Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery

Deadly Ever After review

May 14, 2021 Tari Hann

This is the eighth book in the Lighthouse Library by Eva Gates (aka Vicki Delaney), another of my favorite series. It always has everything you’d want in a cozy mystery, and it’s big on a great setting being Nags Head, NC and the Bodie Island Lighthouse. Wouldn’t it be great if there really was such a thing as a lighthouse library? I love how in the Acknowledgments, the author says the inside is all her own imagination and compares it to Hermione Grainger’s carpet bag being big enough to hold everything. Perfect comparison!

My Goodreads review:

Deadly Ever After by Eva Gates
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my goodness, this was so good! One of my favorite book couples got engaged in the last book in this series, and this book continues with Lucy and Connor’s engagement party kicking things off. Everything was going along just fine until the body showed up in Jake’s alley.

There were a lot of secrets, motives and possible suspects that Lucy wanted to sift through and like always ended up getting a little too close to the truth even if she didn’t realize it. At least for once, the murder wasn’t at the library itself, but Lucy felt invested because of her mom feeling like she needed to support an old frenemy. I liked the little side stories of Charlene doing research with a handsome British guy, then Connor and Lucy kept looking for a house. Both had great outcomes and resulted in an awesome book hangover!

The showdown was pretty epic, and I loved how it tied in perfectly with Lucy’s book club’s selection of “The Hound of the Baskervilles.” This is another series that doesn’t just cut off and finish when the killer is caught. There’s always that satisfying ending involving most of the characters. All I can say is, I’m anxious for the next book and wish we didn’t have to wait a year!

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

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A Trail of Lies review

May 13, 2021May 13, 2021 Tari Hann

This is the third book in the Jazz Ramsey series by author Kylie Logan who’s written League of Literary Ladies, Button Box Mysteries, Ethnic Eats and Chili Cook-Off under this pen name. Her Constance Laux GR profile lists some other names you’ll find series under as well. I’ve read the first in the Button Box series and the first three in the League of Literary Ladies and I do enjoy her writing. I hope Jazz Ramsey continues on, because I really enjoy those key characters.

My Goodreads review:

A Trail of Lies: A Mystery by Kylie Logan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’m really enjoying this series, and this third book definitely didn’t disappoint. I love that Jazz and Nick have grown closer since the last book. Sweet Airedale pup Wally isn’t completely HRD trained, but he’s getting there. It was good to see Gus the Lab come out of retirement for a little bit to help out.

Readers got to know Nick’s mom Kim a little better in this book along with her backstory. She wasn’t a terrible person, but she didn’t do right by her son when he was little, although I think she finally came to realize it by the end of the book. There were a couple of surprise reveals in the story, and wow what a showdown. I had definitely not suspected whodunit, at least not until Jazz realized, then it made sense. The very ending was really good too and was emphasizing family.

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

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Punning with Scissors review

May 12, 2021 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Crossword Puzzles Mysteries series by one of my favorite go-to-for laughs author, Becky Clark. Her characters like Quinn are always very real, and they get into the craziest predicaments. I’m anxious to see what the next book’s going to bring!

My Goodreads review:

Punning with Scissors by Becky Clark
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’m loving this series so much! Quinn’s a normal, likable main character who happens to be battling OCD along the way, but sometimes it actually comes in a little handy when investigating a case with her pal Rico. I enjoyed the side mystery too that involved a girl named Eliza.

When a friend’s husband was murdered in their house, Quinn took their dog to keep for awhile, because her friend Hugh was very despondent over the murder. Quinn’s mom and dad loved having little Gin at the house, and I’m sure she was well-spoiled. Once again, Quinn’s secret crossword weapon of getting the police chief to investigate in a different direction worked.

The showdown was pretty crazy, and I can say I’ve never read about one quite like it. Especially the part where someone came in drunk, lol, such a comedy of errors! It’s the most fun you’ll ever have reading and wondering if someone was going to get killed or not. Everything of course, ended well, and Hugh eventually got out of his slump. I’d sure love to see Rico get to be police chief eventually and have Chestnut retire somewhere that he can just fish all day, but maybe that’ll happen next time.

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Wining and Dying review

April 30, 2021 Tari Hann

This is the tenth book in the Cookbook Nook series by Daryl Wood Gerber, and I was definitely happy to return to Crystal Cove and see what my book character friends were up to. It was murder as usual, since it wouldn’t normal if Jenna wasn’t investigating and getting snarked at by Cinnamon. I just love all these characters and can’t wait for the next book!

My Goodreads review:

Wining and Dying by Daryl Wood Gerber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It was great going back to visit Crystal Cove to visit some of my favorite book characters. This was definitely a roller coaster ride of a mystery! There were all kinds of secrets, and I wasn’t sure who could be trusted, except for the key characters, of course. I’m really enjoying that Jenna has made a good friend out of Pepper and even police chief Cinnamon. But Cinnamon always gets to get in her snarky comments, because it just wouldn’t be the same without lol.

I was never sure until Jenna figured it out as to whodunit. And what a showdown! Luckily, the killer was outnumbered. All the pieces of the mystery either fell into place with an explanation or from the killer personally. I’m hoping the next book will be featuring a wedding!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book, and my opinions are my own.

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Murder 101 review

April 29, 2021 Tari Hann

The newest novella, #1.5 just published April 27 in the Kitchen Witch series by Lynn Cahoon. As with all her series, I fell in love with Mia and Gran’s world when I read the first novella. Each book alone is pretty self-explanatory, but I think it’s a lot more fun to read in order whenever possible.

My Goodreads review:

Murder 101 by Lynn Cahoon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love the setting for this series being in an old private school, and it just the right kind of spookyish vibe for a murder set at a class reunion. Even readers who’ve not read the first novella or first book could easily follow along, since there’s enough brief explanations, but I think it’d be lots more fun to start with the first novella, then the first book before this.

The murder was solved fairly quickly due to this being a novella, and the whodunit wasn’t a huge surprise once someone else was cleared. I liked that Mia’s mom came to the reunion and even though she didn’t get along with Grans, it seemed as if they might have actually been talking. It did leave it open for something to happen though, so now I’m anxious as to when this something is actually going to happen.

I read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the author, and my opinions are my own.

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Murder in the Cookbook Nook review

April 29, 2021April 29, 2021 Tari Hann

This is the seventh book in the Book Retreat series by Ellery Adams, another favorite series and author of mine. I loved the surprise guest who was staying in one of the cottages, because her restaurant’s chef was in the cooking competition. It’s a lot of fun escaping to Storyton Hall, since it’s just one of those places I wish I could really visit, minus any murders, of course!

My Goodreads review:

Murder in the Cookbook Nook by Ellery Adams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It was way too long since my last visit to Storyton Hall, and it was good to return to read about people I’d love to be friends with. Jane and all the Fins are just so awesome, and the boys are growing like crazy! I got a kick out of them wanting to make and sell jam. Those two, even from the get-go of the series have never gotten on my nerves as far as kids can do in a story. They’re sweet, intelligent and very non-annoying lol. I enjoyed having Jane and Edwin in a good place with their relationship. They’re awfully sweet together.

Speaking of characters, it was just so cool to have Olivia and her dog Captain Haviland from Books by the Bay come to visit and interact with Jane! It was a really fun surprise, and now I do want to make more of an effort to read more in Books by the Bay-so far, I’ve only read the first book. It’d be great to see Olivia guest again sometime.

There was a lot of dangerous stuff going on surrounding the filming of a cooking reality show with book themed challenges, and there were quite a few suspects, secrets and twists. The showdown was partially planned out (I always love how the Fins and the book club spring into action to help Jane), but it still went well as far as catching the perp. As with all this author’s books that I’ve read, it’s so character-driven and so much about people who care about one another that I just didn’t want it to end. But she does do a really nice wrap-up at the end, which gives readers more of that book euphoria that can last quite sometime.

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

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Whole Latte Murder review

April 27, 2021April 27, 2021 Tari Hann

It’s release day for the fifth book in the All-Day Breakfast Cafe by Lena Gregory. This series quickly became one of my favorites, and I’ve followed it from the get-go. The characters are likable and realistic. Gia got on my nerves in the beginning, but the more I got to know her, I realized it was just her fiercely loyal and helpful nature coming out, not to mention her curiosity when it came to cases. At least she’s been in a good relationship place with Hunt, but I’d like for them to at least state they’re officially a couple, lol. She always calls him her sort-of boyfriend. Savannah’s always a hoot and the more adventuresome of the two. It’s absolutely hysterical when Savannah teases Gia about the creepy crawlie things she doesn’t like (snakes, scorpions, but I definitely share Gia’s opinion on creepy crawlie things!).

If you love this series (and really, anything by this author), you definitely won’t be disappointed in this book! It’s very hard to put aside as you’ll see from my review.

My Goodreads review:

Whole Latte Murder by Lena Gregory
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As this story got underway, I found that I couldn’t put my Kindle down and even read with an extra long charger cord. Yep, it was that good. This mystery was very Savannah-focused and just showed how close she and Gia have always been as friends. They’d literally do anything for the other and consider each other the sister they never were born with. Something was off with one of Savannah’s brothers after she was abducted, and no matter what the danger was, Gia was determined to find her bestie.

I love that Trevor had a nice bigger role in this book too, and we did get some insight into one of Savannah’s brothers and a little more visting with her dad–I like her dad a lot! Another fun character that I don’t quite remember how he came into the previous stories (and I’ve read them all), but I really like him too is Alfie who has some mad hacking skills and loves electronics. I was thinking he was a lot like Sebastian on NCIS: NOLA and it’d be fun to see Alfie again sometime. I might have to cruise through the previous books and refresh my memory on him!

I had my suspicions about who was behind the abduction, but wasn’t quite sure who the killer was. That was some showdown though, and both girls were extremely brave (and actually crazy to have gone there to begin with but hey, there’d be no plot if they didn’t do stuff like that) during the showdown. That was another time when Alfie was pulled in to help.

Just reading about where and when Savannah’s wedding might be makes me excited to read the next book when it comes out. From what I saw, it’s definitely a Christmas theme and comes out in October. I can’t wait!

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

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Lemon Drop Dead review

April 27, 2021April 27, 2021 Tari Hann

It’s release day for the sixth book in the Amish Candy Shop mysteries by one of my fave authors, Amanda Flower. I absolutely loved this book and yes, the reviews are right saying there’s a little conflict going on, but I still feel Bailey and Aiden are strong enough in their love for each other that they can overcome this. That and I trust this author, because she’s never steered us wrong before in this department. The long-awaited decision Charlotte’s been stewing over for the last several books was finally made by her, and I was super happy for her. These characters just feel like old friends now, and I care what happens to them, so I’m really stoked for the next book!

My Goodreads review:

Lemon Drop Dead by Amanda Flower
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just loved this book even though after reading some of the reviews, I was a little worried about what might happen. But after reading it, I feel confident enough in Bailey and Aiden themselves as characters created by an author I totally trust, that I know things will eventually straighten out for their happily ever after. Their love seemed as strong as ever, and speaking of that, you definitely need to read #5.5 Candy Cane Crime before you read this book, because it’ll make this book so much better!

There were sure a lot of suspects in this mystery, and secrets long-hidden were brought out, so there were a couple of people with very happy endings as shown by the party thrown at the end of the book. I really liked the new character of Hannah–but you need to read it and find out who she is! It was fun to have Lois and Millie from the Amish Matchmaker series show up. That Lois is such a hoot, and I just love her character!

I hadn’t suspected whodunit, and there were some other satisfying arrests made along with that person. All the characters were just at their best, and I’m super excited for the next book!

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A Tale of Two Cookies review

April 26, 2021April 26, 2021 Tari Hann

This is the third book in the Cookie House series that started in 2019 by Eve Calder who lives in Florida and does a fabulous job of describing her home state and all its awesomeness to readers. I fell in love with the setting and the characters from the very first book and am always glad when another book follows. Now I’m anxiously waiting for the next book which if it follows the current pattern will be probably next year at this time (but we can always hope for sooner!)

My Goodreads review:

A Tale of Two Cookies: A Cookie House Mystery by Eve Calder
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A missing person mystery that’ll have readers guessing the whole time “Is this person dead or not?” It was an interesting case as Kate and her friends sleuthed along with Ben and the police. One of her good friends was in town and her fiance disappeared right before their wedding, so Kate felt like this woman had taken her under her wing in a previous career, and being the awesome friend Kate is, she didn’t want to let Desiree down. I really like all Kate’s friends (especially that fun and crazy Maxi!) and it’s so cool how Sam’s character changed for the better from the very first book. He always does a little something in each book to let Kate know he completely trusts her now.

I love how the whole town always works together during a case. The cookie lessons at the Cookie House turned into a sleuthing session or a session where Ben would give them the lowdown on the case progress. The perp was a very sneaky and convoluted planner that was for sure, but there were a lot of someones who were equally smart and able to figure things out. The showdown was great!

The very ending of the book was really good, because it did the complete wrap-up of anything that wasn’t explained along the way. I’m always looking forward to the next in this series!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own. This book releases tomorrow, April 27, 2021.

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A Matter of Hive and Death review-updated a little for 2022

April 21, 2021March 18, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the second (and for me at least, eagerly-awaited) book in the Oregon Honeycomb mysteries by Nancy Coco who also writes the Candy-Coated series set on Mackinac Island, as well as having written some other cozy series under Nancy J. Parra and Nell Hampton. (Her Nancy J. Parra Goodreads page contains the most info which is why I didn’t even link the Nell Hampton page.)

This book is an exclusive Barnes & Noble edition until 3/29/22. (Not an affiliate link; just here for your convenience).

PLEASE NOTE FOR 2022: Since this book’s making its entrance to the Amazon market, it’s no longer a B&N exclusive, so I wanted to be sure everyone knew that. I’m just recycling this blog post.

My Goodreads review:

A Matter of Hive and Death by Nancy CoCo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed this visit with Wren, Aunt Eloise and Porsche, not to mention Jim who Wren might be letting get a bit closer. She kind of annoyed at me times when she’d get mad at Jim just for doing his job and not being able to share info with her. But I loved her passion for the bees and the cats her aunt loves so much. Wren, Eloise and Porsche make good sleuth buddies, and I did have to hand it to Wren for asking Jim to come along on trips that otherwise could have been dangerous.

I had no idea whodunit and was totally surprised at the reveal. There was a side mystery as well, and that perp didn’t surprise me much at all, lol. I got the biggest kick out of Aunt Eloise holding her rifle over a perp and not budging until Jim got his gun drawn and held on the person. She cracks me up, and I just love her character!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC paperback from Kensington Publishing, and my opinions are my own.

2022 note: I’d read this originally back in 2021, but a quick reread for NetGalley this year since the book publishes to Amazon later this month, March 29, 2022. I’m using the same blog post from 2021 though. I don’t think I could’ve said anything more ’cause it was great both times.

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