It's always fun to read about an occupation that is different than the standard bookseller/bed and breakfast owner/café owner. This was a very interesting story. A bit over my head sometimes as to how the stickers and journal layouts are made, but fun to read, and very enjoyable! There was a bit of choppiness to the flow of the scenes but that could just be getting used to a new author. Overall, this was really fun to read and hard to put down towards the end.

I was interested in this book because of the blurb, newly divorced single mom Mandy has her cousin, Ryan move in to help pay the mortgage. Ryan has his issues, but he has always been a good friend to Mandy. While Mandy and her daughter are vlogging, they hear a loud bang and discover Ryan dead in the basement.
Ryan was a janitor at the local medical center, and got Mandy a job in the coffee shop. Since the police don’t seem to be doing much in terms of Ryan’s murder, Mandy starts investigating Ryan’s past. She uncovers quite a few suspects, as well as discovering a few things Ryan had kept secret from her. The plot had promise, but I thought it was all a bit clumsy, especially Mandy’s investigating, and her on again, off again friendships with colleagues and neighbors seemed unrealistic. If you like journaling you might like this, the author seems well acquainted with this hobby.
Thank you to netgalley and Severn House for a preview copy.