Mysterious Saturday Review: Golden Malicious

 * Orchard Mystery Series #7 * 

There's a drought going on, which causes Meg and Bree some concern about watering the apple orchard. With no rain in the forecast, they spend the mornings hauling water to the trees.  One afternoon, Meg accompanies Steve to a saw mill.

The day turns sour when Meg discovers a body in the woods.  Uneasy, she shows Seth when he returns. A blow to the head proves to be cause of death. It's not clear whether the death is a result of foul play, but that's not the only discovery Meg makes that day.

When talking to Christopher, she mentions seeing a bug.  The insect proves to be dangerous to trees and could result in serious damage for the town.  Meg and Seth aren't sure what to think of the certain events they stumble upon. But it's enough to disturb their daily routine.

My Thoughts: I really like this series. It's a little different from other cozies, focusing more on life and a little less on murder. Not that murder doesn't play a huge role, but it's feels a little more relaxing. I love learning about the orchard and farming. I find Seth's work interesting - loving the small town charm where everyone knows everyone else. A perfect read for those in the food for murder, romance, and day to day life.

Cover Thoughts: Love it

Source: My Library

Mysterious Saturday Review: Sour Apples

 * 6th book in the Orchard Series*

Meg's getting her orchard ready for a new season now that winter's over. Bree and Seth are trying to convince her to expand her orchard. Soon, one thousand trees are headed her way.
While kicking their heels up at the annual end of winter party, they meet Meg's friend Lauren. She's helping run a Congressional campaign for a former town quarterback. Lauren's hoping to gain Seth's endorsement. However, Seth isn't too fond of Rick and hasn't been since their high school days.
Plus Seth has more than enough to deal with his with own work, helping Meg, and looking into a dairy farmer's claim on her land. Joyce leased land from the town, which had previously been toxic. One of her cows died and she's eager to learn more.
The death is labeled an accident, but could it be possible that someone knows more about the land and is looking for any information pertaining to the property?

My Thoughts: I really enjoy this series. I love the small town and how fast gossip spreads. I love learning more about apples. Learning about different farms (dairy and apple) are fascinating. I find Bree amusing with her abrupt manners. I really like the townspeople - Art, Seth's family, and the couple who own the restaurant in town. I like watching the relationship develop between Seth and Meg. Sheila Connolly creates the perfect small town, blending murder together with every day life seamlessly. 

Cover Thoughts: Cute - I like the split milk.

Source: my Library

Mysterious Saturday Review: Bitter Harvest

Fall is over and Meg is still standing. She's taking a breathier from apples, but she's anxious to find out how the orchard did her first year. As the cold comes quickly, it brings a blizzard.

Her furnace breaks just as the snow hits - making for a cold house. Meg's determined to stay and rough it. Seth bunks with her - helping her with the wood and staying warm. Together, they have a cozy time.

During the day, Meg finds a sampler - a small embroidered family piece. It's wedged in a closet and appears to be quite old. As soon as the power comes back home, Meg uses her downtime to start researching the names on the piece. She wonders what happened to the woman who created the beautiful design and why her entire family is dead.

My Thoughts: It's different from the other mysteries in the series as it's a historical death. There's no dead bodies and no danger. The pacing of the book, therefore is slower. It's a fascinating read - with the historical aspects. It's not what I expected, but I did enjoy it. I enjoyed learning more about Meg and Seth's relationship. Looking forward to the next book in the series!

Cover Thoughts: Cute - I Love the snow!

Source: My Library

Mysterious Saturday Review: Killer Crop

At last harvest has arrived. Meg's busy taking orders from Bree, her orchard manager. She can't wait to start picking and spreading her apples around town. She doesn't count on things going wrong.

Meg didn't count on Bree falling and breaking her wrist. Now she's not allowed to pick. Hopefully with the other pickers and Meg, the apples can still be harvested on time.

Meg didn't count on her mother showing up on her doorstep unannounced. When her mother's followed quickly by the police, Meg knows that something's dreadfully wrong. When her mother's closed lip about the discovery of the death of an old friend, Meg doesn't know what to believe. She knows her mother didn't kill the man, but what is she hiding?

My Thoughts: I love this series - this is the fourth book. I love learning about the apples and in this one, the crop blossoms. I love the small town drama and how quickly gossip spreads. I love the academic plots, in Killer Crop, there's a side plot about Emily Dickinson. As I don't much about the poet, I enjoyed learning more about her life and her work. I loved the growing relationship between Meg and her mother. The mystery surrounds the academic world mentioning scholarly debates, publishing world, peers and adversaries. All in all, another great addition to the series.

Cover Thoughts: I Love it! I love the fall colors. It's just perfect for a Harvest Festival.

Source: My Library