Hammocks, Handguns, & Hearsay by Tonya Kappes

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “ Hammocks, Handguns & Hearsay” the 31st instalment in the "Camper & Criminals “ Mystery series by Tonya Kappes.  I absolutely love this series!

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Grab your hammock and your bug spray, and join Mae and the Laundry Club Ladies on a wild ride through Happy Trails Campground, where the only thing more dangerous than the handguns is the gossip.

When famous bounty hunter Colt Lincoln is found dead in the Smelly Dog Groomer, clutching a sponge curler that belongs to Dottie Swaggert, Mae West and the Laundry Club Ladies know they've got a real doozy of a case on their hands. Despite Colt's catfishing ways and the fact that he'd parked his fifth wheel camper in Happy Trails Campground, owned by Mae and run by Dottie, they know their friend couldn't have done it.

As they start digging, they discover that Colt had been chasing a member of a notorious motorcycle gang member across the country. To complicate matters further, there's a motorcycle convention in town, and the Laundry Club Ladies have to go undercover to find out if any of the gang members are among the convention attendees.

But that's not all - Mae's mama, Mary Elizabeth, is breathing down her neck about finalizing her wedding plans with her fiancé Hank. With a killer on the loose and the campground buzzing with rumors, Mae's got her hands full.

As Mae and her pals weave their way through the hearsay and red herrings, they uncover a web of deceit that threatens to take down more than just Colt. With the killer still on the loose and time running out, Mae must use all her Southern charm and camping know-how to catch the culprit.

Will they catch the killer before it's too late, or will this case be the one that got away?

In this instalment we have Mae finding Colt’s body with a pink sponge curler in his hand!  No way does Mae believe Dottie did this so her and the laundry club ladies are trying to solve who murdered Colt! 

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

I’m full of anticipation/excitement for QUESTIONS, QUARRELS, & QUANDARY Book 32 as I want the wedding to happen!

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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Tell-Tale Bones by Carolyn Haines

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing  "Tell-Tale Bones" by Carolyn Haines the 26th instalment in the "A Sarah Booth Delaney Mystery" series which releases on May 16th.  I absolutely love this series!

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Carolyn Haines's Tell-Tale Bones marks the next novel in the series that Kirkus Reviews characterizes as “Stephanie Plum meets the Ya-Ya Sisterhood” featuring sassy Southern private investigator Sarah Booth Delaney.

Private Investigator Sarah Booth Delaney and her partner Tinkie are in Sheriff Coleman Peters's office, consulting Coleman about cold cases, when Elisa Redd storms in with a case of her own. She wants Coleman to reopen the investigation of her missing daughter, Lydia Redd Maxell, the heiress to a large fortune who disappeared along with her friend Bethany nearly seven years ago. Lydia and Bethany were rumored to be working as human rights organizers abroad, but Elisa suspects Lydia’s problems might have stemmed closer to home. Now Lydia’s husband, Tope, is set to inherit the fortune, and Elisa believes he’s behind the disappearance.

Sarah Booth and Tinkie soon connect the case to a series of mysterious disappearances over the years, as well as to a perplexing recurring dream. With another woman’s life at stake, the friends follow an increasingly twisty trail all over Sunflower County, leading them to a tree and an empty grave in the county cemetery. A grave that’s said to be haunted…

They who dream by day are cognizant of many things which escape those who dream only by night. In their gray visions, they obtain glimpses of eternity, and thrill, in waking, to find that they have been upon the verge of the great secret." ~Edgar Allen Poe

I always enjoy visiting with Sarah and Tinkie it’s like coming home to old friends.  I always learn something about the history of the Deep South and woman’s rights movement.  Sarah Booth is a very independent woman and Tinkie is a “Daddy’s Girl” but also independent despite her upbringing this makes the perfect partners at Delaney Investigations.

I really felt for the missing woman as no one should have to tolerate abuse but as we learned there was a time sadly the privileged rich and powerful could.  

There were plenty of twists and turns and lots to keep you intrigued.  I found this book to be a real page-turner, and reading in one day.

I’m looking forward to the next instalment 

 
I highly recommend this book and series to all my cozy mystery friends. 

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

The Little Board Game Café by Jennifer Page

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “The Little Board Game Café” by Jennifer Page.  What can I say other than I loved it and read in one day.  Who doesn’t want to escape to a small town in the Yorkshire countryside...

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An irresistible story of love, friendship and the power of Games Night, perfect for fans of Holly Martin and Christie Barlow.

When Emily loses her job, house and boyfriend all within a matter of days, she's determined to turn a negative into a positive and follow her dream of running a small cafe in the gorgeous Yorkshire village of Essendale.

But she quickly finds she's bitten off more than she can chew when the 'popular' cafe she takes over turns out to secretly be a failing business. Emily desperately needs a way to turn things around, and help comes from the unlikeliest of places when she meets local board game-obsessed GP Ludek. But when a major chain coffee shop opens on the high street, Emily is forced to question if she'll ever be able to compete.

Has she risked everything on something destined to fail? Or can a playful twist, a homely welcome, and a sprinkle of love make Emily's cafe the destination she's always dreamed of?

The setting of a tiny village called  Essendale sounded like just my cup of tea, I could picture it especially as I have visited small villages in England.  It had everything you could want in a story friendship, community and love. I adored Mr. B and how he seemed to adopt Em and her cafe.  We actually have a board game cafe here in Calgary, Canada,  now I must go check it out!

I found the characters to be well developed, and multi-dimensional. It’s a great start to a new series, and I can’t wait to pick up the authors next book! 

I will definitely read other books by this author.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Aria 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, 

Paper Cuts by Ellery Adams

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "Paper Cuts” the 6th instalment in the "The Secret, Book & Scone Society" Mystery series by Ellery Adams. This book can be read as a standalone but I highly recommend you read in order to get the full background.

Miracle Springs, North Carolina, is famed for its healing springs, but bookstore owner and bibliotherapist Nora Pennington has a tendency to land in a different kind of hot water. When she isn’t prescribing the perfect book to cure her customers’ maladies, she’s solving local crimes with the help of her Secret, Book, and Scone Society members. Just a touch of magical realism and strong, female-driven stories are winning this series raves from readers and fans of Kate Carlisle and Lorna Barrett.

Nora escaped her past a decade ago. So it feels like a visit from another world when Kelly Walsh—the woman her ex-husband left her for—walks through the door of Miracle Books along with her son, a sweet, serious boy with a talent for origami. Kelly hasn’t come to gloat, though. As it turns out, she’s been dumped too. She’s also terribly ill, and all she wants from Nora is forgiveness.

Shockingly, however, this woman who’s been the victim of so much misfortune is about to become a murder victim. Who would do such a thing? Certainly not Nora, but that doesn’t stop the gossip and suspicion—especially after Kelly’s brother claims that he saw the two women arguing.

In seeking justice for Kelly, The Secret, Book, and Scone Society joins forces with the sheriff’s department, but they’ve barely begun their probe when life throws another wrench. After serving a twenty-year sentence, Estella’s father returns to Miracle Springs. And when his past comes back to haunt him, it might be more than the four friends can handle.

I really enjoyed visiting Miracle Springs again and catching up with old friends.  I like how each of the four women have their own unique quality that they bring to the table as well as how they are right there to help each other out and the sense of community. I have said this before I also like how Ms. Adams portrays Sheldon chronic pain issues with respect and dignity along with other issues/aspects. 

This book centres around Nora and a trauma from her past that has finally collided with the life she’s built in Miracle Springs. I really liked Tucker a neurodivergent child who loses his mother and hope that he becomes a re-occurring character along with his aunt and uncle. Also Estella’s father Gus who was recently released from prison and has come to stay, he is a great character and I can see him becoming one of the main side characters.

This series always fills me with emotion and feels, I can’t wait for book 7 to come out.

I highly recommend this series to all my mystery 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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Death by Chocolate Marshmallow Pie by Sarah Graves

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “Death by Chocolate Marshmallow Pie” is the 6th instalment in the "Death By Chocolate" mystery series by Sarah Graves.

Summertime in the quirky island village of Eastport, Maine, is full of delights—including delicious treats from The Chocolate Moose, the waterfront bakery run by Jacobia “Jake” Tiptree and Ellie White. But these amateur sleuths are in for a rocky road when a chocolate shop rivalry turns deadly in the newest Death By Chocolate Mystery from the bestselling author of the Home Repair is Homicide Series!

Summer in Eastport means lobsters and blueberries, though tourists and locals alike always leave a little room for baked goods from The Chocolate Moose. This year’s arts festival, featuring food, games, and rollicking local musicians, means even more sweet-toothed customers. But it’s also bringing competition from a new rival, Choco’s, that’s trying to slice into the action.

Choco’s owner, Brad Fairway, is pulling sneaky stunts to divert Moose patrons to his own shop, and Ellie finally confronts him about his tactics. But when Brad is found dead next day—and the weapon is a gun that belongs to Ellie—it’s only a matter of time before she is charged with the crime.  

Sifting through the victim’s connections, Jake and Ellie sense they’re getting close to the real culprit—a little too close. Can they serve up the solution before the killer dishes up another helping of murder?

I enjoy this series set in the village of Eastport, Maine and really like protagonist Jake and her BFF Ellie. Plus I love her family especially Bella. 

There were 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 start.

 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.

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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Lemon Curd Killer by Laura Childs

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “Lemon Curd Killer” the 25th instalment in the A Tea Shop Mystery series by Laura Childs. I absolutely love this series!

High tea and high fashion turn deadly in this latest installment of the New York Times bestselling series.

Tea shop entrepreneur Theodosia Browning has been tapped to host a fancy Limón Tea in a genuine lemon orchard as a rousing kickoff to Charleston Fashion Week. But as fairy lights twinkle and the scent of lemon wafts among the tea tables, the deadly murder of a fashion designer puts the squeeze on things.

 

As the lemon curd begins to sour, the murdered woman’s daughter begs Theodosia to help find the killer. Tea events and fashion shows must go on, however, which puts Theodosia and her tea sommelier, Drayton Conneley, right in the thick of squabbling business partners, crazed clothing designers, irate film producers, drug deals, and a disastrous Tea Trolley Tour.

 

INCLUDES DELICIOUS RECIPES AND TEA TIME TIPS!

The story grabbed me from the beginning as we start off at Theo’s Limone Tea and a fashion show where things go from good to bad quite quickly. I love protagonist Theo, the Indigo Tea Shop,  Drayton, and Haley and we can’t forget Earl Grey! 

High tea and high fashion turn deadly

As for the mystery itself I found it entertaining and well thought out. 

Make sure you have a hot cup of tea and a snack when reading as I’m always hungry when I hear Haley’s menus! Good thing there are recipes from the tea shop at the end of the book.

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

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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Dedication to Murder by Lauren Elliott

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "Dedication to Murder” the 9th instalment in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery series by Lauren Elliott.

Oh, bother! In the riveting new mystery from the USA Today bestselling author Lauren Elliott, a first edition set of Winnie-the-Pooh books throws Beyond the Page bookstore owner and rare books expert Addie Greybourne on an investigation into her family’s past.

Wedding bells are about to ring again in Greyborne Harbor, and as Addie slips into her white dress her thoughts are focused on a bright future with Dr. Simon Emerson. But a discovery in her attic leads her to startling revelations about the past. As the owner of Beyond the Page Books and Curios and a lifelong bibliophile, Addie is delighted to find a rare collection of classic children’s books gathering dust in a secret room beneath the rafters, including a first edition of The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams. To her surprise, a handwritten inscription on the title page provides a clue to unraveling a complex mystery in Addie’s family . . .

But that’s only the first surprise in a series of shocking twists that will turn Addie’s vision of where her life is going and where she’s come from upside down—including a suspicious death in the present that suggests foul play.

I loved this latest instalment in the series and I swear each book is better than the last!   It’s hard to write down how I felt reading the story as it would mean giving spoilers but let me just say if you have been reading the series this is a must read.  I do suggest you try to read from the beginning as there are lots of characters and back stories you will want to know plus it’s a great mystery series.

The mystery was interesting and well plotted, I did suspect who the killer was halfway through, but this was an amazing puzzle to figure out alongside Addie and Marc. 

Plus the ending oh my goodness! I’m anxiously awaiting to find out what happens next for Addie as she has some pretty big decisions to make going forward.

I recommend this book to all my cozy lover friends.

I can’t wait to read book 10!

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book 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,

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The Seaside Library by Brenda Novak

Hello my friends,

Today I am reviewing “ The Seaside Library” by Brenda Novak. I found it different from the last book I read of this authors but I still enjoyed it and read in one day. 

There are secrets that bring friends together, and others that drive them apart…

Mariners Island is barely ten miles long, but when Ivy, Ariana and Cam were teenagers, it was their whole world. Beyond the pristine beaches and iconic lighthouse lies the beautiful old library that belongs to Ivy’s family. While that bound Ivy to the island as an adult, Ariana could not leave Mariners behind fast enough. The town holds too many…memories. Not only her unrequited feelings for Cam, but the tragedy that left a scar on the community.

When a young girl went missing, a teenage Cam was unthinkably the prime suspect. Ariana and Ivy knew he couldn’t have hurt anyone, and they promised to protect him—even if it meant lying on his behalf.

Now, twenty years later, Ariana returns to Mariners just as new evidence emerges on the case, calling into question everything the three friends thought they knew—and everyone they thought they could trust. What really happened that night? Over the course of one eventful summer, Ariana, Ivy and Cam will learn the truth—about their pasts, their futures and the ties that still bind them as closely as the pages of a book…

The story follows three friends — Ivy, Ariana and Cam. It had everything you could want in a story, regret, love, sadness, friendship, forgiveness, and family however that might look.

I found the characters to be well developed, and multi-dimensional. There were multiple sub-plots to keep you engaged and interested. I was able to figure out who murdered Emily about halfway through, but still had to be sure. I liked how the author wrapped everything up neatly and didn’t leave us hanging.

I will definitely read other books by this author.

I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Harlequin 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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