Laina Turner

I found this book to be very fun and clever. It was set in the world of competitive cheer, which I know nothing about, but the author gives you all the details (and the gossip) you need to be a part of the cheer mum squad.
From the start, this book was exciting and had a lot of detail, to really bring it to life. The main character is a part of the mix, full of inquisitive instinct and really keeps the mystery alive. She is fun and makes you connect with the story so easily. The author created the whole crew well and kept you guessing right the way through, would it really be a mum who took it too far, or someone on the outside looking in?
The pace was excellent, as it moved along well and made the story really easy to read and become a part of. I liked the surprise elements and the extra connections that were made between characters. Honestly, I also just liked how great of a mum the main character was as well!
Overall, this book has a great flow, excellent characters, a brilliant and fun storyline and is really just a cheery 😉 read. I highly recommend it- you won’t regret tumbling in to the story!… (meer)

Presley Thurman and her fiancé Cooper Sands both live and work in Chicago. They are returning to their hometown for Christmas and to have their Christmas Eve wedding. But when Presley arrives at her mother's flower shop, she finds a dead body in a florist truck in the parking lot, The police are not doing a very thorough job if investigating, because they think that Sue Thurman killed the man, even though she really didn't have a motive to do so. Presley is more than ready to postpone her wedding to clear her mother's name, but she won't hear of it. Therefore, Presley is determined to find the killer so there can be a happy Christmas all around. That is, if she can stay alive long enough to do so...

I am grateful the author took the opportunity and time to write this book, and I am just as sure that others are, too. While it was interesting in the plot line, it seemed weaker than I would have expected, and personally I didn't feel that there was anything 'there' to see Sue as a murderer, but perhaps that's just me and I'm reading too much into it.

The writing was very good, and having known the characters, this is one more chapter in their lives, which makes it easy to read. Speaking of the plot line, it all centers around Winston Rose's garden farm, and the reason for his murder. There are a few real suspects at hand, but it's deciding which one is the killer that's forefront. While I knew the murderer before Presley (only because I read mysteries more than anything else) it was still enjoyable watching her put everything together. And the climax itself was done nicely.

In the end, everything comes together as it should, with a lovely Christmas Eve wedding, and a resolution of issues that everyone might have.

I received an advance copy of this book from the author but this in no way influenced my review.… (meer)