Book Review: The Little Bee by Nicola Killen

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The Little Bee  by Nicola Killen  is a children's picture book about a girl name Ollie who follows a bee to a magical, secret garden. But, the next day, the beautiful garden was gone, and the little girl misses her new friends. What will she do? This beautiful book has an expected publication date of May 5, 2026. I'd like to thank NetGalley, Simon and Schuster Children's Publishing, and Beach Lane Books for approving my request for a digital Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of The Little Bee . I received a copy for free in exchange for my honest review. Nicola Killen wrote such a beautifully worded story that I found myself immersed in the story, and I'm not even the target audience. It's a charming tale that should encourage children to explore nature and make them want to plant their own secret garden.  Equally beautiful were the illustrations. I found myself taking the time to actually look a the pictures as I read. It's a great story to read   at bedtime  with ch...
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Book Review: Scone Cold Dead (Country Store Mystery, #13) by Maddie Day

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NetGalley ARC Cozy Mystery Book Review Scone Cold Dead (Country Store Mystery, #13) by Maddie Day
Scone Cold Dead (Country Store Mystery, #13) by Maddie Day opens with Robbie and her husband Abe preparing for the birth of their first child in a few weeks. When a stranger comes into Robbie's restaurant, Pans 'N Pancakes, asking about her aunt, Robbie is a bit uneasy about the situation. Then, the stranger is found dead in her aunt's field, and Robbie knows she must clear her aunt's name off the suspect list.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy (ARC) of this book in exchange for my honest review. I genuinely enjoy Maddie Day’s writing style, so I was thrilled to receive a free copy. Her cozy mystery storytelling once again delivers a comforting yet suspenseful read that fits perfectly within the Country Store Mystery series.

I really enjoyed this installment and, after finishing it, found myself eager to go back and start the series from the beginning to fully experience each character’s backstory. The characters are largely likable and well-developed, and even without having read many previous books in the series, it wasn’t difficult to follow along. Scone Cold Dead works well as a standalone cozy mystery while still rewarding longtime fans with familiar faces and ongoing relationships.

From early on, I felt completely drawn into the story, as if I were right there alongside the characters. That immersive quality is what makes a book truly enjoyable for me ... those moments when you forget you’re reading and lose track of time. Whenever I finally paused, it took a few minutes to come back to reality, which is always a good sign.

While there were a few slower moments, they never dragged on for long, and the mystery quickly picked up again. I found myself wanting to read faster just to see how everything would unfold. My only minor complaint was how frequently Robbie mentioned having “pregnancy brain,” which became a bit repetitive, though it didn’t take away from my overall enjoyment.

Overall, Scone Cold Dead (Country Store Mystery, #13) by Maddie Day is a fantastic cozy mystery and a perfect escape from reality. With its engaging plot, charming setting, and satisfying mystery, it’s an enjoyable addition to the series. The expected publication date is April 1, 2025, and I’m giving this book four out of five stars.

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