Jun 22, 2023

Fourth of July Forgery by Tonya Kappes

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing “Fourth of July Forgery” by Tonya Kappes the 6th book in her Holiday Cozy Mystery series starring Violet Rhinehammer.  This is now my favourite out of Tonya’s series.
CELEBRATE GOOD CRIMES! 

Get ready for a thrilling and explosive read that will leave you on the edge of your seat until the final twist, in this Fourth of July Forgery.

As the Fourth of July festivities kick off in the quaint town of Holiday Junction, a body washed up on the beach, murdered in cold blood.

Journalist Violet Rhinehammer just can't resist the lure of the case, her nose for news and following the next big story led her straight into finding out all she can about the victim, including digging into their past.

As the investigation begins, Violet finds herself unraveling a web of deceit and uncovering dark secrets hidden behind the town's idyllic facade.

With suspects as numerous as fireworks in the sky, Violet must navigate a dangerous path to uncover the truth, all while celebrating the most American of holidays.

Will she solve the murder before the party ends? Or will the killer strike again under the cover of night, leaving the town to mourn the loss of another innocent victim?

It’s the Fourth-of-July Festivities in the quaint town of Holiday Junction, and a body washes up on the beach, murdered in cold blood.

We visit the art district of Holiday Junction which is up the mountain and sounds like a really quaint area to hang out.  Plus we get introduced to a few new characters that I can’t wait to see more of.

There were lots of suspects as the Art Dealer was not well liked, along
 with plenty of twists and turns to keep us entertained and guessing. 

I highly recommend this book and series to all my cozy loving friends especially if you like stories set around the holidays. 
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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Jun 17, 2023

How the Murder Crumbles by Debra Sennefelder

Hello my cozy friends,

Todays book review is "How the Murder Crumbles” book 1 in the  A Cookie Shop Mystery by Debra Sennefelder.
Debra Sennefelder whips up cookies and crime in a delicious new cozy series, perfect for fans of Joanne Fluke and Peg Cochran.

Wingate, Connecticut, is famed as one of the top ten shopping destinations in the state, and home to Mallory Monroe’s beloved Cookie Shop—a place where patrons are greeted with the heavenly aroma of freshly baked cookies that are as beautifully decorated as they are insanely delicious.

But things aren’t going so smoothly for Mallory. Her two employees are a disaster in the kitchen, she catches her boyfriend with another woman, and she’s seen having a fierce argument with food blogger Beatrice Wright, who accuses Mallory of stealing her cookie recipe. Then Beatrice turns up dead in her kitchen, flour outlining her body and a bloodied marble rolling pin nearby. Mallory immediately becomes suspect number one, her sales plummet, and she desperately tries to clear her name—but that’s not the only murder the killer is baking up.

Debra Sennefelder has cooked up a perfect recipe—endearing characters, a picture-perfect evocation of small-town life, and a quaint sweets shop. And just when things get a little too comfy, there’s always a murder or two for good measure.

I loved How the Murder Crumbles the first book in Debra Sennefelder's  "A Cookie Shop Mystery" series.  There is drama, romance and an absolutely expert mystery offering so many twists and turns that I was completely surprised by the ending.  I really did not want this book to end, and can't wait for more!

I highly recommend it and I cannot wait to see what’s next for Mallory in this series and I look forward to reading the next book ...

I requested and received an Advanced Readers copy of this book from Crooked Lane via NetGalley.  All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
My Rating


Debra Sennefelder is an avid reader who reads across a range of genres, but mystery fiction is her obsession. Her interest in people and relationships is channeled into her novels against a backdrop of crime and mystery. When she’s not reading, she enjoys cooking and baking and as a former food blogger, she is constantly taking photographs of her food. Yeah, she’s that person.

Born and raised in New York City, she now lives and Connecticut with her family. She’s worked in pre-hospital care, retail and publishing. Her writing companions are her adorable and slightly spoiled Shih-Tzus, Susie and Billy.

She is a member of Sisters in Crime and Romance Writers of America.

She can be reached at Debra@DebraSennefelder.com

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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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Jun 14, 2023

The Recipe for Happiness by Jane Lovering

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "The Recipe for Happiness” by Jane Lovering.  What can I say other than I loved it and read in one day.  Who doesn’t want to escape to the Yorkshire countryside…
'Beautifully written and both heartbreaking and heartwarming' Jessica Redland

When Seren’s brother Andrew signs her up to Yorkshire Dating, only for them to recommend that she ‘gets a life’ before they find her a match, Seren has to admit that they may have a point.

She loves her job cooking at an elder day centre and her little flat, but it’s fair to say her life is a little short of hobbies and friends. Since she was young Seren has felt safer close to home, but now she’s a thirty-something divorcee, it’s time for a change.

Change arrives in the shape of alarmingly clever collie Kez, who Seren offers to take in ‘temporarily’, and kind but mysterious new colleague Ned. But as Ned and Kez tempt Seren out of her shell, it means facing her fears. And when Andrew finally reveals the secrets of their childhood, Seren’s need for safety suddenly makes sense.

A problem shared is a problem halved, and with friends by her side, Seren might be able to get a life that she loves at last.
The setting of a village in the Yorkshire countryside, sounded breathtaking to me as I like to dream I live in the English countryside or by the sea.  I am particularly drawn to books set there but I must say this had everything you could want in a story love, family, community and a furbaby named Kez… 

This is a heartwarming story that is full of emotions and I will definitely read other books by this author.
I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book from Boldwood 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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Jun 8, 2023

Songs of Wine and Murder by Lynn Cahoon

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "Songs of Wine and Murder” the 15 instalment in the "Tourist Trap” Mystery series by Lynn Cahoon. This is one of my favourite cozy mystery series! 
In the latest Tourist Trap Mystery by New York Times bestselling author Lynn Cahoon, series sleuth Jill Gardner is trying to drum up business for Coffee, Books, and More—but a killer has other ideas . . .

With the Moonstone Beach Festival coming up, Jill is touching base with her fellow small business owners to make it as successful as possible. It’s frustrating when Darla, the owner of South Cove Winery, is late to a big meeting, but they manage to get the discussion rolling about the kite flying event and the big Battle of the Bands—which Darla’s musician boyfriend is hoping will be his big break. And Jill, of course, will be there with her food truck, hoping for a financial boost after a slow spring.

But amid the fun in the California sun, someone will soon be planning a funeral instead of a festival—and Jill and her detective fiancé will have to find out who ruined the Moonstone Beach mood with murder . . .
As always I love visiting South Cove, California and Coffee, Books & More.  I love the main set of characters Jill, Amy, Aunt Jackie, Harold, Greg, Toby, Deek, Evie, Judith and now Tilly as part of the CBM family.  We learn more about Matt and Darla in this story and a few other residents as it seemed to swirl around relationships as well as rock and roll…

As for the mystery I found it to be well plotted and it moved along at a steady pace. There were lots of suspects for the murder but you still find yourself second guessing on who the murderer can be. Overall I found this to be a great story. 

I can’t wait for the next instalment to come out.

I highly recommend this series to all my cozy 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, 
ps: if you are on Facebook join the Cozy Mystery Lover Group

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Jun 6, 2023

Death Knells and Wedding Bells by Eva Gates

Hello my cozy friends,

Today I am reviewing "Death Knells and Wedding Bells” the 10th instalment in the "Lighthouse Library" Mystery series by Eva Gates. I love this series and couldn’t wait to visit Nag’s Head and the Bodie Island Lighthouse library in the Outer Banks of N.C. Again.
Librarian Lucy’s wedding is nearly perfect—aside from a missing guest and the strangled body she finds. Now, she must vow to find the killer in this 10th Lighthouse Library mystery.

Lucy and Connor planned for the perfect Outer Banks wedding—and that’s exactly what they got. Aside from typical rumblings of familial tensions, the late spring weather allowed for a beautiful day, the food was delicious, and everyone had a good time, until one of the guests goes missing.

Before Lucy can look forward to the rest of her life in Nags Head and the work she does at the Bodie Island Lighthouse Library, she gets a phone call from her boss, Bertie James. Eddie, Bertie’s friend, never made it back home after the reception. Initially, Lucy doesn’t think anything of it—sometimes wedding guests simply have a little too much fun. But this quickly turns to something darker when she discovers the body of a wedding guest strangled in a locked closet, and the police immediately start asking questions about Eddie. Lucy must figure out if the two are connected before it’s too late—both for Bertie’s friend and the rest of her wedding guests.

With the Classic Novel Reading Club reading the Selected Works of Edgar Allan Poe—Lucy wonders if the master of the macabre can assist her investigation or if the hunt for the killer’s identity will remain as nothing more than an unsolved mystery.

This time the story is more centred around Lucy and Connors wedding and her guests. We can’t forget Charlie the library cat who seems to sense when someone is not right/nice…

The mystery is interesting and well plotted, and I loved the characters which are well developed.  I have enjoyed seeing Lucy outside the library as well as meeting some new characters. I kept guessing and second-guessing myself on whodunnit right to the very end.  

I can't wait for the next instalment!  I highly recommend this book to all my cozy mystery loving friends.



I requested and received an advance reader copy of this book 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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Jun 1, 2023

The Murderous Type by Sue Minix

Hello my cozy friends, 

Today I am reviewing The Murderous Type by Sue Minix the 2nd instalment in the "A Bookstore Mystery" series.  What a great follow up to book one. I enjoyed this book and look forward to book 3.
I wrote murder mysteries. I didn’t investigate them. Until now…

Crime writer turned amateur sleuth, Jen, has taken over the running of the local bookstore in her hometown of Riddleton.

But balancing the books at Ravenous Readers is nothing compared to meeting the deadline for her new novel.

Dodging phone calls from her editor takes a back seat, however, when the local police chief is poisoned. To solve the murder, Jen must dust off her detective hat once more.

With everyone in town seemingly a suspect, and evidence planted to incriminate local police officer and close friend Eric, Jen is working against the clock. Can she find the killer and beat her own writer’s block before it’s too late?

Perfect for fans of Agatha Christie, Lauren Elliott and Ellery Adams, this is an absolutely gripping new bookish cozy crime series that will have you hooked from the very first page.
I really enjoyed visiting Riddleton again and love the addition of Savanna the German shepherd puppy to the family at Ravenous Readers. I also like the budding romance between Jen and Eric…

It was entertaining, full of twists and turns and I did guess whodunnit but that did not distract from the story.  

I recommend this series to all my cozy loving friends!
I requested and received an advanced readers copy from Harper Collins/Avon 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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Murder at the Lemonberry Tea by Darci Hannah

Hello my cozy friends,  Today I am reviewing “Murder at the Lemonberry Tea” by Darci Hannah the 6th instalment in the "A Beacon Bakesho...