Tea & Treachery by Vicki Delany

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing “Tea & Treachery” by Vicki Delanythe first instalment inthe Tea by the Sea Mysteries. This was a great start to a new series and one that I will be adding to my favourites.  

In this charming new cozy mystery series from nationally bestselling author, Vicki Delany, a New York City expat-turned-Cape Cod tea shop owner must solve the murder of a local real estate developer to help her feisty grandmother out of a jam . . . 

As the proud proprietor and head pastry chef of Tea by the Sea, a traditional English tearoom on the picturesque bluffs of Cape Cod, Roberts has her hands full, often literally. But nothing keeps her busier than steering her sassy grandmother, Rose, away from trouble. Rose operates the grand old Victorian B & B adjacent to Lily's tea shop . . . for now. An aggressive real estate developer, Jack Ford, is pushing hard to rezone nearby land, with an eye toward building a sprawling golf resort, which would drive Rose and Lily out of business.

Tempers are already steaming, but things really get sticky when Ford is found dead at the foot of Rose's property and the police think she had something to do with his dramatic demise. Lily can't let her grandmother get burned by a false murder charge. So she starts her own investigation and discovers Ford's been brewing bad blood all over town, from his jilted lover to his trophy wife to his shady business partners. Now, it's down to Lily to stir up some clues, sift through the suspects, and uncover the real killer before Rose is left holding the tea bag. 

As my friends all know I love the sea and anything British so combining a seaside locale with and English B&B and a traditional English Tea Shoppe I knew I had to read this book.  I am so glad I did!

I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it in one go yesterday. It was entertaining, full of twists and turns as well as a few romantic sparks.  I loved Robert the Bruce and Éclair. They are just so adorable! 

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the main character of Lily. Her Gran Rose could be a bit abrasive but I think over time we will see that in reality the people around her (staff) do in fact like her and know she does have a heart underneath. Growing up with British patents my mums favorite line as she got older was I’m British get over it... this was because to people who didn’t know her she could come across as opinionated, arrogant etc. even though it was furthest thing from the truth. So with that said I just envisioned Rose as being an even stronger version of her.

Her BFF Bernie was very flighty and couldn’t seem to make her mind up about her goals but when it came to helping Rose she was steadfast and always there.

I won’t go into detail about the mystery as the book blurb does a great job of it but I will say if you like a tea, the seaside, and a great mystery then this series is for you.

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.

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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Matchmaking Can Be Murder by Amanda Flower

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “Matchmaking Can Be Murder“ by Amanda Flower the first in a new series which is a spin off from her Amish Candy Shop Mystery Series.  I really enjoy her Candy Shop series so I thought I would like this one too and I wasn’t disappointed. 

Matchmaking can be murder . . . 

When widowed Millie Fisher moves back to her childhood home of Harvest, Ohio, she notices one thing right away—the young Amish are bungling their courtships and marrying the wrong people! A quiltmaker by trade, Millie has nevertheless stitched together a few lives in her time, with truly romantic results. Her first mission? Her own niece, widowed gardener Edith Hochstetler, recently engaged to rude, greedy Zeke Miller. Anyone can see he’s not right for such a gentle young woman—except Edith herself.

Pleased when she convinces the bride-to-be to leave her betrothed before the wedding, Millie is later panicked to find Zeke in Edith’s greenhouse—as dead as a tulip in the middle of winter. To keep her niece out of prison—and to protect her own reputation—Millie will have to piece together a patchwork of clues to find a killer, before she becomes the next name on his list . . .

I’m a huge fan of Amanda Flowers other cozy series , so had to read this spin off.   I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it in one sitting. It was entertaining, had characters and a town I already knew and loved.  I liked how this showed us the story from the Amish side in the form of Millie.

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.

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

Hugs, 

A Spell for Trouble by Esme Addison

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “A Spell for Trouble” by Esme Addison the first instalment in the "An Enchanted Bay Mystery".  What a great start to a new paranormal cozy mystery series.

Aleksandra Daniels hasn't set foot in the quiet seaside town of Bellamy Bay, North Carolina in over twenty years. Ever since her mother's tragic death, her father has mysteriously forbidden her from visiting her aunt and cousins. But on a whim, Alex accepts an invitation to visit her estranged relatives and to help them in their family business: an herbal apothecary known for its remarkably potent teas, salves, and folk remedies.

Bellamy Bay doesn't look like trouble, but this is a town that harbors dark secrets. Alex discovers that her own family is at the center of salacious town gossip, and that they are rumored to be magical healers descended from mermaids. She brushes this off as nonsense until a local is poisoned and her aunt Lidia is arrested for the crime. Alex is certain Lidia is being framed, and she resolves to find out why.

Alex's investigation unearths stories that some have gone to desperate lengths to conceal: forbidden affairs, family rivalries, and the truth about Alex's own ancestry. And when the case turns deadly, Alex learns that not only are these secrets worth hiding, but they may even be worth killing for.

I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it over 2 days. It was entertaining, full of twists and turns as well as a few surprises.  I love that it included mermaids, witches and a fur baby .  The setting of Bellamy Bay was no e too.  I a sucker for a cozy set in North Carolina, I can see this series becoming a favourite.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which are well developed.  The story about Alex's mom seems to be one that might be an intricate part of the series.

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends. I am looking forward to book two. 

I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Crooked Lane 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,

Return to Sender by Tonya Kappes

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “Return to Sender” the fourth instalment in the Mail Carrier Mystery Series by Tonya Kappes. I loved returning to Sugar Creek Gap Kentucky as I really wanted to know what would happen between Mac and Bernadette was it the end or would they get back together. Even though these are cozy mysteries I find myself invested in the lives of the characters like they are family.

Bernadette Butler has a penchant for solving murders while keeping her ear low to the ground listening to gossip while on her mail carrier route.

Bernie tries to deliver a return to sender package and a certified letter to a local man and finds him dead.

When the death turns up suspicious, Bernie uses her amateur sleuthing skills along with the gossipy help of the Front Porch Ladies to cross reference who exactly in their small southern town stamped out the victim.

I enjoyed this instalment so much, Tonya Kappes has done it again writing another wonderful story with characters I love and care about. I find myself repeatedly saying the same things about her series as I read them as they take me away to a better place one of friendship, southern charm and community with a little murder thrown in. I love that Bernadette aka Bernie is in her 50’s I can relate to her, and especially as she is going through menopause just like me lol.

The story was well written and there were just enough suspects, twists and turns to keep me guessing and not wanting to put the book down! I did suspect the killer but it didn’t take away from my enjoyment of the story.

 I highly recommend this book to anyone who loves cozy mysteries.

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

View all my reviews 


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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A Design to Die For By Kathleen Bridge

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing A Design to Die For by Kathleen Bridge the 5th instalment in the "Hamptons Home & Garden  Mystery" series. I really enjoy this series, although this can be read as a stand-alone I do recommend you read from the beginning.

Montauk’s first annual Designer Showhouse was meant to be a collaborative event, so decorator Meg Barrett can only despair at the group of cutthroat designers scheming to sabotage each other on the project, not to mention the oddball collection of ghost hunters slinking around to investigate a supposedly haunted cottage. But when one of the owners of the showhouse is found murdered on the rocky beach below, Meg suddenly finds herself clashing with local police because of evidence that points to her as a prime suspect.

Desperate to clear her name and track down the real culprit, Meg discovers that many of her fellow designers despised the victim for his unscrupulous business dealings, while others were speculating about his extramarital affairs. And as more secrets emerge about both the deceased and the many outsiders who have come together for the showhouse, Meg realizes she’ll have to decipher a murky pattern of clues to escape the killer’s deadly designs on her . . . 

Includes scrumptious recipes and vintage decorating tips!

I found myself engrossed in the story, I like the setting of the Hamptons and the overall feel of the place. I really enjoy the main character of Meg, and Her bff Elle. Book 4 was the first I read in the series and I have since purchased the previous 3 books.
The mystery is interesting and well plotted, full of twists and turns as well as a few surprises.  I can’t say I guessed whodunit but I was starting to lean towards them.  This would make a great beach read and it includes some great recipes as well.

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

I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Beyond the Page Publishing  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,

Nothing Bundt Trouble by Elle Alexander

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing Nothing Bundt Trouble by Ellie Alexander the 11th instalment in the "A Bakeshop Mystery" series.   I really enjoyed this story and diving into the past  history of Torte and Ashland.  It starts with Jules discoverIng her father's old journal in the basement of her childhood home, which talks about an unsolved murder from the 1980s. With the help of Lance and the professor, she becomes determined to solve the cold case.

Spring has sprung in Ashland, Oregon, and everything at Torte seems to be coming up buttercream roses. But just when Juliet Capshaw seems to have found her sweet spot--with her staff set to handle the influx of tourists for this year's Shakespeare festival while she moves back into her childhood home--things take a dramatic turn. Jules discovers a long-forgotten dossier in her deceased father's belongings that details one of the most controversial cases in Ashland's history: a hit-and-run accident from the 1980s. Or was it?

Now it's up to Jules to parse through a whole new world of details from another era, from unraveling cassette tapes to recipes for Bundt cakes, before an old enemy brings the Capshaw "pastry case" to a modern-day dead end.

This was a good read, but wasn’t what I expected as it was more a back story of Torte and Ashland.  Don’t get me wrong I rather enjoyed hearing about how it all started and Jules looking into the cold case that had haunted her father and stepfather.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which are well developed. There is plenty of humour, too with the staff and the whole 80’s them. 

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

I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from St. Martin’s Press 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,

Nacho Average Murder by Maddie Day

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing  Nacho Average Murder by Maddie Day the 7th instalment in the "A Country Store Mystery" series. I really enjoy this series and have bought all of them in on my kindle, I still need to read some of the earlier ones.

Robbie Jordan is temporarily leaving Pans ’N Pancakes, her country store in South Lick, Indiana, to visit Santa Barbara, California—where wildfire smoke tinges the air, but a more immediate danger may lie in wait . . .
 
While looking forward to her high school reunion back in California, Robbie’s anticipation is complicated by memories of her mother’s untimely death. At first, she has fun hanging out with her old classmates and reuniting with the local flavors—avocados, citrus, fish, and spicy Cali-Mex dishes. But then she gets wind of rumors that her mother, an environmental activist, may not have died of natural causes. With the help of friends, Robbie starts clearing the smoke surrounding the mystery—but what she finds could make it hard to get back to Indiana alive . . .
 
Includes Recipes for You to Try!

This is the second book I have read in the series , and it can be read as a stand alone. This time round Robbie takes us to Santa Barbara for her high school reunion.  While there we meet her high school bff’s as well as some other loveable characters whom I hope we meet again.

I found myself engrossed in the story and reading it in one sitting. I loved the descriptions of the food as well as the setting, I could really picture myself there. It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and a bit of a cliffhanger at the end.
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.

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

Hugs,

A Sprinkling of Murder by Daryl Wood Gerber

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “Sprinkling of Murder” by Daryl Wood Gerber  the first instalment in “A Fairy Garden Mystery" series.  What a great start to a new cozy series, I love all the whimsical characters and learning about fairy gardens.

Fairy garden store owner Courtney Kelly believes in inviting magic into your life. But when uninvited trouble enters her shop, she’ll need more than a sprinkling of her imagination to solve a murder . . . 

Since childhood, Courtney has loved fairies. After her mother died when Courtney was ten, she lost touch with that feeling of magic. A year ago, at age twenty-nine, she rediscovered it when she left her father's landscaping business to spread her wings and start a fairy garden business and teashop in beautiful Carmel, California. At Open Your Imagination, she teaches garden design and sells everything from fairy figurines to tinkling wind chimes. Now she's starting a book club tea.

But the light of the magical world she's created inside her shop is darkened one night when she discovers neighboring dog-grooming business owner Mick Watkins dead beside her patio fountain. To make matters worse, the police suspect Courtney of the crime. To clear her name and find the real killer, Courtney will have to wing it. But she’s about to get a little help from an unexpected source . . .

I found the story to be charming, whimsical and especially liked that Courtney had a Ragdoll cat named Pixie and a Fairy named Fiona.  I always enjoy cozies with a hint of magic and this was no exception.  The side characters were also intriguing and I can see them developing more over the next few books. 

It was entertaining, full of twists and turns as well as a few surprises.  I didn’t guess the ending either so that was nice.

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.

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

Hugs,

To Kill a Mocking Girl by Harper Kincaid

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “To Kill a Mocking Girl“ by Harper Kincaid the first instalment in the "Bookbinding Mystery" series. What a great start to a new series, I’ll definitely be adding this to my must read series!

Bookbinder Quinn finds herself in trouble when her ex's fiance turns up dead and if she's not careful, her days might be numbered in this debut series perfect for fans of Kate Carlisle and Eva Gates.

Quinn Victoria Caine is back in her quirky town of Vienna, Virginia, starting her new life as a bookbinder in her family-owned, charm-for-days bookshop, Prose & Scones. With her trusty German Shephard RBG-'Ruff Barker' Ginsburg by her side, what can go wrong? Okay, sure, bumping into her ex, Scott, or her former high school nemesis, Tricia, is a drag. It certainly doesn't help they have acquired the new hobby of shoving their recent engagement in her face every chance they get. But that doesn't mean Quinn wanted to find Tricia dead in the road. So why does half the town think she may have done it?

Quinn is determined to find Tricia's killer, even if it means partnering with her cousin-turned-nun, Sister Daria, and Detective Aiden Harrington, her older brother's too-movie-star-handsome-for-his-own good, best friend. They believe she's innocent, but of course that doesn't influence the police, who peg her as their prime suspect. Or, at least until she's poisoned.

But there is no way Quinn is going to stop now. Vienna is her town and-for better or worse-Tricia was one of their own. Someone may have killed the mocking girl, but no one's going to stop the notorious QVC.

I found myself staying up till almost 2am to finish the story, as I had to find out how it ended. It was fast paced, entertaining, funny and I really loved the relationship Quinn had with RBG her German Shepard.

The setting of Vienna, Virginia was described in detail so I could picture it, I liked the relationships everyone seemed to have in the town. The book was filled with wonderful characters, I especially liked the close bond between Quinn and her cousin and BFF sister Daria.

It was entertaining, full of twists and turns as well as a few surprises. Plus I didn’t guess whodunnit!

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

I requested and received an Advance Reader Copy of this book from Crooked Lane 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,