Mischief in Moonstone Series by Christine DeSmet
This delightful series focuses on the humorous mystery and romantic adventures of the kind folks who live in the environs of a small village nestled on Lake Superior in northern Wisconsin. Along the way in the series, silkie chickens, a giant prehistoric beaver skeleton, a kidnapped reindeer, and other flora and fauna contribute to the amusing mischief and mayhem.
Mischief in Moonstone Series, Novella 1: When Rudolph was Kidnapped
When her pet reindeer, Rudolph, is stolen from the live animal holiday display, first-grade teacher Crystal Hagan has a big problem on her hands. Her students fear that Christmas will be canceled. Ironically, the prime suspect is a man who lives in a mansion known as the “North Pole”. And to her shock, Peter LeBarron admits to kidnapping Rudolph and he won’t give him back without some romantic “negotiations”.
GENRE: Contemporary Romance Novella Word Count: 24, 581
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(ebooks are available from all sites, and print is available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and some from Angus and Robertson)
Rating
Mischief in Moonstone Series, Novella 2: Misbehavin’ in Moonstone
When the men of Moonstone suddenly seem to be off fishing a lot in the evenings, thus cutting down on her new restaurant’s business, chef Kirsten Peplinski becomes suspicious. She discovers a topless touring boat has set up business in Lake Superior, just outside the jurisdiction of Moonstone. She sets out to give a “dressing down” to the boat’s owner, but Jonathon VanBrocklin kidnaps her, having “undressing” and marrying her on his mind.
Word Count: 20, 468
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(ebooks are available from all sites, and print is available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and some from Angus and Robertson)
Rating
4.0 out of 5 stars A Nice Little Novella
Dollycas’s Thoughts Our last visit to Moonstone was at Christmastime, this time a floating topless touring boat creates havoc as all the male residents have “gone fishing” several days in a row. The female population had no idea what they were really up to until they promoted Kirsten Peplinski to temporary mayor and send her out to see what exactly “is biting”. What she finds is Jonathon VanBrocklin and he just may be too hot to handle. This was a fun mini escape on a Sunday afternoon. The characters were engaging and funny. The romance sizzled at just the right temperature. Again, as with the first novella of this series, When Rudolph was Kidnapped, this story has a Lifetime or Hallmark movie feel. Being set in my home state of Wisconsin was just the thing to hook me from beginning to end. I enjoyed Christine DeSmet’s cozy mysteries as well.
Lori Caswell/Dollycas
December 1, 2018
Mischief in Moonstone Series, Novella 3: Mrs Claus and the Moonstone Murder
On her second day of duty, new county deputy Lily Schuster finds herself smack dab in the middle of Moonstone, Wisconsin, trouble. She arrests archeologist Marcus Linden for trespassing, then finds she needs his help in solving the murder of a pie contest judge. The suspects involve none other than the town’s Santa, Henri LeBarron, an eighty-four-year-old man now cavorting with the sexy, mysterious newcomer, Felicity Starr, twenty-seven. But can Lily trust her trespassing prisoner, Marcus, who seems to be willing to exchange kisses for clemency?
Word Count: 23, 074
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(ebooks are available from all sites, and print is available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and some from Angus and Robertson)
Mischief in Moonstone Series, Novella 4: When the Dead People Brought a Dish-to-Pass
Three days before Halloween, Alyssa Swain finds a man dead in his car but, once she gets help, the body is gone. When scruffy, tall, dead man John Christopherson shows up alive on her doorstep, he insists she called him to help her get ready for a party. Now the crazy man won’t leave her house or her heart. How can she keep him from crossing over into the afterlife at midnight on Halloween?
Word Count: 20, 279
| Amazon | Apple Books | Google Play | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | Everand (was Scribd) | Smashwords |
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(ebooks are available from all sites, and print is available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and some from Angus and Robertson)
Rating
5.0 out of 5 stars Cozy Romance
This novella is number 4 in Christine DeSmet’s cozy romance series. Now I have to read the previous three because two hours isn’t long enough to hang out with the residents of Moonstone, a fictional little town located on the northern shores of Lake Superior. The town isn’t real, but I know there are wonderful people like this living in Wisconsin. I want to bring a dish-to-pass to Alyssa’s house and meet her handsome handyman!
Jennifer R
September 1, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Summer Read!
If you are looking for reading material for these last days of summer, nothing could be more perfect than Christine DeSmet’s wonderful When the Dead People Brought a Dish-to-Pass (Mischief in Moonstone Series, Novella 4.) DeSmet masterfully mixes the real with the unreal resulting in an irresistible story of romance and life’s lessons learned. And best of all, she stirs in a generous portion of northern Wisconsin history mixed with a generous helping of fanciful descriptions of mouth-watering potluck dishes (ie. A dish to pass) thrown in. This is a fun romp told by a masterful storyteller. I loved it! Ann Dallman writer, lecturer author of "Sam English: The Life, Work and Times of an Artist"
Ann
August 6, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
What a wonderful story; populated by a cast of colorful characters and an intriguing plot.
Gregory L. Renz
July 28, 2018
5.0 out of 5 stars Your Face Will Hurt from Smiling
When the Dead People Brought a DISH-TO-PASS by Christine DeSmet is such a delightful story that the face-splitting grin you'll wear on a flight from Point A to Point B will have the flight attendants thinking you brought your own little bottle(s) on board! This story is a hoot! As are all of the other books I've read by this author. Looking for a great feel-good read? This is it!
Laurie Buchanan
July 27, 2018
Mischief in Moonstone Series, Novella 5: A Moonstone Wedding
When grocery store owner Margie Mueller’s fiancé–chef Tony Farina–sends her a “fertility rug” to stand on at their wedding, she panics. Margie’s no spring chicken and she’s not about to hatch a big brood for the Farinas. Before she can call off the wedding, the Farina clan invades Moonstone for partying and interference in the wedding preparations. But Margie doesn’t mind–behind the scenes she’s got a murder to solve. A dead man has shown up wrapped in the fertility rug. And it looks like her fiancé may know more about it than he’s letting on. 
| Amazon | Apple Books | Google Play | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | Everand (was Scribd) | Smashwords |
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(ebooks are available from all sites, and print is available from Amazon, Barnes and Noble and some from Angus and Robertson)
Rating
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book
I like all of her books. I have all of them so far.
Happy Camper
April 1, 2024
5.0 out of 5 stars A bride-to-be, a dead body, and a whole lot of laughs.
Sometimes you feel like a full meal. Other times you want a tasty snack. A Moonstone Wedding is the delectable bite you sneak in before dinner. This novella is a quick read filled with giggles, farcical situations, and non-stop action. When Margie Mueller receives a fertility rug from her fiancé’s family before the wedding, the older bride worries her mother-in-law and husband might expect her to pull off a miracle. After the family descends on Moonstone from Italy, Margie receives a threatening note…and then the first body appears. The clash of cultures between Wisconsin and Italy makes for plenty of laughs. The mystery is light as is suitable for a novella. The killer’s motive addresses a surprisingly heavy subject for a humorous novella, but author Desmet keeps it light with twists and farce. This is a fun read to slip in between novels, such as Desmet’s Fudge Shop mysteries.
Jackie Vick
December 18, 2023
Coming Soon:
Novella 6: The Moonstone Fire
Novella 7: All She Wore Was a Bow
Novella 8: Pest Control
Novella 9: The Big Love & Murder Shilly-Shally in Moonstone
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