A Scottish Country Escape by Julie Shackman

Hello my friends,

Today I am reviewing A Scottish Country Escape the 4th book  in “The Scottish Escapes series” by Julie Shackman.  What can I say other than I loved it and read in one day. 

Determined to overcome a family tragedy, Elle Cassidy decides to reopen her late mother’s ailing newsagent as a stationery shop in the quiet Scottish town of Fir Haven.

But when the arrogant yet handsome crime writer Dexter Grayling almost runs over Elle in his beast of a sports car, the town is thrown into a tailspin – especially when Dexter claims that local resident Linda Carlucci has put a curse on him and he is no longer able to write.

Can Elle put aside her dislike for the self-absorbed writer and help Dexter uncover what is really going on with the Carlucci family? And in the process will Elle realise that there’s a lot more to her beloved Fir Haven than she first thought…

The setting of a tiny town called Fir Haven in the Scottish Highlands sounded magical and the nature preserve, I could picture myself spending an afternoon walking there.

As with the other books in this series, it had everything you could want in a story love, loss, regret, laughter, sadness, forgiveness, friendships and families.

I found the characters to be well developed, and multi-dimensional. There were multiple sub-plots to keep you engaged and interested in the outcome.

I will definitely read other books by this author.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Harper Collins UK, One More Chapter 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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Zoning, Zealots, & Ziplines By Tonya Kappes

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “ Zoning, Zealots, & Ziplines” the 30th instalment in the "Camper & Criminals “ Mystery series by Tonya Kappes.  I absolutely love this series!

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When the owner of the local zipline is found dead on the ride, the small town of Normal, Kentucky is in a state of shock. With the local ranger and sheriff at a loss for leads, it falls to the Laundry Club Ladies - a group of nosey sleuths led by Mae West - to crack the case.

Mae is more than happy to put her nose to the grindstone and get to work, especially since it gives her a chance to escape her pesky new sister-in-law, Ellis.

As Mae and the Laundry Club Ladies dig deeper into the mystery, they uncover a slew of suspects in the cozy town. But with the killer still on the loose, the investigation takes a dangerous turn. Can Mae and the Laundry Club Ladies catch the killer before it's too late?

Join Mae and her team as they navigate the twists and turns of this intriguing murder case in this page-turning cozy mystery that will keep you guessing until the very end.

Once again we travel to the Daniel Boone National Forest and Happy Trails Campground in Normal, Kentucky to find out what’s happening with Mae and thenLaundry Club ladies.  

The Laundry Club Ladies took a bit of a backseat in this instalment as Mae’s new sister-in-law, Ellis tried to prove why she should be an honorary member of the club.  Ellis is struggling to turn over a new leaf now that she’s married but struggles to show people that she can care about more than herself. 

The  mystery was good, with several suspects and a few red herrings thrown in.  

I’m full of anticipation/excitement for Book 31 as I want to know more about what’s in store for Mae, after that surprise ending!

I highly recommend you read this series from the beginning and enjoy the escapism as much as I do.

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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Murder at an Irish Bakery by Carlene O'Connor

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “ Murder at an Irish Bakery” the 9th instalment in the "Irish Village" Mystery series by Carlene O’Connor.  This is one of my many favourite cozy series and I loved this story!

Hailed as “queen of the cozy police procedural” (Publishers Weekly), USA Today bestselling author Carlene O’Connor returns to County Cork in Ireland’s lush countryside, where locals are simmering with excitement over the reality TV baking contest coming to town —until someone serves up a show-stopping murder that only Garda Siobhan O’Sullivan can solve.

In Kilbane, opinions are plentiful and rarely in alignment. But there’s one thing everyone does agree on—the bakery in the old flour mill, just outside town, is the best in County Cork, well worth the short drive and the long lines. No wonder they’re about to be featured on a reality baking show.

All six contestants in the show are coming to Kilbane to participate, and the town is simmering with excitement. Aside from munching on free samples, the locals—including Siobhan—get a chance to appear in the opening shots. As for the competitors themselves, not all are as sweet as their confections. There are shenanigans on the first day of filming that put everyone on edge, but that’s nothing compared to day two, when the first round ends and the top contestant is found face-down in her signature pie.

The producers decide to continue filming while Siobhan and her husband, Garda Macdara Flannery, sift through the suspects. Was this a case of rivalry turned lethal, or are their other motives hidden in the mix? And can they uncover the truth before another baker is eliminated—permanently . . .

 I always love visiting the village of Kilbane in County Cork and the O'Sullivan Six.  I love the characters which are well developed.   All the talking about sweets and pastries had me drooling, for one to go with my tea as I read the story.

The mystery is super interesting and well plotted, and loaded with red herrings.   I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end. 

I highly recommend this book 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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Primer and Punishment by Diane Kelly

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing Primer and Punishment the 5th instalment in the House Flipper Mysteries series by Diane Kelly. This is 4th book I have read in the series, and it can be read as a standalone.

Primer and Punishment marks the fifth in the delightful cozy mystery series from Diane Kelly set in Nashville, Tennessee. Whitney Whitaker has a knack for nailing down murderers . . . but this time she might just come unmoored.

Carpenter Whitney Whitaker and her cousin Buck are looking once again to rehab and resell a house, only this particular house is made of fiberglass, floats, and has been dubbed the Skinny Dipper. The old houseboat sure could use some work, but the unusual project has Whitney bubbling with excitement.

The charming and handsome Grant Hardisty lives on the cabin cruiser in the adjacent slip, but the cousins soon learn he’s left a half dozen angry ex-wives in his wake and made enemies of all sorts of unsavory folks. The man is clearly caught in an increasingly dangerous current with no life preserver in sight.

Whitney and Buck are spraying primer on their houseboat when—KABOOM!—Grant’s boat blows sky high with the man himself inside. Detective Collin Flynn has no shortage of suspects, but the waters become muddied when several of them confess to the crime. Is one of those who confessed truly guilty, or are they taking a dive for someone else? When anonymous threats are made against the cousins, Whitney must quickly determine who killed their neighbor at the lake, or she and Buck might also be sunk.

The characters of Whitney, Sawdust (cat), Buck, Collin and Collette are ones I have really come to love. I also enjoy the setting of Nashville, Tennessee. I like how the series continues to alternate chapters narrated by Whitney and her cat Sawdust.

This time around they are flipping an old rundown houseboat and living on it during the repairs.  It becomes a great place to hold the bachelorette and bachelor parties, have some fun out on the water. I like where the characters are heading in their personal live too. Overall I really like this series and it’s on my must read list.

The mystery is interesting and had lots of twists which kept me guessing. I had no idea who the killer was till Whitney did. 

I highly recommend to all my cozy mystery loving friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from St.Martin 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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No Small Murder by Lena Gregory

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "No Small Murder" the first instalment in the "Mini-Meadows" Mystery series by Lean Gregory.   I loved it and what a great start to a new series set around a tiny home community! 

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Mini Meadows, a Tiny Home community in rural Central Florida, is home to Emma Wells, a downsize specialist who left her daddy’s mansion and her inheritance behind in favor of a simpler, more peaceful life in a tiny home that was once two shipping containers. 

But when she opens a shipping container and discovers her dead client sitting in a rocking chair, neatly wrapped and labeled, and two of her friends end up on the suspect list, Emma pitches in to help find the killer. 

With plenty of clues to unpack, Emma narrows down the suspect list, but as she begins to close in on the culprit, she realizes if she’s not careful she could end up in a box of her own.

I love the concept of a cozy set in a tiny home community, it’s actually something me and my bff have been thinking about for retirement.  The story pulled me in straight away and held my attention till the very end. There were plenty of twists and turns, and enough intrigue to keep you reading throughout and per usual with one of Lena’s books I read in one sitting.  

I really loved that Grandma Rose came to live with Emma as she’s a wonderful addition to the community, then enters Buck the Great Dane …

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Level Best 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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Cheddar Late Than Dead by Linda Reilly

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "Cheddar Late Than Dead” the 3rd instalment in A Grilled Cheese Mystery series by Linda Reilly set in the town of Balsam Dell, Vermont. This is definitely one of my favourite series.

The next in a delicious new culinary cozy series featuring a grilled cheese eatery owner who must solve murders in her small town before someone is cheddar off dead

Winter in Balsam Dell is a snowy affair, and to add in some cheer after the holidays Carly's former classmate Klarissa Taddeo is hosting her extravagant bridal shower at the historic Balsam Dell inn. That is, until a double-booking throws some mold in the cheese and leaves Klarissa scrambling. With the venue moved to the maid of honor's family mansion and Carly rinding to create a new delicious treat it seems the group is going to pull off the shower without a hitch.

That is, until a rowdy band of groomsmen crashes the event. Klarissa is furious with her groom-to-be and when a loud argument ensues, everyone is shocked by what they hear. When the groom is later found dead at the bottom of the stairs, his drink spiked with a hefty dose of poison, Carly must put her nose to the rind and save Klarissa from being suspect #1.

Because you know what they say: it's always the (almost) wife.

I really like the characters in this series and they are what have made me fall in love with it.  Especially the Protagonist Carly, her bff Gina, and her co-workers Grant, Suzanne and newly hired Valerie.

The mystery was interesting and there are plenty of red herrings, and  twists to keep you wanting to find out what will happen next. 

I read the book in one day it was that good, You will crave a grilled cheese while reading the book, I know I did. Luckily there are recipes at the back.

I cant wait for the 4th instalment.  I highly recommend this to cozy lovers.

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Poisoned Pen 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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Wined and Died in New Orleans by Ellen Byron

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "Wined and Died in New Orleans” the 2nd instalment in A Vintage Cookbook Mystery series by Ellen Byron.  What a great follow up to book one! 

The second in a fantastic new cozy mystery series with a vintage flair from USA Today bestselling and Agatha Award–winning author Ellen Byron.

It’s hurricane season in New Orleans and vintage cookbook fan Ricki James-Diaz is trying to shelve her weather-related fears and focus on her business, Miss Vee’s Vintage Cookbook and Kitchenware Shop, housed in the magnificent Bon Vee Culinary House Museum.

Repairs on the property unearth crates of very old, very valuable French wine, buried by the home’s builder, Jean-Louis Charbonnet. Ricki, who’s been struggling to attract more customers to Miss Vee’s, is thrilled when her post about the discovery of this long-buried treasure goes viral. She’s less thrilled when the post brings distant Charbonnet family members out of the woodwork, all clamoring for a cut of the wine’s sale.

When a dead body turns up in Bon Vee’s cheery fall decorations, the NOPD zeroes in on Eugenia Charbonnet Felice as the prime suspect, figuring that as head of the Charbonnet family, she has the most to gain. Ricki is determined to uncover the real culprit, but she can’t help noticing that Eugenia is acting strangely. Ricki wonders what kind of secret her mentor has bottled up, and fears what might happen if she uncorks it.

In the second Vintage Cookbook Mystery, Ricki has to help solve a murder, untangle family secrets, and grow her business, all while living under the threat of a hurricane that could wipe out everything from her home to Bon Vee.

I absolutely loved this story, full of family secrets, vintage wine all while overcoming her fear of hurricanes. 

I really like Ricki, Zellah, Lyla, Eugenia and newest employee Victoria. Once again I enjoyed the interaction between Ricki and Detective Rodriguez. The author is great at building a community you become invested in and you want to be apart of it.

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and had plenty of twists to keep engaged right to the very end. The story moves at a steady pace, and I had a hard time putting it down. I also liked how the author left the ending making us wait in anticipation for book 3. 

I highly recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends. I can’t wait for book three!

I requested and received an Advanced Readers Copy from Berkley 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,

Gargoyles and Graves By Lily Webb

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “Gargoyles and Graves” the 12th instalment in the Magic and a Mystery series by Lily Webb. If you like guarded gargoyles, bewitching bloggers, and magical murder mysteries, then you’ll love this series.

Buy here 

Some pictures paint a grim story…

For wily witch Zoe Clarke, life is all about balance. Her independent news business has taken off, giving her the freedom to report on Moon Grove’s most overlooked stories — at the cost of quality time with her magically maturing young twins.

But when a paranormal travel blogger disappears while chronicling Moon Grove’s notoriously secretive gargoyle community, leaving nothing but a chilling selfie behind, Zoe’s tempted yet again to stick her wand where it doesn’t belong.

Between the blogger’s final perplexing picture and an increasingly cold-blooded response from the gargoyles, Zoe realizes cameras don’t lie, but someone is — especially when she recognizes someone lurking in the background.

Can Zoe track down the missing writer? Or will she be the next to vanish in a flash?

I loved this instalment, Zoe is back at work but at the  Centinel her new business with her friend Jaina. While wand shopping with the twins she bumps into Vlogger Vanessa  who the twins are fans from watching on Bewitch. 

But when Vanessa disappears while chronicling Moon Grove’s notoriously secretive gargoyle community, leaving nothing but a chilling selfie behind, Zoe’s tempted yet again to stick her wand where it doesn’t belong.

Every instalment is better than the last! Like I have said many times before Lily is very talented in her descriptive writing and because of this your pulled into the story right away. I read in about 3 hours, as it was that good .

There were plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing on who the culprit is.  Overall this was a great paranormal cozy and I hope there will be plenty more to come.

I highly recommend this series to all my friends.

I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review.

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

Hugs, 

Murder at an Irish Castle by Ellie Brannigan

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "Murder at an Irish Castle” the first instalment in An Irish Castle Mystery series by Ellie Brannigan (Traci Hall). What a great start to a new series, I absolutely loved it!

Fans of Hannah Dennison and Carlene O’Connor’s mysteries are in for a treat with Ellie Brannigan’s captivating debut cozy mystery, complete with a sharp and endearing protagonist.

Rodeo Drive bridalwear designer Rayne McGrath expected her thirtieth birthday to start with a power lunch and end with champagne, lobster, and a diamond engagement ring from her fiancé. Instead, flat-broke and busted, she’s on a plane to Ireland where she discovers that she’s inherited a run-down family castle. Uncle Nevin’s will contains a few caveats—for example, if Rayne doesn’t turn McGrath Castle around within a year, the entire village will be financially destroyed.

With the fate of the town in her hands, and rumors that Rayne’s uncle’s death wasn’t actually an accident, she can’t possibly go back to her old life in L.A. As the devastating truth about her uncle dawns on Rayne, it’s not just her reputation that’s on the line, it’s her life.

Featuring a sharp and endearing protagonist, a colorful and quirky locale, and replete with twists and turns befitting an old Irish village, the first in Brannigan’s mystery series transports us to a milieu as romantic as it is deadly.

I loved this story right down to the small Irish village, the people, learning some Irish dialects and of course the puppy named Blarney which just made it all the more charming. Rayne seemed to have life by the hand but then one thing after the other derails her perfect life.  Then her uncle Nevis passes away and she’s called to Ireland for the reading of the will.  Enter her cousin Ciara, who thought she would inherit her fathers estate.  I really enjoyed all the overall family dynamics and not all family is blood. 

Overall I just loved how the story made me feel and by the end I was smiling, cheering on Rayne and wondering what life had in store for her next.

The mystery was more a sub plot to us learning about the characters which I found well developed.  To me it was a story about loyalty, community and friendship with a murder to solve.   Book one has set us up perfectly for book 2 and I can’t wait.

I highly recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I requested and received an advance readers copy 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,