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    Murder's No Votive Confidence
    Murder's No Votive Confidence
    Murder's No Votive Confidence
    Audiobook8 hours

    Murder's No Votive Confidence

    Written by Christin Brecher

    Narrated by Callie Beaulieu

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    About this audiobook

    Nantucket candle store owner Stella Wright specializes in creating unique candles for every occasion. But someone sets the stage for murder when a Memorial Day celebration becomes a wedding to die for . . .

    Jessica Sterling's candlelight-themed nuptial promises to be the perfect kick-off to the summer's first official holiday weekend. Stella's thrilled to have been chosen to provide the decorative centerpiece for the wedding ceremony: a two-foot tall scented unity candle-a symbol of the happy couple's love. But it looks like the bride-to-be's uncle won't be walking his niece down the aisle after he's found dead. The murder weapon is Stella's seemingly indestructible candle, now split in two.

    When a beloved local bartender is arrested, Stella's sure a visiting police Captain running the case made a rush to justice. With superstitious brides-to-be cancelling orders and sales waxing and waning at her store, the Wick Flame owner decides to do some sleuthing of her own. Abetted by a charming reporter and challenged by the town's sexiest cop, Stella's determined to shine a light on the truth and uncover a killer who's snuffing out her own flame.
    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherTantor Media, Inc
    Release dateJun 25, 2019
    ISBN9781977346315
    Author

    Christin Brecher

    Christin Brecher is the author of the Shapshot of NYC Mysteries and the Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery Series. Born and raised in New York City, she lived in London, Connecticut, and Massachusetts before moving back to the city that will always have her heart. She previously worked in television production at the A&E Network, HBO, and PBS before moving into business development and marketing at Time Incorporated.

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    Reviews for Murder's No Votive Confidence

    4/5

    45 ratings19 reviews

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    • 4/5
      Macomber never disappoints. Not great writing and predictable but so enjoyable! Annie recovers from personal tragedy in a small town where she once found happiness.
    • 4/5
      Cottage by the Sea by Debbie Macomber#CottageByTheSea #NetGalleyStarts with works by the author. Story starts out with a glimpse of a summer day and Annie is leaving but she's left an impression on the almost 7ft tall Kenton.Annie is a physician assistant in southern CA and she's supposed to go home to the northwest coast sooner than for Christmas. Her brother, would be there with his wife, Kelly and child, Bella.Her cousin Gabby would be arriving soon and they'd be spending Thanksgiving together in southern CA. They wake to a call telling them her parents house had slid down a hill and nothing was left-they were all gone, parents, brother and his family. We called our daughter when we saw this on the real news to find out if they were ok as it was in the same area they live-they had driven by the place but the road had been closed and detours were up, devastation had already happened...11 months later and she finds her moving back to Seattle, waiting for attorneys and body remains....they encourage her to envision a happy place til she recalls the summer trip...her first kiss, at the cottage at the sea...With an opening she nails the job of PA and is able to rent the cottage with Kenton's help. She remembers him and Melly.Like how she gets others together as they both need help from one another. She finds herself in a heap of trouble by intruding on others...love prescious treasures Keaton has given her.She is given a chance of a lifetime and you listen to her talk to others to help her decide which path to take...also love how she helps Mellie with her problems...get such good feelings reading this.Unpredictable, many twists along the way, good all around read.Received this review copy from the author via NetGalley Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine Ballantine Books and this is my honest opinion.
    • 5/5
      I am a Debbie Macomber lover. If I see she has a new book, I want to read it. When I pick up one of her novels, I know I am going to get a clean sweet romance with family values and small town USA. I got that but so much more. Once I started I could not read it fast enough. There were some parts where I was either smiling or laughing out loud. Then there were others, let me just say, have your Kleenex handy. One decision can change your life. Annie is a very strong lovable heroine. She gets a second chance at starting over after losing everything. I am afraid to say anything more, I don't want to spoil the story for anyone. I would recommend reading this book. If you like Debbie Macomber and are familiar with her writing, this one is the best I've read. I loved this book. I received this book from Ballentine Publishing through Net Galleys. The opinion expressed in this review is completely my own.
    • 4/5
      It is an easy, fast, summer read. Interesting but a bit predictable. Not great literature but fun.
    • 5/5
      This novel is not what you normally expect from Debbie Macomber. It is filled with flawed and hurting characters. Annie has experienced a devasting tragedy, and relocates to find some peace. In her new surroundings, she meets others who are dealing with their own problems and mistakes. Together, they form a community and support each other. But the way is often rocky, and the correct path is not always easy to find. Ms. Macomber has again given her readers a thoughtful and meaningful tale of the human spirit.
    • 4/5
      Stella Wright is engaging as a new small business owner on Nantucket. She made her dream come true by opening Wick & Flame, a candle store complete with classes. Her unique scents and designs draw in plenty of tourists, but branching out her business is a solid move. Enter best friend Emily, a wedding planner and now Stella is in charge of all things candle for Jessica Sterling's perfect wedding on the island. After a late night card game turns up a dead body next to one of her hand made unity candles, Stella can't help but try to find things out for a childhood friend on the force. I liked the gradual introduction to various people in Stella's life, including a cadre of cousins that I imagine will continue to make appearances in subsequent stories. Really enjoyed the book and the setting, can't wait for another candle book.
    • 5/5
      Debbie MacComber gives her readers well developed characters with realistic flaws & issues that engage our hearts & sympathies from the beginning. Keaton is considered an oddity because of his height, large build & extreme shyness. He doesn't like being put on the spot & stumbles over his words if he is. Annie is a wonderfully energetic teenager when we first meet her, an annoyed young woman next & last a depressed sad young woman fighting her way out of grief & trying to survive. These two are drawn to something in each other from the beginning. Annie also manages to bring secondary characters into her circle with their own flaws that she is able to help them with. I enjoyed going on Annie's journey back to life & happiness with her. Her character managed to draw Keaton & Mellie out of their respective shells & help them. There were several times I struggled to fight back tears, bite back laughter, & smile while reading. Ms. MacComber has managed to touch my heart with another terrific book.
    • 4/5
      “Cottage by the Sea” is a routine romantic novel in which the primary characters all find someone to love and, after overcoming difficulties that threaten to scuttle the romance, the couples wind up together. The unstated implication is that they will live happily ever after. The primary female protagonist and a secondary female character were depicted as saints. The female sidekick has an irascible personality that is seldom bothersome because it allows the female protagonist to demonstrate her saintly qualities. As you can guess, the saint and the irascible curmudgeon become BFF.The treatment of the male characters is chauvinistic and superficial. The villains are unfeeling and hateful. The romantic targets of the saintly women are psychologically damaged, lack self-confidence and self-esteem, and are incapable of expressing their deeply held emotions. The primary problems the women had to overcome is the hyper sensitivity of the men to any hint of rejection. The men were able of move past these misunderstanding only after extensive begging and pleading, during which time the women demonstrate the patience of Job. If you’re looking for greater realism I suggest you visit the local cinema and take in a movie featuring one of the plethora of superheroes.The story would have been more interesting if Macomber had portrayed the men with greater nuance. Nevertheless, I found “Cottage by the Sea” to be enjoyable. It is a quick read, and the sunny, positive outlook on life is refreshing for the most part. The few setbacks the saintly women encountered are quickly and skillfully overcome. It’s a good book to curl up with by the fireplace on a dreary winter day.
    • 4/5
      Annie Marlow, living in Los Angeles and working a s a physician's assistant, has plans with her cousin and some friends for Thanksgiving day. When her mother calls just a few days before wanting her to come home for Thanksgiving instead, Annie stands her ground, and refuses to change her plans at the last minute. For a variety of reasons, I am cheering her on at this point, but I also know that this is a precursor to major guilt.

      Early on Thanksgiving morning, she is awakened by a phone call from her aunt. A mudslide has swept her parents' home, and entire neighborhood, into the river. Her parents, brother and sister-in-law, and toddler niece, are all dead.

      She has to return to Washington to deal with awful aftermath, painfully drawn out because of the class action lawsuit that follows. Annie can't deal with that from Los Angeles, so she stays in Washington, struggling with guilt and depression as well as the legal complexities.

      Finally, prodded by her cousin, Gabby, she gets away from Seattle, to the seaside town where her family rented a cottage every summer when she and her brother Mike were growing up. She manages, with some difficulty, to rent the same cottage, and lands a job at the local medical clinic.

      Annie also meets Keaton, whom she met just once, the last summer her family vacationed there. Keaton is big, silent, and hard to get to know, yet they are drawn to each other.

      Her landlady, Mellie Johnson, is even harder to get to know--a complete recluse, prickly, far more withdrawn than Keaton ever dreamed of being.

      These three, plus Keaton's friend Preston, head of the local animal shelter, shouldn't be the start of a wonderful friendship, yet they are.

      This is a very character-driven novel, and the characters, both the protagonists and the problem people in their lives, are complex and interesting. I was completely drawn in and needed to keep reading.

      Recommended.

      I received a free electronic galley of this book from the publisher via NetGalley.
    • 5/5
      Here is a summary of what the book is about. Annie Marlow has been through the worst. Rocked by tragedy, she heads to the one place that makes her happy: Oceanside in the Pacific Northwest, the destination of many family vacations when Annie was a teenager.   Once there, Annie begins to restore her broken spirit, thanks in part to the folks she meets: a local painter, Keaton, whose large frame is equal to his big heart—and who helps Annie fix up her rental cottage by the sea; Mellie, the reclusive, prickly landlord Annie is determined to befriend; and Britt, a teenager with a terrible secret. But it is Keaton to whom Annie feels most drawn. His quiet, peaceful nature offers her both comfort and reprieve from her grief, and the two begin to grow closer.Then events threaten to undo the idyll Annie has come to enjoy. And when the opportunity of a lifetime lands in her lap, she is torn between the excitement of a new journey toward success and the safe and secure arms of the haven—and the man—she’s come to call home.In this heartwarming tale, Annie finds that the surest way to fix what is damaged within is to help others rise above their pain and find a way to heal.I have to been honest I started this book a year ago and forgot about it because I was busy with life. I enjoyed this book. I thought it was written very well. There are some twists and turns in the story. I just love Debbie Macomber books. Happy Reqding Everyone!
    • 5/5
      Totally enjoyable read. Lovable and flawed characters. Misfits that fit together well. Book is just in time for summer, feel good weather.

      Annie has dreams and a great group of close friends. As a typical 20-something, she doesn’t necessarily appreciate what she has till it’s gone. Shocking turn of events, leads her back to her happy place and a lovable, cast of characters.

      Macomber doing what she does best. Thanks to NetGalley and the Publisher for this ARC. All opinions are mine.
    • 5/5
      he author grabbed my attention right from the beginning, and what a beginning, have the tissues handy.Trying to find peace, going to a happy spot, this is what brings Annie Marlow back to Oceanside, and an entirely new start on her shattered life.I loved these characters and they all seemed so real, and they meld together beautifully, hurting yes, but so much compassion for those less fortunate.I do have to admit, I couldn’t put this one down, and now I’m sad that the page turning is over, I wanted even more, even with the epilogue!I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Ballantine Books, and was not required to give a positive review.
    • 4/5
      Cottage by the Sea is a sad story at times but ends on a very happy note. The story is about broken souls who have found each other. They have worked hard to make new and productive lives for themselves realizing all the time that life is difficult but with time one can heal. The book received four stars in this review.
    • 4/5
      You can always depend on Debbie Macomber to bring her readers enjoyable books with great characters and romance. She certainly provided all of those in her new book Cottage by the Sea. Her newer books are more than just romance - in this book she discusses teenage pregnancy and abuse, both physical and mental.After Annie's entire family dies in an accident, she it unable to move ahead with her life. She can't work and she is unable to find any happiness in life. Then she realizes that she needs to find somewhere in her life that made her happy in the past. When she visits the sea side village where she spent time in the summers when she was a kid, she feels the first contentment that she has in months. She gets a job, rents a house and becomes part of the community. She finds that by helping other people with their problems, she is able to find happiness in her life. She realizes that she now has a new family - the people she cares about and who care about her.This was a quick read and a perfect book for a hot summer day at the beach or pool.
    • 3/5
      3.5 stars cuz I did like it.....Nantucket ( my home state ), candles ( my obsession ) and ocean ( aside from my Joe- my true love ).However it was actually kinda flat for me. I know its a 'cozy', and as filler reading it fit the bill.
    • 4/5
      Stella Wright owns Wick & Flame, making handmade candles. She's expanding her business, and is creating a unity candle for bride-to-be Jessica Sterling. She's also helping her pregnant best friend Emily Gardner, who's the wedding planner. So Stella has a lot on her plate, trying to get her candles finished and help Emily where she's needed.Stella's very proud of the two-foot-high candle that she's created using a special wax so that it will be strong enough not to crumble when lit. But she's not so proud when she and members of the wedding party walk into a room at the Melville, where the wedding is to be held, and find Jessica's Uncle Simon dead - struck by the heavy candle.Now Stella's also caretaker of Simon's cat, Tinker, who seems to be a wonder in himself; her friend Andy Southerland, a police officer, is trying to keep her out of the investigation, which is headed by an out-of-town detective, and she's trying to keep customers, who seem to think the candle might portend bad luck for their upcoming weddings. As if that weren't enough, an international movie star is staying close by and the woman seems to have taken a liking to Stella. When one of her friends is arrested for the crime, she knows she can't keep her promise to Andy and sets out to find the real murderer, who just might be closer than she ever imagined...This is the first in a new series, and for the most part, it was pretty decent. So I'll get the bad out of the way now: Stella seems to be interested in Peter, the new reporter for the local newspaper, but there's a hint of a love triangle to come. I absolutely abhor love triangles, as I've said ad nauseam. There's no reason for them at all. If a man were stringing along two women, you'd think he was a dog, or worse. So why is it okay for a woman to string along two men? Why do the men go along with it? It's not attractive, and it doesn't say much for the woman in question. Only that she doesn't care about their feelings, but her own. So if this series goes in that direction, then I will be done with it. There are plenty of series out there that are just as good to read.So, that being said, I do like the fact that Stella is a candlemaker. I make them myself, so I know how time-consuming and difficult it can be to get them right. I also love Tinker. Hopefully he won't be relegated to the one-book character and just hang around, but "help" Stella in other investigations, too. I did like the secondary characters, especially Andy. He's a solid soul, and really cares for her, even if she doesn't know it. The mystery was very good, giving us several suspects - the entire wedding party, in fact - and I was thrown off the mark a couple of times before I figured it out, so that's always good. It's not much fun if you know the murderer the minute they step onto the page. I also liked the descriptions of Nantucket, and I really like the fact that Stella has a thriving business and didn't run home because her relationship broke up and so is she. It's quite refreshing to see this.In the end, when the murderer is discovered, it's so very sad about everything that transpired the way it did. But murder never makes sense anyway. As I stated above, I really enjoyed this book and will read the next in the series to see where it goes. Recommended.
    • 4/5
      3-3.5 stars--I don't think I've read any other books by this author (if there are any). I wondered if this was the first book of the series but didn't know for sure until I came here to write a review. I saw the book reviewed in BookPage.WARNING POTENTIAL SPOILERS-READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION:Stella is a chandler (candle maker). I have no idea how that occupation or her past equip her to investigate or solve mysteries (particularly a murder)--though I do understand her desire to clear her friend Bill's name and reputation. Then again, apparently there are few murders on Nantucket Island so perhaps the police aren't well equipped to investigate it either--though you would at least hope they had some classes on it during training/schooling. As in most of these genre mysteries, the so-called big shot detective with more experience who just happens to be on the island when the murder happens, doesn't seem very competent in his investigation--he keys in on one person, arrests him, and declares it done--no more evidence collection etc.I thought the author did a good job of giving multiple characters motives for the murder. I didn't really guess who the murderer was or why until close to when it was revealed.There seemed to be a lot of crime scene contamination when Simon's body was discovered. Tinker was a cute addition to the story. I liked that he was interactive but there wasn't some weird paranormal mystery solving cat angle to the story. Yes, he did direct Stella's attention to things once in a while, but it wasn't so over the top that you couldn't believe it could really happen.
    • 3/5
      The first in a new series, Murder's No Votive Confidence is the perfect cozy mystery for a rainy day. This was a fun and easy read, my favorite kind of book to brighten a drab day.

      Nantucket candle store owner Stella Wright specializes in creating unique candles for every occasion. But someone sets the stage for murder when a Memorial Day celebration becomes a wedding to die for . . .

      Jessica Sterling’s candlelight-themed nuptial promises to be the perfect kick-off to the summer’s first official holiday weekend. Stella’s thrilled to have been chosen to provide the decorative centerpiece for the wedding ceremony: a two-foot, tall scented unity candle—a symbol of the happy couple’s love. But it looks like the bride-to-be’s uncle won’t be walking his niece down the aisle after he’s found dead. The murder weapon is Stella’s seemingly indestructible candle, now split in two.

      When a beloved local bartender is arrested, Stella’s sure a visiting police Captain running the case made a rush to justice. With superstitious brides-to-be cancelling orders and sales waxing and waning at her store, the Wick & Flame owner decides to do some sleuthing of her own. Abetted by a charming reporter and challenged by the town’s sexiest cop, Stella’s determined to shine a light on the truth and uncover a killer who’s snuffing out her own flame.

      I enjoyed the setting and theme of this new series, but I felt there could be more depth to both the main and supporting characters.

      *Book received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*
    • 4/5
      Murder’s No Votive Confidence by Christin Becher is the first A Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery. Stella Wright owns Wick & Flame on Nantucket Island. She has been commissioned by bride-to-be, Jessica Sterling to create candles for her wedding including a one-of-a-kind unity candle. On the day before the wedding, the unity candle is found broken on the floor next to Jessica’s uncle, Simon Sterling. Someone took the candle and bashed in the man’s head (talk about crime of passion). When family friend, Bill Duffy is arrested by a visiting police chief for the murder, Stella sets out to find the real killer. I thought Murder’s No Votive Confidence was nicely written and it had steady pacing. The story is told from Stella’s perspective. I like the lovely setting of Nantucket Island. The author provides beautiful descriptions of the island flora and fauna, the shops, homes and, of course, the ocean. Stella is an affable character who prefers comfort clothes over fancy (much to her friend’s distress), a wee bit clumsy and has a contingent of cousins (I like Kate who forbade the others from cursing—good for her). The secondary characters are introduced with the barest of details. I am sure we will learn more about Stella and the others as the series progresses. I especially want to know more about the Candleers (Stella’s candle class students). I love that Stella is a candlemaker and I hope we get more information on the process of creating candles in future books. Stella provides some helpful candle tips and her creations sound lovely. The mystery was interesting with a unique twist. While I could identify the killer early in the game, I was curious to know more. I had questions and I wanted the answers. Tinker, Simon’s cat, was a great addition to the book. I like how he was involved in the investigation. I enjoyed Christin Becher’s debut cozy mystery and I look forward to reading more of this engaging new series. Murder’s No Votive Confidence is a delightful new cozy mystery that has a scenic setting, a nosy newspaperman, a nervous bride, a meddling mama, a mysterious feline, handcrafted tapers, and one determined amateur sleuth.