Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery

A Slay Ride Together with You review

September 12, 2024September 12, 2024 Tari Hann

This is the seventh in the long-running Year-Round Christmas Mysteries by Vicki Delany, and I absolutely love this series. What an awesome concept although as showed in this book, they do celebrate other holidays besides Christmas since the book was taking place around Easter time. I just love that sweet, big old Mattie, the St. Bernard. It cracks me up how he listens to Det. Diane so well but Merry, not so much lol.

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My Goodreads review:

A Slay Ride Together With You by Vicki Delany
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another awesome offering from a fave cozy author who never fails to hand readers a super satisfying showdown and takedown of a killer in the story. And there was just the right amount of creepy atmosphere for the old house Vicky and Mark bought together haunted by a very flesh and blood ghost. I loved how the girls teamed up against the killer and as always, it led up to a fun-filled ending with food, dancing and lotsa friendship.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

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The Grim Steeper review

September 10, 2024 Tari Hann

This is the third book in the Witches Brew Mysteries by Gretchen Rue, a series I’ve enjoyed since it started. Ya just gotta love a crazy orange cat named Bob! Who’s a good boy, Bob? I love the camaraderie of the town and how they’ve accepted Phoebe into their small business family.

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My Goodreads review:

The Grim Steeper by Gretchen Rue
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve loved this series from its beginning two books ago and now I’m loving it even more. Along with some murders and other shenanigans going on with some of a visiting bird guy’s staff, Phoebe found out a lot about her own witchy powers and things started looking a lot better for her everywhere.

That showdown was epic and I do believe Det. Patsy thought so too. Phoebe was shocked at what others already knew about her when she was just learning some of this stuff herself. A favorite ending theme, food and fellowship was enjoyed by Phoebe and all her friends which were really her little family she’d acquired when she moved to Raven Creek. I can’t wait for the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

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French Quarter Fright Night review

September 1, 2024September 1, 2024 Tari Hann

This is the third book in the Vintage Cookbook Mysteries by Ellen Byron, and I’m so glad it found a new home with a different publisher. I sure hope it’s continuing but if not, this was a really good way to end the trilogy. I’ll have to stay tuned to the newsletter the author sends out to see what’s going on with the series. Halloween in NOLA, is there anyplace crazier to party for Halloween? LOL

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My Goodreads review:

French Quarter Fright Night by Ellen Byron
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was so happy when this series got a new publishing home since I was definitely not done being caught up in NOLA with these amazing characters. I hope there’s more to come since there’s one continuing mystery that got solved, but I can see tons more stories for these folks.

This book was especially cool taking place during October leading up to Halloween in NOLA. It was a great armchair vacation as well as a twisty, fun mystery. I hadn’t seen the whodunit coming until it was there, and the showdown was short but effective. I love how Ricki had taken intern Olivia under her wing like a younger sister, but I was never sure Liv appreciated it until toward the end. A cute side story about a kitten had a good ending and while I’ve only known this author to use an epilogue when she’s ending a series, I really, really hope this one isn’t ending! It nicely wrapped up the three books, but I guess it’s just hard to let go of characters we’ve come to like so much as readers. Hoping for more but pretty happy with the ending if this was it.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Severn House via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

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A Fatal Feast at Bramsford Manor review

August 26, 2024 Tari Hann

This is the first book in a new series, Food & Spirits Mysteries by Darci Hannah. If you’ve read either of her other two cozy mystery series, you’ll recognize a few of the team that Bunny MacBride was invited to join on their realty show dealing with food, of course, but the other type of spirits. 😉 I absolutely can’t wait for the next book!

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My Goodreads review:

A Fatal Feast at Bramsford Manor by Darci Hannah
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Talk about a great book hangover! I wanted it to go on, but the ending was absolutely perfect for it! I love how the author made some of the supporting characters spin-offs from her other books where they were mentioned first. I did really like the Beacon Bakeshop book (Murder at the Pumpkin Pageant) that featured the Ghost Guys and spun off those characters into this story. Bunny was a fun main character and I just love her Granny!

I was totally surprised by whodunit and hadn’t ever suspected that person. What a great showdown which showed Bunny how awesome it was to have a Gran that knew just when she needed her! (I think even non-medium grandmas are a lot like that anyway!) Understatement of the year here, but I can’t wait for the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Kensington Cozies via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

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Quilty As Charged review

August 24, 2024 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Measure Twice Sewing Mysteries by Maggie Bailey which was somewhat bittersweet since someone very close to Lydia was the murder victim this time. Stuck in an ice storm on a mountain, secrets were eventually revealed, but I was happy that nothing permanently scarred Lydia’s original beliefs about her friend. It was also pretty cool that while one friend was taken from Lydia’s life, a new one appeared (and he sounded super cute lol!).

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My Goodreads review:

Quilty as Charged by Maggie Bailey
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a good locked room type murder mystery with an ice storm raging outside. I picked out who I thought was the killer, but that choice became less possible, so I just sleuthed along with Lydia and Auden. I really love that she’s met a nice guy and the good turn her life took in this story.

It’s hard to say much more without spoiling things, so I’ll just say I’m ready for the next book if there’s a third one in the works. I’m eager to see what progress Lydia and Auden might make in their new friendship. It was sad when I read in the description who the person was that got killed first, but there might’ve been things no one knew about this sweet person. Lotsa secrets came out for everyone.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

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In the Event of Murder review

August 23, 2024 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Starlit Bookshop Mysteries by Cynthia Kuhn which seemed like a long time making an appearance since the first book was published in December of 2021, but luckily it did happen. Once the book got moving along, everything came back as far as the characters and why I liked (or in some cases, didn’t like) those people.

In this book the local who stood out to me was Vivi the caterer. She’s such an amazing friend to Emma when she needed different things like a replacement venue. What an awesome lady! Her polar opposite was Tabitha, a a former high school mean girl turned into a mean woman who Emma unfortunately had to work with professionally for the gala. Tune into the book and see how this all comes together!

If you tap/click on the series link above, you’ll see a third book listed called Save the Date for Murder, but there’s no publication date or cover yet. I’m actually glad to hear a third book’s coming since this book ended on such a happy note, and I just know there’s more to come.

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My Goodreads review:

In the Event of Murder by Cynthia Kuhn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’d actually forgotten a lot about this series since it’s been nearly three years since the first book came out, but it didn’t take long at all to remember what I liked about the different characters…or didn’t like as in mean girl Tabitha’s case lol.

I hadn’t guessed whodunit and enjoyed the low key showdown, although there’d been plenty of drama to make up for that throughout the book. I love the relationship Emma and Lucy have with their aunt Nora who lives with them in their childhood home where she raised them. Lucy had an amazing ending and the other two as well.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

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The Jig Is Up review

August 22, 2024 Tari Hann

This is the first book in a brand new series, Irish Bed & Breakfast Mysteries by Lisa Q. Mathews, a new to me author, but since I really loved this book, I might just explore her other cozy series. I definitely can’t wait till book 2 in this new series comes out!

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My Goodreads review:

The Jig Is Up by Lisa Q. Mathews
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’m crazy about this new series! The key players are all so amazing and as far as kids went, I enjoyed Maeve and little Bliz’s characters a lot—Maeve was like fourteen going on twenty for as mature as she seemed. The Chief aka Kate and Colleen’s dad cracked me up and I could easily picture another Irish dad who happens to be a police commissioner in his TV show. What an awesome family!

That was a very daring thing Kate did when she decided to confront the killer. I enjoyed the side story that involved Colleen and while there was sort of a conclusion, there’s still an issue to be addressed later. I can’t wait till the next book comes along! I sure hope Kate and her girls decide to stay in Shamrock for good, but I’m sure that’ll also be talked about in the next book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

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Sticks and Scones review

August 21, 2024 Tari Hann

This is the nineteenth book in the long-running foodie series Bakeshop Mysteries by well-known cozy mystery author, Ellie Alexander. I think this could be my favorite book so far in the series and the way it ended (no cliffhanger, I promise, and it was a good ending too), I’m really glad the next one releases in February!

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My Goodreads review:

Sticks and Scones by Ellie Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was an extra awesome one as readers soon find out toward the end of the book. Meanwhile, one of the actors in Lance’s player company was murdered, and Lance was itching to sleuth with Jules again. Those two always crack me up when they go sleuthing! Lance is such a fun and crazy character, love him to pieces!

The series has lotsa other amazing characters that’ve grown and changed over the course of the series. I really love The Professor’s character and how he’s been such an awesome dad figure for Jules as well as a fair and hard-working police detective. Eye leakage may be experienced toward the end but it’s the happy kind. Can’t wait for the next book which thankfully comes in February!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin Paperbacks via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

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Shock and Paw review

August 20, 2024 Tari Hann

This is the eighth book in the Cat Cafe Mysteries by Cate Conte which had quickly become one of my new favorite series when it started. I love the Christmastime setting in Daybreak Harbor but there was a grinch out there somewhere determined to spoil it for everyone. It released today, so grab it and have a merry little Christmas in the middle of summer.

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My Goodreads review:

Shock and Paw by Cate Conte
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was another fun book in the series, especially being set at Christmastime. I got such a kick outta Grandpa Leo and how serious he was about the Christmas lights contest, to the point of being injured in the line of duty. But that didn’t stop the former police chief at all, lol. I just love that guy!

The showdown was a crazy one that somehow I just had a feeling Maddie was gonna get involved in. Thanks to a cat, the killer didn’t get far before the police burst in. I love it when cats or other pets help in the showdown—this little guy was pretty amazing. There was a good twist toward the end that explained so much of some earlier issues about a little side mystery going on with the lights.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin Press via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

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Booked on Murder review

August 5, 2024 Tari Hann

This is the eighth and final book in the Haunted Library Mysteries by Allison Brook aka Marilyn Levinson. It quickly became a favorite series because who doesn’t love cute library cats and friendly, helpful library ghosts, right? Evelyn the ghost became as much of a fave to me as the living characters, so while this is the book we all waited for, it’s also the one I kinda dreaded knowing it’d be the final book. But I really loved how the author gave us a nice big dose of our characters and we got to linger as long as possible in this book.

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My Goodreads review:

Booked on Murder by Allison Brook
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Knowing this was the last book didn’t really affect me until the end which I was super thankful the author drew out like she did knowing fans would need tons of closure and a way to say goodbye to some amazing favorite characters. I’m getting leaky eyeballs again just writing the review. She did an absolute stellar job of closing out what had become one of my all-time favorite series.

Although I’m sure the characters had their own ideas of how they were gonna spend this last book, so in true Carrie fashion our sleuth found herself taking on something dangerous when it was just hours before her wedding. But her man was right there with her too—Dylan is so perfect for her!

I loved the old house they bought and how special it was too! There was just everything to love and give final hugs to in this book, but do yourself a favor by savoring the first seven books before reading this. There weren’t spoilers but there’s just a vibe you need when you read the last in a series, imho anyway.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of his book provided by Crooked Lane via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

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