Ellen Jacobson

This book is self-published; that just about tells you everything you need to know if you are contemplating reading it.

Mollie McGhie and her husband Scooter live on a boat at the marina in Coconut Cove, Florida with their calico cat Mrs. Moto. During a Christmas party aboard their neighbors’ boat The Mistletoe, newcomer & troublemaker Edward Smythe is found murdered. Jim Ferguson, one half of Coconut Grove’s resident gay couple, is quickly arrested for the crime by temporary lawman & permanent moron, Finn Booze (wrap your heads around that name, folks). But why would anyone ever believe Jim capable of such a crime? Well, for starters, he was found standing over the dead body with the bloody murder weapon in his hand; and he was overheard threatening to kill the victim shortly before the party when he learned that Edward had usurped his role of Santa in the annual Coconut Grove Christmas Parade. Jim certainly looks guilty. However, Mollie and Scooter have their doubts &, since they really have nothing else to do, they set out to solve the case themselves.

First of all, this book is very short. It’s more like an extended short story or a novelette than a full-length book.

Murder Aboard the Mistletoe is very simplistic in terms of writing style, plot, & characterizations. It is like someone with an eighth-grade education picked up a book entitled “How to Write a Novel in 10 Easy Steps” & just ran with it. Yes, this book is so painstakingly constructed you can almost see the detailed, formulaic outline on which it was created, complete with the original bullet points that got transformed into the complete sentences that make up the final text. In an effort to add a touch of verisimilitude the author subjects us to regular, carefully-staged, slice of life observations—usually revolving around someone commenting on what the cat is doing (Spoiler Alert: She’s either knocking something over or coughing up a hairball.). It’s all pretty contrived and monotonous.

Do yourself a favor & don’t waste your time or your money.… (mehr)

This is such a cute read!

I've enjoyed this authors cozy mysteries...she's actually the one who has now sparked my interest in that genre...so, when she came out with this sweet romance series, I was excited and curious. This new direction she's headed in did not disappoint.

The main character is a young woman with a little spunk, tons of heart and mounds of odd quirks. Mix this with the very light-hearted and energetic writing style, and it makes for a fun, easy read, which guarantees more than a couple smiles on every page. Humor runs high as tiny incidents, but mostly hilarious character thoughts and decisions, create a joyful read. Still, not everything is fun and games.

These characters do have serious problems to overcome and nothing comes easy. The romance isn't sunshine and butterflies, either, as deep running issues get in the way. And these problems are understandable. Still, the characters handle everything in their own way, and that always leads to the most unexpected situations.

I received an ARC copy and read this in one sitting, enjoying every single page. It will be fun to see where the next episode in this series goes next.… (mehr)

Believe it or not, I was not a cozy mystery fan until I came across this author. Now, I'm hooked, and this new book in the series got me with in additional line and sinker.

Mollie's husband Scooter has done it again—he's decided to start up a Youtube channel with their cat as the star. Of course, he does this just as their about to place their sailboat and actually sail with it for the first time. And they're first splashes include a sailing race. It's a bit much, but Mollie's always good for a fun spin. That is, until a storm leaves them stuck on an island with several friends and acquaintances, and one of them is killed. Mollie not only chalks this up to be the sixth body she discovers since moving onto the boat, but soon learns that she's stumbled onto a much bigger crime. With her entire M&M reserves disintegrating at the bottom of the bay, this might be more than she can tackle.

I'm a total Mollie fan and have loved this character from the get-go. She's a little bumbly, quirky and definitely marches to her own drum. And that's what makes her so wonderful. Her words are honest and humorous, while carrying a light coating of wacky. And yet, when things come down to it, she's extremely level-headed and fits logic together better than anyone else. It's a fun mix, which keeps even the most sinister crime from growing dark. And in this one, there are some heavier crimes.

I'll admit that while reading this one, I did start to wonder if the mystery was going to be too easy and the clues not as well laid out as they have been in the past books. But I was happily wrong. Just when I least expected it, a sharp turn took the tale in a new direction and set a whole different tone. It was fun to read and I'm already looking forward to diving into the next tale, when it's out.

I received an ARC copy and enjoyed the story very much and am leaving my honest thoughts.… (mehr)

This book is a bit quirky and leaves smiles while raising tension in a well woven murder mystery. In other words, is a delightful mix!

Mollie is still not convinced she wants to sail on her husband's wreck...*aehm* boat, let alone sell their cottage and move aboard. When another unexpected malfunction leaves the boat dry in the boatyard, Mollie not only heads for repairs but stumbles across a body. As an investigative reporter (don't mention it's for alien abductions), her nose starts to itch, and she's off to find clues. Until body two shows up, and things get really complicated. Even deadly.

Mollie is the cutest, quirkiest and most lovely character to follow. Written from her perspective, life and the people around her come across lively and full of oddities themselves. She's got a habit of sticking her nose where it doesn't belong, fumbling into investigations, getting distracted by sugar, and simply being lovable in so many ways. She's not the usual detective, rather a older-side-of-middle-age wife, who has a bit of an imagination and isn't as smooth as most detectives might be. Yet, she gets the job done.

The writing flows so naturally and lets details bring the characters and small town to life without ever falling into descriptions. It's an easy, enjoyable read. Still, the mystery is not easy to guess or solve. There are layers...all due to the wonderful side characters, which deepen and surprise.

I'm not usually a murder mystery fan, but this series has me hooked. I definitely can't wait to see Mollie in action again.

I received an ARC and enjoyed following Mollie so much that I wanted to leave my honest thoughts.… (mehr)