Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant by Darci Hannah

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing “Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant” by Darci Hannah the 4th instalment in the "A Beacon Bakeshop Mystery" series.  I loved visiting Beacon Harbor, Michigan again and really want to to go to Michigan now …Brandi M here come!

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The latest installment in Darci Hannah’s delicious Beacon Bakeshop Mystery series set in small-town Beacon Harbor, Michigan, featuring a baker heroine who lives in the local lighthouse with her beloved Newfoundland dog, Wellington.

Lindsey prefers to keep her bakeshop’s Halloween decor light and autumnal, rather than gruesome and ghoulish. But everyone knows her lighthouse home is haunted. Some intrepid teens have even tried to break in to witness the resident ghost themselves. Dreading Halloween night, Lindsey reluctantly allows her influencer and podcaster best friend, Kennedy, to host a live ghost hunting investigation in the lighthouse, conducted by a professional team. Protective of her ghost, Lyndsey is understandably nervous about what they might uncover . . .

The segment is uneventful—until things take a terrifying turn. The team freaks out. As Kennedy joins the mad dash outside, she bumps into what looks like the prankster teens’ creepy clown costume hanging from a tree. But when Lindsey’s dog, Wellington, begins to whine, they make a grim discovery: the clown is no dummy. It’s a corpse.

Now Lindsey and company will need to keep their cool if they want a ghost of a chance to solve the murder—and see another Halloween . . . 

I absolutely love this series,  Lindsey, Rory, Kennedy, Tuck, and her co-workers at the Beacon Bakeshop are lots of fun to hang out with.   I enjoyed seeing how the characters of Lindsey, and Kennedy have progressed since the last book and look forward to the next book as we were left with a small cliffhanger.

I love Wellington the big Newfie who loves everyone especially if you have food but he is loyal to Lindsey and he really shines in this story.  I also love the idea of living on a haunted lighthouse where the ghost is watching over you and seems to have your back.  

It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Lindsey did.  Plus all the descriptions of the pumpkin baked goods made my mouth water. ( recipes included in back of book)

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 5 - Murder at the Blarney Bash in January 2024

I requested and received an advanced readers copy from Kensington and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

Please join the conversation and comment below.  Have you read… If so what did you think/like

Thank you for stopping by and visiting my little blog!

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

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Some of Us Are Looking by Carlene O'Connor

Hello my friends,

Today I am reviewing “ Some of Us Are Looking” by Carlene O’Connor it's the 2nd instalment in the County Kerry Series, grapples with life, death, friendships, and secrets…

In late summer, the Dingle peninsula is thronged with tourists drawn to County Kerry’s dark mountains and deep, lush valleys. For Irish vet Dimpna Wilde, who has returned to run her family’s practice after years away, home is a beautiful but complicated place—especially when it becomes the setting for a brutal murder . . . 

In Dimpna Wilde’s veterinary practice, an imminent meteor shower has elevated the usual gossip to include talk of shooting stars and the watch parties that are planned all over Dingle. But there are also matters nearer at hand to discuss—including the ragtag caravan of young people selling wares by the roadside, and the shocking death of Chris Henderson, an elderly local, in a hit-and-run.

Just hours before his death, Henderson had stormed into the Garda Station, complaining loudly about the caravan’s occupants causing noise and disruption. One of their members is a beautiful young woman named Brigid Sweeney, and Dimpna is shocked when Brigid later turns up at her practice, her clothing splattered in blood and an injured hare tucked into her shirt.

Brigid claims that a mysterious stranger has been trying to obtain a lucky rabbit’s foot. Dimpna is incensed at the thought of anyone mutilating animals, but there is far worse in store. On the night of the meteor shower, Dimpna finds Brigid’s body tied to a tree, her left hand severed. She has bled to death. Wrapped around her wrist is a rabbit’s foot.

Brigid had amassed plenty of admirers, and there were tangled relationships within the group. But perhaps there is something more complex than jealousy at play. The rabbit’s foot, the severed hand, the coinciding meteor shower—the deeper Dimpna and Detective Sargeant Cormac O’Brien investigate, the more ominous the signs seem to be, laced with a warning that Dimpna fears it will prove fatal to overlook.

The story is character-driven and also very descriptive you feel like you are right there in Dingle, Ireland.  I’m a huge fan of the authors other mystery series set in Ireland , but her more gritty and suspenseful mystery novels are becoming my favorite.   

The mystery is interesting and had lots of twists which kept me guessing. With so many suspects to follow I was surprised I guessed just before it was revealed.  

I highly recommend this book to all my Irish Mystery loving friends.

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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Macchiato Murder by Tonya Kappes

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing Macchiato Murder the13th instalment in the A Killer Coffee Mystery Series by Tonya Kappes.  I was so happy to visit Honey Springs Kentucky again, as I love this series.

Welcome to the Bean Hive Coffeehouse where the coffee and gossip are HOT!

Get ready for a hauntingly delightful addition to the Killer Coffee Cozy Mystery series! Roxanne Bloom, the tenacious owner of the Bean Hive Coffeehouse, finds herself in the midst of a Halloween mystery that will keep cozy mystery lovers on the edge of their seats.

As the leaves turn crimson and the autumn air grows crisp, Honey Springs embraces the Halloween spirit. Eleanor Blackthorn, the passionate historian, secures approval to add a long-abandoned mansion to the historic registry. To raise funds for its restoration, she plans an intriguing corn maze and ghost tour, partnering with an eccentric and renowned magician.

But when the magician's lifeless body is discovered in the mansion the captivating mystery unfolds. Enter Roxanne Bloom, armed with her wit and determination, as she unravels a web of secrets within the chilling Halloween backdrop.

With each twist and turn, Roxanne dives deeper into the eccentric lives of Honey Springs' residents, guided by the enthusiastic ghost hunter who inadvertently stumbled upon the chilling crime scene.
Will Roxanne expose the killer's wicked plot before Halloween's moon sets, or will the secrets of the haunted mansion remain forever shrouded in darkness?

"Macchiato Murder" is a spellbinding addition to the Killer Coffee Cozy Mystery series, blending Halloween thrills, a touch of the supernatural, and a tantalizing whodunit that will have cozy mystery fans bewitched until the final page. Don't miss this spine-tingling journey through a corn maze of secrets and suspense!

As always a Tonya’s stories are filled with humour, wonderful characters and a mystery to solve.  I love visiting Honey Springs and the Bean Hive and this time we have a puppy named Ginger from the Pet Palace to love on.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, I did not figure it out before the reveal! 

The story moves at a steady pace, and I had a hard time putting it down thus I finished it in a few hours.  Please note you could read as a stand alone, but you will want to read them all in order.

I cant wait to take another trip to Honey Springs, Kentucky, to see what Roxy and her friends get up to in Ice Coffee Corruption which releases September 24th, 2024.

I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys reading cozy mysteries.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from the publisher. 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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Having a Fudgy Christmas Time by Nancy Coco

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “ Having a Fudgy Christmas Time“ a novella in the  Candy-Coated Mystery series by Nancy Coco.  I really love this series and visiting Mackinac Island!

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Fans of the perennially popular Candy-Coated Mystery series featuring Allie McMurphy are treated to a holiday e-novella in which Allie’s frequent sleuthing partner Carol Tunisian gets mixed up in a holiday homicide.

’TIS THE SEASON FOR FUDGE—AND SLEUTHING

Carol is looking forward to finishing plans for the Mackinac Island Senior Center Christmas Ball. But when she arrives at the center, she finds the door jimmied open and a dead man inside. The victim is a local senior who seems to have been sleeping in the center at night—but why? Although she promises Officer Rex Manning not to involve her book club in solving the mystery, Carol finds a way to fudge around that. Rallying her troop of silver-haired sleuths—and with some support from Ally in between her batches of Christmas fudge -- Carol sets out to discover which grinch tried to steal this Christmas. All she wants from Santa is to get this case wrapped up with a bow!

I found myself engrossed in the story as the mystery is interesting and well plotted.  This time we are seeing the mystery from Carol Tunisian’s point of view which at first I had trouble with but then I got use to it.

I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. 

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends and can’t wait for the next instalment “Three Fudges and a Baby” to come out!

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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Stalking Around the Christmas Tree by Jacqueline Frost

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing Stalking Around the Christmas Tree the 4th instalment in the Christmas Tree Farm Mystery series by Jacqueline Frost.  I am a huge fan girl of author Jacqueline Frost aka Julie Anne Lindsey and love how she incorporates readers names into her mystery.

Tis the season to solve a murder—and innkeeper Holly White knows she’ll have to make her list and check it twice if she wants to catch the killer in the 4th Christmas Tree Farm mystery from bestselling author Jacqueline Frost.

For inn keeper Holly White, Christmas time in Mistletoe, Maine, is the ultimate holiday gift. Business at the Reindeer Games Inn is booming, her wedding to Sheriff Evan Gray is nearly here, and the annual parade is about to begin. The town is lucky to have another gift this year with the state’s ballet company staying for several performances of The Nutcracker. But disaster strikes when Tiffany, the lead ballerina, shows up dead on a float during the parade, the Rat King’s mask nearby. Holly will have to spruce up her sleuthing skills if she wants to catch the killer before Christmas—and her wedding day.

Immediately, Holly discovers that Tiffany had more than a few secrets. She finds out that the star of the show had a super fan that no one knows anything about. And the show’s understudy slips some other intriguing information Holly’s way: not only was Tiffany secretly seeing someone romantically, but there seems to be more than one rat in this company. When Holly discovers a secret passage leading to Tiffany’s dressing room, with footprints leading out; she wonders if this is evidence of a secret lover—or a stalking killer.

With an impending snowstorm and the ballet company on the way out of town, Holly must act quickly if she wants to find the person responsible for this terrible murder. Will she be able to save Christmas—or will her investigation turn cold like the weather?

Omg I loved it! It was extra special recognizing friends names from the cozy community. I love this series and hope that Julie can write more in the series next year or in 2025. 

What a great story to get us in the Christmas spirit. I love reading books about Christmas all year long. I loved the characters and want to be friends with Holly, Evan, Libby, Ray, Cookie, Carolyn, Samantha etc. as with most of Julie’s books you fall in love with the characters. Holly has so much going on between running her family's Inn, getting her jewelry orders mailed, hosting Reindeer games, getting married on Christmas Eve, and now the murder of the lead ballerina Tiffany Krieg!

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and had just enough twists and turns to keep you engrossed in the story till the end. We also had the sub-plot of who was terrorizing Libby.

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy 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,

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Death by a Thousand Sips by Gretchen Rue

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing “Death by a Thousand Sips” by Gretchen Rue the 2nd instalment in the "A Witches Brew Mystery" series.  I loved this book and totally added the series to my favourite witchy list!

Phoebe Winchester is back on the case in Raven Creek when a body is discovered at an estate sale in Gretchen Rue’s second book in the Witches’ Brew mystery series, perfect for fans of Laura Childs and Cleo Coyle.

Ever since she moved to Raven Creek, Washington, Phoebe Winchester knew she would have to grow accustomed to having a lot on her plate. She’s beginning to make the Victorian manor she inherited from her dear and adventurous Aunt Eudora feel more like home, successfully running the bookstore and tea shop, The Earl’s Study, and learning to harness her recently discovered magical powers. But when she discovers a dead body at an estate sale—even Phoebe wonders if this is simply too much.

Rumors of Phoebe’s involvement force her to take action; she needs to find the killer and clear her own name, once again. She enlists Rich Lofting, the handsome private detective and her childhood friend, in her investigation, all while she sorts out her unresolved feelings for him. Is there something more sinister lurking in the shadows of this small tight-knit town? And does Phoebe really want to find out?

With a dash of magic, a pinch of sleuthing skills, and a spoonful of friendly assistance, Phoebe needs to uncover the killer to keep Raven Creek safe once again. But if she doesn’t—will she find herself in even more hot water?

I liked going back to Raven Creek, Washington and visiting with Phoebe and Bob at the Earl’s Study.

We start to get a better understanding of Phoebe and her inheritance with all it entails.  She has a good core group of friends as well as a possible romance in the works.  I really like her idea of having a cat shelter located in the book store for older cats that have been in shelters to long. 

It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I didn’t completely guess whodunnit until Phoebe did. 

Plus all the descriptions of the teas had me wanting a hot cup of tea or an ice tea and one of Phoebe’s sourdough toasts (luckily there are recipes in the the back of the book)

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends and I can’t wait for book 3 to come out!

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Crooked Lane Books and NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are my OWN.

Please join the conversation and comment below.  Have you read… If so what did you think/like

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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Death in the Romance Aisle by Lynn Cahoon

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “'Death in the Romance Aisle” by Lynn Cahoon book 3 in the Survivors  Book Club Mystery series. I love this series, it’s entertaining full of loveable characters and a furbaby named Killer. 

Rarity Cole is taking full advantage of her second chance at life after recovering from breast cancer—running a bookstore in Sedona and a support group for fellow survivors. She’s also discovered a knack for defeating other kinds of deadly threats . . .

Rarity is excited about expanding the romance section of her store—but not nearly as excited as her best friend Sam is about reuniting with her brother after many years. Marcus makes the trek from California to Arizona, is welcomed with a party, and hints that he may stick around now that remote work is an option.

But is it just a coincidence that not long after his arrival, a body is found near a local swimming hole? Especially considering that the dead woman had recently gone on a date with him—and even worse, that Marcus has a startling secret in his past? The police suspect him, but Rarity hopes to find another explanation before Sam is once again separated from her sibling—by prison walls . . .

Once again the story was engaging, really well-written, and I love the setting  in the desert town of Sedona Arizona.

The protagonist Rarity was intelligent, likeable, and the friends she made were people I would like to hang out with especially Sam, Shirley, Archer and Drew.  I found myself thoroughly enjoying the story and I like where the romance between Rarity and Archer is going.  

I can't wait for the next instalment!

I highly recommend this cozy mystery series to all my friends who love a cozy with a strong support system of friends in it.

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

Please join the conversation and comment below.  Have you read… If so what did you think/like

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

Hugs,

 

Catch Me If You Candy by Ellie Alexander

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "Catch Me If You Candy" the 17th instalment in the A Bakeshop Mystery series by Ellie Alexander. 

Things are getting spooky in Catch Me If You Candy, the next delicious installment in the Bakeshop Series from author Ellie Alexander, set in Ashland, Oregon!

Halloween has arrived in picturesque Ashland, Oregon, and all of the ghouls and goblins have descended on Main Street for the annual parade. It’s a giant street party and Torte is right in the mix.

Jules Capshaw and her team have been baking up autumn delights and trick-or-Torte bags filled with sugar cookie cutouts, spiced cider, and mummy munch. It’s the end of the season at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, which means that the costumes for the parade are going to be out of this world. The elaborate guises even extend to pets. The grand marshal of this year’s parade is no other than a regal pug aptly named King George. Jules is delighted to get to share the experience with Carlos and Ramiro, but things take a dark turn when she discovers a dragon slumped in front of the bakeshop.

Jules is distraught when she realizes the dragon is dead. She’s also shaken because a few days before the parade, her mother's Mahjong partner Helen discovered a warning note about a dragon in an antique game set. Jules hopes it’s just a random coincidence, but as the clues begin to unfold it becomes evident that there’s been a murder on All Hallow’s Eve. Can Juliet sift out the truth before the killer comes after her?

I really enjoyed this story, seeing Ramiro settling in to life and school in Ashland. Visiting Torte and Ashland is like coming home to old friends and family lots of fun with a bit of chaos thrown in for good measure.  

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and there were just enough twists and turns to keep you guessing. Needless to say I cant wait for the next book. 

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover 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,

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Heavens To Bribery by Tonya Kappes

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “Heavens to Bribery” by Tonya Kappes the 9th book in her Kenni Lowry Mystery series starring Sheriff Kenni Lowry. It definitely can be read as a stand-alone but I do recommend you start at the beginning.

There's about to be a murder!

"Shucks, y'all! Sheriff Kenni Lowry is back and her life's as twisted as a snake with a bellyache. A marriage proposal from the dashing Finn Vincent could mean a 'happily ever after,' but it also risks sending her ghostly Poppa to the great beyond for good. Can she reckon with love while keeping her spectral sidekick?

Just when you think Kenni's plate is full, a murdered John Doe is discovered on the train tracks. Poisoned and unknown, this mystery man's arrival stirs up a hornet's nest in the heart of Cottonwood.

In 'Heavens to Bribery,' dig into a hearty helping of Southern charm, ghostly companionship, and a murder mystery as thick as Kentucky gravy. Strap in for a tale that’s more gripping than a bull rider at the rodeo, as Kenni races to uncover the truth behind this deadly puzzle.

I love Sheriff Kenni and her ghost Poppa that helps assist in the investigations. But with Finn proposing it could mean the end of her investigating with her beloved Poppa!  What a tough decision she has to make which gets further complicated by a murder and an upcoming sheriff election. 

There were lots of twists and turns to keep us entertained and guessing. I had no idea who the killer was until Kenni did! Also there were a couple of surprises and I can’t wait for the next instalment!

I highly recommend this book to all my cozy loving friends 

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from the publisher. 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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Mrs. Morris and the Wolfman by Traci Wilton

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "Mrs. Morris and the Wolfman" the 7th instalment in the Salem B&B Mystery series by Traci Wilton.  This is my favourite one so far, I just loved it!

Charlene Morris is taking a night away from her Salem, Massachusetts, B&B--and its resident ghost--to enjoy a spooky double-bill, until murder upstages the evening . . .

Saturday night at the movies has some added flair now that Darren and Elise Shultz are reopening one of Salem's classic theaters. Charlene is delighted to help the couple with their venture, and Darren has lined up a cult classic double-header featuring Lon Chaney in The Wolfman. But things get hairier than expected when Elise starts to choke on her popcorn mid-movie--and once the lights go up,
she's dead . . .

When tests reveal Elise's popcorn was poisoned, Detective Sam Holden eyes her husband as the guilty party. Charlene doesn't believe Darren would hurt his wife--even if his company's specialty seasoned salts were sprinkled on the fatal snack. But who else had a motive to do something so unsavory? With a little help from Jack, the handsome ghost who haunts her B&B, Charlene delves into the ill-fated couple's past. And the more she learns, the more Charlene wonders if this time, she's bitten off more than she can chew . . .

What can I say, so much intrigue this go around and all centered around the cult classic featuring Lon Chaney in The Wolfman.  I love visiting Salem and Charlene’s B&B with its resident ghost Jack and her B&B family.  I love all the characters Charlene, Jack, Minnie, Sam and Avery.

The mystery was interesting, well plotted, with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing till the very end.  There was sub mysteries to figure out as well, especially surrounding Darren.  I definitely was surprised by the ending and can’t wait for book 8 to see what happens next!!!

 I highly recommend this book to all my cozy lover 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,