Sabotage at Cedar Creek by Janice Thompson Review

 Happy Friday My Sweet Friends :)

I don't know about the rest of you, but wow to me this week felt like a lot!

Work was crazy, there was a lot of bad situations that seemed to happen around me this week, and I'm so thankful I have today off to spend at home cleaning, cooking, blogging and reading.

I'm happy that today I can share my review of the first book I finished in 2025! I'm a teensy bit behind on reading this year so far, but I'm hoping I'll get back on track after the next couple of days.

I can't wait to tell you guys all about this one, especially considering how much I loved the first book, so let's jump right into it.

However, if you'd like to check out my review of the first book before we dive into this one, you can do so using the link below:

Tracking Tilly

Otherwise, I hope you'll keep on reading and join me today for another fun book review.

Sabotage at Cedar Creek by Janice Thompson:

Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Publisher: Barbour Fiction

Publication Date: February 1st, 2025

Genre: Christian Fiction/Cozy Mystery

Series: Red Truck Mysteries

Synopsis:

Who Would Sabotage the New B&B?
 
Breathe in the nostalgia of everything old red truck in book two of a new cozy mystery series.
 
It’s summertime in Mabank, Texas, and the Hadley family’s new antique business is open and running well with Tilly, the red antique truck, as its mascot. Raelynn Hadley enjoys driving Grandpa’s truck around as she seeks out antiques for her family’s store.
 
Raelynn is excited that her best friend, Tasha, will soon open a new vacation rental to accommodate the area’s growing tourism, but an unexpected act of sabotage threatens to spoil all that Tasha has worked for.
 
Raelynn immediately gets to work sleuthing out who could be behind the crime. Could it be the bitter neighbor, intent on spoiling Tasha’s plans? Perhaps it’s a nearby resort owner, worried about the potential loss of revenue. Maybe it’s the former owner’s daughter who was left out of the will and believes the home should be hers. Or maybe it’s the squatter who had taken up residence in the home before renovations. Raelynn is determined to solve the mystery for her friend in time for opening day. 

(synopsis from goodreads)

My Review:

Janice Thompson is an author who I always enjoy getting to pick up her new titles. I love that she's recently turned her talents towards penning cozy mysteries, and the first book in her Red Truck Mysteries series (Tracking Tilly), ended up being one of my favorite reads of last year. I had high hopes going into this one, and it definitely did not disappoint.

It's kind of refreshing to pick up  cozy mysteries that are both faith based, and non murder mysteries, as it's keeps the content less graphic and makes them more appropriate for younger readers as well. That being said, the mystery is not lacking in any measure, and I still found myself invested in the story right along with the characters trying to piece together who was intent on sabotaging Tasha's new vacation rental.

As lovely as the mystery was, it's the characters that truly make this one a five star read, and it was such a treat to be right back with Raelynn, Mason, Bessie Mae, and the rest of the Hadley clan. The new characters introduced also quickly wormed their way into my heart, and I'm already looking forward to reading book three.

Last but not least, there's a plethora of southern goodness included to wrap this one up in a tidy bow, and I don't recommend you pick up this fun title while being hungry as the food descriptions will definitely have your mouth watering. 

Final Rating: 5/5.

If you're in the mood for a clean and sweet cozy mystery that tugs at the heart strings and restores your faith in humanity, then this lovely tale is the book you've been waiting for. 

I can't recommend it enough, and I'm so thankful that my first read of the year is already a book that will find it's way onto my list of 2024 favorite reads!

Thanks so much to Barbour for allowing me to read and review this one!

I voluntarily read and reviewed a complimentary advance reader copy of this novel from the publisher (Barbour Fiction) via NetGalley. I was not required to give a positive review. All thoughts and opinions are my own, and this is my honest review.

Thanks so much for reading guys! Have a great rest of your weekend :)