User Reviews
Rating: really liked it
Dollycas’s Thoughts
Christmas in Connecticut this year comes with a case of murder for Melanie Travis and she is wrapped right into it because her friend Claire finds the body and becomes the prime suspect. Claire trying to expand her event planning business has become a private shopper for the well-to-do residents of New Canaan including Lila Moran. She had just stopped by to drop off some presents when she found her client murdered. She panics but calls the police and then calls Melanie.
Melanie with her school on holiday break has plenty of time to snoop, and of course, Aunt Peg includes herself in the amateur investigation. At first, they have more questions than answers and the detective on the case wants them out of his case, but before Santa can come down the chimney he may be wishing he paid more attention to Melanie because she always seems to be one step ahead of him.
Also, Aunt Peg finds something very special in her stocking!
___
I love visiting the Travis family, they are always up to something!
It’s holiday season so no dog shows to attend or for Peg to judge but that doesn’t mean drama won’t find these sleuths. Claire is married to Melanie’s first husband but they have become friends. That is part of the reason I love this series, Melanie has a huge open heart and an amazing amount of energy. She is always willing to help friends, family, neighbors, fellow dog owners, actually, anybody, even when it may put her in danger.
A husband, 2 sons, 5 Standard Poodles, 1 spotted mutt, and the formidable Aunt Peg, really keeps Melanie on her toes and that is before you add friends, work, dog shows, everyday life, and a murder. Ms. Berenson has created a fantastic protagonist and surrounded her with a marvelous supporting cast. They are credible and real. I could see myself dropping by Melanie’s house for a cup of coffee while enjoying not only her company but plenty of canine love.
In this installment, Melanie does her best but hits a wall while investigating the victim. Aunt Peg just may have a way to help her out. A few suspects in addition to Claire finally come to light and I enjoyed following step by step along with Melanie right up to a very exciting ending. Wow, the edge of my seat, check!
This holiday story was a quick read and as with the previous books in this series, held my attention was beginning to end. The characters are engaging, the mystery is well-plotted and the story leaves me excitedly waiting for the next one.
Reading Here Comes Santa Paws is a great way to kick off your holiday season and would make a great gift for the dog lovers on your list. Ms. Berenson writes each story to stand on its own so don’t be put off by it being number 24 in the series. I do predict that after reading this one you are going to want to read more about Melanie Travis and her wonderful family though. 🙂 Woof!
Rating: really liked it
Here Comes Santa Paws by Laurien Berenson is the 24th A Melanie Travis Mystery. I always look forward each year to the latest Melanie Travis Christmas story. They are always cute and humorous. Here Comes Santa Paws did not disappoint. I picked up this book around 8 p.m. and did not put it down until I finished it. It is a well-written and features Laurien Berenson’s engaging writing. It starts with Aunt Peg calling Melanie to announce she found three puppies in a decorative stocking at the end of her driveway (the poor little things). Whoever left them at Aunt Peg’s, though, knew they she would take good care of them. I had to laugh at the names Aunt Peg bestowed on these cuties (No, I am not going to tell you and spoil it for you). When Melanie gets a frantic call from Claire Travis (married to Melanie’s ex-husband), she reluctantly stops playing with the puppies. Claire has ventured into personal shopping and she stumbled upon her dead client while dropping off packages. Aunt Peg is eager to delve into the mystery and she happens to know the reclusive owner of the estate where the victim lived in the gatekeeper’s cottage. Melanie Travis has little time for investigating with Christmas approaching, but she is not going to let down Claire. I like that Melanie is a realistic character. Melanie is a special needs teacher, wife, mother of two active boys, and owns six dogs (five poodles and Bud). Sam is the perfect husband for Melanie. I thought it was funny when Sam asked if he should gather bail money when Melanie departed the house on a dubious mission. Aunt Peg is her indomitable self as well as intelligent with good connections. Melanie and Aunt Peg are perfect sleuthing partners. I enjoy how Melanie converses with Faith and Faith’s responses to her queries. The mystery suited the length of the book. There are a couple of suspects with good clues to aid readers in solving the whodunit before the reveal. You do not want to miss out on Melanie’s latest adventure in Here Comes Santa Paws. I am not sure how Melanie will get everything accomplished before Christmas—she should engage Claire’s services. Here Comes Santa Paws is a delightful Christmas cozy mystery with precious puppies, pushy Aunt Peg, a concerned Claire, saintly Sam, a motivated Melanie and Christmas cheer.
Rating: really liked it
The holiday season started early this year with, Here Comes Santa Paws!
Melanie is determined to prove her friend and extended family member, Claire, was not responsible for the murder of one of Claire's personal shopping clients. With help from Aunt Peg and a mysterious recluse, she has to solve the mystery before she and Claire are "wrapped up" for good!
Spending book time with Melanie Travis and her friends (both two and four legged) is always a treat! Melanie is smart, relatable, kind and is a perfect "book" best friend. The writing style makes the reader feel as if they're a part of the story - discovering clues and solving the mystery. The descriptions of the town, Melanie's happily chaotic household, Peg's farm and of course all the Poodles - makes for a wonderfully cozy atmosphere.
I have been a fan since the first Melanie Travis book and with each book, the characters develop and experience life changes very similar to readers - becoming independent and self confident, being a single parent, finding love, marriage, children, blended families, balancing work and home life and all the "adult" things. That's the charm of the Melanie Travis character - she has similar life experiences to readers and she solves mysteries! This book brings all those qualities together for a wonderful holiday mystery!
I received an ARC from the Author for a fair and honest review of the book.
Rating: really liked it
Here Comes Santa Paws
Melanie Travis, Book #24
Laurien Berenson
5 Stars
Synopsis:
It’s the most wonderful time of the year in Connecticut, but Melanie Travis finds surviving this December may take a real Christmas miracle when a yuletide murderer comes to town . . .
As Melanie attempts to deck the halls in a house overrun by pampered Poodles, her event planner friend, Claire, is busy playing Santa—beard and belly not included—for the wealthiest clientele on Connecticut’s Gold Coast. A personal shopper gig in the affluent town of New Canaan seems like business as usual. Except Claire’s stylish stint comes at a higher price than she bargains for when she stumbles over her newest customer’s dead body on the job. Named a prime suspect for murder, she begs for Melanie’s help, then vanishes like cookies and milk on Christmas Eve . . .
Determined to track down Claire, Melanie and her nosy Aunt Peg dash into a dizzying investigation that leads to even more questions. Why was homicide victim Lila Moran, a secretive woman with an untraceable past, permitted to live on a well-known socialite-turned-recluse’s private estate, and is Claire keeping her own incriminating secrets under wraps? Now, with a grinchy New Canaan detective on their case and disturbing clues piling up like presents beneath the tree, the crime-solving duo must rein in a sinister Kris Kringle before they’re the next ones on someone’s deadly wish list . . .
(Goodreads)
Review:
The characters are well developed, well rounded and three dimensional. They all seem very realistic to me, like they could be your next-door neighbor. Melanie is a great wife, mom, friend and crime solver. I really like the fact that Melanie has a family, that makes her seem more down-to-earth to me. And all of the dogs are adorable just like the one on the cover.
The writing style flows smoothly and the book is a quick easy read. The descriptions pulled me into the story right from the very beginning and pulled me along at a nice pace. The mystery was well plotted and not easily solved. Melanie figured out the culprit before I did, which is not unusual.
I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a well crafted cozy mystery. I am already looking forward to the next book in this series.
I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher, Kensington Books, and NetGalley, which I greatly appreciate.
Rating: really liked it
Melanie gets a panic call from her friend and a plea for help. It seems that in delivering Christmas packages to a client, she finds her client dead in her house. Melanie is off to give what assistance she can, and soon gets caught up in the mystery of the deceased and her secret past. It’s a wild and fun ride that may send Melanie right down the road headed for disaster. She has a tendency to stretch the truth and bend the laws to get what she wants. This quick read is pure entertainment and the fact that it’s Christmas and has dogs just makes it that much nicer.
Rating: really liked it
Short little fun mystery from a series that I read that I love !
Rating: really liked it
Series: A Melanie Travis Canine Mystery – Book 24
Author: Laurien Berenson
Genre: Cozy Mystery/Holiday/Pet
Publisher: Kensington Books
Page Count: 208
A spirt lifting holiday cozy from Kensington Books comes the newest addition to the “A Melanie Travis Canine Mystery” series, Here Comes Santa Paws. The cozies in this series are worth sinking your canines into!
Melanie is having a very odd holiday season. She is extremely busy even though she is off from work. When her friend and almost sister, Claire calls and needs her help, Melanie doesn’t hesitate to run to her aid. But when she finds out someone has been murdered, and Claire is acting strange, she begins to worry and decides to find answers quickly. Cozies with characters like Melanie will always keep readers turning the page and looking forward to the next installment in a series.
All cozies should have an ex (spouse, lover, friend) like Melanie. Claire is her ex-husband's wife and her best friend. Melanie would do anything to help her friend, including placing herself in danger if it means keeping Claire out of it. Aunt Peg is also trying to help, even if it does seem more like she is just butting in. It doesn’t take too many questions for Melanie to find out that the victim was not who she seemed. Or that there are a few people who may have had a motive to kill her. Add in a famous recluse who hasn’t been seen in public for forty years, and she has a real mystery on her hands. Before long she finds herself in the middle of a police investigation and in the crosshairs of a killer who thinks that Melanie knows more than she should.
This is a very well written book. Ms. Berenson writes delightful cozies that make readers happy. The descriptions of her home, family, friends, and of course, her pets all combine to give you a sense of home, comfort, and joy. Here Comes Santa Paws will keep readers smiling and filled with the pleasure of the holiday season to come even while the heat of summer is still hanging around. I enjoyed this book and look forward to the next one in this series.
Rating: really liked it
Here Comes Santa Paws by Laurien Berenson is the 24th book in the Melanie Travis mystery series, and another great addition. Reading this book made me feel like I was visiting good friends, and catching up on their latest adventure. Melanie receives an emergency call from her friend Claire, asking her to come now, she just found a body. Melanie and her aunt Peg can't help but get involve in the investigation. I love this series, and this book! I love the well developed characters and plot of this story. Melanie is very likable, with a fun sense of humor and funny how she deals with her Aunt Peg. This book kept my interest, and was fast paced and all round fun, and full of Christmas cheer. I strongly recommend this book and this whole series, for people who love cozy mystery book, dogs, and show dogs.
I reviewed a digital arc provided by NetGalley and Kensington Publishing. Thank you.
Rating: really liked it
Here Comes Santa Paws by the wonderfully talented Laurien Berenson is set to release October 24, 2019!
In this, the twenty fourth book in the Melanie Travis Canine series, you will find Melanie and Claire wrapped in a murder investigation, with very little information to follow up on.
Of course Aunt Peg is calling the shots, but she has to do it from home, where she has her hands full with a very unexpected present left in a Christmas stocking.
I really tried to take my time reading this book, but once I started reading, I just couldn't put it down.
Every time I put it down to "take a break," I found myself picking it right back up, because I'd already invested so much in it, I had to see how it would end.
I've been a fan of this series for about 12 years and each book gets better and better.
Melanie is a fantastic character and as a reader, I appreciate how realistic the author makes her appear.
She's a wife, mother, tutor, and has a household full of dogs, her life is chaotic, which makes her relatable.
Aunt Peg is a strong character, she's independent, successful and smart, which makes for a very compatible partner to Melanie.
Of course, this series wouldn't be the same without all the poodles and new addition Bud. The animal aspect in the books makes it easier for us to envision.
This story involves Claire and Melanie working closely to solve a murder that has Claire at the top of the suspect list.
Trying to clear Claire and preparing for Christmas has Melanie running in circles.
Believe me, you won't want to miss out on Here Comes Santa Paws.
Rating: really liked it
Puppies and Christmas, it doesn't get much better than this.
Aunt Peg is livid! Okay, maybe reading about all of her escapades over the years this is not so shocking. This time I am 100% behind her. Some cretin left a letter of 3 innocent puppies in her outdoor Christmas stocking! Fortunately for the abandoned Australian Shepard puppies they were left with a fierce animal advocate that will make sure they are safe and well taken care of. Peg aka Margaret Turnbull is a longtime breeder of world class standard poodles and a revered judge at dog shows.
Melanie Travis is Peg's niece who juggles many roles. While visiting the puppies she gets a frantic call from her dearest friend Claire who has just come across a very deceased client. Claire is a personal shopper and was delivering gifts for for said client when she made the grisly discovery. Murder just won't take a break for the holidays and always seems to find Melanie on the sleuthing side of things.
Plenty of suspects and some interesting events from the past make this mystery very satisfying. If you love mysteries that keep you guessing with a few adorable pooches thrown in the mix you will definitely find this a fun read. I highly recommend this book and hope you take the time to visit with this delightful and quirky family.
Rating: really liked it
This was a quick read. It takes place just before Christmas in Connecticut. I adored the dogs, especially the Aussie puppies. Most of the humans were likeable. I was surprised by some of the connections, but this was the first book in the series that I have read. I enjoyed the mystery. I was surprised by a few things that happened.
Rating: really liked it
Narrated by Jennifer Hubbard as part of the Melanie Travis 21-24 omnibus from the National Library for the Blind and Print Disabled BARD application.
Like so many holiday themed books, one of the weaker in the series. But still the characters -- including the standard poodles, of course -- are still loveable.
Rating: really liked it
Christmas,dogs,and murder what more could you ask for from Santa? Great characters and storyline. Well written and well developed.
Rating: really liked it
Here Comes Santa Paws was a fun Christmas-themed cosy mystery with a well developed plot and characters. Dogs made it even more fun.
Rating: really liked it
Melanie Travis is getting ready for Christmas, but it's her Aunt Peg who gets an early gift when she finds newborn puppies in a stocking she had used to decorate her mailbox. While Melanie is visiting the puppies at her aunt's house, she gets an urgent call from her ex-husband's new wife who Melanie now considers a friend. Claire calls Melanie when she makes a delivery to the home of one of her clients and finds her dead. Melanie becomes interested in the case and puts her own preparations for Christmas on hold to do a little sleuthing.
I enjoy this series featuring Melanie Travis, her Aunt Peg, and their standard poodles. This book doesn't have the usual tie-in to the dog-show world but still has plenty of appearances by the poodles and the newborn Australian Shepherds that her aunt is fostering. Melanie is a likable character who takes care of her family, her dogs, and still finds time to solve cases. Aunt Peg loves her family, but can be too overbearing. In this book, she is on her best behavior and I enjoyed her interactions with Melanie and the help she gives in solving the murder.
Longtime readers of the series will enjoy the holiday-themed mystery, but it's a good introduction for new readers, too. The book is on the short side, but I enjoy the fast pace of this entertaining story. I also like the interesting author's note about the inspiration for one of the characters in this book. "Here Comes Santa Paws" is a great book for fans of the series and other dog lovers who want to start getting into the spirit of the holidays.
I received this book from NetGalley, through the courtesy of Kensington Books. The book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review.
