3.0-3.5 stars (Rating shown may vary depending on site).

This is the first book from this series that I've read, so despite the fact that it is the 5th book in the series, it can be read as a stand alone. For the most part, things were described well enough that I wasn't lost in reading this book as a stand alone. That said, there may be some character history in the first 4 books that would be interesting to know.

I heard about this book in BookPage. I didn't realize it involved magic. I was glad to see the magic wasn't a huge focal point in this book. That said, I don't know if I'd search out the series (either past books or future ones), though I would not be opposed to reading another book if it dropped into my lap either. The magic in the book reminds me a bit of "the force" in Star Wars if that helps you decide whether to read it or not.

I'm not that familiar with Henry David Thoreau. I remember the title Walden and even think I may have read it or part of it for a class. Those more familiar with either of these might get more out of the book than I did.

There are some good points made about something becoming an obsession and about what you hope/hoped to accomplish. And whether the finding out for (more or less) certain is worth it.

I didn't suspect who the perpetrator was--perhaps I should have because of how much he/she was mentioned. ( )

I'm a bit sad I finished this series. Hopefully, Amanda Flower will write some more as we end this book with Violet being pregnant. Although I would probably never read Walden or any of the other books and authors Violet studied, I could get past that to read a fun, cozy mystery. I always like reading about what the cat, Emerson, is going to do. ( )

I have thoroughly enjoyed the entire Magical Bookshop series by Amanda Flower. In this Crime and Covers, the main characters, Violet Waverly and David Rainwater, celebrate their marriage and immediately start facing the challenge of investigating a death and book theft. As with all of the books in this series, the author successfully portrays the days following the wedding and skillfully presents the narrative so the reader can put themselves in the town and situations without revealing too much too soon in terms of the overall plot.

I do recommend that readers new to this series read the books in the order they were written to establish the back story and generate a sense of history for these characters. I truly hope that the author chooses to continue this series and follows this couple through the challenges that they obviously will face in their future as a result of their everyday life as a married couple. ( )

Bookstore owner Violet Waverly's wedding to police chief David Rainwater will be a wedding to remember for the town of Cascade Springs... for all the wrong reasons. During the reception, a woman's body was found in the nearby Niagara River. Violet and David's honeymoon is put on pause so that the chief can investigate her death.

On the palm of the deceased woman's hand is a strange message: "They stole my book". This message refers to the same book that the woman tried to sell to Violet only a few days earlier: a first edition of Henry David Thoreau's Walden. Luckily for Violet and David, Violet owns a magical bookstore that communicates with Violet through books. With the help of the store, Violet and David work hard to solve the mystery of the deceased woman and the missing book. Hopefully they'll be able to have the honeymoon they dreamed of!

I have to admit, I found the magical bookstore thing a little weird when I read the book's summary, but it actually works very well! It makes for a very interesting premise. I liked how Flower weaved in facts about Henry David Thoreau and his book Walden into this novel. I enjoyed seeing Violet using her knowledge about the author to help solve the mystery.

Even though the book has multiple subplots, I thought all of them were fairly well developed. The characters, particularly Violet and Chief Rainwater, were rounded and realistic people. They and the town of Cascade Springs are full of life. It's the kind of town I'd want to visit if it existed in real life.

I especially appreciated how well the romance subplot of Violet's wedding fit into the mystery. Sometimes when a cozy mystery has a romantic side, the romance can feel separate from the mystery itself, but that wasn't the case in this book. The romance was very well-integrated into the novel.

This was a slower paced book, but at the same time, I felt that the ending of the mystery came out of the blue for me. It's totally possible that in my excitement about Cascade Springs, I missed important clues about the mystery. Perhaps Flower could have emphasized certain important clues or to even introduced some clues earlier in the novel. I think this would help to make the ending clearer.

The book does work as a standalone. However, for the best reading experience, I recommend reading the series in order so that you can get to know the characters and the magic of Violet's bookstore better.

Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for providing me with an ARC. All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Do note that there are mentions of mental illness in the book and some mild violence.

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It’s nearly Christmas - the perfect time for a winter wedding and . . . murder. Bookshop owner Violet is marrying Police Chief David Rainwater. A couple of days before the wedding, a weird woman tries to sell Violet a first edition of “Walden.” Then her dead body is discovered by the newly-wed couple on their way to their wedding reception. Not the way most people would begin their married life, but somehow, it’s not surprising for this couple. Their honeymoon gets put on hold while Rainwater ad Violet search for a missing book, and find much more. This well-written novel, like the other books in the series, has delightful characters, including a bossy crow and an intelligent cat, and a magical birch tree in the bookshop. The mysteries are always engrossing, with just the right touch of romance - and magic - thrown in. ( )