Review: Mother’s Day Mayhem by Lynn Cahoon

Genre:
Cozy Mystery

Format:
E-Book

Publisher:
Lyrical Press

Release Day:
April 2, 2019




Synopsis from Goodreads:

Picturesque South Cove, California, is the perfect place to celebrate Mother’s Day, but not everyone is feeling motherly...

Jill Gardner, owner of Coffee, Books, and More is almost out of Mother’s Day cards. She has a few more in stock, but she’s set them aside because she needs Greg’s help choosing one for his mother. It’ll be Jill’s first time meeting her boyfriend’s mother, and she’s understandably nervous.

Turns out Jill isn’t the only one having feelings about mothers. Kyle, who works at the antiques store next door, needs to find the perfect card for a mother he hasn’t seen since he was five—when she went away to jail. But her arrival in South Cove isn’t exactly celebratory, her behavior toward her son unexpectedly restrained. Piqued, Jill discovers that a mother can never be replaced…

My Review

Jill Gardner’s personal relationship with her detective boyfriend, Greg, is about to get even closer. Greg wants Jill to join his family for a Mother’s Day celebration and finally meet his mother. Jill agrees, but she’s a nervous wreck about it and wants her aunt to join her.

One of the employees in the shop next to her is also having mother issues. Kyle’s mother went to jail when he was five and she hasn’t been seen since. Now, she wants to see Kyle, but Jill is curious and wants to protect Kyle, even if he doesn’t believe he needs it.

The Tourist Trap Mysteries are one of my favorite cozy mystery series. Lately, the author has been writing these shorter novellas between the longer books. I really enjoy these little stories. At only 75 pages, she manages to tell a decent mystery.

There are no murders in this, but it’s an intriguing mystery into Kyle’s background which blends with Jill’s own feelings toward mothers. It’s a light-hearted story which makes for a fun afternoon reading.

As a long time reader of this series, I enjoyed catching up with my “old friends” in South Cove. I think a new reader might want to start at the beginning to get a better feel for the characters and the plot. However, the mystery is contained in this book so it can also be read on its own.

This will tide me over to the next book. I’m looking forward to it.

For reading challenges:
Cruisin’ thru the Cozies Reading Challenge 2019
Craving for the Cozies Reading Challenge 2019
Cloak & Dagger Reading Challenge 2019

Disclosure: I borrowed the e-book from my library. I was not required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are my own.