Shh, don't tell my bossy big sister, Jess, that you asked someone to come here and talk about the area around the Three Sisters B&B, or she'll take over. She can't help herself; it's a habit left over from when we were little, and she was always in charge, and she forgets that we're all grown up now.
Anyway, I'm the middle sister, Em Walker, and unlike Jess, I never abandoned Kentucky for twenty years, so I know this corner of bluegrass and bourbon country better than she does. Cooperton, despite being a small town, lays claim to two world-famous businesses-slash-tourist-destinations, plus a variety of natural attractions.
The first business, Rackhouse Saddlebreds, is especially dear to my heart, since I'm a dressage rider and I board my horse there. The farm, located right next door to the B&B, was founded in the civil war era, and is still exclusively owned by the original owner's descendants. They breed highly sought-after horses, and every fall they hold an auction weekend that's become more like a state fair with a variety of horse-related exhibits before the sale. One of my favorites this year will be a display of saddles that are works of art, hand-tooled and embellished to the max, like the ones shown here: https://mcintiresaddlery.com/collections/saddles
The second business, Hills' Barrels, is closer to my big sister's heart, since it's owned by Reed Hill, the guy she fell for during a brief family reunion a few months ago, and who might just have tipped the scales in favor of her quitting her Washington, DC law firm to move back to Cooperton and help us run the B&B. Hills' Barrels has been around even longer than Rackhouse Saddlebreds, making the charred oak barrels that give bourbon its distinctive flavor. You can even take a tour of the factory, which would look a lot like the one shown here: https://www.kentuckycooperagetours.com/.
I should add that if my baby sister, CJ, could stand still long enough to give a speech on tourist destinations, she would tell you all about the beautiful hiking trails near us. Just be careful if she offers to take you on her favorite hike, because I'm pretty sure it will involve climbing a vertical cliff. But don't let that scare you off other trails. There are plenty of more manageable options all around Cooperton, like the Pinnacles here: https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g39187-d2356534-Reviews-Berea_Pinnacles-Berea_Kentucky.html.
And finally, if my nephew, Noah, were here, he'd be whispering in my ear—he's only three years old, and not well suited to public speaking—that I shouldn't forget to tell you about the cats at our B&B. Yes, I know that a bunch of domestic housecats can't really be considered a tourist attraction, but he's convinced that our guests all come to visit the cats. He's not entirely wrong about that either. Beam, the pantry cat is a favorite of guests, and then there's Russell, who likes to sneak into guests' rooms, and the gray long-hair, who lingers in the lobby in hopes of a cuddle. Just watch out for a cranky old one-eyed tuxedo cat—that's Pappy, Noah's self-appointed security guard, who assumes strangers are plotting murder and mayhem.
No, wait, forget I said anything about murder. The B&B isn't dangerous, I assure you. The death of a guest last spring didn't happen inside the B&B, and it definitely wasn't our fault, I promise. And if anyone dies during Rackhouse Saddlebreds' upcoming auction weekend, it won't have anything to do with us. Really. Not even if one of us just happens to find the body in my horse's stall.
Bourbon B&B Mysteries #2
From USA Today bestselling author Gin Jones comes a southern tale of murder and deceit...
The Three Sisters B&B in the heart of Kentucky's bourbon country is starting to flourish—thanks to the hard work of Jess Walker and her two sisters, Em and CJ.
With a big auction coming up at the horse farm next door to the B&B, there's an overflow crowd at both properties. And while the sisters may love the full rooms, the workload is enough that the middle sister, Em, sneaks away for a much needed break with the horse she boards at the farm. Only instead of her horse, what she finds in the stall is the dead body of the farm's beloved vet!
The incompetent sheriff assumes it was a tragic accident, but the sisters have trouble believing it...even before the victim's new, handsome young partner arrives and insists it was murder. Em, Jess, and CJ vow to find the truth, no matter what it may take. Together they uncover a variety of likely suspects, including the farm's manager, a B&B guest, and a horse buyer who was banned from the auction. Before long, it's not just a miscarriage of justice to worry about, but the imminent danger of another Bluegrass Homicide, this time at the B&B.
Mystery Cozy | Mystery Amateur Sleuth [Gemma Halliday Publishing, On Sale: June 4, 2024, e-Book, ISBN: 2940167706613 / eISBN: 9798224670000]
Gin is a retired lawyer who specialized in ghost-writing for other lawyers. She prefers to write her own books though, so she doesn't have to worry that her sense of humor might get her thrown into jail for contempt of court. She is the author of four series, the Garlic Farm Mysteries, the Danger Cove quilting series, the Danger Cove farmers' market series, and the Helen Binney Mysteries. In her spare time, Gin makes quilts, grows garlic, and advocates for patients with rare disorders.
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