by Sarah Erwin

Details at the end of this post on how to enter to win an ebook copy of the book and a link to purchase the book from Amazon.

Twinkle Twinkle Au Revoir is book two in Heather Weidner’s cozy mystery series Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe, and is equally as charming as book one, Sticks and Stones and a Bag of Bones. This reads easily as a standalone if readers are new to the series.

Despite the rush of summer ending, the cozy resort town of Mermaid Bay is bursting with excitement because the popular Love Channel decided to film their newest romantic movie, My Coastal Valentine, in the heart of town. The town is full of tourists and reporters alike, all trying to catch a glimpse of the beloved leading actor and actress.

Main character Jade Hicks (owner of the adorable Christmas Shoppe) welcomes the uptick in business and enjoys watching the filming going on right outside her shop’s windows. Her friend, Ruby, owner of the local inn, is not having as much fun, as the actors and production staff are demanding various requests day and night. Not long after filming has started, an aggressive reporter is found stabbed in the lead actor’s room at the inn.

Things quickly begin to spin out of control with several other attempted murders on the lead actor, production manager, and publicist. Jade can’t turn away from the mess, since she is worried that the Love Channel will pull out of Mermaid Bay, labeling the town as cursed and damaging future tourism.

This is a delightful and quick read featuring wonderfully developed characters. Jade’s thoughtful gathering of all the clues on her wall of sticky notes, along with her adorable French bulldog Chloe, make her a character to root for. I found myself working alongside Jade, considering all the clues, imagining my own murder board of sticky notes. The side characters–especially Amy, the newest owner of the bookstore down the street and Nick, the handsome sheriff and Jade’s boyfriend–add much to the storyline.

I also especially enjoyed the cozy beach setting and how much the town got into the filming. The details around the ins and outs of the filming production were woven in nicely to the story and I found them so interesting. The side characters from the movie (such as the makeup artists) were entertaining and while I was happy to have the mystery resolved, I was sorry to say goodbye to the characters. Readers of cozy mysteries who also enjoy Hallmark movies and mysteries should enjoy this strong entry into the series.

To enter to win an ebook copy of Twinkle Twinkle Au Revoir, simply email KRL at krlcontests@gmail[dot]com by replacing the [dot] with a period, and with the subject line “twinkle” or comment on this article. A winner will be chosen February 24, 2024. U.S. residents only, and you must be 18 or older to enter. You can read our privacy statement here if you like.

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Sarah Erwin started her career as a children’s librarian, later becoming a public library director and now she’s a stay at home mom. While her career might have changed, her love of reading has been a constant since 4th grade and she reads over 200 books a year. Read along with her on her blog Sarah Can’t Stop Reading or on Instagram. Sarah lives in St. Louis, MO with her two kids, her husband and a family dog and cat.

Disclosure: This post contains links to an affiliate program, for which we receive a few cents if you make purchases. KRL also receives free copies of most of the books that it reviews, that are provided in exchange for an honest review of the book.