A Cozy Mystery with Heart: Scraps of Paper

⭐⭐⭐⭐

Kathryn Meyer Griffith’s Scraps of Paper (Spookie Town Murder Mysteries Book 1) is more than just a murder mystery—it’s a heartfelt story of loss, resilience, and the unexpected ways new beginnings can unfold.

At the center is Abigail Sutton, a woman grieving the tragic loss of her husband. Hoping to heal, she settles into a quiet small town and purchases an old fixer-upper. But this house carries dark secrets of its own. Hidden scraps of paper—tucked away in walls and floorboards—whisper of a long-ago disappearance that has haunted the town for thirty years. Soon, Abigail uncovers not just clues but graves, drawing her into a decades-old mystery alongside Frank Lester, a retired homicide detective.

What follows is a carefully woven tale where everyday life blends with intrigue. Griffith captures the rhythms of small-town living, the comfort of unexpected friendships, and the healing power of community, all while layering in suspense. A touch of the paranormal adds an atmospheric chill without overwhelming the cozy, slice-of-life feel. And threaded through the tension is a quiet, believable spark of romance between Abigail and Frank—two wounded souls finding solace in one another while chasing justice.

For readers who enjoy mysteries that are as much about people as they are about crimes, Scraps of Paper offers a satisfying mix. It’s a cozy mystery with heart, rich in atmosphere, and anchored by a heroine whose compassion makes her both relatable and inspiring.

Dandelion Serenade by Lori Soard - Enchanting tale of second chances

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ 

Lori Soard’s Dandelion Serenade, the second novella in the Dogwood Creek Matchmakers series, is a quietly enchanting story that blooms with emotional depth and nostalgic charm.

About the Book: Dandelion Serenade 

Perfect pacing guides the reader through a tale of second chances and rekindled romance, as childhood friends Lauren Juniper and Nathan Brickner are reunited by the fate of a beloved landmark: an old stone bridge. Nathan, now a bridge engineer, returns with plans to replace the structure; to Lauren, that bridge is woven into her family’s history and the fabric of the town itself.

 

But the bridge isn’t the only thing in need of repair. Years earlier, Nathan broke Lauren’s heart when he left Dogwood Creek after high school, chasing a future that didn’t include her. Lauren carries a quiet unforgiveness, her heart still bruised from his departure. Nathan, on the other hand, has spent years believing he must achieve and prove himself worthy, to his family, his community, and perhaps most of all, to Lauren. These personal battles make their reunion bittersweet and layered, turning a simple homecoming into a journey of grace and healing.

 

BookHookup Book Review: Dandelion Serenade 

What makes this novella truly memorable are its likable, flawed, and relatable characters. In just a short span, Soard gives readers people who feel real, woven with longing, regrets, and a yearning for belonging. Lauren’s tension between preserving memory and embracing the future, and Nathan’s pull toward progress and self-worth, echo conflicted hearts we all understand.

Underlying it all is a delicate, symbolic thread of the dandelion, woven through the plot and imagery like a whispered wish. From childhood “dandelion wishes” to a statue in the garden at the end, of a figure holding a dandelion gone to seed—this motif resonates. Is the statue holding on to the past, or reaching for the future? That ambiguity lingers beautifully, as if every seed could land somewhere hopeful.

 

 Dandelion Serenade is part of the Dogwood Creek Matchmakers series, a multi-author collection set in the charming small town of Dogwood Creek, Tennessee. Lori Soard launched the series with Chasing Snowflakes, and new novellas are planned for release every other month over the next two years — promising plenty more heartwarming tales for fans of small-town romance.

I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy sweet romance and Christian fiction.

*** 

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About the Author: Lori Soard

Lori Soard has a PhD in Journalism and Creative Writing, but she's hardly the stuffy professor type. She loves nothing better than a good romantic comedy and thinks the good guy should always win and the ending should always be happy.

From an early age, Lori started honing her story telling skills. As a kid she was rarely seen without a book in her hand, even walking and reading at the same time. Her first stories were about the world around her. At twenty she wrote her first novel, which she admits was horrible. At twenty-one, she sold her first article to a local newspaper. Once she got that taste of having others read her work and realizing that she could reach others and touch their hearts, there was no turning back for this natural born writer.

"If I can make someone's day just a tiny bit better," Lori says, "if I can make them smile even though they are sad, make them think things could be better, make them understand how much God loves them, then I have accomplished something. I write my stories, articles and books with that one person in mind who really needs the message. If I can change one person's perspective, then I've succeeded."

Lori is a life-long Hoosier and lives in southern Indiana with her high school sweetheart turned husband. They have two grown daughters and two granddaughters. She always has a her critters surrounding her, including a couple of miniature dachshunds and several rescue cats. "During the extreme low points in life, it has been my animals that have seen me through. There is nothing like the deep devotion of a dog or the unconditional love of a cat." Lori adores animals and while some of her dear friends have crossed over the Rainbow Bridge she will always stand by her belief that animals make the world a better place.

She loves to hear from her readers and blogs regularly.

 

Anna's Fresh Start: Emotionally resonant story about second chances

Anna’s Fresh Start by Lori Soard is a captivating and heartfelt romance set in the post-Civil War South, where the heroine, Anna Heartfield, must confront the weight of a dangerous secret and find a way to rebuild her life. Anna is a complex and compelling character, and I thoroughly enjoyed following her journey. Her hidden past is not one of a broken relationship, but a dangerous web of secrets tied to her actions during the war, secrets that threaten to unravel her family’s reputation. Anna’s need for a fresh start is palpable, and her internal conflict about whether to share her truth with the man she begins to fall for adds a rich layer of emotional depth to the story.

Ezra Walters, the quiet, serious widower, is equally compelling. With a painful past marked by the suicide of his wife and the responsibility of raising their young daughter alone, he struggles to open his heart to love again. His reluctance to form new attachments stems from the fear of experiencing another devastating loss, yet his longing for companionship is undeniable. The emotional weight Ezra carries makes him a character readers can’t help but root for, and his slow-burn romance with Anna is beautifully developed.

BookHookup review: Anna's Fresh Start

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

The romance between Anna and Ezra is heartwarming and engaging, and Soard does an excellent job of slowly unfolding their emotional connections, allowing readers to fully invest in their blossoming relationship. The addition of little historical touches, such as the candy Anna received from a soldier, enriches the narrative and adds depth to the setting. These details create a world that feels vivid and real, drawing the reader further into Anna’s struggles and hopes for redemption.

While the book is thoroughly enjoyable, there are a few moments that could benefit from refinement. One recurring detail is repeated several times, likely to ensure readers remember it, but it can feel a bit redundant. Additionally, there's a discrepancy regarding the delivery of Anna's truck—it's introduced in Chapter 6 but is said to have arrived earlier that day in Chapter 9. This inconsistency momentarily pulled me out of the story as I had to double-check to make sure I hadn’t missed something and it threw me out of the emotional build-up at that moment.

Overall, Anna’s Fresh Start is a heartwarming and emotionally resonant tale of second chances, trust, and the healing power of love. The characters are well-developed and easy to invest in, and I found myself rooting for Anna and Ezra every step of the way. With its charming narrative and warm atmosphere, this book is sure to delight fans of historical romance. It offers a compelling and heartfelt journey that will leave readers eager for more.

 

About the Author

Lori Soard has a PhD in Journalism and Creative Writing, but she's hardly the stuffy professor type. She loves nothing better than a good romantic comedy and thinks the good guy should always win and the ending should always be happy.

From an early age, Lori started honing her story telling skills. As a kid she was rarely seen without a book in her hand, even walking and reading at the same time. Her first stories were about the world around her. At twenty she wrote her first novel, which she admits was horrible. At twenty-one, she sold her first article to a local newspaper. Once she got that taste of having others read her work and realizing that she could reach others and touch their hearts, there was no turning back for this natural born writer.

"If I can make someone's day just a tiny bit better," Lori says, "if I can make them smile even though they are sad, make them think things could be better, make them understand how much God loves them, then I have accomplished something. I write my stories, articles and books with that one person in mind who really needs the message. If I can change one person's perspective, then I've succeeded."

Lori is a life-long Hoosier and lives in southern Indiana with her high school sweetheart turned husband. They have two grown daughters and two granddaughters. She always has a her critters surrounding her, including a couple of miniature dachshunds and several rescue cats. "During the extreme low points in life, it has been my animals that have seen me through. There is nothing like the deep devotion of a dog or the unconditional love of a cat." Lori adores animals and while some of her dear friends have crossed over the Rainbow Bridge she will always stand by her belief that animals make the world a better place.

She loves to hear from her readers and blogs regularly.