Very predictable mystery
925716
The reactions to things are overblown. Too much worry over nothing. And Jessie tends to stick her nose in where it doesn't belong. I do enjoy the banter between Jessie and Aunt Bee.
1841943
It was an okay story but very, very predictable.  I didn't have to read the ending (but I did) to know what it would be.  Disappointing all the way.
4763214
This was not the usual type of cozy mysteries I enjoy because the writing style was geared more for juveniles. Even though the subject matter deals with older adults, the writing lacks depth and is very simple. The characters are one dimensional, and simplistic. I'm glad I was able to borrow this book from Kindle library, and do not plan to sample any further books by this author. I wish her well, perhaps she needs to read books by more established authors to get a better feel of writing. Cozy authors I enjoy: Juliet Blackwell, Heather Blake, Julie Moffett and Lynn Cahoon.
2338365
Very predictable plot but a decent and quick read.
3223335
This book certainly has lots of action, but it was not suspenseful in the least.  The romance angle is oh-so-typical you knew exactly how it would end.  There's no mystery whatsoever - the "bad guys" are identified right at the start and there is nothing to be discovered.  Some of the plot devices aren't at all realistic and are obviously included solely to provide a source of action and a setting for more romance.  It was so predictable I ended up skimming the last 2/3, hoping it might improve.  It didn't.  If you like mystery or suspense, try Kathy Herman or Terri Blackstock instead.
4031189
Very predictable and not very thrilling.

I can't believe how long it took for Kathy to figure out who the robber was.
7005
This book was clean and the plot was alright, but not enough clues to who the killer was. I was certain I had it figured out, but I was wrong. That isn't a problem, but what is is that there were NO CLUES as to the real killer. It was all just pointless red-herrings everywhere. A senator is killed in Presley's hometown after she talks to him. There are clues leading to an underworld boss, his bodyguards, his wife, and other characters, but none t the actual killer. Presley is also wishy-washy; sometimes she is strong and assertive other times she's so weak I wanted to scream at her. She is sexually harassed more than once and lets it go. But, the most infuriating aspect of this otherwise good story is that there are no clues to the real killer.
4202227
The "cozy" mystery genre is popular but unfortunately too many of the books' plots are predictable and verge on being too cute. This book was predictable and the tone was "cute but it was interesting to me because of the Outer Banks, NC locale. I did  have problems believing in the lighthouse library concept - a bit of a stretch!
3242359
I enjoyed the characters and the Canadian setting. However, the outcome was predictable. This is more of "I know who done it" mystery.
4025562
I enjoy a quick read between some of my mystery books but this was just a waste of time. Save your dollar.
627324
Lack of character development makes for a diffuse mystery in this new cozy series.  While the dead body appears in the first half of the book, there is virtually no real sleuthing.  Instead, the protagonist (Chase) and the other main female characters sidestep around daily issues because no one is able to be honest and direct.  Chase even admits to the inability to deal with confrontation, which doesn't leave much room for her to act as a protagonist, much less a business owner.  So instead of trying to figure out who the murderer is, there is weird behavior, insinuations, and hurt feelings because someone is stealing money from the cash register of their store, Bar None.  Instead of solving the problem (difference cash trays, cameras) there is pussyfooting and lots of upset feelings.

The second half focuses more on the murder, but Chase is more passive than proactive -- always being the victim.  The repetitive plot devices of the murderer and the cat don't forward the plot and make the conclusion fairly obvious from the get go.  With the exception of Chase and her closest friends, the female characters are all sheisty and self involved.  Overall there is a lack of common sense, even in the final reveal where the motivation for murder isn't supported by the money.
1738965
I guess I have read too many mysteries.  I had the murderer picked before the murder even took place. I like the writing but the clues are too obvious. I like being surprised by twists and turns before the reveal and there were none to hold my interest.
2020595
Being an avid fan of murder mystery I found the the story line to be predictable. The characters had little or no depth and no story of their own to broaden the interest.  Many of the scenes were repetitive to the point of boredom.  I refer to the dog walks and the spontaneous gatherings to discuss the progress of the case.  I am not a speed reader and don't like to chance missing a minute detail that could add to the story but I found myself skipping over many pages to avoid the familiar detail that I'd already read...repeatedly. On a positive note I applaud the author for keeping the bedroom scenes to a minimum and offering just enough to get the message accross.
1919222
I enjoyed reading the The Light Between Oceans although the plot was predictable. I would probably not read it again.
729985
My rating leans more towards 2 1/2 stars.

I received this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Max Walters dreams of becoming a designer and moving back to the hustle and bustle of New York. She's currently a bridal consultant in Crystal Shores, a small town in California, where she lives so she can help her dad after the death of her mother. When she's given the task of running the shop while her boss in on vacation, she hopes there are no bridal emergencies that she can't handle. The last thing she expected to deal with is murder.

This was a cute but nothing special type of cozy mystery. It centers around a bridal shop in a small town where everyone pretty much knows each other and sits a tad on the predictable side. I really feel the book had great potential, but unfortunately it was just ok for me. The dialogue is a bit jumpy and the characters are not fully developed but it's a light and easy read. The killer was easy to figure out and the story lacked any real emotion, giving it a monotone type writing style that I didn't overly care for. It felt like the author was just going through the motions and didn't really invest any feelings into the story or her characters. Max is very likeable, albeit a bit bland, and I really liked the addition of Keiko. She actually stole the book for me even though she comes off as a little robotic. As far as the rest, there were really too many characters and you never really got to know any of them. They kept stopping by the shop with no real purpose. It was a bit strange. Like they were just added for the sake of having more people.

There was one thing that really put me off though, and that was the towns insistence that Max investigate the murder. I found this baffling since there was nothing about Max that made the reader believe she should be investigating other than the fact that her friend was the suspect. It was mentioned that she wanted to be a detective when she was a kid, and she stated she took a class or two, but I saw no reason for the residents to have so much faith in her sleuthing abilities. It really just didn't make any sense.

Aside from that though, it's not a bad book and has great potential, not to mention a great cover. It may not stick out in the flooded market of cozy mysteries, but it certainly can shine within it if only the author could add some emotion to the series. Oh, and also give us reason to understand why the town has such undying faith in Max.
17400
I found the mystery somewhat interesting, but not the best of the Inspector Rutledge books. If only for the mystery, this book would get at best three stars. Definitely predictable. What made up for the mediocre mystery is the backstory of Ian Rutledge. I even found myself a little bit sympathetic for Jean, if you can believe it!  If you're a fan, definitely worth a read. If not, skip this one and pick up one of the earlier mysteries as your first Inspector Rutledge mystery.
1750136
The character and the plot were extremely predictable. Rebus does not even bother to solve the case - his girlfriend does. Too much smoking and drinking and too little sleuthing. I could not bother to finish the last ten pages because the ending was so predictable. Totally overrated.