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illyreadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Cute Hallmark murder mystery. Hollis a crime reporter from Chicago moves to small town where she takes a job as a journalist. She starts a podcast with her friend Daisy and they are set to find out who murdered the football coach.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
Thank you NetGalley for this ARC.
gabizago's review against another edition
4.0
Nice story with enough murder, mystery, and... muffins to keep you entertained for a while. I love that it ends with the recipes to the baked goods mentioned throughout the book! And I’m looking forward for the next books in the series.
lyrareadsbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Fun cozy - the dialogue/ podcast sections captured the sort of overlapping dialogue that can make or break a podcast. I have a minor gripe with how much time was spent on a dead-end plot point, but overall a welcome light read after a whole bunch of heavyweight books.
randikaye's review against another edition
4.0
While I love a good action packed, high stakes suspense... sometimes I just need a little cozy mystery. They have everything I love about the mystery and suspense genre (a good ol' whodunnit, usually a little romance, etc)... but they also have a lightheartedness about them as well... somehow they manage to keep such a heavy topic as murder from becoming too dark. Oftentimes, you will find that my TV is set to Hallmark mysteries for just that reason. So, anytime I see a mystery book published by Hallmark, I know it is going to be right up my alley. Needless to say, I was excited and had quite high expectations for The Game Changer. It did not disappoint.
Oftentimes when I've read cozy mystery type books in the past (or watched the movies), it seemed to me that the non-cop characters always seemed almost TOO good at solving the crime. There's nothing wrong with that of course--- it's all part of the fun, but what struck me with this book is that while Hollis and Daisy were pretty good at figuring things out--- they clearly were NOT the pros. That lead to some rather humorous moments that made me chuckle. Now admittedly, I don't believe I've read the first in any series in the past before either, so perhaps that might change once the story goes on if we stick with these characters, but I really enjoyed this aspect of the story. The characters in this story really were just rather easy to fall in love with... again, they had some shortcomings, but the just seemed like rather genuine characters and I enjoyed getting to know them. I truly don't know if they will take the lead role in the remainder of the series but I do so hope to at least catch up with them again in future books.
While I had my (correct) suspicions on the culprit fairly early on, there were several twists and turns that had me guessing for a bit... there were several possible theories introduced, so I really enjoyed trying to figure it all out.
If you love a good cozy mystery, this is definitely a series to check out! It's a quick and fun read that I really enjoyed. I look forward to more from this series in the future.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts are 100% my own.
Oftentimes when I've read cozy mystery type books in the past (or watched the movies), it seemed to me that the non-cop characters always seemed almost TOO good at solving the crime. There's nothing wrong with that of course--- it's all part of the fun, but what struck me with this book is that while Hollis and Daisy were pretty good at figuring things out--- they clearly were NOT the pros. That lead to some rather humorous moments that made me chuckle. Now admittedly, I don't believe I've read the first in any series in the past before either, so perhaps that might change once the story goes on if we stick with these characters, but I really enjoyed this aspect of the story. The characters in this story really were just rather easy to fall in love with... again, they had some shortcomings, but the just seemed like rather genuine characters and I enjoyed getting to know them. I truly don't know if they will take the lead role in the remainder of the series but I do so hope to at least catch up with them again in future books.
While I had my (correct) suspicions on the culprit fairly early on, there were several twists and turns that had me guessing for a bit... there were several possible theories introduced, so I really enjoyed trying to figure it all out.
If you love a good cozy mystery, this is definitely a series to check out! It's a quick and fun read that I really enjoyed. I look forward to more from this series in the future.
**I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley. All thoughts are 100% my own.
apagetoturn's review against another edition
My very first Parkwood Mystery, and I'm a fan! A simple mystery and some really fun banter and creative character personalities. It was enjoyable for what it is, a cozy mystery. No fluff, and nothing too serious.
jbrooxd's review against another edition
4.0
[I received an electronic review copy of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.]
This was so fun! I adored Hollis and Daisy as a team. The banter between them, the descriptions of Daisy and her family, and the debates among the townspeople about the nature of their podcast (Baking/recipes or true crime?) were fantastic. Great mystery, excellent characters, sharp and funny writing. I can't wait to read more in this series.
This was so fun! I adored Hollis and Daisy as a team. The banter between them, the descriptions of Daisy and her family, and the debates among the townspeople about the nature of their podcast (Baking/recipes or true crime?) were fantastic. Great mystery, excellent characters, sharp and funny writing. I can't wait to read more in this series.
lauriereadsrom1's review against another edition
4.0
Jennifer Brown's "The Game Changer" was a cute and funny cozy mystery, with just a hint of romance on the side to keep things interesting. The central mystery involving the hit-and-run death of a local football coach was well-crafted, and the culprit wasn't immediately obvious to me. Despite my initial expectations, main characters Hollis and Daisy turned out to be clever investigators, and the secondary focus on Daisy's baking was a nice bonus. Reading about all of Daisy's delicious treats certainly made me hungry as I was reading!
Both of the main characters were very likeable, and I enjoyed their easy friendship and amusing conversations. Daisy was genuinely nice, sweet, and positive, and I was amazed at how she managed to remain so calm despite the chaos of raising four young children and launching a baking business at the same time. Hollis, the book's narrator as well as the podcast's lead investigator, was a bit more reserved than Daisy but still a lot of fun. I appreciated Hollis's character arc over the course of the book as she came to terms with how her life had changed since moving from Chicago to Parkwood, and ultimately realizing that she was ready to call the quirky little town home.
The book's secondary characters were also pretty great. For example, police officer Brooks Hopkins was a nice love interest for Hollis. He was handsome, flirty, and intelligent, and their banter back and forth made me laugh. I could see their relationship developing into something more serious if this story turns into a series. Hollis's mom and aunt were also very amusing, and her phone calls with them were hilarious. I hope to learn more about Hollis's family should there be future books in this series.
Overall, "The Game Changer" was an enjoyable read and I hope there will be more books in this series.
*ARC provided by the author/publisher via InkSlingerPR. All opinions expressed are my own.
Both of the main characters were very likeable, and I enjoyed their easy friendship and amusing conversations. Daisy was genuinely nice, sweet, and positive, and I was amazed at how she managed to remain so calm despite the chaos of raising four young children and launching a baking business at the same time. Hollis, the book's narrator as well as the podcast's lead investigator, was a bit more reserved than Daisy but still a lot of fun. I appreciated Hollis's character arc over the course of the book as she came to terms with how her life had changed since moving from Chicago to Parkwood, and ultimately realizing that she was ready to call the quirky little town home.
The book's secondary characters were also pretty great. For example, police officer Brooks Hopkins was a nice love interest for Hollis. He was handsome, flirty, and intelligent, and their banter back and forth made me laugh. I could see their relationship developing into something more serious if this story turns into a series. Hollis's mom and aunt were also very amusing, and her phone calls with them were hilarious. I hope to learn more about Hollis's family should there be future books in this series.
Overall, "The Game Changer" was an enjoyable read and I hope there will be more books in this series.
*ARC provided by the author/publisher via InkSlingerPR. All opinions expressed are my own.
jojosbooknook's review against another edition
2.0
Hallmark movie in book form? Crime podcasts, sweet treats and journalists? Add in a suspicious death in the community and you have what sounds like a perfect fun, light read. Sadly, for me this just wasn't it. I wanted to love this one. I adore the Christmas hallmark books, but this one just didn't hit the mark. Unless that mark was making me crave a hotdog?! I didn't connect with any of the characters, and I didn't particularly care who did it or why.
annarella's review against another edition
4.0
It's a good start for a new cozy series and 'I'm curious about the next instalments.
It was an engrossing and entertaining read, with a well thought and likeable couple of MC and a cast of secondary interesting characters.
Even if some elements were a bit over the top and there is some awkwardness typical of a first book in a new series I appreciated the plot and the solid mystery.
It made me smile and kept me hooked.
A good read, can't wait to read the next instalment.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
It was an engrossing and entertaining read, with a well thought and likeable couple of MC and a cast of secondary interesting characters.
Even if some elements were a bit over the top and there is some awkwardness typical of a first book in a new series I appreciated the plot and the solid mystery.
It made me smile and kept me hooked.
A good read, can't wait to read the next instalment.
Recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.