This should have been the 2nd installments' epilogue! FINALLY we get something resembling romance in this series! Also after everything that happened there (hint hint as to NOT read this one before reading the two full length novels) seeing Ben and Juliet rekindle their relationship and even aspire to more was the sweet promise I needed when I finished the (previous) book.
This one had a very different vibe then the previous two. It's not a mystery, as Emma puts it, this is about PEOPLE. It started with a very magical second hand shop where both Ben and his nosy neighbor find what they were searching for, even if Ben isn't a believer in Christmas. Turns out the 'pass it forward' that starts that day (rather night) continues on to a few more people in the small Cornish village of Birdswing.
Both Juliet and Ben felt a bit "different" in this one. For Ben it's the resolve he IS interested in Juliet and he understands her circumstance with Ethan Bolivar - her (ex)husband - and can see past it. After what he went through with Penny (his now dead wife) being about to see Juliet as a love prospect shows he can look outside of the box when needed. Juliet have been dealing with change herself with the makeover her mother offered her - and surprisingly enough she accepted. Looking (more) feminine makes her feel more confident, and in a way more grounded in herself. I think like Ben she realized she can be who she wants to be even if not how she expected it (if it makes any sense).
While mystery isn't my "go-to" genre, I enjoyed the two full length novels and was glad Emma is adding more romantic vibes into it. With the mutual interest from both parties throughout both novels (naturally in the 2nd more than the 1st) I felt like I NEEDED the romance with every page turned. Maybe that's why this short novella felt a bit short for me and I would have preferred it to be an epilogue (especially with everything that happened and how it affected Ben and Juliet's relationship). Emma says she intends to write short (non mystery) in-between novellas under "Magic of Cornwall". Sadly there is only another one of those and just a promise of another full length one.
 | Rating: ★★★★ | E-Book Edition | 46 pages | Read on: 2-3 August 2021 |  |  |  |  |
ABOUT THIS SERIES
Br Benjamin Bones Mysteries, like it's name suggests is a mystery series, written by Emma Jameson, set in the beginning of WWII in the small Cornish village of Birdswing.
The series revolve around Dr Benjamin Bones, a rather new doctor, instructed to serve his country by taking care of the population of the community around Birdswing. While he gets there with his wife Penny, who grew up in this same village, she doesn't last long... From there, together with Lady Juliet Linton they start "sleuthing around" to try and figure out what happened.
While Bones doesn't consider Juliet as a love interest per se, he enjoys her company and their debates as well as their little play at sleuthing but as time goes by things start to slooooooowly change.
I consider the first two (full length novels) simply Mystery / Historical Fiction novels. There is NO romance what-so-over. The series continues with two short novellas (Which Emma also calls "Magic of Cornwall") - There the focus is on the relationship between Ben and Juliet (more drama/romance). I do hope when the 3rd installment arrives, we'll be having not just mystery but more of the romance buiolt into the story as well.
Though I don't usually read Mystery/Fiction, I've read all the other published works by Emma (some under a different name) and really enjoyed them so had to give these a try and I'm happy I did. It's such a different setting and vibe. I love it. But I'll admit the language is a bit difficult for me at times, and I was quite frustrated with how long it takes Emma to bring Ben and Juliet together as they sure are meant for one another.
Books:
1. Marriage Can Be Murder (Published 2 November 2014) ★★★★
2. Divorce Can Be Deadly (Published 16 December 2016) ★★★★
2.5. Dr. Bones and the Christmas Wish (Published 23 December 2016) ★★★★
2.6. Dr. Bones and the Lost Love Letter (Published 17 April 2017) ★★★★
3. Friendship Can Be Fatal (To Be Published ???)
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