Sticks and Stones and a Bag of Bones

Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries #1

by Heather Weidner

When a beat-up suitcase full of bones washes up by the pier, the residents of the quaint resort town of Mermaid Bay are whipped into a hurricane-sized frenzy over the gruesome find in the middle of their Christmas in July festivities. The holly-jolly mood retreats like the tide, with everyone wondering who was in the suitcase.

Christmas shoppe owner, Jade Hicks, wades into the fracas when voodoo dolls and mysterious notes and posters about impending doom start popping up all over town, threatening to destroy the economy of a community that lives and dies by tourist dollars. Then tensions crest when the prickly bookstore owner is found strangled to death with a string of holiday lights.

Jade and her French bulldog Chloe, have to solve the crime before anyone else gets hurt, and her business and the festival are forever tainted.

Sticks and Stones and a Bag of Bones is the first in the Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries cozy series.

Genres: Cozy Mystery, Mystery, Audiobook

277 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 17, 2023

About the author

Through the years, Heather Weidner has been a cop’s kid, technical writer, editor, college professor, software tester, and IT manager. She writes the Pearly Girls Mysteries, the Delanie Fitzgerald Mysteries, The Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries, and The Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries.

Her short stories appear in the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 Shades of Cabernet, Deadly Southern Charm, Murder by the Glass, and First Come Love, Then Comes Murder, and she has non-fiction pieces in Promophobia and The Secret Ingredient: A Mystery Writers’ Cookbook.

She is a member of Sisters in Crime: National, Central Virginia, Chessie, Guppies, and Grand Canyon Writers, International Thriller Writers, and James River Writers, and she blogs regularly with the Writers Who Kill.

Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather has been a mystery fan since Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew. She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a crazy Mini Aussie Shepherd.

Reviews

[Emmalynn · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was quick, fun, and a lovely mystery with a sweet mystery. Jade and Ann are a great sleuthing team without being to intrusive and Jade and her childhood friend now Sheriff are cute with the they are obviously dating but to scared to admit it to each other- until the end that is. The killer was obvious but there were so many red herrings I didn’t guess the puppet master behind the killer until they were revealed so bravo on that!! Great debut on the series.

[Cozybooklady · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a first in a new series and I found it to be likable.
Jade owns a year round Christmas shop in Mermaid Bay, and she finds herself tangled up in a bizarre murder investigation.
I think the story has potential and I enjoyed the relationship between the cat and dog.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of the book.
#SticksandStonesandaBagofBones #NetGalley

[Ivanka Fear · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great beach read!

If you can’t go to the beach, let the beach come to you. Heather Weidner has created a perfect book escape with waves rolling in on a sandy shore in a charming village complete with a bookstore, coffee shop, hotdog stand, and Christmas store, not to mention lovable fur babies. It’s a cozy read for those lazy, sunny days by the water, or for the winter season in front of a fire, dreaming of the sea.

Jade, owner of Tis’ the Season gift shop, loves her cottage life and the business she inherited. The tight-knit community of Mermaid Bay has maintained its laid-back small town atmosphere while neighboring populations have been taken over by big business. It’s a peaceful life.

Then a bag of bones washes up on shore. Jade, along with fellow business owners, is bullied by threatening posters, notes, and voodoo dolls. Someone wants to shut them down. When one of the owners is murdered, Jade’s childhood friend and potential love interest, Sheriff Nick, is on the case, warning Jade not to get involved. Of course, Jade investigates the murder, putting herself in danger. I would have liked to see Jade and Nick’s relationship develop further, but hopefully that will progress in the next book in this series.

If you love a good cozy mystery, Sticks and Stones and a Bag of Bones is a fun read that transports you to a sunny paradise, where friends have each other’s backs, pets roam through boutiques, and romance is in the air. And of course, justice is served. How could you not love that?

[Rosemary K · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jade Hicks loves living in Mermaid Bay with Chloe, her French bulldog. Her Christmas Shoppe keeps her busy. She's working hard to keep it successful year round. After all it's a family business. She hopes that the Christmas in July festivities will bring tourists to town. Now some prankster is trying to ruin it by planting a chest with a skull and cross bones followed by signs telling people to stay away. Jade has a bad feeling about this threat. The situation gets worse. Emory Jessup, the owner of Mermaid Books, is murdered. Who did this and why? Could it be the developers who want to build resorts on Mermaid Bay's ocean front? Jade is determined to find out the truth. She knows there is no prankster only a violent killer who wants to destroy her town. Heather Weidner has written an excellent mystery. I enjoyed this exciting and suspenseful story. I liked Jade and her friends, both old and new. Mermaid Bay is a beautiful place filled with interesting people, but there are hidden secrets. I wasn't sure who was behind the crimes. I enjoyed the interaction between the characters especially Jade and Nick. I like this beautiful town and I'm anxious to see what the next story will reveal.
I received a copy of this book which I voluntarily read and reviewed. My comments are my honest opinion.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fine start to a brand-new cozy mystery series! Mermaid Bay is a tourist town in coastal Virginia and has a bunch of small shops with Christmas themes. The first sign of trouble is a suitcase found on the beach with a collection of bones in it. Then there are the threatening notes, voodoo dolls, and finally a murdered (unpleasant) bookseller. Jade does her part to help solve the crime even though no all of her efforts are appreciated by her good friend Sheriff Nick. This one was good sleuthing, and I am sure that the others in series will just keep getting better!

[Beth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jade Hicks and her French Bulldog, Chloe reside in a cottage in the beach village of Mermaid Bay, Virginia. Jade inherited the cottage, as well as "Tis the Season", (a Christmas-themed shop) from her grandparents. Jade and her fellow Mermaid Bay residents are preparing for their annual Christmas in July celebration when a jogger on the beach trips over a suitcase. Unfortunately, the suitcase contains bones! Soon, Jade and her Mermaid Bay neighbors are receiving threatening letters and even a few voodoo dolls. Who is threatening the residents of Mermaid Bay-- and why?

Being more familiar with mysteries than cozy mysteries, it took me a bit to get into this one. Without including spoilers, I will say that it got off to a slow start. However, a few chapters into the book, I became more engrossed in the mystery. The story is a little slower-paced than other mysteries that I have read. The characters are likable, although they could've used a little more fleshing out. I was confused about how a person is flattered at being asked out by one man and then, minutes later confirms her relationship with another. It wasn't a deal breaker, but I found it odd. I also noticed that the main character, and a few others, communicate by scrunching their noses a good bit. This is something I haven't encountered before. It does not, however, detract from the mystery. Lastly, the "developers vs. landowners" theme is not a favorite of mine. This is personal. I happen to live in an area where this is constantly an issue. Lastly, I found the use of Voodoo dolls strange, since there were no characters involved in the religion. I found the ending a surprise, although I am not sure how believable.

As a cozy mystery, there are no expletives and very little violence. This is a "feel good " story, great for a beach visit or travel. Don't expect page-turning action. Do expect likable characters in an adorable village by the sea. I would definitely visit Mermaid Bay myself.

Read this story if.....

...you love cozy mysteries.

... you love stories that take place at the beach.

... you love small-town stories.

... you love stories that take place in the south.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sticks and Stones and a Bag of Bones by Heather Weidner

Nothing ruins a good walk on the beach like finding a mysterious suitcase full of damaged bones and a skull. The discovery rocks the peaceful community of Mermaid Bay, known for its historic beach cottages. The gruesome find is nothing like the usual summer ills of litterbugs and teens drinking under the pier for the idyllic seaside community, located a few miles from Virginia’s historic triangle of Jamestown, Williamsburg, and Yorktown.

Ominous posters, followed by threatening notes and voodoo dolls, push the already-worried town’s business owners closer to the edge. Then, while trying to cope with the onslaught of threats to their community, prickly bookstore owner Emory Jessup turns up dead, strangled with a string of holiday lights. Christmas shoppe owner Jade Hicks has to connect the dots among all the strange occurrences before the summer tourist season is ruined and the spotlight of blame is focused on her store.

This was a fun start to a new cozy mystery series, and I would definitely pick up the second! I enjoyed the cast of characters and the beach town setting. The story is as much about the relationships of the town residents as the mystery, making it a very enjoyable read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Level Best Books for a free copy of Sticks and Stones and a Bag of Bones. All thoughts and opinions in this review are my own. #NetGalley

[Brenda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sticks and Stones and a Bag of Bones is the debut of the Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries series set on the shores of Mermaid Bay, Virginia and featuring shop owner Jade Hicks. Have recently inherited a seashore cottage and the year round Christmas shoppe from her grandparents, Jade is looking forward to participating in the Christmas in July festivities and promoting her store, 'Tis the Season.

An early morning jogger discovers a suitcase filled with a skull and bones, threatening posters appear around town, mysterious notes and voodoo dolls are delivered to a few local business owners. Is someone trying to ruin Christmas in July or is something else going on in the small community?
When an early morning walk on the beach with her dog Chloe leads to the discovery of Mermaid Books owner, Emory Jessup strangled with a string of Christmas lights, Jade finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation.

Jade teams up with her aunt Lorelei, Emory's niece Amy Pemberton and Sheriff Nick Driscoll to uncover a killer and in the process learns a lot about what fellow townspeople are hiding. A fast paced fun afternoon read that combines two of my favorite things - the beach and Christmas! A great cast of characters, two adorable pets and just the right touch of romance will leave you looking forward to the next adventures in Mermaid Bay.

I received an advanced copy of Sticks and Stones and a Bag of Bones from the Cozy Review Crew via Level Best Books.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved Sticks and Stones and a Bag of Bones! It's the first book in a brand new cozy mystery series by Heather Weidner called the Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries. The series takes place in Mermaid Bay, Virginia which is a small town with lots of eclectic small businesses. The main character, Jade Hicks, runs 'Tis the Season, a shop dedicated to Christmas, of course! It's not just a tiny place either; it has different rooms with different themes and lots of Christmas trees filled with themed decorations. I love Christmas, and I want to live in this make believe store!

In fact, I'd love to live in a place like Mermaid Bay. It's by the ocean; it has that small town vibe that I love in cozy mystery books; there are characters (though much younger than I!) with whom I could be friends. Basically it has a lot going for it. Like many small towns, there are those (both residents and non) who would love to buy up blocks of small businesses to make way for big box stores; or, if they're on the beach, build condos! As you can imagine, it causes issues and may or may not play a part in the murder mystery. Solving mysteries would just be another plus in my reasons for wanting to live in Mermaid Bay. If you're a cozy mystery lover, you know you want to solve mysteries too!

Sticks and Stones and A Bag of Bones is filled with several characters I've already grown to love, and there are those that I'm looking forward to getting to know better. I do hope (hint to Heather!) that the teen(s) who work for Jade stay in the series. They keep the "older" employees young and entertained. Jade's new friend, Amy, is delightful too! She's got a way of taking things that are not fun and making them fun. Of course, food is pretty much always involved.

There are plenty of clues, red herrings, and suspenseful moments that make Sticks and Stones and a Bag of Bones a page-turning read. I like being surprised and unable to uncover the killer until near the end of the cozies I read. This one fits the bill. Like I said, you'll find lots of characters who jump on and off of your list of suspects.

If you love starting cozy mystery series with book one, read this! Sticks and Stones and a Bag of Bones has so many of the elements that make a cozy mystery enjoyable: a diverse batch of characters, an adorable small town, a dog and a cat, and a perplexing mystery. I highly recommend that you read this charming cozy mystery!

I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.

[Anjana · Rating 3 out of 5]

As always, it is an easy thing to try a start to any cozy mystery series. The stage here is set, and the town and its members are discussed before one of them turns up dead. I have read very few where the issue was just burglary since that seems more probable, but given how many of these I read in any given year, I am not actually complaining.
In this story, the lead protagonist is the proprietor of a year-round Christmas store, and she is one of those cheerful people who bind the community together. She starts to investigate the initial murder because it threatens the small-town feel that goes with the community.
One of the reasons that I was not wowed by this book is because it seemed that the culprit was quite obvious, with several actual clues strewn our way.
That said, the few red herrings and the people associated with them were a surprise addition to the overall narrative.
The plot comes with a solid cast of characters, some who know each other from before and others who just meet or get to know the other better in this instalment.
There are a lot of stores, the community works well together (for the most part), and the romance is not overpowering. This lays out the groundwork to build up for the future. The writing was simple, and I think I will reserve judgement on how I feel about the series as a whole after I read the next.
Fans of this genre will appreciate the simplicity of the tone and the progress of the investigation within the book.
I received an ARC thanks to NetGalley and the publishers, but the review is entirely based on my own reading experience.

[Katreader · Rating 4 out of 5]

STICKS AND STONES AND A BAG OF BONES by Heather Weidner
The First Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mystery series

The Christmas in July festivities at Mermaid Bay make Jade Hicks's spirits bright, after all, what better way to promote her year round Christmas shop. A pall comes over the community when a jogger trips over a bag of bones that washed up on the beach and threatening notices are hung around town warning people to stay away from the festivities. The hope that everything is a prank ends when cranky bookstore owner Emory Jessup is found dead behind the hot dog stand. Who's behind the ominous goings on in Mermaid Bay? Any why? Jade is determined to find out.

I love Christmas! The decorations, the gift giving, it all makes me happy so I was very pleased to see a new mystery series with a year round Christmas shop. I'm not a fan of the heat, so I can easily picture myself going into 'Tis the Season to cool off and at least dream of winter. However, it took me a while to get into the story. The writing didn't flow and things progressed quite slowly. The characters were pleasant enough. Jade makes a fairly likeable protagonist and I do like her relationship with the Sheriff. I really liked Amy. Of all the characters, she's the most dimensional and the most real. Eventually, I did get caught up in the story and enjoyed seeing Jade piece everything together.

STICKS AND STONES AND A BAG OF BONES combines Christmas and beach living in an enjoyable start to a new series.

[Vintagebooklvr · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fun cozy, beach read. A quaint seaside village , dependent on tourist dollars, is fighting people who want to develop the town with high-rise condos when a bag of bones is found on the beach and a series of intimidating messages and stores being vandalized threaten their Christmas in July celebration. Then a murder occurs. Jade Hicks, owner of the Christmas Shoppe, is determined to find out who is responsible. But if she isn't careful, she may get a deadly surprise for the holidays.

I enjoyed the characters and the realistic problems of any town dependent on tourist dollars and the ever present problem in beach town areas of development vs. keeping a smaller town feel. There were plenty of twists and turns in this mystery to keep you guessing until the end. Of course, I loved the furry friends and the touch of romance. A good read when you are looking for a light cozy or longing for a beach getaway.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest opinion.

[Elizabeth G · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heather Weidner launches her fourth cozy series with a thoroughly engaging mystery set in Mermaid Bay, Virginia, where Christmas shoppe owner Jade Hicks discovers a suitcase full of bones washed up during the town's Christmas in July festivities. Weidner, a cop's kid turned IT manager turned prolific author, brings her signature humor and series-building expertise to this beachside setting. The supporting cast shines: Chloe the French bulldog, Neville the Devil Cat, and a prickly bookstore owner who meets her end via holiday lights. The "Christmas in July" hook is inspired, the voodoo doll subplot adds just enough edge, and the tourist-town economics feel authentic. Some readers may find the pacing leisurely, and the cozy formula is familiar. Yet Weidner understands her audience perfectly, delivering comfort, charm, and a puzzles-within-puzzles structure that satisfies. For fans of her Jules Keene Glamping and Delanie Fitzgerald series who wanted a beach vacation, this is the perfect next destination. A promising series start with sequels already scheduled through 2025.

[Debra Jo Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a pleasant surprise. This is a new to me author. I came across this book on a New Release page and added it to my TBR list. Because of the series name and cover, I was just going to add it to my Christmas TBR list (because I never read the synopsis). Then, this showed up in the Recently Added list at my library, so I figured what the heck. I’m so glad I borrowed it.

This book starts off like a traditional Cozy Mystery but it really doesn’t follow the typical footprint, which was fun.

No spoilers; however, the murder happens early but it’s almost an afterthought throughout the rest of the book. Yes, it’s mentioned but there are other mysteries to be solved that may or may not be connected (you’ll have to find out for yourself).

I really enjoyed the cast of characters and beachside small town they live in. I’m really looking forward to more books in this series.

[Cynthia Smith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sticks and Stones and a Bag of Bones by Heather Weidner is the first in the new Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mystery series. As the shop owners in Mermaid Bay prepare for their Christmas in July festival trouble comes to town in a series of nasty surprises and threats, followed by a murder. Jade Hicks, owner of the Christmas shop, is worried that if the culprit isn’t identified that the mayhem will continue to the detriment of the festival and the town.

I loved the range of characters, some quirky, others annoying, and some I’d like as friends. The relationships between the friends were warm, and I wondered if or when the sheriff would move into the love interest column. There were a few inconsistencies in the beginning but overall this was a well-written cozy and I look forward to the next in the series. (I reviewed an advance reader copy and all opinions are my own.)

[Jayne Ormerod · Rating 5 out of 5]

On a cold and dreary January weekend I took a virtual vacation to sunny, summer-y Mermaid Bay, thanks to the wonderful writing of Heather Weidner. STICKS AND STONES AND A BAG OF BONES celebrates Christmas in July in a fictional beach town, which not only brought a favorite holiday into play, but also peaceful and relaxing strolls on the beach. Oh, and did I mention murder? Yes, the main character Jade Hicks is in a perfect position to help solve the untimely death of a local store owner, along with the unfunny pranks that plague this small town. From the get-go when a suitcase of bones washes up on the beach, until the exciting ending when the mysteries (plural) are solved, What’s not love about this well written, character-driven, fast-paced cozy mystery? Only downfall is that it will be a YEAR before I can make another visit to Mermaid Bay!

[Cozy Reader Lady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you @Netgalley for the digital copy of "Sticks and Stones and a Bag of Bones" by Heather Wiedner. This is a great first book to the new "Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries" series. At first, I was a little thrown off by everyone getting threats right away in the book, but it made sense the further in we got. I was also slightly surprised who did it. I honestly wasn't going quite that way with what I was thinking was going on. I do feel that there's something going on in this world around that path, but it may have to get worked out in a different book. Or, at least, hopefully it will.

I don't think that the recipes at the end of this book were necessarily needed. This wasn't a baking book so why do we need recipes. It can be a cozy mystery without them.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sticks and Stones and a Bag of Bones is the first in the Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries cozy series by Heather Weidner and so much fun. Set in the cozy resort town of Mermaid Bay, I flew through the story of Jade and friends as they work to discover the culprit behind not just the weird “pranks” around town, but also the murder of the local bookseller. The beachy setting is just perfect and it was fun to experience Christmas in July through the pages. The side characters are wonderfully developed and I especially loved the new bookseller and all the work she is doing. I thought I had it all figured out but realized at the last minute I didn’t. I look forward to reading more into this series. This is a fun, quick read to add to your summer tbr!

[Pamela Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a fantastic cozy mystery that immediately captivated me and kept me glued to the book with a great cast of characters, a quaint beach town setting and a twisty mystery that quickly became a page-turner. I really like Jade Hicks, owner of a Christmas shop and enjoyed her dynamic with everyone else in Mermaid Bay especially Sheriff Nick Driscoll. If you enjoy well-crafted cozies, you will love Sticks and Stones and a Bag of Bones by gifted author Heather Weidner. This was a great introduction to the Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe mysteries and I look forward to reading more about this charming Virginia town. I received an advance reader copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving my review. I liked the book so much, I purchased a copy to read again later.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good start to a new series. I loved the beach town setting of Mermaid Bay and the Christmas in July theme that the town was hosting. I liked Jade, the main character, and the descriptions of her Christmas shop and all of the ornaments. I also liked Amy and all of the changes she was making at the bookstore. These both sounded like shops that I would like to visit. The mystery did keep me guessing and I was surprised by the ending. I will be looking for the next book in the series.

I received a complimentary copy of this e-book from the author through a Cozy Mystery Review Crew drawing. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Kara Marks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the first book in a new cozy mystery series. I love that it’s set in a small charming beach town with other towns nearby, so there’s lots of potential for future mysteries. Jade is a great main character and I absolutely adore that she owns a Christmas store! It’s a very unique shop that I would love to visit! The mystery itself was very good, with enough red herrings and a touch of danger. I’ve read other books by this author and her writing is good and creative, so I really look forward to reading more in this series. I can definitely recommend this book; I was provided a copy, which I appreciate very much, but these opinions are my own.

[Margie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sticks and Stones and a Bag of Bones by Heather Weidner is the first book in the Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mystery series. This is a good beginning to what looks to be a fun series. I really like amateur sleuth Jade Hicks, who owns the Christmas Shoppe, "Tis the Season in Mermaid Bay. She is very personable and intelligent. The secondary characters are quite likable too. I especially like Sheriff Nick Driscoll and Jade's new friend Amy. This was a fun read and I look forward to the next book in the series.

I received an ARC and this is my honest review.

[Autumn Danner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very entertaining cozy mystery with a bunch of fun characters. I knew I would like it from the title and cover, and the story was a smooth read start to finish. The motive was obvious to me almost from the start, so I was surprised that the investigation did not move along more logically and quickly. The spark between Jade and Nick is sweet, and the two seem well suited to each other. Nick may be the cop, but Jade is a bonafide sleuth in her own right. And the recipes at the end are quite a bonus!! Fun read!

[Andrea McCool · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sticks and Stones and a Bag of Bones was a good cozy mystery. I enjoyed the Christmas store, small-town beach setting, and the involvement of a cat and dog throughout the story. Overall, I thought it was a good story and kept me interested in what was going to happen, although slightly predictable towards the end. I thought the book was a little dialogue-heavy and could’ve included more descriptions to set up the characters and setting a little more.

Thank you to NetGalley for a digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sticks and Stones and a Bag of Bones is a fast paced, fun, easy to read, perfect cozy mystery. What a lovely trip to Mermaid Bay where Jade owns a Christmas shop and the adorable Chloe. When the bookstore owner is found dead, the Christmas in July festivities could be ruined. With a murder to solve, the duo jumps in to look for clues, solve a murder and save the festival and her business.

I enjoyed this first in the series book. Lovely characters, fun to read and a great mystery. I can't wait for the next book.

[Amary Chapman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beach small town cozy
Jade runs a holiday themed shop in a small coastal town, inherited from her gram. Factions in the town are divided for and against ‘progress.’
Ms.Weidow gives us a front seat to the interaction between the groups as an individual tries to gain control over some of the properties.
She pens an intriguing tale of the lengths a shady character might go to. It is engrossing.
I requested and received a NetGalley ARC and recommend it highly

[Rose Kerr · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just finished reading Heather Weidner's first book in a new series, Sticks and Stones and a Bag of Bones.
It was a fun read.
Love the location - a tourist beach town. And the main character, Jade owns a Christmas shop. I would love to visit this shop!

This book has everything I like in a cozy mystery. Likeable characters, a great town, mystery and intrigue, and a cute dog. In this case it's Jade's French bulldog, Chloe.

Well written story and a good mystery.

[Jackie Layton · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heather Weidner has everything I like in a cozy mystery. Good characters, charming town, and a bag of bones washing up on shore. Plus, a local murder.

Jade Hicks the owner of a Christmas shop, and Christmas shops are always popular in beach towns, looks into the crime and hopes to save the town's Christmas in July festival.

This is a terrific start to the Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mystery series.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sticks and Stones and a Bag of Bones is a promising start to a new series. Escape to Mermaid Bay for a murder, voodoo dolls, threating mail, a budding romance and so much more. Jade's shop 'Tis the Season celebrates Christmas year round. The cast of characters is great. So many new people to get to know. And just like real life a couple of animals have their own part to play. With recipes at the end to make your own Christmas in July, it doesn't get better than this.

[Lisa Stewart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great new series. I enjoyed the plot, characters and setting of this new series. Christmas shoppe owner, Jade Hicks, works to determine who killed the owner of the local bookshop and who is harassing her friend who sells hot dogs nearby. The identity of the killer kept me guessing till the end. Looking forward to more editions set in Mermaid Bay. I enjoyed this cozy so much that I purchased a copy for a friend.