Death by Chocolate Frosted Doughnut by Sarah Graves

Hello my cozy friends,

“Death by Chocolate Frosted Doughnut” is the 3rd instalment in the "Death By Chocolate" mystery series by Sarah Graves.

When a pirate festival blows into their small town, bakeshop owners Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree and her best friend Ellie White expect they’ll be busy baking up a storm, but instead they find themselves marooned in a new murder investigation after someone kills a well-known food writer and TV personality . . .

Everything is shipshape at Jake and Ellie’s new waterfront bakery, The Chocolate Moose, especially now that the annual Pirate Festival is dropping anchor in their quaint island village of Eastport, Maine. Jake and Ellie are ready for the bounty of tourists sure to flood their shop. But their plans quickly sink when the body of celebrity foodie, Henry Hadlyme, is discovered in the Moose’s basement.

Jake and Ellie are horrified, but their shock turns to dismay when Jake is pegged for the murder. Now, to clear Jake’s name and save the shop, Jake and Ellie must swashbuckle down and figure out who among Henry’s numerous enemies scuttled him in the cellar. Was it a long-ago jilted sweetheart’s vengeful relative? His long-suffering personal assistant? Or perhaps some bitter-as-dark-chocolate unknown enemy, now aboard the mysterious ship lurking in Eastport’s harbor?

Alas, dead men tell no tales, so Jake and Ellie will have to get to the bottom of the case on their own and find the real killer before anyone else is forced to walk the plank . . .

Includes a Recipe!

I enjoy stories set in coastal locations, and the village of Eastport, Maine is a perfect setting from the description of harbour, the shops, the people.  The protagonist Jake and her BFF Ellie have a wonderful friendship, always got each other’s back, plus I love her family.

There were plenty of suspects and plenty of twists and turns to keep me wanting to find out what will happen next. I did suspect the killer early on but then second guessed myself. The book was engaging from start to finish, grabbing your attention from the very beginning.

 I highly recommend this series to all my cozy friends.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley.  All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

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Death of a Blueberry Tart by Lee Hollis

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “Death of a Blueberry Tart” by Lee Hollis the 12th instalment in the Haley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery series.

I love this series, I have only read the last 2 but have purchased the previous 10 and hope to catch up. The stories always catch my attention and pull me in right away. 

Plus the recipes ! They make me want to be a baker or a cook.
Right now I just want to run out and buy some blueberries so I can try out a few of the recipes featured in the book.

I suspected the murderer but didn’t fully guess until Haley did. This was a great mystery filled with lots of twists and turns. I love how Haley, Liddy and Mona are so much like their mothers but don’t see it. 

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends !

My rating 

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Sunsets, Sabbatical and Scandal by Tonya Kappes

Hello my cozy friends,

Today's review is about one of my favorite series, Camper & Criminals mysteries by Tonya Kappes

Who served up the murder at the Normal Diner?

A beloved resident of Normal, Kentucky is found dead on the floor of the Normal Diner, leaving the entire town on high alert. Faster than the short order cook can say order up... the laundry ladies are in the scene.

News spreads fast about the murder and Detective Hank Sharp is hungry for answers.

Mae West along with the Laundry Club ladies come up with a list of suspects and the evidence is piling up faster than a juicy double cheeseburger.

Who murdered the beloved citizen?

Was it a hit to score some extra lunch money?

Sunsets, Sabbatical and Scandal is the 10th installment in the Camper & Criminals mystery series . I LOVE visiting “Normal, Kentucky” and Happy Trails campground.  

The story was intriguing and I liked how we learnt more about Mae’s past as she visits her hometown of Perrysburg, Kentucky.  It brought to life why she is the way she is and why she left at 18.   

I did figure out who the hacker and killer was fairly quickly but it didn’t take away from the story.  

One thing that I found hard at first was that in this instalment there was so much back story in the first 3 chapters, and some things were repeated more than once. (This is just my personal opinion and in no way a reflection on the author) But with that said if you were new to the series you might like this.  I was thinking it would be better to have list of characters at front of book, even a map of normal...

I still love this series and can’t wait for Tents, Trails and Turmoil to come out on April 28th!

There are recipes and cleaning hacks at the end of the book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced, unpolished, electronic copy of this book

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Dressed Up 4 Murder by J.C. Eaton

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “Dressed Up 4 Murder” by J.C. Eaton the 6th instalment in the "Sophie Kimball Mystery" series. I really enjoy this series and have bought all of them in paperback.

Last one standing is the winner . . .

The holiday season has arrived and bookkeeper/amateur sleuth, Sophie “Phee” Kimball, would love nothing more than to enjoy the comforts of her new home with her detective boyfriend near Arizona’s Sun City West. Instead, her mother Harriet wants to showcase her chiweenie-chihuahua-dachshund Streetman in the Precious Pooches Holiday Extravaganza costume events. The festivities begin in October and end on St. Patrick’s Day—with the winner starring in the St. Pat’s Day parade. But things quickly turn an awful shade of green when Streetman uncovers a dead body under a tarp-covered grill in the neighbor’s yard.

The victim is Cameron Tully, a seafood distributor working out of Phoenix, who died from ingesting a toxic sago palm leaf. Before the police can even find a motive and suspect, another Precious Pooch owner nearly dies from the same poison. With Harriet believing someone’s targeting her and Streetman because of the costume contests, Phee will need a potful of Irish luck to sniff out a killer . . .

I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it in one sitting. It was entertaining, full of twists and turns as well as a few surprises. 

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which are well developed. There is plenty of humour, too with Harriet and Streetman her Chiweenie and the rest of her crew from the Sun City Retirement Community.

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends.

I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

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Murder in an Irish Cottage

Hello my cozy friends,

Murder in an Irish Cottage is the 5th instalment in the Irish Village Mysteries by Carlene O'Connor.

 In a remote—and superstitious—village in County Cork, Ireland, Garda Siobhán O'Sullivan must solve a murder where the prime suspects are fairies . . . 

Family is everything to Siobhán: her five siblings; her dear departed mother for whom the family business, Naomi's Bistro, is named; and now her fiancé, Macdara Flannery. So precious is her engagement that Siobhán wants to keep it just between the two of them for a little longer. But Macdara is her family, which is why when his cousin Jane frantically calls for his help, Siobhán is at his side as the two garda rush from Kilbane to the rural village where Jane and her mother have recently moved. Unfortunately, tragedy awaits them. They find Jane, who is blind, outside the cottage, in a state. Inside, Aunt Ellen lies on her bed in a fancy red dress, no longer breathing. A pillow on the floor and a nearby teacup suggest the mode of death to their trained eyes: the woman has been poisoned and smothered. Someone wanted to make sure she was dead. But who? Devout believers in Irish folklore, the villagers insist the cottage is cursed—built on a fairy path. It turns out Ellen Delaney was not the first to die mysteriously in this cottage. Although the townsfolk blame malevolent fairies, Siobhán and Macdara must follow the path of a murderer all too human—but just as evil . . . 

I really enjoy books set in Ireland and this doesn’t disappoint with the setting and descriptions drawing you in (making you want to fly off to the Emerald Isle). The story was well written and I really liked the main character, Siobhán. She's smart, easy to relate to, and I enjoyed getting to know her and her siblings along with Dara and his family. 

The mystery was entertaining with all the fairy lore and full of twists, turns and red herrings galore that I found I couldn’t put it down.

 I highly recommend this series to all my friends who love cozies set in Ireland. 

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Kensington Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!

I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs, 

Have a Deadly New Year by Lynn Cahoon

Hello my cozy friends,

“Have a Deadly New Year“ A novella from the Farm to Fork series by Lynn Cahoon, is a fast, enjoyable read.

Have a Deadly New Year by Lynn Cahoon
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Chef Angie Turner of The County Seat—Idaho’s finest farm-to-table restaurant—is preparing a private dinner in the mountains during ski season, but the trip’s about to go downhill . . .

It’s a rockin’ New Year for Angie and her crew as they cater a bash for a famous band—and as a bonus, they’ll get to stay at the singer’s Sun Valley house for a whole week once the party’s over. But there are hints of discord, and the event hits a sour note when one of the musicians is found with a drumstick in his chest.

Is this a case of creative differences turned lethal or is there another motive at play? Angie’s jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire as she and her fellow foodies try to solve the case before the killer comes out for an encore . . .

There were plenty of suspects and plenty of twists and turns to keep me wanting to find out what will happen next. The book is engaging from start to finish, grabbing you from the very beginning.

I would recommend this novella to all my friends that enjoy cozy mysteries.
I am looking forward to the next book in this series.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Kensington Publishers and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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Hugs,

The Old Success by Martha Grimes

Hello my friends

Today I am reviewing the “Old Success” the 25th instalment in the Richard Jury Mysteries by Martha Grimes.  It's been awhile since I visited with Richard Jury, Melrose Plant and the rest of his group of friends.  This is one of my favourite British mystery series.

When the body of a French woman washes up on a wild inlet off the Cornish coast, Brian Macalvie, divisional commander with the Devon-Cornwall police is called in. Who could have killed this beautiful tourist, the only visible footprints nearby belonging to the two little girls who found her?

While Macalvie stands in the Scilly Islands, inspector Richard Jury-twenty miles away on Land's End--is at The Old Success pub, sharing a drink with the legendary former CID detective Tom Brownell, a man renowned for solving every case he undertook. Except one.

In the days following the mysterious slaying of the Parisian tourist, two other murders take place: first, a man is shot on a Northhamptonshire estate, then a holy duster turns up murdered at Exeter Cathedral in Devon. Macalvie, Jury and Bronwell set out to discover whether these three killings, though very different in execution, are connected.

Written with Grimes's signature wit, sly plotting, and gloriously offbeat characters, The Old Success is prime fare from "one of the most fascinating mystery writers today" (Houston Chronicle).

I have been a fan of the Richard Jury series for many years, and this latest instalment was no let down. The mystery was well done, with a few twists and turns to keep you guessing.

I would not recommend starting the series with this book if you haven't read the others but I do highly recommend starting with The Man with a Load of Mischief and reading the whole series in order. If you are a fan of British mysteries you will definitely enjoy this series.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!
I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

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And then I Turned into a Mermaid by Laura Kirkpatrick

And Then I Turned Into a Mermaid by Laura Kirkpatrick
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The title is what made me want to read this, I’m essentially a landlocked mermaid!
Even though I am in my 50’s I totally enjoyed this story!

Molly Seabrook’s dull seaside life is turned upside down when she turns 13 and is let in on the family secret: she’s PART-MERMAID! While this does explain why her bonkers Mum is always skinny-dipping, Molly isn’t exactly thrilled. She already has to dress as a haddock to promote the family fish ’n’ chip shop, and now this? Growing up is hard enough without sprouting a fish tail in Double Maths, or disguising your gills from the cute boy at the ice cream kiosk.

Join Molly as she navigates the stormy sea of social awkwardness, best friend fallouts and the World's Most Embarrassing Family – all while attempting to hide her (Very Weird) new double identity. Will she sink or swim? You’ll have to wait and SEA . . .

It was humorous, full of friendship struggles we all go through at any age, touched on LGBTQ 🏳️‍🌈 and just the love between a mum and Daughters.

This is an amazing book and I can't wait for more of the series and Seabrook sisters adventures! If there is a sequel I will definitely purchase

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from the publisher and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own

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Murder makes Scents by Christin Brecher

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "Murder' makes Scents" the 2nd Instalment in the Nantucket Candle Maker Mystery series by Christin Brecher. I was really looking forward to reading this and I wasn’t disappointed! 

Stella Wright loves creating candles at her Nantucket store—and she also has a burning passion for justice. Now, after visiting a perfume conference, she must solve a vial crime . . .

Stella and her globe-trotting mom, Millie, have come home from a perfume industry conference in Paris, where their trip was marred by witnessing the stabbing death of a young man. It’s a relief for Stella to be back on her picturesque island, with the comforting company of her cat, Tinker. But lingering danger may have followed them back across the ocean. 

After someone breaks into her candle store, the Wick & Flame, Stella starts feeling spooked. And just as things threaten to ignite, Millie suffers a blow to the head. Stella receives an anonymous note claiming that her mother smuggled a secret formula out of France—and threatening her life if it isn’t returned. Now Stella’s picked up the scent of a cold-hearted criminal and an intriguing puzzle, and things are about to get wicked . . .

I really enjoyed the follow up to book one and the story starts off with Stella and her mum Millie in Paris for the World Perfumery Conference, where a man was stabbed to death.  Then flying back to Nantucket where Stella starts to think something or someone has followed them home.  I always like a small town setting even better if it is by the sea. This instalment was full of intrigue, suspense and a whole bunch of suspects...

The Protagonist Stella is well developed, likeable and I loved her unorthodox  relationship with her mum Millie as you could tell they loved each other very deeply.  Another favourite of mine is Tinker the cat (my first cat was named Tinker as well).  The addition of Cherry Waddle as shop assistant was great, she will fit in perfectly with the rest of our main side characters.

I found that the story was well paced and I couldn’t put the book down as I wanted to know who the killer was. The description of the setting and crime scenes are strong and really drew me in. The ending was anticlimactic in some ways but I rather liked it.  

We didn’t see as much candle making in this story but there are instructions for making your own molds at the back along with Gram Scully’s Cranberry pie recipe.

Highly recommended to all my cozy friends!  I can’t wait for 15 MINUTES OF FLAME the 3rd instalment to come out in September 2020.

I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Kensington and NetGalley.  All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!

I always love reading comments and getting to know my fellow cozy lovers.

Hugs,

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