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,