Love meets murder in this new cozy mystery series set in a quirky romance bookstore, with a heroine to die for. Lizzie Hale may be the lucky owner of a successful romance bookshop, Love Under the Covers, but she's decidedly un-lucky in love. Though she's read almost every famous romance novelist, from Jane Austen to Nora Roberts, none have helped her figure out how to get—and keep—a man. But Lizzie has bigger problems to worry about. Like murder. When Brody Pierce, swoon-worthy ranch owner and resident bachelor, is found stabbed through the chest, hearts were heard breaking all over idyllic Tinker's Creek. But when Lizzie's aunt is implicated in the murder, she's determined to clear her name. Lizzie quickly realizes that Brody was a hunk with many hidden secrets, and she's soon leafing through a stack of suspects longer than Brody's list of lovers. With the killer still on the loose, Lizzie will have to find the truth before this act of passion ignites a fire she can't put out. "Lizzie Hale is a bookstore owner whose two areas of expertise are baseball and romance novels and she finds herself using that knowledge as she tries to figure out who killed former actor—and local celebrity—turned rancher, Brody Pierce. Add in one hunky park ranger who happens to be a former major league player, one over-sized dog of questionable parentage that always seems to be shedding, plus some small-town secrets and you end up with a charming and funny mystery. Cozy fans will definitely enjoy this series debut—I did!" —Sofie Ryan, New York Times bestselling author of Undercover Kitty "What’s not to like? Mimi Granger gives us a romance-themed bookstore, intrigue, and a cast of delightful characters to make Death of a Red-Hot Rancher a winner of a cozy mystery. Lizzy Hale, owner of her bookstore, Love Under Covers, is both smart and vulnerable as she figures out who in town killed off their most eligible bachelor. It’s a superb start to a series that will thrill readers for years to come!" —Dorothy St. James, author of The Broken Spine "Granger’s first mystery features a small, gossipy town; an animal sidekick;, and a hint of romance that will delight cozy readers." — Booklist "Granger’s debut mystery combines murder with all things amatory....A cozy combination of mystery and romance featuring an expert on romance novels who needs some practical lessons in love." — Kirkus Reviews Mimi Granger began her publishing career writing historical romance. Many years later, there’s still nothing she likes better than a happily-ever-after...as long as there’s a little murder and mayhem thrown in. Her Love is Murder mystery series provides the perfect opportunity to salute the two genres she loves most—romance and mystery—and to play out every reader’s dream of owning a fabulous bookstore. Mimi lives outside of Cleveland with her own personal romance hero and two dogs: Eliot, an enthusiastic Airedale, and Lucy, who provides the inspiration for Violet in her stories (including the incredible amount of shed fur). Chapter 1 When Brody Pierce walked into a room, folks sat up and took notice. Eyes got wide. Blood quickened. Hearts beat faster. Men's, because they automatically compared themselves to Brody's six-foot-four-inch muscular frame, strong jaw, straight nose, eagle-eyed stare. Compared themselves, and found themselves lacking. Women? They had a whole different kind of reaction. But then, Brody was that kind of man. As if I needed proof, my left arm prickled and my cheeks caught fire. Automatically, I gave my arm a thorough scratching and, just as quickly, told myself to get a grip. It was no use. Like every other female in Tinker's Creek, Ohio, I couldn't help but fall under Brody's spell. It must have been those broad shoulders of his. Or that raven-dark hair, shot through at the temples with the slightest hint of silver. Or maybe it was his voice, a deep, rich baritone with just a tad of a drawl that was as heady as a shot of bourbon. "Good morning, darlin'." That voice-and the man standing just a couple of feet from me on the other side of the front counter of Love Under the Covers-shook me out of my daydreams. Was the smile that automatically wreathed my face too dopey? Too encouraging? Did my dark curly hair look as completely unruly as it usually did, and would Brody think the green streak I'd added to it the night before was sexy? Or just alien-weird? Get a grip, Lizzie Hale! I did my best to do just that, giving my arm another scratch while I pulled in a long, deep breath. I centered myself on the soles of the pink canvas sneakers that made it possible for me to negotiate way more than my minimum number of fitness steps in the bookstore each day. Brody was a customer, not a knight in shining armor who'd come to whisk me away. And I was the owner of the most successful romance bookstore in the Midwest. I'd better start acting like it. "Mood gorning." I gave myself a mental sla