This ebook contains an alternate opening scene! ’Twas the season of Christmas, and all through South Cove, California, Santa is working overtime to deliver a special gift . . . Jill Gardner has volunteered her Coffee, Books, and More to host a Christmas adopt-a-pet party. Among the potential forever friends is a male terrier named Baby, whose owner died of a heart attack. With few clues to go … heart attack. With few clues to go on, even finding the name of Baby’s human is a daunting task. But there’s no challenge too big for Jill this holiday season.
Playing Santa’s Little Helper, Jill is determined to find out what happened —and to fulfill a long-time coming Christmas wish . . .
Praise for The Tourist Trap Mysteries
“I love the author’s style, which was warm and friendly…[A] wonderfully appealing series.”—Dru’s Book Musings
“Light, fun, and kept me thoroughly engaged.”—The Young Folks
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This was a sweet, wonderful Christmas story. No murder, but still a mystery to solve.
The mystery was good, but not too difficult to figure out.
The best part was the emphasis on adopting shelter pets. Especially Senior pets. As someone who’s had rescue pets all her 59 years, all adults, and many Seniors, I really love the message that the book has.
This was my 1st Tourist Trap mystery, but the author did a good job of making me feel I knew the characters. Which is no small feat in such a short story.
The animal’s thoughts were perfect! You can’t help but smile when Jill throws French Fries away & her dog Emma gives her a look that says “Why are you throwing such yumminess away?”
Truly worth your time & money to read. I know I plan on spending more time with Jill & the rest of the gang in South Cove.
This wonderful Christmastime novella will put you in good spirits for the holidays! Jill and the South Cove gang are volunteering at an animal shelter helping groom dogs and cats for an upcoming adoption event. An older terrier mix, Baby, catches Jill’s eyes, and his background is tied to a recent death, and the heartfelt story of his owner’s past. A happy ending is the gift Cozy Mystery Readers receive at the story’s end. Cookie recipe included.
Santa Puppy
A Tourist Trap Mystery, Book #9.75
Lynn Cahoon
5 Stars
Synopsis:
’Twas the season of Christmas, and all through South Cove, California, Santa is working overtime to deliver a special gift . . .
Jill Gardner has volunteered her Coffee, Books, and More to host a Christmas adopt-a-pet party. Among the potential forever friends is a male terrier named Baby, whose owner died of a heart attack. With few clues to go on, even finding the name of Baby’s human is a daunting task. But there’s no challenge too big for Jill this holiday season.
Playing Santa’s Little Helper, Jill is determined to find out what happened —and to fulfill a long-time coming Christmas wish . . . (Goodreads)
Review:
This is a great novella and perfect for a quick Christmas read. I enjoyed getting to spend more time with Jill, her family and friends. Jill is so kind and caring and has a really big heart. I enjoy reading about her interactions with the other characters, including the animals.
Although someone does die, I found the fact the Jill did not discover a dead body refreshing. There is a mystery to solve, but it was not who the killer was. I enjoyed this change of pace. The author is very talented in her descriptive writing and she brought South Cove, California, alive in my mind. The writing style flows smoothly and this novella is a quick easy read.
I would recommend this novella, and whole series, to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. There is a message of caring and sharing, and helping others, that we can all be reminded of. If you are looking for a quick Christmas read, pick this book up.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
In this short novella Jill is happy to be helping out a local shelter with a Christmas adopt a pet party. Her boyfriend, aunt, and a few other people have agreed to help with the washing and grooming of animals to get them ready for the party. While at the shelter she is introduced to a dog named Baby whose owner recently died from a heart attack. When Jill learns about the dead mans situation she wants to help find out more about his life and if she can find Baby a forever home. She takes the clues she is given and searches for the answers that she seeks. Can she bring herself some piece of mind and come out with a happy ending for the dead man or will the clues she has not lead anywhere? Follow Jill as she does everything she can in hopes of finding a positive outcome.
Santa Puppy is the latest addition to Lynn Cahoon’s Tourist Trap Mysteries. It is the Christmas season, and as part of the festivities Jill Gardner, owner of Coffee, Books, and More, is set to host a Christmas adopt-a-pet party. Her group of friends, including her beau, South Cove’s police detective Greg King, meet at the animal shelter that will be bringing the animals for adoption, to bathe and get the pets ready for the event. A new inhabitant at the shelter, a 10 year old terrier called Baby, was brought in when his owner was found dead of natural causes on the beach.
From Baby’s tattered collar a small key falls, thus opening a mystery to be solved. What is learned about the homeless veteran is the basis for the remainder of the story. Exploring such topics as homeless veterans, interracial relationships, and the placement of senior pets, this is a touching holiday tale that will leave you with a sense of satisfaction. I did enjoy this novella and would recommend it.
Santa Puppy by Lynn Cahoon is a sweet little Christmas time mystery set in Ms. Cahoon’s Tourist Trap world.
Jill and her family and friends are putting on an adoption party for a local animal shelter to help place senior dogs and cats. There’s one sweet little dog who captures Jill’s heart as his master recently passed away from a heart attack and he has no living family. Jill does fina a clue and then Greg provides a few more clues which spurs Jill on to find out what she can about the man. This is a novella that kept me turning the pages and I breathed a happy sigh and a few tears at the end.
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Lyrical Press via NetGalley. All of the above opinions are my own.
Santa Puppy by Lynn Cahoon is a Tourist Trap Novella. Jill Gardner of Coffee, Books and More will be hosting a pet adoption event next Saturday at the store to help some adorable animals find forever before Christmas. In anticipation of the event, Jill along with Greg King and her friends are at the Bakerstown shelter to wash the dogs. Jill meets Baby, a ten year old terrier who arrived at the shelter after his owner was found dead on the beach the previous week. Jill takes off his collar and a safety deposit key falls out. Greg King, a South Cove police detective, obtains the items from the box hoping it will provide them with the deceased identity. The contents of the safety deposit box provide Jill with a mystery to wrap up before Christmas.
Santa Puppy is a cute and uplifting cozy mystery. There is an adorable dog that misses its owner and a deceased human that the police have been unable to identify. All our favorites characters from A Tourist Trap series are back in this Christmas novella (120 pages). I found Santa Puppy to be well-written and it moves along at a fast clip. I would suggest reading one of the full length novels in A Tourist Trap Mystery series prior to reading Santa Puppy. The story has a good moral plus it highlights the plight of our veterans. There is a hint of Christmas magic at play in this engaging Christmas story (I do not want to spoil it for you). Santa Puppy is a heartwarming Christmas cozy with a sweet ending.
This Christmas, Jill is hosting an adopt-a-pet event at her coffee/bookstore. When bathing a sweet pup whose owner has recently passed away reveals a safety deposit box key Jill is on the hunt to find out what is in the box and to find the pup a “furever” home for Christmas.
For me, this was the perfect introduction to the Tourist Trap cozy mystery series by Lynn Cahoon. I was captivated by Jill and her love for reading and animals.
You can read this novella out of order as your first introduction with no problems at all. There are plenty of mentions of things in the past but all the mentions do is make you want to drop everything and read the series from the beginning.
This is not your typical happy ending so you will find yourself a tad teary at times. Unfortunately, I think there are more stories like this in the real world.
I received a complimentary copy of this novella from Kensington through NetGalley. Any and all opinions expressed in the above review are entirely my own.
This is a short, sweet read—easy to fly through in one night, which is perfect after a busy day. If you need a little Christmas boost, a little fun to end your day, this is the perfect solution. A real picker-upper.
I adored this little novella! I loved the dogs and the little mystery. I thought it was adorable. It definitely wasn’t supposed to be read when I read it in the series. But it didn’t really bother me or spoil anything.
Cute good. Good reading
For a short book it packed a punch. I finished this book crying my eyes out, thinking why couldn’t they have found each other? Why couldn’t they have had just a little time together? Honestly it was the BEST story I have read in a while and I will read it many more times.
I liked the characters and that the family and friends of Jill care for senior dogs and cats. Not overly romantic yet filled with love, I felt the ending was a bit abrupt, yet overall the story was a cute, sweet read…and includes a recipe, which is always a huge bonus.
Christmas Themed Two Hour Mystery
This is a sweet and cozy mystery that is part of the Tourist Trap series. It is short, not quite 100 pages. It is a cute story that is totally believable. It is filled with Dogs, Santa, Christmas Cookies and love. I received this book for free and this is my honest review.
I loved this short story. Jill’s store has an adopt a pet party. When a little dog who’s homeless owner suddenly dies, Jill tries to find someone who knew him.
This takes you on a heart touching tale into this man’s life. I enjoyed this as I do the whole series, and I will continue on with it.
Great characters and stories throughout the whole series. Always looking forward to the next one
Dogs, mystery and romance – what more can you ask for.
This was my first read of this author but I will definitely look for more books by her.
I have really grown to like and enjoy the Tourist Trap books. This one is a novella for Christmas, which I like to read on a series I like at Christmas time so I appreciate the author writing it. The story line for the main character is now developing her ‘sixth sense’ which I find interesting and gives the stories a different twist I am enjoying. Looking forward to the next one!
Pretty predictable, but a nice story.