Rating 4.5/5*
Guinevere and her delightful Dolly the Dachshund are the sleuths again in this second mystery set around the Cornisea Island castle. It is a delightful, engaging and highly entertaining read that I thoroughly enjoyed escaping into. Guinevere is still working to catalogue Lord Bolingbrooke’s vast library in the castle  but this time new visitors arrive to disturb the tranquility of the setting. Gregory Wadencourt, a historian and artefact hunter, used to be a friend of Lord Bolingbrooke and he arrives planning to discover the hiding place of the “Rose and Stars” wedding goblet which he claims is hidden in the castle grounds. He’s even brought his own photographer, Max DeBurgh, with him to record his unearthing of the bejewelled treasure. As more treasure seekers arrive and other characters from the first story join in, some claiming the goblet belongs to them should it be found. Discord abounds as the existence of any such goblet is uncertain - is it just a myth? When a body is discovered the cause of death needs investigating - is it another  murder mystery to be solved?

It was great to return to Cornisea Island again and to meet so many familiar characters again - especially Dolly! The author skilfully draws readers into the story, painting pictures with her prose, bringing to life the characters, events and scenarios. It is a real page turner, a pair of cosy mysteries to endeavour to solve - one finding the goblet and the other discovering what happened to the person who has died. The story is also packed with humorous moments making it a brilliant story to escape into and I have no hesitation in highly recommending both this and Death Plays a Part, the first book in this series.

I requested and was given a copy of this book via NetGalley and this is my honest opinion after choosing to read it.

A cozy in a castle! Guinevere is a really nice woman and she's got a terrific sidekick in Dolly the daschund. Some of this might seem a bit far fetched (hah!) given that there's a missing goblet in the garden of a castle on an island off Cornwall but it's fun. The mystery is not too twist (it's a short book) but it's entertaining. There's a bit of romantic tension with Oliver and Max. Conroy has a pleasant writing style that will keep you turning pages. SHe's especially good with the dialogue. I'm curious where this is going next. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!

This book is a bit too "Agatha Christie" for me. A bit twee. Some of the narrative is is strange, the author wants to make sure we get it. Paraphrasing "Person A stood up and went to the window". " person B ' I wonder why A is standing at the window, look doggy A is at the window".
It didn't work for me at all I'm afraid. I read it to the end and there are some amusing moments in it too but I didn't feel it

RUBIES IN THE ROSES (Cornish Castle Mystery, Book 2) by Vivian Conroy is the second cozy mystery in the murderous adventures on Cornisea Island. I fell in love with Guinevere and Dolly in the locked room mystery in the first book, “Death Plays a Part”. In this second book, you become more intimately involved with Guinevere’s personal life and emotions as she works to solve the new mystery and murder on the tidal island.
As in the first book, Guinevere and her Dachshund Dolly are on Cornisea Island on a working summer break from the theater in London were she is a costume maker. She is helping Lord Bolingbrooke catalogue his vast library in the castle.
Usually Lord Bolingbrooke hides from anyone trying to visit the castle, but he surprises Guinevere by actually greeting Gregory Wadencourt, historian and artifact hunter, when he arrives with his own photographer, Max DeBurgh in tow. Wadencourt has a history with Lord Bolingbrooke, but it is not necessarily friendly. Wadencourt is on the island to find the bejeweled wedding goblet called The Rose and Stars which he believes is hidden on the castle grounds, but he is not the only person claiming rights to the goblet if found.
Several players, new and old, race to figure out the clues to the goblet’s location and claim it as their own. When a body is found floating under the small private pier by the castle, the islanders are devastated. Once again Guinevere and Dolly search for clues to bring a murderer to justice, but Oliver is not always by her side on this adventure. Oliver does not like or trust Max, but Max makes Guinevere feel beautiful and needed. She does not know if these feelings are real or if she can trust Max, but she wants to.
I really enjoyed this second trip to Cornisea Island and the visit with Guinevere and Dolly. This cozy mystery draws you in with an intricate plot, interesting characters, emotional motives and red herrings. The goblet mystery and the murder mystery both keep you turning the pages. You get to read more of Guinevere’s history as she reveals emotional pain from her past which makes her more realistic and dear to my heart. The secondary characters, whether returning from book one or new to this story, are all fully fleshed and not just caricatures.
This book is a wonderful addition to the series!

Pleasant cozy mystery. Interesting characters and relationships.

This was a cute 2nd installment in the Cornish Castle mystery. I loved getting back to the Cornish seaside. Its the perfect setting. I didn't love this one as much as the first but I'm not sure why. I don't know if its because I didn't get enough of all the side characters? Especially Oliver. This one involves some shady characters that are after a centuries old goblet that has rubies and diamonds in the setting. Things don't go as planned, however, and someone ends up being killed. So we have two mysteries to solve, the goblet and the murder. Guinevere is out to solve them while also falling for a new guy, Max. But is he all that he seems? And is Oliver just a little jealous? (I kind of hope so.) I can't wait to see where the next books leads us.

**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Guinevere Evans has a dream job cataloging books at Cornish Castle on the tidal island of Cornisea. With her fur BF, Dolly by her side she gets to know the people and history of the beautiful island. And from time to time, comes across a body.

When an old friend of her employer arrives unexpectedly, claiming that a rare bejeweled wedding goblet is hidden in the castle gardens, strange things start happening. Several people turn up claiming they have the right to the elusive goblet, and the body of a local resident is found on the beach.

Was his death an accident, or does it have anything to do with the ownership of the goblet? For that matter, is the goblet even real or just a local legend? Guinevere and Dolly start
digging into the mystery and discover motives for all of those involved to lie, steal and kill. A goblet is found, but the jewels are missing. Can she prove what happened to the victim? What became of the precious jewels from the goblet that were removed, and when were they removed and by whom?

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Series: Cornish Castle Mystery - Book 2
Author: Vivian Conroy
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers (HQ Digital)

Rubies in the Roses is the second book in the Cornish Castle Mystery series by Vivian Conroy. It is filled with wonderful characters who will have the reader smiling and worrying at the same time. All the characters, especially Guinevere and Oliver are well rounded and at the center of all the action. The writing is smooth and fluid moving the plot along at a nice easy-to-read pace.

The victim is someone the reader will like and be upset when he is killed. The death is unexpected. When Guinevere finds his body, the reader gets the sense that the victim will be missed by many of the island's residents and Guinevere in particular. The newest character, Max becomes a romantic interest for Guinevere but one that will leave her and the reader questioning many aspects of her future.

It is not necessary for the reader to have read the first book in the series, but it would help to understand the character dynamics. There are quite a few references to the first book that are not explained, but it is not so much as to distract from the current story.

The setting of Rubies in the Roses is unmistakably exotic and exciting as well as romantic. What woman has not dreamed of living in a far away castle surrounded by the ocean and attractive men, and an exciting myth and mystery to fall into?

This book is highly recommended to anyone who enjoys far away locations, castles, and furry friends as main attractions in their mystery. If a reader likes a straight forward who-done-it, they will love this story.

ARC provided by NetGalley

First of all, what a treat to be given the chance to review this highly anticipated follow up to Death Plays a Part.

The cover of the book features Dolly the Dachshund who plays a huge part in helping owner Guinevere solve the clues in both Cornish Castle mysteries. She is always by her owner's side and can be depended on to sniff out evidence whenever it arises, and keep her owner out of harm's way. The pair have  such a strong relationship that they seem to know what the other is thinking.

Rubies in the Roses works really well as a standalone, but I was glad to have read Death Plays a Part because the main characters were already well formed in my mind, and the stunningly beautiful Cornisea island was a pleasure to revisit.

Again, there is the owner of the castle, the gregarious Lord Bolingbrooke and his dashing son Oliver, and the trusty butler Cador who "seemed to be everywhere and see everything with his sharp blue eyes"

This time there are interesting new characters. Wadencourt, an old friend of Lord Bolingbrooke, has a very strong desire to find an ancient wedding goblet he believes to be buried in the castle gardens.  Wadencourt brings along his photographer Max Deburgh who is clearly attracted to Guinevere. There is also the elusive Lady Serena who believes that the goblet belonged to her family, and Mr Vex who has written a highly anticipated article about the artifact.

A sudden death adds more intrigue to the plot. Guinevere and Oliver are just as determined to unravel the details of the death as they are to uncover the mystery of the missing goblet. They have to discover if the two are linked or just a disturbing coincidence. The story overflows with twists and red herrings which keep you rooted from the beginning of the book to its conclusion.

Much to the displeasure of Oliver, Guinevere is pursued by  Max and she is extremely flattered by his attention. Oliver sees the photographer as fake and untrustworthy, but can Guinevere see past the compliments and view Max DeBurgh as a suspect?

This modern day Miss Marple leaves no stone unturned in her quest to unravel the mystery of the ancient goblet. With her trusty sidekick Dolly, and the well travelled Oliver by her side, the trio become a powerful team. Inspector LeFevre returns to Cornisea when he is informed of a crime and provides high spec laboratory analysis and police manpower to lead the investigation.

 A cleverly scripted and enchanting whodunnit with charming characters and a beautiful backdrop.

Vivian Conroy has produced another absolute delight!

5/5 stars.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Guinevere and her faithful companion Dolly the dachsund are back for more mystery solving in this engaging series set in Cornisea Island.

Following on from the first in the series, Death Plays A Part, Guinevere is still at the Castle helping Lord Bolingbrooke catalogue his extensive library, and life in this idyllic setting takes a sinister twist once more. With the arrival of old acquaintances, a treasure hunt for a lost goblet soon becomes the talk of the Island, and pits friends old and new against each other, as they try and track it down and claim ownership. And when another body washes up in the docks, it becomes clear that this goblet search is proving to be a costly one.

I loved the return of the characters from the first book, with the new additions adding extra depth, and although it is part of a series it can easily be read as a stand alone. The storyline was really easy to be drawn into, and I found it to have a slightly darker edge than the first book, but still managed some lighter moments - normally thanks to Dolly and her exploits!

It was full of intrigue and kept me guessing from start to finish and I found myself suspecting everyone! Not sure I'd make a great detective!! I have been well and truly won over by the cosy mystery genre and look forward to finding more mysteries to enjoy!!

Rubies in the Roses by Vivian Conroy a fab four-star read. This is the second book in the Cornish Castle Mystery series but you don’t have to have read the first book to follow this one, if you have you may pick up on some inner jokes and such, but you don’t miss the story.
There is so much going on in this book that you could get lost, but the author does a great job at keeping everything tied up and keeping you hooked. Genevieve and Dolly are a great twosome, even though one of them is a dog. The whodunit aspect of the book had me guessing all the way, I even fell for a red herring, something I never do so well-done Vivian Conroy!!
If you are looking for a mystery with a good plot, and characters who will make you keep reading well past your bedtime then this is the book for you.

Vivian Conroy's Rubies in the Roses is book two in the Cornish Castle Mystery series. I read the first book in this series, which was helpful but not necessary. Guinevere is continuing her summer job of cataloging books on Cornisea. A friend of her employer arrives with grand plans of discovering a wedding goblet hidden on the island. As more people show up to claim the still missing goblet, the castle is thrown into an uproar. Once a body is found on the island, Guinevere and her sweet dog, Dolly, are again in the middle of a mystery. I enjoy the setting of this book most of all. The characters work well together, and the writing style makes the book a joy to read.

This is the second book in the Cornish Castle mysteries. Although, the novel could be read as a standalone I would urge you to read book one Death Plays a Part first just to appreciate the history of the characters and setting.

Once again we are back on Cornisea Island and the Castle is at the centre of another mystery. Legend has it that a silver goblet studded with rubies and diamonds that was used in wedding ceremonies many, many years ago was left hidden by it's last known owner somewhere on the castle grounds. An article has been written in a forthcoming magazine claiming to know the whereabouts of the goblet. Lord Bolingbrooke is keen for the goblet to be found on his property so he can claim rights to it however, others feel they have family connections to the treasured piece.

Vivian Conroy has taken us on another cosy crime mystery with Rubies in the Roses. Guinevere is a little like a modern day Miss Marple and with her trusty side kick Dolly the Daschund providing many charming moments to make you smile. As with the first book in the series I did find the story a little slow but thinking back about the genre the style and flow of writing suits this cosy crime mystery.

I love a good cosy mystery. This one however did not capture my attention and I found myself just wanting it to be over. 

I didn't feel as if I knew any of the characters well and the characters just weren't relatable. There just wasn't enough substance here to form an opinion one way or the other.

Netgalley/HQ   August 30, 2017

This is the second book in the Cornish Castle Mysteries. I haven't read the first one, but I was able to keep up in this one. I may have to go back and read the first book to see what murder they solved, since this book doesn't really go in much detail about it.

In this book Guinevere and Oliver are at odds a bit. Wadencourt has come for a surprise visit. He in search of a wedding goblet, he thinks will make his career. Wadencourt brings a photographer, Max, to document the success, when he finds the goblet. Max is an odd character who has eyes for Guinevere and Oliver doesn't like it. Things get dicey when Jago winds up dead and the goblet is found without its jewels. Can Guinevere and Oliver see eye to eye and solve Jago's murder and find the missing jewels?

This is a great cozy little mystery. The characters are wonderful and catch your attention. Guinevere is a very intelligent woman and nothing gets by her. She looks at the bigger picture putting all events together to figure out the who. Wadencourt is a pompous ass in my eye. I didn't like Max too much either. I think he is all wrong for Guinevere. I like to think there is more to her and Oliver than what is being shown in the story at this point. Maybe future books will explore this further.

Let us not forget cute Dolly. That pup is super smart and sweet. I wanted to kick Max's butt when he was mean to her. She seems to know when Guinevere needs her, by leaning into her to give her strength, barking and growling to stop her from going somewhere dangerous. I love her.

If you are looking for a cozy mystery of who done it, then this is the book for you. I highly recommend this book for those rainy days curled up on the couch.
*ARC provided by Vivian Conroy

Rubies in the Roses is a the second novel in the Cornish Castle series - and an exciting one at that! It's fun and oozes mystery and will leave you hanging on the edge of your chair trying to figure out what happens next.

I haven't actually read the first one in the series, but I wasn't lost and was able to keep up with the characters and what was going on. Although, one thing I will say is that I wish I did actually read the first one before this - just so I got to know the characters a bit better before the follow on! However, it wasn't a big deal and I still enjoyed it.

One thing I did absolutely love about this story was Guinevere's cute little dachshund Dolly. She's so cute! I found the characters were totally unique and I loved the way they all connected. Guinevere is down in Cornwall helping out Lord Bolingbrooke with the cataloging of his books. However, as the book gets started, a friend of Lord Bolingbrooke - Gregory Wadencourt - turns up out of the blue and exclaims that there is a missing silver goblet located somewhere at the castle.

This is where the mystery sets in, and I found myself hooked on the story. There is a death at the castle and Guinevere with the help of her little doggy Dolly, set out to solve it. Throughout the story I was trying my best to figure out who could have done it - but alas I couldn't!

Overall, a really enjoyable read that you won't be able to put down. I myself don't usually read mystery novels - or cosy mysteries for that matter - but found that I really did enjoy it.

Thank you to Netgalley and to the publisher for a chance to read this novel, which I have reviewed honestly.

I do love a mystery, and have a penchant for female sleuths. Vivian Conroy had packed Rubies in the Roses with all my favourite things (at this point I feel I should set them to music - but, erm .. no).

An island setting, a castle, a missing artifact, local people, incomers - more popularly known at visitors - and last, but not least, a dead body. Very much in the style of Agatha Christie herself and just as well-plotted! I love everything about this novel - the characters, the dog .. well, naturally, the doubts, the deliberations and yes, even the red herrings!

This author writes a cracking book, it didn't take me long to get into the story and then I could hardly bear to put it down. That's my criteria for a good read, and this fits like a glove. I hadn't read the first in series, but I shall most definitely be looking out for more in this series.

I received an arc via NetGalley in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

Guinevere came to cornisea to help catalog in a Cornish castle which has a lot of history.
A report has been made of a long lost jewelled goblet to be found in the grounds of the castle in which people come to look for it and claim it's there's.
Guinevere and Oliver ( son of the castle) together with dolly dachshund try to unravel the mystery and murder..
I really enjoyed this book together with the history of the island and castle a brilliant setting .
I never guessed who the killer was as a lot of people had motive to the crime .,a very good plot .
Looking forward for the next book .
Thankyou for giving me the chance to read and review this book net galley .

Rubies in the Roses is the second book in the Cornish Castle Mysteries, and it's a worthy follow-up. It's a fun cozy mystery read with a little history. I really like the Cornwall setting, and the characters are quirky and interesting to read about.

Guinevere and her dog Dolly are spending the summer cataloging books at a castle in Cornisea for the owner, Lord Bolingbrooke and his son Oliver. An old acquaintance, a historian named Gregory Wadencourt, shows up at the castle with his photographer Max, looking for an ancient jeweled wedding goblet called the Rose and Stars that he believes is hidden at the castle. He wants the goblet before another man named Vex can get to it. Vex has done some research and is about to publish his findings in a magazine, which could results in tourists digging up parts of the castle gardens. The goblet's ownership, assuming it is found, is under dispute by Lord Bolingbrooke and Lady Serena Wilkonson, who says the goblet had been in her family for generations before it was lost.

A few days later, Guin finds one of the island's most colorful residents, Jago the boatman, dead by the docks. At the same time, the goblet is found, but it's missing the jewels, which have been recently removed. Guin doesn't know if Jago was involved, or who could have stolen the jewels, but she wants to find out.

I liked this book better than the first one. The plot was interesting and the identity of the murderer was drawn out for quite a while.

I definitely recommend this book to cozy mystery lovers.

Thanks to HQ Digital and NetGalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Costume designer Guinevere Evans needed a summer job when the theater she worked in was being renovated, so she came to Cornisea Castle to help Lord Bolingbrooke catalog his vast library. While working there the castle was visited by Wadencourt, a former friend and one time respected archeologist, who now attempts to find hidden treasure. He has come to Cornisea, along with his photographer Max, trying to find the goblet of rose and stars. When a beloved local fisherman is murdered shortly after he steals a book on treasures of the island, and the goblet is found without its jewels, Guinevere, along with Lord Bolingbrooke's son Oliver, find themselves enmeshed in a mystery that they are determined to solve. This is a delightful story with interesting and quirky characters which will charm any lover of cozy mysteries.

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