The closer she gets to the truth, the more she finds herself drowning in trouble
It’s an exciting time in Sweet River, Texas, and the whole town is talking. Maybe, a little too much. Former English professor Ainsley McGregor has gambled everything on her new business: Bless Your Art, an artisan market where local artists sell their wares and teach classes.
The bright, white space is filled to the brim with colorful art, yarn, jewelry, pet treats, antiques, and even a few medieval weapons. Oh, and there are wine tastings. Everything is better with wine. Ainsley is surprised by how well things are going–right up until the moment her Great Dane finds a dead body. With her friend accused of the murder, it’s up to Ainsley to find the real killer.
As the suspect list grows longer, Ainsley has her work cut out for her. The task is made more difficult by the fact her brother, the sheriff, doesn’t seem to want her help. If she doesn’t wrap up the case soon, she might be the next wine, um, one to die.
Titles in The Ainsley McGregor series include – A Case for the Winemaker – A Case for the Yarn Maker (April 2020) –
Title: A Case for the Winemaker
Series: The Ainsley McGregor Series #1
Author: Candace Havens
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Published: January 21, 2020
Publisher: Tule Publishing
My Rating: 4 stars
A Case for the Winemaker begins The Ainsley McGregor Series, a Cozy Mystery that kept me intrigued and searching for clues (along with the rest of this cast of characters) from beginning to end.
I love a good Cozy Mystery (and this is definitely one of those) but add in an adorable, smart Great Dane named George Clooney, the possibility of a romantic relationship developing over the course of the series (if they can get past the forbidden “bro” factor), a small-town feel with an abundance of quirky residents, and a really good mystery with lots of twists, surprises and red herrings scattered about – then you’ve got me hooked for the duration of the series.
Everything you really need to know to begin this story/series can be found in the Cover Description. And with a Cozy Mystery, I’m going to be even more careful about what I say here. I like Ainsley, she’s a complex character and I really can’t wait to get to know her, and her background even better. Now, any story is better with a dog (or cat), but make that a smart, adorable Great Dane with a swoon-worthy name and the personality to match – then yeah you’ve got me. Although a Cozy Mystery isn’t Romance, I really enjoy a story, even more, when there is a hint of Romance in the air, that possibility of two people falling in love and working cases together is always a draw for me so I’m really looking forward to seeing how that aspect develops over time.
In all, I had a great time with A Case for the Winemaker, easily got caught up in the story, found several good suspects but was still surprised by the ending, and discovered a series that I’ll want to keep up with – all put together, this one is a win for me. The next title is due in April of 2020 and I’m definitely going to be keeping an eye out for that.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher, Tule Publishing. That does not change what I think of this story. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
Available in paperback and for the Kindle (release date 1/21/2020)
