Draw and Order

Paint & Shine Mystery #2

by Cheryl Hollon

Appalachian artist and local guide Miranda Trent opens a new murder investigation after her Paint & Shine tour group discovers the remains of a missing hiker along an ancient trail...

For her latest excursion, Miranda is thrilled to take a close-knit group of rock climbers, the Risky Business Adventurers, up the challenging Battleship Rock Trail to paint and sample moonshine. But the outing is cut short when they discover a skeleton near the trailhead. Even more startling, the bones belong to Howard Cable, Miranda's cousin...and a former classmate of the Risky Business group.

The sheriff chalks it up to a hiking accident, but Miranda isn't convinced that Howard, an experienced woodsman, died within sight of a well-marked trail. So, with the help of Ranger Austin Morgan, Miranda sets out on her own investigation and discovers that the Risky Business group is keeping plenty of secrets. But is one of them hiding the truth about Howard's death?

Genres: Mystery, Cozy Mystery, Cozy, Fiction, Small Business, Contemporary, Adult

338 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 29, 2021

About the author

Cheryl Hollon writes full time after she left an engineering career of designing and building military flight simulators in amazing countries such as England, Wales, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan and India. Fulfilling the dream of a lifetime, she combines her love of writing with a passion for creating glass art. In the small glass studio behind their St. Petersburg, FL, 1920's craftsman bungalow, Cheryl and her husband design, create, and produce fused glass, stained glass and painted glass artworks.

Reviews

[Mallory · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really like the concept for this cozy mystery. I love the small town setting and the idea of using authentic moonshine recipes as a part of attracting tourism. The amateur sleuth in this series, Miranda, has inherited her uncle’s home where he brewed his moonshine. She has started up a business where she takes tourists for a hike to sketch and eat a picnic with a matching moonshine drink. I like the mix of outdoors and art in this one. I also like her love interest/partner in solving crime the ranger Austin. While taking a group of adventures out they stumble upon some remains that turn out to be Miranda’s cousin Howard who has been missing for five years. Since the sheriff seems determined to see accident while Miranda suspects foul play she is roped into investigating.

[Kristina Anderson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Draw and Order by Cheryl Hollon is the 2nd A Paint and Shine Mystery. It can be read as a standalone if you have not had a chance to indulge in Still Knife Painting. I thought Draw and Order was well-written with a developed main character. The author captured the beauty of the area with her picturesque descriptions. I love the sound of Miranda’s farmhouse and barn. Miranda is trying to get her distillery up and running while conducting Paint and Shine Cultural Adventures. The fates seem against her distillery as she has one set back after another. I enjoyed the humor sprinkled throughout the story. Miranda needed the patience of Job to deal with Ron, the handyman. Miranda’s cousin has been missing for five years. While on a tour with Risky Business Adventurers, they stumble upon a skeleton at Battleship Rock. Miranda’s Aunt Ora asks her to investigate and gets justice for her cousin, Howard Cable. Miranda has the assistance of Park Ranger, Austin Morgan who is her neighbor and potential romantic partner. There are a handful of suspects some with stronger motive than others. I like how the mystery tied into local legends and the area where Miranda takes her excursion clients. The whodunit does get off to a slow start with it picking up steam toward the middle of the book. The reveal is anticlimactic. It depends upon your sleuthing prowess on when you solve this mystery. I liked the why and how it related to our main character as well as the local area. I enjoyed learning more about Miranda and her family. I do sometimes find Miranda frustrating, but she is a generally likeable and a relatable character. We get to see Miranda and Austin’s relationship deepen as they spend more time together. Draw and Order is an enjoyable read. I look forward to the next A Paint and Shine Mystery. Draw and Order is a joyful journey with a missing man, plein air painting, crispy chicken, an irritating repairman, several suspicious suspects, a curious cave, and smooth moonshine.

[Bridget · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book, Draw and Order is the follow up to Still Knife Painting which marked the start of a brand new and intriguing cosy mystery series featuring Miranda Trent. Her Uncle Gene left her a remote farmhouse on Pine Ridge, sited in the eastern Kentucky hills. One of the conditions that her uncle stipulated in his will was that Miranda must set up and make a success of a business including a distillery within a specified timescale, otherwise, she would lose the right to her inheritance. So Miranda set up a painting and distillery enterprise called Paint & Shine, pairing outdoor painting classes with sips of local moonshine, followed by a scrumptious homecooked meal. Miranda's Paint & Shine tour group, a bunch of rock climbers called the Risky Business Adventurers, are going on a hiking excursion but the outing abruptly ends when they happen upon a skeleton. The remains are thought to be those of her lost cousin, who disappeared some years ago. When this is confirmed, she sets out to find his killer, along with Austin Morgan, a park ranger.

I adored the premise of Draw and Order and Cheryl Hollon's character development was excellent. Narrator and artist Miranda has grown on me though at the beginning of the first book I found her rather brusque and impatient. The comfortable pacing helped to make this a very pleasant cosy mystery, and the author's portrayal of the locale was terrific. There was a number of suspects to choose from to satisfy my tendency to play armchair detective and the motives were kept under wraps. I enjoyed the inclusion of Miranda's mum in this tale as well as the splashes of humour dotted throughout the story.

For readers who are looking for a fantastic cosy mystery, I think Draw and Order will fit the bill with its surprising ending, hints of romance, and wonderful descriptions of the gorgeous scenery. I'm definitely curious to see how things develop for Miranda in the next book!

I received a complimentary copy of this novel at my own request from Kensington Books via NetGalley. This review is my own unbiased opinion.

[Micky Cox · Rating 5 out of 5]

Moonshine and an art lesson??? Sign me up!! I love how cozy mysteries always have unique characters that often run their own businesses, are great cooks or do crafts of some kind. This book takes all three aspects and wraps them into a unique business plan for the main character which fits nicely into allowing her time to sleuth! Miranda is a talented artist, who has perfected family recipes and is going to start her own moonshine distillery to fit in nicely with her guided hikes that end with a painting lesson. Unfortunately she also has a knack for finding dead bodies! The characters in this series have a wonderful depth to them that helps you connect and want to know more about them. This is only the second book in the series and it is definitely more like visiting old friends than just picking up the next book. Now if someone could find me a vacation like the ones that are described in the books, I'd be all set. Although, I would hope that my vacation would come without any murderous friends or dead bodies! I absolutely can't wait to see what antics this crew of characters gets up to next and hope the moonshine starts flowing soon!

[K.A. Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

DRAW AND ORDER is the second book in the Paint & Shine Mystery series by Cheryl Hollon. Set in the unique location of Appalachians in Kentucky, protagonist Miranda Trent has the delightful business of hosting Paint & Shine tour groups. Combining hiking to art lessons in the great outdoors along with serving regional cuisine and local moonshine to the groups, she’s carved a successful niche for herself. Miranda is friendly and I enjoyed her interaction with her customers and her friends. The author does an admirable job of “painting” the scenery on the page and I felt like I learned quite a bit about the locale. Assisting in educating the groups (along with the reader) is Miranda’s love interest Ranger Austin Morgan. They work well together both on the business side and in helping solving murder cases.

When a skeleton is found on one of her group hikes, and it turns out to be her long-missing cousin, Miranda can’t help but try to find out what happened. She is certain his death couldn’t have been an accident no matter what the sheriff might say. I loved that the author includes so many strong women in the book, including Miranda and the sheriff’s wife who just happens to be the coroner. There is an appealing mix of a lost silver mine, legends, and secretive old classmates of the victim. With plenty of suspects to keep the reader guessing, Ms. Hollon parcels out the clues while keeping the plot moving. The only little blip that made me cringe is her use of moonshine in treating a potentially seriously injured man for pain when paramedics were already on their way. Other than that, this is an entertaining cozy mystery!

I was provided with an advance copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

[Caitlyn Lynch · Rating 3 out of 5]

In backcountry Kentucky, artist Miranda Trent has inherited her uncle’s property… on the condition she gets his moonshine distillery up and running again. Getting all the equipment arranged and jumping through hoops of red tape to get the distillery licensed is tricky and not cheap, so she’s running Paint and Shine tours, taking hikers to scenic spots and giving them art lessons, occasionally helped out by her love interest, forest ranger Austin. The book starts when Miranda and a painting group stumble across a skeleton… which turns out to belong to a cousin of Miranda’s who went missing five years earlier.

This seems like a fairly massive coincidence, and it’s not the only one in this book, as it turns out her cousin was a member of the very same adventure group Miranda was out with on the day they stumbled over the body. There are a couple of really puzzling things that happen, like sabotage on Miranda’s property, which seem totally pointless since even if Miranda stopped asking questions, the police still were. There’s also an odd sub plot about a semi-homeless handyman Miranda employs to fix her barn roof which he keeps stuffing up.

This is an intriguing mystery; we get to know a lot about the victim as Miranda starts off by delving into his past to try and work out what motive someone would have had for killing him. The problem is that there is an awful lot of the book that is not devoted to the mystery, with subplots galore going on. Miranda’s romance with Austin is barely hinted at and certainly didn’t make any forward progress as Miranda seemed to spend most of her time cooking with her mother when she wasn’t working. About the only thing Miranda and Austin did together was research possible suspects, about as unromantic a date as it’s possible to imagine.

I liked the location, the snippets of history, Miranda working to get her distillery up and running, and a lot of other things. But there did seem to be an awful lot of waffle and filler to make up the word count. And I’m not all that keen on the last 5% of any given cozy mystery with culinary themes being made up of recipes, either. Three stars, but I’d have liked it a lot better if about 25% of it was cut out.

Disclaimer: I received a review copy of this title via NetGalley.

[Carrie Schmidt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Draw and Order is an engaging sequel to Still Knife Painting and adds further layers to the characters we met in that first book. While I’m in no way, shape, or form (emphasis on shape) a hiker or an artist, I love the idea of Miranda’s Paint & Shine tours and was happy to see her business flourishing. Her expansion plans bring a quirky handyman into her world (and her mother’s!), and her adorable puppy Sandy continues to steal the show. I’m eager to see where Hollon takes Miranda’s distillery & gift shop plans, as well as Ron and his unlikely friendship with Miranda’s mom.

Having recently moved out of central Kentucky, my home for 30 years, it gave me all sorts of nostalgia to read about real-life places that I know well. From St. Joseph’s Hospital to the University of Kentucky to Blue Grass Airport & Red River Gorge, I could easily picture the areas Miranda and other characters referred to throughout Draw and Order. Fun touches like Cherry Ale-8 and even just patterns of speech for that region made me smile. It’s clear the author has fond memories from that part of Kentucky as well, and I enjoyed seeing it through her (and Miranda’s) eyes.

The mystery was full of adventure and suspects and ‘wow!’ moments that I didn’t see coming. I wasn’t at all sure how this was going to turn out, but I loved the journey to get there. Miranda’s personal connection to the victim, her all-equally-suspicious clients from the Risky Business Adventures group, rumors of legendary silver mines, and Miranda’s growing relationship with sweet Ranger Austin Morgan kept me turning the pages to see how it would all play out. I also admit to gasping out loud a couple of times at some surprising – and harrowing – twists.

Bottom Line: Draw and Order is engaging & entertaining, with a well-plotted mystery & nicely layered characters. The murder case will keep you on your toes with stunning reveals and intriguing clues. While there are some ‘info dump’ stretches of dialogue, the overall pacing of the novel easily maintains a smooth story flow. A beautiful setting and yummy recipes with moments of humor and plenty of creativity are icing on the cake – or, ice cream on apple pie, as the case may be. I’m looking forward to more books in this series!

(I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book)

first reviewed on Reading Is My SuperPower

[Susan Johnston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Princess Fuzzypants here: During a hike with a group of adventure enthusiasts called Risky Business, Miranda and the group stumble upon a body. Miranda fears it may be her cousin who disappeared five years earlier. What she.does not know until much later, this group not only knew her cousin but was with them just before he disappeared. He was one of them.

The relationships were far more convoluted than initially perceived and as Miranda and her friend Austin discover every one of the group could be a suspect. It is an integral part of the story as Austin backs up Miranda at every move and the two of them realize they are quite the team. Miranda’s mother is staying with her and between cooking and helping with the investigation, she has become a surprising asset. So has the handyman that Miranda reluctantly hires to help put her moonshine still. Not so surprising in a positive way are all the secrets this group is keeping and the things she learns about her cousin.

It is a great mystery with likeable and interesting characters in a part of the world that is breathtaking. And it has a fantastic climax. One thing I.appreciate about Miranda is she is a smart lady who does not blunder into situations that would test Darwin’s theory. This is a fun series so don’t stop at this one book. Five purrs and two paws up.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the second of this series, we see more of the Daniel Boone National Forest. I liked seeing more of the trails and the hiking/ climbing possibilities for Miranda’s art classes.
Miranda’s mom and Randy are two new characters. I didn’t know if I was going to like Randy, but he is growing on me. Her mom is a great, helping mothering mom. We see more of the ranger and that relationship progresses normally. Miranda is looking more and more like a business woman. She had lots of hiccups to deal with in order to get her distillery going and she dealt with them very well. Her Aunt Ora was not my favorite character, but she isn’t around too much.
I always like a cold case mystery and this one had some history tied into it. Those were done fairly well. Miranda did a good job investigating this old mystery. I liked the reason the sheriff was hesitant about going all in on this one. The why was pretty clear, but not the who. So there was some surprise with the solution. And catching the murderer was heart pounding.
This was a wonderful book 2 in the series.
I received a copy of the book. This is my review.

[The Cozy Review · Rating 4 out of 5]

Draw and Order is the second book in the new “A Paint 'n' Shine Mystery” series. The main character, Miranda, is still developing but is already interesting enough to make readers want to learn more about her. An artist and soon-to-be distillery owner, Miranda brings readers into a new and exciting world that is as old as time. (In case readers don’t know, “shine” is moonshine, which has been made in those glorious mountains throughout the Appalachians since men took refuge in the forests.) The introduction of Miranda’s mother in this newest addition is wonderful, and I hope she remains a part of the series. Other recurring characters are fun and entertaining, with none of the usual slow-to-grow entanglement. Austin is amazing, and clearly, Miranda is falling for him.

Taking an experienced tour group up the mountain for a paint, southern cooking treat, along with moonshine cocktails, is Miranda’s bread and butter, but finding a body along the way isn’t part of the tour. This isn’t the first time Miranda has found a body, but it becomes personal. She believes that the remains might be those of her lost cousin, who disappeared without a trace many years ago. After having her fears confirmed, she sets out to find his killer, and some of the suspects are members of the tour group.

The suspects are instantly in the picture in this story, but their motives are not. They may love the great outdoors, but it’s too much of a coincidence that they all knew Miranda’s cousin. Seeing each of them as someone who would kill isn’t difficult for readers. Evidence is all around; it just takes a bit of work to filter it out. The killer isn’t hard to figure out, but the tension of uncovering the identity is almost Miranda’s undoing. The paint and shine tour is a delightful premise for Draw and Order and the series, and gives the books a unique way of always bringing in new characters without inventing excuses. If you have never tasted authentic moonshine, I highly recommend that readers travel to the Appalachians and give it a try. There is nothing quite like the original taste or atmosphere, and if you have an artistic bent, you will love to paint those beautiful mountains.

[Vicki Gooding · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a delightful read. I also learned a bit about Jonathan Swifts Silver Mines, as I immediately had to research it after reading about it. The heroine and her boyfriend make the perfect couple working on the investigation of her cousin Howard's bones with mutual trust, respect, and work. I received the book at no charge to me. I am so glad, and can easily volunteer a review as a dynamite winner in this relatively new series. It's a really good read.

[Seraphia Bunny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Draw and Order is the second book in Cheryl Hollon's "A Paint and Shine" series. I enjoyed the first book and so I was excited to jump into book two. Miranda is back with a new mystery and apparently, this one hits close to home. The last thing she expects to encounter while on an outing with a new group for her tours is to find a body, but that's exactly what happens. Add another level to this shocking discovery is that Miranda believes that it's a cousin who went missing 5 years ago.
Draw and Order started out promising enough, but as the story progressed...things got a bit derailed. I like that the author is wanting to tie the story more into the moonshine aspect of the storyline, but the mystery element sadly gets a bit lost in the process. Miranda is doing research with the help of Austin to find clues as to what exactly happened to her cousin. It's a tedious business, but when things are in a small town setting I expected a bit more gossip to be running around. It's a bit hard to believe at times that Howard was able to keep such tight secrets. I kept waiting for someone to begin harassing Miranda as she continues her digging, but that doesn't happen until the last chapters of the book.
There are a lot of good things in this book, but I wanted more of the mystery to be in this book than there are. The romance angle, while nice, is a bit vague. I say this because in book one thing wasn't really solidified in my opinion between Miranda and Austin, so I'm a little confused as to what is exactly going on. I'm guessing that they are in a relationship since he often kisses her on the cheek and she doesn't object, but it seems to have come a bit out of thin air.
While this book is a page-turner for me, I was disappointed that there the mystery is more focused on in this book. This book does have a lot of good elements to it. I like the introduction of new characters, even if Ron did get on my nerves (sorry not sorry lol), but I am looking forward to what comes next with these characters. I'm rating this book 4.5 out of 5 stars. Not as good as the first book, but I still did enjoy it very much.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love learning something from the books I read. I've never given much thought to the process of making moonshine so it was very nice to learn about it and what is involved as well as the cocktails she creates with it. The mystery was interesting and kept me guessing. And the possibility of romance(s) added a new dimension to the story.

I received a copy from #NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Patty · Rating 4 out of 5]

Draw and Order by Cheryl Hollon is the 2nd book in A Paint and Shine Mystery, and another great addition. I love Ms. Hollon's A Webb's Glass Shop Mystery series, and I am excited about this new series. Miranda inherited her uncle's Red River Gorge homestead in Eastern Kentucky in the middle of Daniel Boone National Forest. Miranda is an artist, so she came up with a business of Paint & Shine. Miranda takes people for a hike in the forest, than they stop and paint the beautiful scenery. She also provides the group with sample moonshine and eat southern cooking. While on a hike bones are found. I found this book to be a good read, and I am looking forward to the next book in the series. If you enjoy cozy mysteries, I recommend this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Draw And Order is the second book in the Paint And Shine Mystery series by Cheryl Hollon.

The story begins with Miranda taking a group of experienced rock climbers who call themselves Risky Business Adventurers(RBA) to climb a rocky trail and then to draw the beautiful vista when they reach the top. The group has taken a lunch break, and Park Ranger Austin Morgan has talked about where they are resting. As they are packing up, one of the hikers cuts her hand as she is getting up. Miranda goes to see what the hiker had cut herself on and finds what might be a bone. A little more searching, and it is a bone. The police are called to the scene, and with more digging, the complete skeletal remains of a body will be discovered. The sheriff initially feels that it was an accidental death. But Miranda will learn that the bones are those of her cousin, Howard. Her aunt will ask Miranda to find out how her son had died and how it could have happened without anyone knowing.

Miranda and Austin will start investigating how Howard happened to be where the bones were found and learn that he had been with RBA on the day he disappeared. They will focus mainly on the members of RBA as their primary suspects. They will contact Austin’s sister, an investigative reporter with a Lexington reporter, to see if she might find anything about the hiking members that will help with their investigation.

The introduction of two new characters will provide a fascinating subplot. Miranda finds a hole in the barn where she will be brewing her moonshine. She hires a handyman, Ron Menifee, to perform the necessary repairs. Several people have warned Miranda that Menifee does good work when sober, plus he is not the fastest worker. Miranda’s mother also shows up for a visit, saying she will be staying a few days. It seems that her mother and Menifee knew each other in high school. It’s too early to tell, but they might be going to renew their friendship. Also, Miranda and Austin’s friendship continues to run smoothly.

The book is well-written and plotted and moves at a nice pace. Characters are well-developed and believable. I particularly enjoyed the new characters, Miranda’s mother and Menifee, the handyman. A friend has read the first book and said the Daniel Boone National Forest description is spot on.

I will be watching for the next book in this interesting series.

[Lora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miranda takes a group on an outdoor painting lesson that leads to a discovery of skeletal remains and a overnight stay on a mountain. It doesn't take long for Miranda to realize that remains might be her cousin Howard. Howard disappeared five years before. His mother always believed that her son would return home some day and takes it hard when she learns her son is dead. Miranda is also having trouble getting her distillery up and running. A vital piece of equipment hasn't been delivered yet. She's on a deadline to get her moonshine business up and running. Will she get her business running in time?

I was kindly provided an e-copy of this book by the publisher and/or author via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Lola · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley and voluntarily reviewed it.

After enjoying book 1 in this series I was excited to pick up book 2. I thought Draw and Order was a great sequel. Main character Miranda is a bit further in her new business and is now working to get her distillery all set up so she can start brewing moonshine, but things keep going wrong. During one of her tours they stumble upon the bones of a dead body who turns out to be Miranda's cousin, so she gets involved into another mystery.

The mystery is a bit slow to start, with them first having to find the bones and figure out who it belongs to. Then the sheriff isn't convinced they need to investigate and Miranda's aunt asks Miranda to solve the mystery. The suspicions fall on the members of his hiking group and Miranda and her friend Austin start investigating them. One by one they look into these characters lives and multiple secrets come to light. The mystery kept me guessing as I wasn't sure who had done it, I was thinking in the right direction for the motive. I felt the ending was a bit anti climactic as another characters figures out the murderer due to insider knowledge the main characters don't have. I also wasn't a fan of how Miranda got involved in the mystery because her aunt asked her too, instead of deciding so herself.

Despite my minor complaints about the mystery I had a great time reading this one. I enjoyed this book and following Miranda along. I liked reading about her fledgling business and how she handles the obstacles on her way. It also has a very realistic vibe with things going wrong and Miranda struggling with relatable things. I like the setting and reading about the scenery and hiking trails. Another thing I like about this author's books is how each chapter starts with the day of the week, time of the day and location, this makes it easy to place where and when this is taking place.

I like following Miranda's point of view as she gets invested in solving this mystery. I also liked seeing her friendship with Austin deepen in this book. I liked how we see more of the sheriff and his wife the coroner as well. There's even a chapter from their point of view. Then there are a bunch of new characters as well. I am still not sure what to think of Miranda's moms and Ron's role in this story as I had a hard time figuring out what Miranda thought of them. I wasn't sure whether she was just being nice or whether she preferred if they weren't there. In some scenes she seems to appreciate their help and in others it feels like she wish they would leave. It just left me confused and the ending leaves open what happens next.

To summarize: this was a solid sequel. The mystery kept me guessing, although by the end unfortunately it gets solved by a side character. There are plenty of secrets that come to light along the way. I liked reading about Miranda's life and her business and see her relationship with Austin deepen. The setting is great too and I like how realistic the story feels. It's nice to see more of familiar characters and meet some new ones. I am not sure what to think of Miranda's mom and Ron, but we'll see what comes of them in the next book. I look forward to seeing how Miranda and her business progress over the course of the series.

[Melanie Mckinney · Rating 5 out of 5]

Draw and Order is the second book in Hollon's Paint & Shine Mystery series. Not only was this book a new to me series, but it was also a new to me author. There is no way that you won't love the main character Miranda Trent and her life. I am now going to go back and read book #1 in the series.

Miranda moved from New York City where she was a struggling artist that inherited her uncle's farmhouse. She started her Paint and Shine tour company where she takes groups on hikes in the local national forest and provides them with a custom meal and her uncle's signature moonshine. She is also in the process of getting her distillery up and running so that she can start making her uncle's famous moonshine. Helping her with the tours is her close friend, Forest Ranger Austin Morgan.

Unfortunately when Miranda takes out a group of rock climbers called the Risky Business Adventurers, they uncover human skeletal remains. Miranda is utterly shocked to find out that the remains are that of her cousin, Howard Cable. Howard went missing about 5 years ago after going out for a hike and never returned. After being begged by her Aunt Ora to find out the killer, Miranda and her friend Austin go on the search to find out who killed Howard.

Miranda and Austin start working together and find out that the Risky Business Adventurers are keeping some secrets. Miranda and Austin start looking into the group’s history and past. Suddenly it looks like the Risky Business Adventurers are behind the death of Howard….or are they?
Miranda is beyond thrilled when her mother, Dorothy, comes to town to help her at the farmhouse and to support her sister Ora. Ron the handyman is working on different projects at the barn while Miranda is working her hardest to try and get her distillery up and running. While trying to get her distillery up and running she is also taking her scheduled tours out and solving the murder of who killed Howard.

The author did a great job of keeping your attention right from the beginning. There is so much going on in the book that there is never a dull moment while reading it. I can completely picture the deliveries getting hung up from the distillery as well as the pleasure on Miranda’s face when her mother arrives.

Having the setting take place near the Natural Bridge was so exciting to me. We just recently stayed near the Natural Bridge in Lexington, Virginia for our family vacation. That was so neat to be able to picture the setting of the book.

One thing that readers will love when they open up Draw and Order by Cheryl Hollon is that she provides readers with a Cast of Characters list in the beginning of the story. This way readers can just go back to the list if they get confused or need to know who someone is. I thoroughly enjoyed being able to reference this list while reading the book.

[Kimberlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

After enjoying the debut novel in the "Paint and Shine" series last year, I was thrilled to get my hands on a copy of the second book, "Draw and Order". The first book covered all the introductory items necessary for a new series, and I was looking forward to seeing what happened next. I was NOT disappointed by Book 2! It had all the warmth and charm of the first book, but I honestly think it was EVEN BETTER!

Main character Miranda has now established herself as a businesswoman in her new hometown, and is being taken seriously by the locals. I very much appreciated how much Miranda has grown in business acumen and confidence since the first book. It's nice to see a legitimate growth arc in a cozy mystery, and I look forward to seeing what the future holds for Miranda. Her romance is moving along at a respectable cozy pace, her businesses are interesting, and her puppy is adorable. Basically, she's the perfect cozy heroine!

The murder mystery was also handled very well. Since Miranda's business involves taking various groups of people (often out-of-town guests) on a cultural experience, there's always a nice influx of new characters/victims/suspects. This is a genius idea for a business for a cozy heroine, and I loved that it's different from what I often see in this genre. The new group of guests this time around brings Miranda the discovery of a cold-case-disappearance-turned-murder and plenty of new suspects to investigate. I loved the way she methodically uses her "murder notebook" to keep track of her sleuthing; it's very organized, and helps the reader visualize her thought process. Once everything was revealed in the end, it all made sense given what Miranda (and the reader) had learned along the way.

I also enjoyed the positive relationships Miranda has with the local sheriff, coroner, and park ranger. It's nice to have the official folks getting along with an amateur sleuth instead of constantly resenting her involvement. Of course, the sheriff warns her to "stay out of it", but it seems to stem more from his concern for her safety than from any real belief that she wouldn't be helpful.

Another added bonus this time around is that Miranda's distillery business is progressing...it won't be long before she's able to brew her own moonshine! I'm enjoying learning more about this topic, and really enjoy the moonshine cocktail recipes included along with the food recipes. (Of course, I grew up near Franklin County, VA, so that might be part of it.)

I also need to add that the author clearly knows her novel's location very well on a personal level. Her love for the natural beauty of the mountains of Kentucky shines through with every scene she describes. I'm enjoying this unique cozy setting, and a lot of that is because of how authentic Ms. Hollon's descriptions of people and places are. Kudos for some truly excellent writing and storytelling!

Five out of five slices of white cheddar!

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the second book in the Paint & Shine Mystery series, but can be read as a standalone. Each mystery is self-contained, but I still recommend you read this series in order so you don't miss out on character development and background. Miranda Trent is still trying to get her Moonshine operation up and running. She is dealing with repairs on her barn, which is where the still will go, as well as trying to get her new equipment finished and delivered. Her excursions that mix hiking/climbing with a painting class are up and running and this book has her taking a group called The Risky Business Adventurers, up the challenging Battleship Rock Trail to paint and sample moonshine. Just before they leave the paint site, they are posting for a picture when one of the group finds bones. Is it human? If it is, whose body is it?

Miranda's a great character, a good daughter and friend. She is extremely talented, physically fit and smart. Her business is very unique and setting of the Daniel Boone National Park is very picturesque and well described. I am rooting for her to get her moonshine business up and running soon. Miranda's family plays a big part in this book. Her mom helps her with cooking the meals she ends her excursions with and helps support both Miranda and her aunt as the mystery unfolds. I enjoy Austin's character and like that they are getting closer together. Doris Ann was a good friend and a great source of information when Miranda is sleuthing to solve a case. There were few suspects in the murder, but once the Risky Business Adventurers were implicated, that changed. The showdown/rescue was a bit tense, and everything at the end was revealed, including the motive. There are recipes included in the book and I might just give them a try. I did a read/listen with this book and enjoyed both formats. Courtney Patterson narrates the audiobook and she is a narrator I am familiar with. She is able to give a voice to all the main characters as well as give personality to the numerous secondary characters. Her expression and inflection showed the characters emotions well and added to my enjoyment of the story. I recommend this cozy mystery in either format. The publisher generously provided me with a copy of this book upon request. The rating and opinions shared are my own.

[Missi Martin (Stockwell) · Rating 5 out of 5]

One thing that readers will love when they open up Draw and Order by Cheryl Hollon is that she provides readers with a Cast of Characters list in the beginning of the story. This way readers can just go back to the list if they get confused or need to know who someone is.

Draw and Order is the second book in Hollon's Paint & Shine Mystery series and even though I didn't read the first book, Still Knife Painting, I fell completely in love immediately. There is no way that you won't love main character Miranda Trent and her life.

Miranda moved from New York City where she was a struggling artist to Pine Ridge Kentucky when she inherited her uncle's farmhouse. She started her Paint and Shine tour company where she takes groups on hikes in the local national forest and provides them with a custom meal and her uncle's signature moonshine. She is also in the process of getting her distillery up and running so that she can start making her uncle's famous moonshine. Helping her with the tours is her close friend, Forest Ranger Austin Morgan.

Unfortunately when Miranda takes out a group of rock climbers called the Risky Business Adventurers, they uncover skeletal remains which they later learn are human and that of Miranda's cousin, Howard Cable, who went out for a hike 5 years ago and never returned. Miranda's Aunt Ora begs Miranda and Austin to find out who killed Howard and they cannot say no.

Miranda and Austin work together to look into Howard's past and soon learn that the Risky Business Adventurers are all keeping secrets. The two begin to dig into the groups history and anyone else they think may have had something to do with Howard's death......

Miranda's mother, Dorothy, comes to town to help at the farmhouse and be there for her sister Ora, local handyman Ron comes to do repairs at the barn and lives in the barn while he works, Miranda is trying her hardest to get the distillery up and running, take her scheduled tours out, and in her spare time work with Austin on solving Howard's death. To say there is a lot going on within the covers of this book is an understatement but readers will be drawn in immediately and will not want to leave !!

[Kim · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed Still Knife Painting, the first book in the Paint and Shine Mysteries by Cheryl Hollon and think book two, Draw and Order is even better than the first!

In Still Knife Painting there were some things I thought could have been improved a bit, but since it’s the first book in the series, it’s totally understandable to have some growing pains. In Draw and Order, Hollon fills in those gaps and continues to impress me with her well thought out characters and fantastic descriptions of the farm house and all it’s out buildings, along with Lover’s Leap and the various trails in the National Forest.

Miranda is trying to juggle so many things in this book that I was amazed she had time to solve a mystery. But that’s where the community came in. Her mother came to visit to help with her Aunt’s grieving process, but ended up helping Miranda even more. Ron is a new character with flaws, but he has a lot of potential and could be an interesting love interest for Miranda’s mom. And Austin, the forest ranger and love interest for Miranda is always there to lend a hand.

There is more mention of moonshine history and making which is why I love to read, to learn new things. And I’m excited for when the moonshine still is actually up and running… maybe we’ll learn even more about the process. And there is so much Southern food and idioms that it gives Draw and Order such a unique feel to it.

As far as the mystery went, although the body was found early on, it was a bit slow to get started. By the middle it was picking up steam though. With the various professions of the Risky Business Adventures group I was thinking it would be A Murder on the Orient Express situation (which would have been super cool!), but it went in a different direction and ended with a big bang.

If you’re looking for a cozy filled with lots of Southern flair and a fantastic community, you should check out the Paint and Shine Mysteries!

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

Cheryl Hollon has struck gold (or rather silver) with this charming and innovative new series. This second book of the Paint and Shine mysteries keeps you engaged and guessing.

Set in Wolfe County, Kentucky, where Miranda Trent’s family has lived in the Appalachian Mountains for generations, our story begins with the latest tour group of Miranda’s new business. The Risky Adventurers is a group of young, athletic, professionals who have chosen a challenging climb and art experience with Miranda. But the home cooked picnic and drawing experience is cut short when one of the group stumbles on the remains of a skeleton.

Once the group is sent back to the lodge and the coroner and sheriff have begun their work, Miranda has a deep foreboding that the remains belong to her own cousin Howard, who disappeared exactly five years ago.

All too soon, Miranda’s ill hunch shows itself to be true and her family is gathering to support her Aunt Ora—and Miranda is told to work with Forest Ranger Austin to make sure the sheriff doesn’t miss solving the case for the sake of her family.

The result is a wonderful mix of mountain folklore, home cooking, moonshine, and lovable family and friends who support Miranda both in solving the mystery of who killed her cousin and why, and in helping her expand and grow her new business of teaching art as part of outdoor tours in the mountains.

While I’m familiar with Hollon’s Glass Shop mysteries this is my first read of her new series, and it muist definitely reads well on its own. But I’m definitely going back to the first book so I can get the full story about how Miranda came back to Wolfe County and I look forward to additional books as she gets her moonshine still making batches.

[Amanda Hash · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a unique cozy that I didn't even mind jumping into this book without reading the first in the series (although I'm in the process of going backwards and doing that now!!) I love the combo of small Southern town + moonshine + art, and was so intrigued by the characters that that the mystery itself was just an added bonus.

From the concept of Miranda's business (Paint & Shine-- I would totally sign up for an art lesson with delicious food and moonshine cocktails, even though I don't have an artistic bone in my body) to the suspicious Risky Business Adventures group, Hollon has done an amazing job crafting a world that is very believable and impossible not to fall for. The inclusion of her mother and the odd relationship with her handyman, Ron, made me even more invested in Miranda's life and added a lot of depth to her character. I adore that there are so many awesome women in this story, including the Sheriff's wife/Coroner, who is quickly becoming one of my favorites.

The mystery of Howard's bones was well thought out and sprinkled with folklore and drama, and it was great to see an amateur sleuth get so much support her family and community, when usually everyone is telling her to leave leave things alone and left the authorities handle it.

I look forward to finishing Still Knife (the first book in this series) so I can get the full backstory of Miranda and Austin's relationship. That was the only negative part of this book for me, because even though Austin is absolutely adorable, I didn't really sense any kind of chemistry between him and Miranda. I'm hoping that starting at the beginning will resolve that, and then I can truly root for these two without hesitation.

[Jill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Draw and Order is the second book in the Paint & Shine mystery series and I could not put it down! Miranda Trent and her painting and moonshine business provides plenty of opportunity for mischief and murder, and once again, Miranda stumbles upon murder. This time she's taken a group of college classmates to paint in the national forest and they find a skeleton at the base of a tree. Unfortunately, the skeleton turns out to be a long-missing classmate as well as Miranda's cousin. Of course Miranda must get involved in solving the murder, and, along with Ranger Austin and sometimes with some help from her mother Dorothy, she does just that. In the midst of solving the murder Miranda is still trying to get her moonshine business established before the end of the year. She is drawing closer to success when the roof of the distillery is damaged and her raw supplies are ruined. Fortunately, she is able to get local handyman Ron to repair the roof, which is a story in and of itself!

This is an entertaining, humorous, and enjoyable. We meet more of Miranda's family, her relationship with Austin grows, we see more action from the sheriff and his coroner wife, and of course learn some historical lore along the way. Ron and Miranda's mother share a history and it's quite entertaining to 'watch' their interactions as the story progresses.

I was able to figure out the identity of the murderer before the reveal, but this did not detract from the enjoyment of the story at all. I'm very much looking forward to the next installment in the series, as well as following the development of the paint & shine business, as well as Miranda and Austin's relationship, and Ron and Dorothy's.

[Emily · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Draw and Order, which is the second book in the Paint and Shine series! I liked the first book (Still Knife Painting), but I really may have liked this one even more.

The characters were great! Miranda is an interesting person, with lots of good traits, but also room to grow. She has made noticeable progress since the first book, and has become more confident in her ability to run her business. I also liked the local sheriff and his wife (the coroner), and thought it was interesting to see part of the story (and some clues) through their eyes. Sandy the puppy was adorable. There were plenty of characters and suspects, but I never had trouble keeping everyone straight. (There is a handy character list at the beginning for reference if needed, though.)

The mystery made sense, and there were plenty of clues and red herrings along the way. When the killer and motive were revealed, it was logical and made sense. It was interesting to see this new group of people (an adventure group who was in town for one of Miranda's tours) involved in the local mystery. The addition of new characters and suspects kept things exciting!

I look forward to seeing where Miranda's businesses, both the art tours and the new distillery, go from here. Also, I can't wait to see what happens with her and Austin, her and her mother, and the next mystery!

Thank you to the Cozy Mystery Review Crew on Facebook for arranging for me to receive a free paper copy.

[Alicia Kozak · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had read the first book and found it okay, but lacking in a few spots. Some of the issues can be attributed to being first in a series and having a lot of introduction and set-up to get through first. So I had some expectations of growth going into this one.

It's nice to see progress made on the distillery, as that was the part that attracted me to the series in the first place and I was interested to learn more about the process. We really didn't see much of the moonshine part in the first book and while there's a bit more this time, it's still in the early stages. I hope to get more and more as the series continues.

I enjoyed getting the chapter from the sheriff and coroner's POV, something different than just the protagonist's narration and gives a wider look at the mystery. However having only the one chapter makes it seem out of place. I would've liked to see more from them. The story takes a bit of a sharp turn towards the end and I felt like something was missing in the last chapter or two, though I couldn't really put my finger on what.

I really like the descriptive setting and the history of the area. Sandy is always a delight to read about- I just want to reach in and give him a cuddle! Nice to see more interaction between Miranda and Austin, plus the introduction of Dorothy, Ron, and Lance will bring some interesting future storylines, if the sneak peak of the next book is any indication. Some good looking food and drink recipes round out the book.

I'm still a little on the fence about the series, but it won't stop me from reading book 3 to see where this all goes.

[Liz Caldwell · Rating 4 out of 5]

Miranda is hitting her stride with her fledgling business, Paint & Shine, and pieces are coming together to open her moonshine distillery. Then she takes a group up Battleship Rock, only to find human remains from about five years earlier. Miranda fears they are her cousin, who disappeared five years almost to the day. Her aunt asks for her help finding out what happened, and her mother, who has come for a visit, provides support. Old legends become part of the story, as does an old romance, as secrets refuse to stay hidden.
As I was letting my thoughts about this book percolate, the one word that kept bubbling up was warmth. There is a lot of warmth and caring among the characters, in ways both little and big. The community is small, but supportive. The eastern Kentucky landscape is a character unto itself. Some of the humor comes from the coroner, married to the sheriff and good at blunting some of the sheriff’s rough edges. Miranda is an intelligent woman, she makes mistakes but learns from them. Ranger Austin is a friend who will likely become more, and who provides support and a sounding board.
I enjoyed the story. The author did a lovely job interweaving characters, family, community and setting with a mystery all that much more difficult after the passage of time. I’m looking forward to seeing what happens next!

[Toni · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars

This is the second book in the Paint and Shine mystery series by Cheryl Hollon.

Miranda is back for book two of this new exciting series about an artist and local guide who has created a business called Paint and Shine. She takes people on excursions to unique places and teaches them how to paint or draw. Kind of a cool concept and when you pair it with the Appalachian area it is just a real winner of a series.

While she is guiding a tour, they uncover the bones of a dead man who ends up being Miranda’s missing cousin from years ago. Miranda’s mother comes in to assist her with her aunt and also help out as she has one accident after another as she tries to get her moonshine business up and running. It is kind of charming how the fix it guy and Miranda’s mother are sweet on each other.

This mystery really keeps your attention while also getting you really familiar with the community you will continue to see as recurring characters. I am just loving this so much! I can’t wait for book three!

Great series to follow. Must read series for me!

If you love a cozy mystery, definitely check this one out. Great new must read book great series too!

I received this as an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) in return for an honest review. I thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for allowing me to read this title. Opinions are completely my own.

[Deborah Almada · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very intense read for a cozy. It was very good and also really kept you engaged on figuring out who did it. Of course our main character Miranda is dragged in when it turns out the bones they found on one of her Paint and Shine trips turns out to be her cousin, the same cousin that disappeared five years ago! I don't know how poor Miranda keeps up with her life trying to open her distillery, run her tours, expand her business and upgrade her property! Not only does she now have to help figure out what happened to her cousin but disaster after disaster seem to keep her from moving forward with her dream, I do wish someone would cut her a little slack, however I digress. The mystery is very intense and emotional, the suspect list fairly long and someone doesn't like that she's getting closer to solving the crime. My only complaint is that while we get our answers, the book ended abruptly.