Book Review and Giveaway - Deck the Halls With Homicide: Killer Chocolate Mysteries by Christina Romeril

My Review

Alex co-owns the Murder and Mayhem book and chocolate shop with her sister Hanna.  She agrees to judge the annual Deck the Halls holiday decorating contest in her little town.  When a meddlesome and unpleasant neighbor turns up dead, Alex's boyfriend is a suspect.  Alex works as an amateur detective to solve the mystery.

I wanted to read this book because the Christmas setting and book/chocolate shop locale were very appealing.

This is my first book in the Killer Chocolate Mysteries series.  I was able to jump in comfortably and enjoy this book as a standalone read (although I now want to read the rest of the series!).

As anticipated, I loved the holiday setting.  I also enjoyed the picturesque little town and the mystery bookstore/chocolate shop.  (Their specialty is Killer Chocolates, all with deadly names!)

I like Alex as a protagonist.  She is bright and resourceful with her detecting.  I enjoyed sleuthing right along with her!

I recommend Deck the Halls with Homicide for other cozy mystery fans, and especially for anyone who enjoys holiday theme mysteries.  This is a fun one!

Book Synopsis

Perfect for fans of Jacqueline Frost and Vicki Delany, when a holiday decorating contest turns deadly, twin sisters Alex and Hanna trade tinsel and twinkle lights for tracking the twists and turns of a cunning killer.

Alex and Hanna, owners of Murder and Mayhem book and chocolate shop, are hoping for a quiet holiday. That is, after Alex is finished judging the Deck the Halls contest organized by Vanessa, nicknamed “The Dragon.” The whole experience has turned Alex’s usual festive spirit a little grinchy. Instead of inspiring holiday cheer with fun lawn displays, the contest has turned cutthroat and decorations have started disappearing. After Alex’s beau, Tom, is seen in a heated argument with the Dragon about his stolen trimmings, Alex finds him dressed as Santa, kneeling over Vanessa’s dead body…with one of his missing candy cane decorations buried in her chest. It’s no surprise he becomes the sheriff’s top suspect.

Alex and Hanna quickly amass a cast of suspects deeper than Santa’s reindeer roster, including an old family friend tasked by their mother with romantic interference; a nosy reporter eager to reveal Alex’s previous murder-y exploits; and the victim’s psychologist-to-the-stars husband with a spicy secret. But as they try to catch a crafty killer, Alex also grapples with the escalating wrath of Tom’s daughter, and a mysterious psychic dropping cryptic clues, while Hanna deals with her own Christmas crisis.

Murder puts a bitter spin on the twins’ sweet confections and they must find the killer and wrap up the case to keep Santa off the naughty list.

Author Bio

Christina Romeril grew up in Kitchener, Ontario, and has been devouring stacks of books since third grade when the Trixie Belden series sparked a love of mysteries. She has lived on both coasts of Canada as a former member of the Canadian military. As an Alberta transplant, she is fascinated by mountains and loves to spend time with her husband and two Chihuahuas, Nacho and Paco, exploring Waterton National Park in the Canadian Rockies.

Author Links

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/christinaromerilwriter

Website https://christinaromeril.com/

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/christinaromerilwriter

Purchase Links – Amazon   Bookshop.org    B&N    Kobo    Apple Books

Giveaway

Book Review - 100 Train Journeys of a Lifetime: The World's Ultimate Rides by Everett Potter

My Review

100 Train Journeys of a Lifetime: The World's Ultimate Rides details 100 amazing train rides, with many photos illustrating the trips.

I wanted to read this book because I have a lifelong fascination with trains and railway travel.

I always love National Geographic books because they are so beautifully done, with wonderful photos throughout.  This book is certainly no exception!

The book is divided into six parts:

Europe

Africa & The Middle East

North America

South America

Asia

Oceania

I was particularly taken with the European and North American railway adventures.  The Venice-Simplon-Orient Express is a train journey I have always dreamed of!  I loved the pictures in this section, including the historic cabins that convert from comfortable daytime seating to beds at night.  Traveling on this train would certainly fulfill my Agatha Christie imaginings!   I would want to reread Murder on the Orient Express and rewatch the different film adaptations before traveling.

Several North American trips are intriguing to me.  The California Zephyr is a train trip I would enjoy.  It travels from Chicago to San Francisco -- two cities I would enjoy visiting, as well as enjoying the train travel.

The Crescent is another train journey I have always been curious about.  It travels from Manhattan to New Orleans - both cities that I enjoy and find fun to explore!  It is a 30 hour trip.  

Another train trip that includes New Orleans is the City of New Orleans (inspiration for the Steve Goodman song).  It travels from Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee.  This train trip has swivel seats so you can watch the landscape through big windows.

100 Train Journeys of a Lifetime: The World's Ultimate Rides is a lovely, big coffeetable book.  It would be a wonderful gift for a railroad enthusiast ... or a fun book for any armchair traveler.  Highly recommended!

Book Synopsis

Climb aboard the world’s 100 greatest railway adventures with this beautifully curated travel guide from National Geographic.

Filled with unforgettable journeys, including a weeklong excursion through Italy’s wine country and a four-hour sojourn in the Swiss countryside, this illustrated collection will add to your train trip bucket list.

Experience 100 of the most sought-after train rides around the world, from a luxurious trip through the Rocky Mountains to bullet trains that whizz you across Japan.  

This is the ultimate collection for railfans, featuring centuries-old railways, modern and speedy engineering marvels, and trips that take you through bustling cities like Chicago or ancient wonders like Machu Picchu.

Along with where and when to go, 100 Train Journeys of a Lifetime includes inside info on passenger cars (like the best cabins to book or the tastiest meals en route), sidebars on historic stations and jet-setting train trips, and top excursions to take while off the rails.
Throughout, National Geographic highlights the top 100 lines that offer a window to the beauty of our world, including:

• Italy’s Espresso Cadore, a retro sleeper train that whisks you from the ruins of Rome to the ski resort of Cortina in the Dolomites.  
• Norway’s Nordlandsbanen railway, the only train line in the country that takes you to the Arctic Circle for a chance to spot the Northern Lights.  
• South Africa’s Blue Train, which travels 950 miles between Johannesburg and Cape Town.  
• The Ethan Allen Express, a revived route from Manhattan to Burlington, Vermont, along the shores of Lake Champlain. 
• Belmond’s Royal Scotsman, an intimate 40-passenger train (including a spa carriage) that takes you through the heart of the Scottish Highlands.
• The Grand Canyon Railway, with views of the national park you won’t find anywhere else. 
• The Hiram Bingham Orient-Express, a four-hour ride in a 1920s-style locomotive from Cusco through the Sacred Valley to the Inca Citadel. 
• India’s Palace on Wheels, a week-long sojourn from New Delhi to Jodhpur, Udaipur to Agra.

And so much more!