The first novel in Mollie Cox Bryan’s brand new mystery series, set in the Blue Ridge Mountains, will keep you guessing until the cows come home . . . Christmas is a time for new beginnings, so after her big breakup, Brynn MacAlister takes the gouda with the bad. With her three Red Devon cows, she settles in bucolic Shenandoah Springs, eager for a new life as an organic micro-dairy farmer and … micro-dairy farmer and cheese-maker. Then her dear cow Petunia’s bellows set the whole town on edge. But it isn’t until Brynn’s neighbor, Nancy, dies in a mysterious fire that her feelings about small town life begin to curdle . . .
It seems some folks were not happy with Nancy’s plan to renovate the Old Glebe Church. But is a fear of change a motivation for murder? As a newcomer, Brynn can’t ignore the strange events happening just on the other side of her frosty pasture—and soon on her very own farm. Suddenly Christmas doesn’t feel so festive as everyone demands she muzzle sweet Petunia, and Brynn is wondering if someone wants to silence her—for good . . .
Praise for Mollie Cox Bryan’s mysteries
“A playful charmer!” —Woman’s World on No Charm Intended
“Scrapbookers and hobby cozy fans will enjoy this delightful holiday escape.”
—Library Journal on A Crafty Christmas
“A font of ingenuity . . . superb entertainment.”
—Mystery Scene magazine on Scrapbook of Secrets
more
Christmas Cow Bells is the first book in a new cozy series, A Buttermilk Creek Mystery, published in 2019 by Mollie Cox Bryan. I belong to a cozy mystery group where the book was mentioned, and since I was looking to start a new series and had heard of the author, I took a chance. I’m glad I did, so let’s get into the review.
Brynn returned home to Virginia earlier this year to open a cheese shop after her beloved grandmother passed away. Unfortunately, after the move, she learned her fiance was cheating on her, so she dumped him and threw herself into a solitary life. Slowly, she made friends, including neighbor Nancy and the three cows she was raising to produce cheese. Then one of the cows gives birth to a stillborn calf and Nancy is killed in a fire, so everything is going downhill. Except – it looks like murder, and Brynn is determined to fix everything in her life before things get even worse.
The series has everything you’d want to see in a standard cozy. The Virginia farm setting is bucolic and comforting. The sleepy town suddenly filled with hate and murders is alarming. The friendships Brynn makes with the locals force to you to question which one is lying to her. The mystery itself is strong and filled with lots of possible suspects. Someone either wanted the land Nancy owned or she knew a secret about them. Which was it? I changed my guess a few times but ultimately settled on the right two people — not that there were two murderers, but two were involved in the shenanigans occurring behind the scenes.
The writing quality is good. The characters all have depth and feel realistic. Some are mean, some are kind. I wanted to hit a few for the way they behaved, but Brynn also got a little too pushy. On the flip side, she was caring and loving to Nancy’s college-aged grandsons, so she was a wonderful main character. As the mystery unraveled, I enjoyed discovering the truth and red herrings. I think the story ended too quickly without a clear understanding of all the whys, but I can’t give away the reason as I don’t want to spoil it. Some will be covered in the next book, and I will keep reading the series. Kudos to the author for a great start.
Brynn had moved to a small town in the Blue Ridge Mountains to begin her new life as a cheesemaker. She has her hands full taking care of the farm, her three cows, one of whom is grieving the loss of her baby calf, and trying to make her business successful. Then her neighbor, Nancy dies in a suspicious fire, and soon after, someone starts harassing her. Brynn is convinced that there is a connection between the two incidents and she intends to get to the bottom of it. This is a wonderful start to a new series. The story is well written, with relatable characters, and a mystery that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. The culprit was a surprise to me and the author wrapped everything up beautifully. I look forward to the second book. Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
It made me want a cow as a pet, that alone would deserve 5 stars! I also wanted the house and the farm. And the other two cows. And the dog. Someone else can make the cheese but I would be happy to eat it. Great for Christmas time reading.
Christmas Cows Bells by Mollie Cox Bryan is the debut of A Buttermilk Creek Mystery series. I like the author’s conversational writing style (like chatting with a friend) which makes for a pleasing reading experience. Brynn MacAlister got her love of Red Devon cows from her grandmother and fell into cheesemaking after taking a course in college. Her degree in chemistry came in handy when she attended cheese school. I like that the author took the time to establish our main character. We get to learn what brought her to Shenandoah Springs, her background, and learn about her family. There are beautiful descriptions of Shenandoah Springs, Brynn’s farm and the surrounding area. We are introduced to a variety of locals who belong to the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. It was interesting to learn about a micro-dairy and what goes into making cheese. Brynn has a unique concept. Brynn’s three cows (Marigold, Buttercup, and Petunia) each have their own personality and I felt bad for poor Petunia. Freckles, the dog, was a delightful addition to the story. I look forward to seeing more of Wes Scors, Nancy’s grandson, in the next book. He is a friendly young man who is a talented cook and wishes to learn cheesemaking. The fire at Old Glebe Church and then Nancy’s death has Brynn scared and she wants answers. When she becomes frustrated with the slow progress on the case, Brynn decides to do a little digging on her own (not a gouda idea). Unfortunately, Brynn has angered the guilty party. A series of escalating incidents begin happening at Buttermilk Creek Farm. Brynn uncovers a handful of suspects in her search for the guilty party. Brynn is a newbie sleuth, so her skills need honing, but she does search for suspects, ask questions, and does some online sleuthing. I would like to see the mysteries become more complex as the series progresses. I like how we get to see cows as more than milk producers. They are sweet creatures who have feelings and like to be petted. Their playful antics were adorable, and I found Petunia’s reaction to Freckles to be delightful. Christmas Cow Bells is an appealing new cozy mystery with clanking cow bells, heavenly hard cheese, a crotchety curmudgeon, a freaky fire, and a charming cheesemaker.
When Brynn MacAlister investigates the murder of her friend, someone starts harassing Brynn. But Brynn is strong and resolute.
Brynn is a memorable amateur sleuth. The page turning story and vivid setting are filled to the brim with Christmas spirit. The secondary characters are believable and vibrant.
This is a heart warming Christmas cozy.
I adored this book! I’m not a cow person and might not have picked it up it wasn’t for the author. I’ve learned you don’t necessarily have to like or participate in a certain hobby to enjoy a book involving it. This was my Christmas in July pick but library books came in and had to put it aside. I had no clue who done it. I loved the characters and animals in it. The second book in the series just came and I’ll be diving in soon! Mollie Cox Bryan is definitely becoming one of my favorite authors.
I loved this book! It is a great start to a new series. I cannot wait to read more of this series and get to know more of Brynn and the town of Shenandoah Springs. I highly recommend this book.
Delightful cozy debut! Brynn MacAllister is a cheese maker who lives in Shenandoah Springs, VA in an old rectory next to a church. When there’s a suspicious fire at the church and her neighbor passes away as a result, Brynn and good friends, Willow and Schuyler, do their best to figure out whodunnit. The author supplies several suspects as red herrings, and the mystery is great. The cast of characters is intriguing and one I feel I’ll grow to love. Brynn’s cows, Petunia, Buttercup, and Marigold are sweet pets and milk-makers. There are several recipes at the end of the story if readers wish to try their hand at making something yummy.
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Brynn MacAlister follows her dream on her own leaving her cheating ex behind when she moves to Shenandoah Springs with her three Red Devon cows, Petunia, Buttercup, and Marigold to open an organic micro-dairy and make cheese. Petunia is suffering after a stillborn calf. While trying to soothe her cow a Brynn suffers another loss. Her friend and neighbor, Nancy dies in a fire when the old church she is living in and renovating for her business burns down. It looks like arson, and Nancy had run into some difficulty with a few people not wanting the Old Glebe Church transitioning to something other than a place of worship, but would they burn the church down with her in it because they didn’t like her business plan?
The whole thing puts an even bigger damper on Brynn’s Christmas spirit. After meeting Nancy’s family she feels a push to find the truth, but like Nancy, Brynn is a newcomer. Could her snooping lead to her demise as well?
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This series is off to a spectacular start! That cover is just delightful and fun. I had to know more about those holiday attired cows.
Mollie Cox Bryan has created some wonderful characters, two-legged as well as four-legged. I liked Brynn right away and was cheering on her success both in sleuthing and cheesemaking the entire book. She is smart while still realizing her independence and didn’t back down even when threatened. That’s not to say she wasn’t scared, because she was but she persevered. She was surrounded by the requisite cozy quirky characters, diverse in age and beliefs. As a newcomer, Brynn had to learn who to trust and who were truly suspects.
The mystery was very well-plotted with plenty of clues. Brynn did her best to keep the sheriff and fire marshall informed of everything she found or the threats she received even when one of them wasn’t always receptive. I was totally caught by surprise as the story played out and clues continued to fall into place.
I have always enjoyed this author’s writing style. She uses the perfect amount of description to put the reader on the scene without ever going overboard. It is easy to envision time, place, people and even the weather.
As a Wisconsinite, I love the farm and cheesemaking theme, the only thing that would have made it better was for the series to be set here I loved the connection of Brynn’s cows to her grandmother and how as a chemistry student a course in cheesemaking changed her life. I enjoyed learning about Brynn’s cheesemaking process and why she ended up with the Buttermilk Creek Farm.
Christmas Cow Bells hit all the right notes. Loveable characters and a puzzler of a mystery. It also leaves readers excited for the next book in the series. Brynn has made some new friends, she is about to get help on the farm and her four-legged family has grown by one. I am really looking forward to the continuation of Brynn’s story.
Christmas Cow Bells
A Buttermilk Creek Mystery, Book #1
Mollie Cox Bryan
5 Stars
Synopsis:
The first novel in Mollie Cox Bryan’s brand new mystery series, set in the Blue Ridge Mountains, will keep you guessing until the cows come home . . .
Christmas is a time for new beginnings, so after her big breakup, Brynn MacAlister takes the gouda with the bad. With her three Red Devon cows, she settles in bucolic Shenandoah Springs, eager for a new life as an organic micro-dairy farmer and cheese-maker. Then her dear cow Petunia’s bellows set the whole town on edge. But it isn’t until Brynn’s neighbor, Nancy, dies in a mysterious fire that her feelings about small town life begin to curdle . . .
It seems some folks were not happy with Nancy’s plan to renovate the Old Glebe Church. But is a fear of change a motivation for murder? As a newcomer, Brynn can’t ignore the strange events happening just on the other side of her frosty pasture—and soon on her very own farm. Suddenly Christmas doesn’t feel so festive as everyone demands she muzzle sweet Petunia, and Brynn is wondering if someone wants to silence her—for good . . .
Praise for Mollie Cox Bryan’s mysteries
“A playful charmer!” —Woman’s World on No Charm Intended
“Scrapbookers and hobby cozy fans will enjoy this delightful holiday escape.”
—Library Journal on A Crafty Christmas
“A font of ingenuity . . . superb entertainment.”
—Mystery Scene magazine on Scrapbook of Secrets (Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well developed and well rounded. Brynn is smart, determined and not afraid to take chances. She knows it will take hard work, but she is determined to make her micro-dairy farm successful. And when one of her friends is murdered, she is just as determined to figure out who the killer is. The secondary characters add a lot to the story and some were very helpful to Brynn. And the cows stole the show for me. They all had distinct personalities and I thought that was fascinating. I felt really bad for Petunia but things worked out for her.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is an easy read. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and those descriptions pulled me into the story from the very beginning. I really enjoyed the theme of this book and I learned about cheese making. I really enjoy it when I learn something as I am reading. And I loved the cover.
The mystery was well plotted and moved along at an even pace. Brynn had to figure out who the murderer was and also who was sabotaging her farm.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. And if you like cows, grab a copy and enjoy.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
“Christmas Cow Bells” is the 1st book in “A Buttermilk Creek Mystery” series, by Mollie Cox Bryan. I have read other series by this author and true to form I loved it! I loved the setting of Shenandoah Springs in the Blue Ridge Mountains, I always like a small town setting where almost everyone knows one another. Makes for fun and often quirky characters
Christmas is a time for new beginnings, so after her big breakup, Brynn MacAlister takes the gouda with the bad. With her three Red Devon cows, she settles in bucolic Shenandoah Springs, eager for a new life as an organic micro-dairy farmer and cheese-maker. Then her dear cow Petunia’s bellows set the whole town on edge. But it isn’t until Brynn’s neighbor, Nancy, dies in a mysterious fire that her feelings about small town life begin to curdle .
It seems some folks were not happy with Nancy’s plan to renovate the Old Glebe Church. But is a fear of change a motivation for murder? As a newcomer, Brynn can’t ignore the strange events happening just on the other side of her frosty pasture—and soon on her very own farm. Suddenly Christmas doesn’t feel so festive as everyone demands she muzzle sweet Petunia, and Brynn is wondering if someone wants to silence her—for good . . .
Protagonist Brynn, is a strong, well-educated independent woman, and her three cows are absolutely adorable! Plus the side characters are realistic, slightly quirky, and I like her friends Willow and Schuyler, the animal acupuncturist. The characters are well developed and down to earth.
I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it in one sitting. It was entertaining, full of twists and turns as well as a few surprises. I even learnt something about making cheese and it included some recipes which is always a bonus.
I look forward to reading the next installment in this series.
I requested and received an Advance Readers Copy from Kensington Publishing and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Thanks to the Cozy Mystery Review Crew and publisher Kensington Books for a copy of this book. All comments and opinions are my own.
This was a captivating and quick read – quick because I couldn’t put it down. The cozy opens with a suspicious fire which leaves one person dead. Nancy is the neighbor of our heroine, Brynn MacAllister, a micro-farmer and cheese-maker newly arrived in the small town of Shenandoah Springs in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Brynn is compelled to find out why her new friend Nancy was killed, who set the fire, and who is now threatening her.
The story begins a couple of weeks before Christmas, and Brynn plans to spend the holiday alone since she recently broke up with her cheating boyfriend and former cheese-making partner. We learn a lot about making cheese and taking care of cows (hers are named Petunia, Buttercup and Marigold). This is actually interesting, and I was glad to find out that there are recipes at the back of the book for the many delicious-sounding dishes (Spicy Hot Cocoa, Baked French Toast, Christmas Pie, and more).
The book is well-written with building tension, and the characters are realistically described. I suspected several, and author Mollie Cox Bryan slowly sprinkled both clues and red herrings throughout. The ending was satisfying and I’m looking forward to reading book #2 in the Buttermilk Creek Mystery series.
A small-town mystery set in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia with Brynn, a cheese-maker who owns three cows. This is a new start for her and she is determined to make it a success. She is new to this town and has become friends with her neighbor Nancy, who is also new to town. They are both getting to know the locals when tragedy strikes. With many unanswered questions, Brynn decides to get involved in the mystery. I liked the small town in the story and I liked Brynn and the secondary characters, especially Willow, Schuyler, Wes and Max. I also enjoyed learning about cheese making. I loved how much that Brynn loves her animals and is always concerned for their well being. There were many suspects and I worked the clues along with Brynn to try to solve the mystery. I liked the recipes that were included at the end and can’t wait to try the spicy hot chocolate. I’m sure that there will be many more adventures in Brynn’s future.
I received a complimentary copy of this ebook from the publisher through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Brynn has a dream to create artisnal cheese. She has moved to the Shenandoah Valley to start this adventure. She is just starting to make friends in the community when her nearest neighbor is killed. Nancy lived in an old converted church. She was planning on turning it into a market for all the farmers in the area. Instead, she is dead from an arson fire.
Brynn and her new friends start to ask questions. I enjoyed this story. I was fun to read about cheese making. The characters are likable and quirky. The story was easy to read and kept me turning the page. This is the first in a new series.
Thanks to Goodreads Giveaways for the opportunity to read this book and offer my honest review.
Christmas Cow Bells is the first book in Bryan’s Buttermilk Creek mystery series. This series introduces Brynn MacAlister who is making a new start for herself after a heartbreak, and Brynn and the reader both get to meet some great new characters as Brynn begins this new journey. When Brynn’s new friend and neighbor dies after a mysterious fire, Brynn starts asking some questions that end up making her a target as well. Brynn must solve this perplexing mystery to save not just her new home and business but her own life as well.
Bryan creates an entertaining holiday story that provides an enjoyable holiday read that you can enjoy during the holidays or at any time of the year. Brynn is well developed in this book, and the reader can not help but root for this character to succeed with this new venture. The secondary characters introduced are enjoyable and help to make this book and new series more enjoyable. The book’s mystery is well done and keeps the reader guessing until the end. Overall Christmas Cow Bells proved to be an enjoyable read that I would most definitely recommend. I look forward to reading Brynn’s next adventure.
Received a copy of Christmas Cow Bells through Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.
A fun new series!! Brynn McAlister has left her cheating fiance to move to Shenandoah Springs with her 3 cows to start her cheesemaking business. She meets a fellow new townsperson, Nancy, who has bought the old church next to Brynn and plans to restore it and turn it into a place for farmers and crafters to sell their wares. When a fire burns down the church and Nancy later dies, Brynn is certain someone intentionally set the fire. Soon, strange things start happening at Brynn’s house, and she begins to think someone doesn’t want her there. With the help of her new friends Willow and Schuyler, Brynn sets out to find out what’s going on. Loved this new series! The characters and storyline were interesting and I love the cows and Freckles the dog. Excited to see what’s next for Brynn!!
Brynn MacAlister is settling into her new life in Shenandoah Springs, Virginia. She is creating a life for herself as a micro-dairy farmer and cheesemaker. When her neighbor with whom she shared a burgeoning friendship dies in a fire Brynn begins to wonder if life in Shenandoah Springs is as lovely as it appears.
Brynn soon finds herself the victim of what appears to be veiled threats. She can’t help but feel that Nancy’s death and these threats are connected. Brynn worries that her own life is in danger.
This book is the first in a new series by Mollie Cox Bryan. I was drawn to this book by its cute cover. The characters were interesting and developed nicely. I suspect we will continue to learn more about them as the series continues. The setting, a small town nestled amid the Blue Ridge Mountains, is lovely, and the plot moves at a good pace. I found it hard to put the book down. I enjoyed it very much, and I am looking forward to reading the next book in the series. I highly recommend this book.
What a fun new mystery series! Shenandoah Springs is filled with people I want to meet again and a community I want to watch to see how they grow and develop together over time. The characters in this story draw me to the town and the highlight of all the characters are the cows! I just love the personalities they develop throughout their interactions with everyone (and animal!) they encounter! Brynn is a wonderful protagonist and as she’s introduced to her new community and to us as readers, I am intrigued by her cheese-making talents and her easy assimilation into her new hometown. This is a great start to a fun mystery series. I enjoyed how the story flowed and for me, this book was more character and community driven than who-done-it (though the mystery was fun too, of course!).
Brynn has moved to Shenandoah Springs to get a fresh start making fresh cheeses, but someone isn’t interested in having Brynn as a neighbor and are doing their best to run her out of town including murdering the only real friend that she has. A great new series is off to ringing great start to the series! The characters were well fleshed out and very relatable which drew you into the story even more quickly. Add to that an extremely well plotted story line that kept you guessing and offered up several potential villains to select from and you have yourself a very entertaining Christmas Cozy Mystery! This series is definitely on my must read list! Now, we just have to wait for the author to write the next book!
First in a new series. I was excited to request this book from Netgalley. I have enjoyed this author’s previous series and was not a happy camper when some of those were cancelled by her previous publishing houses.
The description along with the cover had me sold on the author’s new series. I thought the premise was an interesting one. I learned a few things and would have never contemplated acupuncture for animals on my own.
Yes, it follows the standard cozy formula – romantic breakup, new town, sleuth presses on and a murder she is compelled to solve. I thought the twists were different enough to be refreshing.
I would highly recommend this book. As stated above, I received this book from Netgalley. I am not required to leave a positive review.