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candleandbookpairings's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
3.0
theavidreaderandbibliophile's review against another edition
4.0
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.
rynflynn12's review against another edition
lighthearted
mysterious
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.75
kimlb's review against another edition
3.0
I really wanted to like this book. I love books set in Nantucket but this book didn't have much of a local feel to it. Also, (and not to give away a major spoiler) I'll say vaguely that the candle artist didn't notice damage to the candle was a bit of a stretch for me. Also, I was bothered by this poor cat being carted around the island without a litterbox in site though someone finally remembered food. Maybe because he kept getting out they assumed a box wasn't needed? (another issue I prefer cats safely indoors). However, I liked all main characters and I may try the second book and hopefully it has more of a Nantucket feel to it.
melanietalksbooks's review against another edition
1.0
I tried reading it so many times but found it boring:
katreader's review against another edition
4.0
MURDER'S NO VOTIVE CONFIDENCE by Christin Brecher
The First Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery
Stella Wright is the Candle Lady of Nantucket Island. Surrounded by friends and her large family, Stella loves her hometown and is happy to provide candles to locals and tourists alike at her shop, the Wick and Flame. Stella's current big project is providing candles for the wedding of Jessica Sterling. Her unique scents have become so popular, several brides have begun commissioning her for their own unity candles. As the wedding weekend is about to commence, the bride's uncle is found murdered-killed by Stella's unity candle. When an old family friend is charged with the crime and brides around the island are cancelling their candle orders Stella knows she needs to step in and help solve the murder. With assistance from her childhood friend on the police force and the new journalist in town, Stella is prepared to uncover the many secrets of the bridal party and bring the real killer to justice.
I thoroughly enjoyed my first visit to Nantucket Island with MURDER'S NO VOTIVE CONFIDENCE. A charming setting, smart characters, a fantastic cat, and unique candles combine to enhance a great mystery. Stella is a fun, down to earth protagonist with mad island skills. The supporting cast is just as interesting, from her family to her candle making students to the visiting movie star and the bridal party. I absolutely adore Tinker, a special cat who also possesses some great skills.
This first Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery has readers using all of their senses. Scent in particular plays a huge part of the story as well as an integral plot point. The smell of salt air mingled with the scents Stella creates for her candles creates a wonderful ambiance. I felt I was right there on the island.
MURDER'S NO VOTIVE CONFIDENCE is a fantastic start to a new series. It's a fast paced adventure filled with excitement and fun. There are lots of undercurrents, especially among the various relationships, that I can't wait to see expanded and explored in future books.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
The First Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery
Stella Wright is the Candle Lady of Nantucket Island. Surrounded by friends and her large family, Stella loves her hometown and is happy to provide candles to locals and tourists alike at her shop, the Wick and Flame. Stella's current big project is providing candles for the wedding of Jessica Sterling. Her unique scents have become so popular, several brides have begun commissioning her for their own unity candles. As the wedding weekend is about to commence, the bride's uncle is found murdered-killed by Stella's unity candle. When an old family friend is charged with the crime and brides around the island are cancelling their candle orders Stella knows she needs to step in and help solve the murder. With assistance from her childhood friend on the police force and the new journalist in town, Stella is prepared to uncover the many secrets of the bridal party and bring the real killer to justice.
I thoroughly enjoyed my first visit to Nantucket Island with MURDER'S NO VOTIVE CONFIDENCE. A charming setting, smart characters, a fantastic cat, and unique candles combine to enhance a great mystery. Stella is a fun, down to earth protagonist with mad island skills. The supporting cast is just as interesting, from her family to her candle making students to the visiting movie star and the bridal party. I absolutely adore Tinker, a special cat who also possesses some great skills.
This first Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery has readers using all of their senses. Scent in particular plays a huge part of the story as well as an integral plot point. The smell of salt air mingled with the scents Stella creates for her candles creates a wonderful ambiance. I felt I was right there on the island.
MURDER'S NO VOTIVE CONFIDENCE is a fantastic start to a new series. It's a fast paced adventure filled with excitement and fun. There are lots of undercurrents, especially among the various relationships, that I can't wait to see expanded and explored in future books.
FTC Disclosure – The publisher sent me a digital ARC provided through NetGalley, in the hopes I would review it.
hugbandit7's review against another edition
4.0
Candles, an Island, and Murder - oh my!
I love reading cozies that have the protagonist in a career that is crafty and one that is intriguing. Enter Stella and her candlemaking business. She makes unique candles with handcrafted scents and seems to know what sort of scent would be best for various people. I'd love to know what she would suggest for me. She even teaches classes on candlemaking and I would have liked the book to have explored that just a little bit more, or added more details regarding the two classes that were taught in this book.
This mystery has a fair amount of characters but most of them are tied to a wedding that is taking place. I think we meet about 7 characters that were townsfolk. That helps when trying to figure out who might be the killer since it is most likely tied to the wedding and its guests. Speaking of the murder - while I didn't figure out the killer, I thought the author did a good job of throwing suspicion on various characters so that when the killer was revealed it was quite a surprise to me. I might have suspected this character but didn't know how deep the hatred ran and why.
There is also a potential love triangle between Stella, Andy, and Peter. Andy has a girlfriend but I don't think she is right for him. Peter is the new journalist in town and seems interesting but you wonder how much is him or his career choice. If I had to choose, I'm #TeamAndy because they just seem like they fit together plus they have been friends forever. But we shall see how the author decides to work this out in future books.
I think this is going to be a good new series and we give this book 4 paws up.
I love reading cozies that have the protagonist in a career that is crafty and one that is intriguing. Enter Stella and her candlemaking business. She makes unique candles with handcrafted scents and seems to know what sort of scent would be best for various people. I'd love to know what she would suggest for me. She even teaches classes on candlemaking and I would have liked the book to have explored that just a little bit more, or added more details regarding the two classes that were taught in this book.
This mystery has a fair amount of characters but most of them are tied to a wedding that is taking place. I think we meet about 7 characters that were townsfolk. That helps when trying to figure out who might be the killer since it is most likely tied to the wedding and its guests. Speaking of the murder - while I didn't figure out the killer, I thought the author did a good job of throwing suspicion on various characters so that when the killer was revealed it was quite a surprise to me. I might have suspected this character but didn't know how deep the hatred ran and why.
There is also a potential love triangle between Stella, Andy, and Peter. Andy has a girlfriend but I don't think she is right for him. Peter is the new journalist in town and seems interesting but you wonder how much is him or his career choice. If I had to choose, I'm #TeamAndy because they just seem like they fit together plus they have been friends forever. But we shall see how the author decides to work this out in future books.
I think this is going to be a good new series and we give this book 4 paws up.
thisandthatwithkaren's review against another edition
5.0
"Murder's No Votive Confidence" by Christin Brecher felt like it was very familiar and I wondered if it was a republishing but not that I could find, either way I really enjoyed it.
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 nuptials 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 canceling 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.
The setting of Nantucket was great, I always like a small town setting where almost everyone knows one another until tourist season. Makes for fun and often quirky characters, also throwing in a crafty theme is even better.
The Protagonist Stella is well developed (although hoping more back detail why she came home in next book), likeable and her BFF Emily, cousins, along with childhood friend now policeman Alex, are all likeable side characters.
I found that the story was well paced and if not for my migraines I would have finished in one sitting. I couldn’t put the book down as I wanted to know who the killer was. The description of the setting and crime scenes are strong and really drew me in. The ending was unexpected although I had sort of figured out whodunit around the same time as Stella.
Highly recommended. A fabulous first book for an author I will definitely follow in the future.
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.
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 nuptials 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 canceling 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.
The setting of Nantucket was great, I always like a small town setting where almost everyone knows one another until tourist season. Makes for fun and often quirky characters, also throwing in a crafty theme is even better.
The Protagonist Stella is well developed (although hoping more back detail why she came home in next book), likeable and her BFF Emily, cousins, along with childhood friend now policeman Alex, are all likeable side characters.
I found that the story was well paced and if not for my migraines I would have finished in one sitting. I couldn’t put the book down as I wanted to know who the killer was. The description of the setting and crime scenes are strong and really drew me in. The ending was unexpected although I had sort of figured out whodunit around the same time as Stella.
Highly recommended. A fabulous first book for an author I will definitely follow in the future.
I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.