
Life is sweet for high school senior and ice cream slinger Genevieve Winterland. Her father owns Sweet Dreams Ice Cream Parlour, the cutest confectionery shop in their little town of Pinewood, Arizona. Genevieve loves her job, but when her father hires a broody newcomer with a dark past to provide extra security on her closing shifts, Genevieve bristles. Is this a part of his plan to send her away to college, when all she wants is to stay in Pinewood and run the family business?
Meanwhile, everyone’s favorite new teacher at Pinewood High, Miss Love, is receiving death threats, and then she goes missing. Genevieve suspects the crabby substitute, Ms. Pierce, who seems murderous about being passed over for the position. Or is the culprit Mr. Garcia, the longtime instructor who Miss Love replaced after he was fired for assaulting a student? Just when Genevieve thinks she knows the answer, she stumbles across the dead body of another missing faculty member.
Can Genevieve find the killer terrorizing the teachers in her beloved hometown—before someone else gets iced?
Book Summary Jinx Curry is a single mom who spends her days spying on cheating wives and husbands, but she aches for more importance. When her boss, Capricorn Hayes, finally assigns Jinx a missing persons case involving a congressman’s missing granddaughter, Jinx jumps at the chance. Not only to solve it, but to earn the fifty-thousand-dollar bonus that would pay her bills, and get a menacing creditor off her back. But the investigation proves more dangerous and costly than Jinx believes. After an unknown individual in a black Corvette nearly runs Jinx down and begins stalking her, Jinx has to sacrifice her relationship with her daughter by sending Arielle to live with her father. Can Jinx find the congressman’s granddaughter while surviving her stalker? Or will this job be her last? Publisher: Tralam Publishing Company (July 26, 2024) Print length: 276 pages
About the Author When she is not writing, Tracey Lampley loves attending and watching sporting events such as WNBA, NBA, college football and NFL football. Currently Tracey is completing her MA in Creative Writing at Southern New Hampshire University. She already holds an MS in Publishing from Pace University and a BA in English/Technical & Scientific Communication from Miami University of Ohio. She resides in the metro Atlanta, Georgia area with her pooch Neo and near her daughter Asia. You can follow the author at: Website: https://traceylampley.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tracey.lampley.12 X/Twitter: @bookmistress1 Instagram: tralam4156
Excerpt
The Private Detective
Jinx Curry is a private investigator and single mom who spends her days spying on cheating wives and husbands, but she aches for more importance.
When her boss, Capricorn Hayes, finally assigns Jinx a missing persons case involving a congressman’s missing granddaughter, Jinx jumps at the chance. Not only to solve it, but to earn the fifty-thousand-dollar bonus that would pay her bills, and get a menacing creditor off her back.
But the investigation proves more dangerous and costly than Jinx believes. After an unknown individual in a black Corvette nearly runs Jinx down and begins stalking her, Jinx has to sacrifice her relationship with her daughter by sending Arielle to live with her father. Can Jinx find the congressman’s granddaughter while surviving her stalker? Or will this job be her last?
The Players
Deebo: He’s the scintillating rapper who may be secretly married to the missing teen. A marriage revelation infringes on the rapper’s rising-star status. Did Deebo off his wife to preserve record sales?
Bam: He’s Jinx’s childhood friend who loaned the sleuth a boatload of money. With Jinx unable to repay the loan, has Bam decided to make an example out of Jinx for lack of repayment?
Elena: She’s the missing person. Perhaps Elena doesn’t want to be found. Will she kill Jinx to prevent the sleuth from exposing her location?
Young Calloway: He’s the Georgetown Law School dropout and only grandson of Congressman Calloway. After Jinx discovers the rivalry between Elena and Young Calloway, Jinx also uncovers Young Calloway’s dark past. Has Young Calloway decided to eliminate Jinx to cover up his crimes?
Congressman Calloway: Up for re-election, the congressman cannot afford a family scandal. Did he hire Jinx to find Elena to coverup the young teen’s possible murder? If so, has he decided to eliminate Jinx to clean up the family mess?
I attended a business awards event a few years back. The question asked of all the nominees on stage was: What advice would you give your younger self?
There were some funny responses (“Dump that guy!”), and some serious responses (“Study harder. It makes a difference.”). All of the answers were interesting and sparked good discussion at our table
That got me thinking. What advice would I give my 20-year-old self?
Today, as I look back at the young girl I was, I hold her gently and kiss her cheek, and say, “We have to dare to be ourselves, no matter how frightening or deep it may be. You’re standing at the cusp of adulthood, brimming with dreams and ambitions. The path ahead will be challenging and rewarding in ways you can’t yet imagine. Here are a few pieces of advice that I hope will guide you through the twists and turns of life:
1. Embrace Uncertainty: It’s okay not to have everything figured out. Life is unpredictable, and that’s part of its beauty. Embrace the uncertainty and allow yourself the freedom to explore different paths. Trust that each step, even the ones that seem like detours, is leading you to where you’re meant to be.
2. Follow Your Passion: Your heart knows what it wants, even if your mind is filled with doubts. Pursue what sets your soul on fire, whether it’s writing, law, or something else entirely. Passion will sustain you through the toughest times and make your achievements all the more fulfilling.
3. Learn to Say No: It’s easy to get caught up in trying to please everyone, but remember that your time and energy are valuable. Saying no is not a sign of weakness; it’s an affirmation of your priorities. Focus on what truly matters to you.
4. Take Care of Yourself: Burnout is real, and it can creep up on you when you least expect it. Prioritize self-care, whether that means taking breaks, setting boundaries, or seeking help when you need it. Your well-being is crucial for your long-term success and happiness.
5. Cherish Relationships: The people in your life are your greatest assets. Nurture your relationships with family, friends, and mentors. They will provide support, guidance, and love through every high and low.
6. Be Kind to Yourself: You are your harshest critic. Learn to treat yourself with the same kindness and compassion that you offer others. Celebrate your achievements, forgive your mistakes, and recognize your worth.
7. Stay Curious: Never stop learning. Whether through formal education, reading, or new experiences, keep your mind open and eager. Curiosity will keep you young at heart and continuously evolving.
8. Trust the Journey: There will be moments of doubt, setbacks, and heartache, but trust that everything happens for a reason. Each experience, whether good or bad, is a lesson that shapes who you are. Trust the journey and have faith in yourself.
Remember, 20-year-old me, you are stronger and more capable than you realize. The future is bright, and I can’t wait for you to see all the wonderful things that await you.”
More About the Book
Lena Sharma is a successful San Francisco restaurateur. An immigrant, she’s cultivated an image of conservatism and tradition in her close-knit Indian community. But when Lena’s carefully constructed world begins to crumble, her ties to her daughter, Maya, and son, Sameer—raised in thoroughly modern California—slip further away.
Maya, divorced once, becomes engaged to a man twelve years her junior: Veer Kapoor, the son of Lena’s longtime friend. Immediately, Maya feels her mother’s disgrace and the judgment of an insular society she was born into but never chose, while Lena’s cherished friendship frays. Meanwhile, Maya’s younger brother, Sameer, struggles with an addiction that reaches a devastating and very public turning point, upending his already tenuous future.
As the mother, daughter, and son are compromised by tragedy, secrets, and misconceptions, they each must determine what it will take to rebuild their bonds and salvage what’s left of their family.
Author Anoop Judge
Born and raised in New Delhi, Anoop is the author of four novels, The Rummy Club which won the 2015 Beverly Hills Book Award, The Awakening of Meena Rawat, an excerpt of which was nominated for the 2019 Pushcart Prize, No Ordinary Thursday, and Mercy and Grace.
Her essays and short stories have appeared in Green Hills Literary Lantern, Rigorous Journal, Lumiere Review, DoubleBack Review, and the Ornament anthology, among others.
Anoop calls herself a “recovering litigator”—she worked in state and federal courts for many years before she replaced legal briefs with fictional tales. She holds an MFA from St. Mary’s College of California and was the recipient of the 2021 Advisory Board Award and the 2023 Alumni Scholarship.
She lives in Pleasanton, California, with her husband, and is the mother of two admirable young adults.
Book Synopsis “May we rest in goodness, gratitude, and wonder all the days of our lives.” Hannah Rowen Fry writes thoughtful reflections on Scripture, inviting you to marvel at God’s character in The Way of Gratitude.
The Way of Gratitude features:
21 original devotionals based on Scripture Space to be curious and to be in awe of the Word of God Prompts to reflect, pray, and journal Beautiful, minimal design 21-day tracking sheet Additional resources including more devotionals and accompanying music playlist are available on http://www.hannahrowenfry.com.
Experience greater joy in the present moment as you learn about gratitude as a lifestyle. Allow the Holy Spirit to transform your life through reading Scripture and responding to the Word of God without legalism, judgment, or guilt. Slow down and choose simplicity; rest in God’s goodness.
Print Length: 84 pages
You can purchase a copy on Amazon, Bookshop.org, or Barnes and Noble. You will also want to add it to your reading list on GoodReads.
About the Author
Hannah Rowen Fry is a writer, speaker, and encourager. Her writing consists of observations of daily life, and uses daily reflections to guide others to live out their God-given purpose. Hannah’s passion is to help others experience greater joy in the present moment. She shares practical tips, helpful resources, and clear purposeful steps to abide in Jesus daily without legalism, judgment, or guilt. Her thoughtful reflections on Scripture invite those who have felt overwhelmed with their lifestyle, thoughts, or schedule to slow down and choose simplicity. Guided by encouragement, generosity, gratitude, and a healthy dose of responsibility, readers are invited to experience freedom as they find spiritual rhythms that cultivate faith and help them step into their God-purpose. Hannah lives in Jacksonville Beach, Florida with her husband Matt, and spends most of her free time walking on the beach, frolicking around Disney World, and listening to Taylor Swift. Read more about her and her work at http://www.hannahrowenfry.com.
In When Mama Grows with Me, a mama and her son create their own garden, starting with just a few small seeds and ending with a beautiful display of flowers. They observe how pollinators help the earth stay healthy, learn how to care for plants, and meet other critters that live in their garden, all while playfully shaping their bodies into yoga poses inspired by nature. Not only do Mama and her son learn valuable lessons about their garden, but along the way, they also learn to practice patience.
By pairing lessons with movement, Rebecca Wheeler helps young readers make connections between the natural world and their own emotional experiences. Learn the value of patience and practice some fun yoga poses in this beautifully illustrated children’s book.
Purchase a copy on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Thrift Books, or Bookshop.org. Make sure you add it to your GoodReads reading list.
Review / my thoughts
When My Mama Grows With Me is a children’s picture book that teaches young kids about gardening and learning to be patient. The book has colorful illustrations that correspond with the story. The story also integrates different yoga positions into the story as a way to stay patient and keep the body moving. This is a good teaching tool for young kids wanting to learn more about plants and gardening and definitely learning about patience.
Rating 3.75⭐
About the Author
Rebecca Wenrich Wheeler was raised in West Point, a small town in the Tidewater region of Virginia. From the moment she submitted her first short story to a young author’s contest in second grade, Rebecca knew she wanted to be a writer. Her love of writing led her to earn a BA in English and an MEd in English education. She spent several years as a high school teacher, during which she also developed a passion for mental health advocacy. Rebecca completed an MA in professional counseling and now works in school-based mental health and as a college adjunct psychology instructor.
Rebecca also teaches yoga for the young and the young at heart, and she likes to infuse yoga and breathwork in her counseling practice wherever she can. She believes the most valuable use of her time is teaching youth how to love and care for each other and the world around them. Her stories share this focus on positive relationships and a love of nature. Rebecca now lives in Durham, North Carolina, with her husband, two children, and two spoiled Siamese cats.
When Mama Grows with Me is Rebecca’s third book. Her first picture book in the yoga series, When Daddy Shows Me the Sky released November 2021, and her first YA novel, Whispering Through Water, released January 2023.
