I was lucky enough to get hold of an ARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book is the second of the Dakota Green series and though I haven’t read the first book, I enjoyed the second one. This book picks up shortly after the events of the first book and while I was slightly lost, the author briefly went through the major plot points of the first book to catch the reader up.

Dakota is an aspiring veterinarian going to vet school who’s recently come back home and come to terms with finding out who her bio dad is and a brand new sibling she didn’t know she had. She’s also dating the local sheriff but has no idea whether they’re exclusive? Or just casually dating? Or whether he’s even serious about her at all? She’s also battling the grief of losing her mother. All this forms the background of one of her classmates dying right in the middle of the dance floor during their 10 year high school reunion.

This book started off strong but then reached a rather tepid conclusion towards the end. Maybe it’s just me and I’ve just read far too many murder mysteries but the identity of the secret lover was very obvious from the beginning. Not to mention the murder kinda turns into….not a murder at the end? I was disappointed with the way the conclusion panned out especially when the book started off strong. But in terms of entertainment value, this book was pretty entertaining and makes for a good lighthearted mystery read.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

It was nice to be back at the Rose Palace with Dakota and the gang. This time we were there for our high school reunion, and things were going well until one of our classmates ended up dead!
I truly adore this series! I love the cozy mysteries, the Murder She Wrote vibes, and the small-town shenanigans! I highly recommend this book and this series for a good old time!
Thank you NetGalley, Storm Publishing, and Kristen Bird for the opportunity to read this ARC!

Dakota Green is returning home for her high school reunion. She’s almost finished with veterinary school and will have some big decisions coming up. But first, it’s time for a party. Her friends are in town, the sheriff who is Dakota’s maybe boyfriend is around, reunion is happening in the mansion. Unfortunately during the party someone has killed the reality tv star. Now it’s time to find the murderer, who could be almost anyone, and possibly solve a mystery surrounding the mansion. I really enjoyed this book. Wonderful characters and a some interesting family secrets.

This is book 2 in this series, and while I think I would have appreciated the background information I would have gotten from book one, I didn't have any trouble following what was going on in this book.

We start at the 2015 class reunion with Dakota ready to make her escape, ready to hop into her PJs, and spend some time with her boyfriend, when one of her classmates drops dead on the dance floor.

This story has plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing, and I enjoyed following Dakota as she investigates the case. I loved the setting and the relationships between the characters. And after everything we learned and how it ended, I'm looking forward to continuing the series.

would like to thank netgalley and the publisher for letting me read this book

i have to say this is the strangest who dunnit i have ever read.....

dakota is at her high school reunion and hating ever minute of it... she cant wait to leave.... an hour she had given it and she had planned to leave until someone dropped down dead....

as she was one of the ones that tried to save him she then had to stay and answer a few questions by none other than her boyfriend who was the one investigating the sudden death.....

there are many revelations that occur and finding the means and motive for the murder keeps dakota busy

its a sunday morning read. one to read in between the scary books

'An Heiress’s Guide to Death and Diamonds' is a great sequel to 'A Beauty Queen’s Guide to Murder and Mayhem'. I highly recommend reading this series in order, as many aspects build upon the first book. Once again, despite their different upbringings and personalities, Dakota’s unlikely friendship with Savilla is heartwarming to read. Kristen Bird crafts a modern small-town whodunit that feels refreshingly original in a genre often weighed down by clichés. The mystery here isn’t as intricate as in the first book, but its scope and pacing keep the puzzle engaging. It also sets up well for a third installment in the series. Like the first book, I could easily imagine Dakota's sleuthing adventures as an entertaining movie or show.

Special thanks to Storm Publishing and NetGalley for the complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

I haven't read the first book in this series, so didn't have the background to some of the storylines, but this didn't affect my enjoyment too much. It is a good example of a cozy mystery, no gory details and also no spicy bits if they're not your thing. There were plenty of twists and turns as Dakota investigates the death of an unliked celebrity, with several suspects along the way, alongside her boyfriend, the local Sheriff. An enjoyable story and one where I'm looking forward to reading more in this series.
I received an advance copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley, however this did not influence my review of the book.

I enjoyed this book just as much as the first one in this series, Kirsten Bird has written a murder mystery that is slightly tongue in cheek, with likeable, well rounded characters.
Trainee vet, Dakota Green was back in her hometown of Aubergine, Virginia to attend a school reunion, The Rose room was decorated and all the people that she had grown up with and counted as her friends, some more friendly than others were there, they had all gone their separate ways, some had been more successful than others.
This wasn't really Dakota's scene, although her best friend, Lacy, seemed to be really into it, Dakota was wondering when she could sneak away and spend some time with Charlie when suddenly, Brett Brinkley, now a TV star, started choking and stopped breathing. Dakota, being the only one with any medical knowledge even though Brett was neither a horse or a dog, started CPR whilst humming "Staying Alive. Relief was shrouded with something else when her boyfriend Charlie, who was the town sheriff, walked in with his very attractive deputy clinging possessively to his arm.
As this story unfolds, Dakota and Charlie work both independently and together to find out who had murdered Brett, Dakota was determined to knock her best friend off the long list of suspects. It finally took a bit of woo woo to find the unexpected answer.
Will they find the Rose diamond ?
Will Dakota get her man or will she take up the offer of a scholarship in a far away city.
I look forward to reading more of Dakota Green.
Thank you Storm Publishing and Net Gallery for this ARC, my review is totally voluntary.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Kristen Bird for providing me with a complimentary digital ARC for An Heiress's Guide to Death and Diamonds coming out June 10, 2025. The honest opinions expressed in this review are my own.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author. I really enjoyed it. I thought it was a fun cozy mystery. The characters were really interesting. I’d check out other books by this author!

Thank you NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this ARC!
An Heiress's Guide to Death and Diamonds was such a fun cozy mystery! The characters were so fun to connect with and the large, old palace setting provided a fun but spooky setting. Although I did not read the first book, I look forward to going back and reading that one next!

Characters:
Charlie
At the beginning I have to admit I was not a fan of Charlie and Dakota together, Charlie came across as distant and cold towards his "girlfriend" and I don't know if this is because we got to know his character more in the first book or if this was in preparation for the change in the middle of the second book.
Aunt DeeDee
Aunt DeeDee was so sweet, she felt like a cute grandma who was always there with a shoulder to cry on and definitely helped give hint into people's true character.
Savilla
Cant wait to see more of Savilla and Dakota's relationship develop in the next book. Savilla was not at all what I would have expected from a rich girl who lives in a palace, but I think she will bring out a fun side of Dakota.

Dakota has some big decisions to make in the next book and I can't wait to see where she ends up. I had a long list of suspects at the beginning of the book and even though I figured out the murderer half way through, Kristen Bird still made the story engaging and fun to puzzle the how and why together till the last page. Highly recommend this cozy mystery.
P.S. The seance scene was so funny, definitely my favorite part!

💎 ARC REVIEW 💎 AN HEIRESS'S GUIDE TO DEATH AND DIAMONDS (DAKOTA GREEN #2)💎 🌟🌟🌟🌟

Murder, missing diamonds, and a high school reunion? Dakota Green is back!

Kristen Bird serves up a sparkling sequel with "An Heiress's Guide to Death and Diamonds," and it might just outshine the first book (though that debut cover still has my heart 😍). Dakota's back in her unconventional Virginia hometown for what's supposed to be a drama-free high school reunion. Surprise—someone ends up dead on the dance floor🕺. And the search begins for a missing diamond!

Dakota's plate is overflowing: she's tackling vet school, navigating a long-distance relationship with her adorable sheriff boyfriend, and hunting down a priceless gem. But it's her lovable sass, charm, and knack for finding trouble that make her a character you can't help but love.

The cast remains delightfully eccentric, and the mystery is twisty without being overly complicated. The pacing was smoother this time, with fun subplots that kept things engaging. It was a refreshing change from my typical fast-paced and intense thrillers!

The inheritance, a key element in the story, sometimes takes center stage, but Dakota's voice and her sleuthing shenanigans, which are so entertaining, always bring it back home.

If you enjoy witty heroines and small-town mysteries with a touch of Southern charm, you'll want "Heiress's Guide to Death and Diamonds" on your TBR list. This book shows that cozy mysteries aren't always predictable, and Dakota Green is a sleuth you'll want to keep your eye on!

Thanks to the author and Storm Publishing for this gifted ARC provided via NetGalley! All opinions are my own.

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This series is proving to be full of mystery and humor. I guessed early who dunnit, but the reveals of the why's were jaw dropping. I enjoy Dakota so much. I also really love the small town feel of the story. I'm interested to see more with Charlie because as of now he's the only character I don't care for. Its fun when the author creates a character you want to reach into the pages to shake!

The first book in this series was great, and the second one is even better. The author added so much in this book that is made for a perfect cozy murder mystery!

Dakota is brilliant, adventurous, sassy, and very smart. So when she attends her high school reunion and someone drops dead, it is up to Dakota ( yet again!) to solve the mystery before an innocent person is blamed for the murder.

An Heiress's Guide to Death And Diamonds brings murder and mayhem and yes diamonds too, to an amazing story with loveable characters that you won't want to miss. 💫💫💫💫💫

Thank you, Netgalley and Storm Publishing, for this ARC. All opinions are entirely my own.

I love this book so much! It was funny and fresh. Makes me reminisce of Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. I loved the characters, the plot, the pace. A really good book!

4⭐️ Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for an advanced copy of An Heiress’s Guide To Death And Diamonds.

Dakota Green returns home for her ten year high school reunion. It is being held at Rose Palace and she is counting down the minutes until she can leave. Then a commotion on the dance floor catches her attention and alum and tv star Brett seems to be choking. Dakota tries to do cpr but it is too late Brett is gone. Small town sheriff and Dakota’s boyfriend Charlie is called to investigate. It seems that Brett did not choke he was murdered. Charlie and Dakota team up once again to investigate another murder at Rose Palace.

This is the second book in this series and the series gives me Miss Congeniality vibes. They are very quick easy reads!

Glad to be back in Aubergine, reading about another murder!
I really am enjoying the Dakota Green series. These are such fun, fast-paced murder mysteries that just hit the spot every time.

Dakota is back in town for her High School reunion, and boy do things go off the rails.
It's a classic small-town murder mystery - everyone has a motive, things get twisty, Dakota gets quippy and then comes up with some zany way to get the killer to confess. what more could you want?

I will say that some of the relationship bits between Dakota and Charlie were a little annoying, mainly that we get told sort of anecdotally what happened between them since book one; and as a romance lover, I would have loved to read about the sweet romance happening on the page!!

That aside, this is another fun installment in the series, and I can't wait to keep reading!

Thank you Netgalley and Storm Publishing for the ARC. This is such a great read. I received the ARC before knowing that this book was the second in a series. I took the time to read book 1, A Beauty Queen's Guide to Murder and Mayhem, which is available on Kindle Unlimited, and I had such a fun time getting to know Dakota Green and her old and new circle of relatives and friends. This is not just a small town contemporary cozy mystery, but also an exploration of grief, friendship, family secrets, rebuilding one’s life after loss, and the charm of a new romance, all wrapped up in a low stakes murder mystery. The writing was smooth and easy to read.
I highly recommend this series and will happily read more in the future.

A murder at her high school reunion throws Dakota into a race against time to solve a crime involving a missing diamond and to uncover deadly family secrets in her small Virginia town.

I love this fast-paced and fun cozy mystery series. I enjoy spending time with Dakota and her friends. They’re likable and relatable, giving the story a heartwarming feel. The dialogue is snappy and the plot kept me guessing.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

BOOK: AN HEIRESS'S GUIDE TO DEATH AND DIAMONDS
AUTHOR: KRISTEN BIRD @kristenbirdwrites
PUB DATE: JUNE 2025
👩🏽‍⚕️💰🕵🏼‍♀️
REVIEW
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC. I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
🕵🏼‍♀️💰👩🏽‍⚕️
First of all, the amazing cover! Then, the amazing FMC, Dakota Green, is the kind of character that makes a cozy mystery pop! Dakota was a veterinary student, dating the town's sheriff going through a massive change after her mother's death, a newfound father, sister and a boatload of money. Anyway, she had enough personal baggage and amateur sleuth skills to keep me turning the pages.
👩🏽‍⚕️💰🕵🏼‍♀️
The victim here, Brent died in front of the FMC and the suspects were close to home, so Dakota rose to the occasion to save her friends. At first, I wondered how she might do that, but she has a talent for snooping around, eavesdropping, perfect skills for an amateur sleuth. She did a good job turning over the stones, looking for suspects and their motives.
🕵🏼‍♀️💰👩🏽‍⚕️
She had help from the town's sheriff who was also her boyfriend and her new sister, Savilla. Savilla was an amazing, bubbly, enthusiastic character and made Dakota get out of her funk and familial confusion. On the other hand, I was apprehensive about the boyfriend, Charlie, at first it felt like he was a scum. However, my view changed when he got Dakota to talk to him. Turns out he was actually okay.
👩🏽‍⚕️💰🕵🏼‍♀️
I didn't expect the culprit to be who they were, but it was nice that the usual suspects were innocent so they could go on with their lives. The book was fast-paced with amazing characters and a good ending, I would definitely recommend it. I didn't read the first book in the series, but I had no problem reading and understanding this.

This book had me guessing who the culprit was from start to finish! At one point or another, I trusted NOONE 👀💎 I actually really enjoyed it!

The story was original and had moments of humor, romance (although not nearly enough 😭), and grieving. All of the characters were quite multilayered and were very well developed.

There were moments, though, where certain reveals felt very anticlimactic and happened very quickly. I wish more time would have been spent on better execution but that really is the only complaint I have!

A good cozy mystery 🥰

Thank you NetGalley & the publisher for this ARC 🙌🏼