It started off well-enough but ended weakly, I thought. This is an excellent cozy series and I highly recommend it, but I thought this was not as strong as other entries. I was attracted to this particular volume for two reasons; one, I like the character of Godwin and had the impression that he would have a stronger role here, but that was only partly true. Second, I was looking for a Christmas cozy to read during the holiday season. While this one occurs during December, there really isn't that much about the holidays in it. One unusual feature is that it takes place during a national needlework show - a sort of convention where wholesalers display their products and sell to retailers - and that was interesting and different. A negative, however, is that the convention takes place in Nashville. One doesn't read these books to read about Nashville, but to visit the small town of Excelsior, MN, and I missed that charming, cozy, small-town appeal.The author's characterizations are excellent. Moreover, I "read" this with the audio book using Amazon's "Whispersync" technology that lets you go back and forth between the audio book and the Kindle version, and the narrator was wonderful. The narrator, Melissa Hughes, makes me want to purchase more audio books in the series and discover what else she has narrated.The solution to the crime, however, was a bit of a let-down. Despite an excellent cast of characters and the very real and sympathetic personalities that the author created for her suspects, the ending was not much of a surprise and solving the murder was a little dull. I suppose this is required reading for fans of this almost always fun and charming series, but if you are selecting your annual Christmas cozy, I'd look elsewhere.
This is a nice light mystery, part of a series featuring needlework store owner Betsy Devonshire. Here, the events take place at the Nashville Needlework Market, an event for needlework shop-owners. Here the event is moved from its usual February time slot to mid-December.One of the shop-owners falls from the ninth floor to the lobby level below, or did she. Present here besides Betsy are here employee Godwin, and a Milwaukee policewoman, Jill. Jill is in town for a police conference, but is stuck at Betsy's hotel due to bad weather.When the death occurs, Jill takes charge until the local police arrive, and asks for Betsy's help. There is no shortage of people who would want the victim, Belle Hammermill, dead, but Betsy's attention to detail helps them make the connection.Humour, good mystery plot and interesting location (at least for a stitcher like me!) made for a good read.This was a Christmas present that I finally got around to reading.
Do You like book Crewel Yule (2005)?
Not my favorite in the series. My main complaint was the style that the book was written in. Every chapter was from a different characters point of view. And the chapters jumped back and forth in time. Each chapter header told the date and time the chapter took place, but I didn't want to have to study that information and try to figure out where it fell in the story timeline. I like stories that have a linear time line. Also, I didn't like who the murderer turned out to be.What I did love about the book was the setting. In a grand hotel, at a cross stitch convention, in the middle of a snow storm. That was great.
—Julia
Wow this was awful. I don't like books told from multiple points of view to start with, and to compound the torture, the story kept going back and forth in time. After 4 chapters I gave up and skipped to the end.This author has earned a place on my do not read list.Since I don't normally write reviews unless I have something specific to say, here's the break down of how I rate my books...1 star... This book was bad, so bad I may have given up and skipped to the end. I will avoid this author like the plague in the future.2 stars... This book was not very good, and I won't be reading any more from the author.3 stars... This book was ok, but I won't go out of my way to read more, But if I find another book by the author for under a dollar I'd pick it up.4 stars... I really enjoyed this book and will definitely be on the look out to pick up more from the series/author.5 stars... I loved this book! It had earned a permanent home in my collection and I'll be picking up the rest of the series and other books from the author ASAP.
—Dharia Scarab
Betsy and Godwin head to Nashville, Tennessee in December to attend a crafting conference/selling market. There is a large storm that strands attendees in their hotel. Deliveries cannot be made.Belle falls from the 9th floor to her death. It creates a commotion. Betsy and Jill end up investigating. The hotel manager and the local police detective would like it to be an accident or suicide. Jill suspects it was murder. There are three women who are angry with Belle. They are good suspects.The story is interesting and entertaining. I am glad I haven't been stranded in a snow storm in a part of the country that is not used to snow.
—April
