Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery

The Diva Serves Forbidden Fruit review

May 30, 2021 Tari Hann

It’s hard to believe this is the fourteenth book in the Domestic Diva series by Krista Davis. Sophie’s been dishing out (pun intended or not, you decide!) kitchen and decorating wisdom for a lot of years now. She let herself be talked into running the DIY Festival in Old Town, which made for a great mystery setting, especially with all the old houses on the streets where the vendors were. I always love the camaraderie with Sophie, Nina, Bernie, Francie and yep, even Mars. He’s changed a lot since that very first book! Once I settle in for a trip to Old Town, I end up not wanting to leave! The real Old Town is definitely on my future travel bucket list.

My Goodreads review:

The Diva Serves Forbidden Fruit by Krista Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

As with all Sophie Winston mysteries, I get pulled in from the very start. I mean what book that starts with Nina coming home from the airport with no shoes could possibly not compel someone to keep reading, right? Nina always has a great story. I just love her character, and she always cracks me up without being haha funny, if that makes sense. The sweet little dog she was fostering this time seemed to be a little more special to her than others too.

Boy, the Eades family that Sophie met at the DIY Festival was a dysfunctional nightmare if you didn’t count Paisley and the little boys. Frank and his mom were a piece of work times infinity! This is another author who does an awesome job of either making you like/love a character or despise the ground they walk on. At first Paisley’s kids seemed like just another brood of brats, but I really took to Tommy, the oldest. I guess he made me think a little of young Sheldon with his intelligence and sensitivity. Sophie was so sweet and kind to him. But Paisley was a very good mom despite the being she was married to, or I’d have been pulling for Sophie to foster the kid.

I’d started getting a little suspicious of whoalldunit (like that one?) thinking it could be a group or couple of people. Everything seemed connected to Nina’s trip to Portugal, questions and secrets surrounded a woman on their trip who was killed when she got home, and there were just suspects coming out of the woodwork. The showdown was great and a good team effort as well! The wrap-up as always was stellar. And the last few paragraphs were just so fitting and sweet–it made for a perfect ending!

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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Death in Bloom review

May 28, 2021 Tari Hann

This is the first book in a new series just released called Flower House, and it’s written by Jess Dylan, a pen name for author Jennifer David Hesse. I definitely would like to read her other series now! I really enjoyed getting to know these characters, especially Granny Mae! I love the setting of Tennessee too, since it’s one of my favorite states to visit. I can’t wait for the next book Petals and Poison, but the good thing is, we don’t have to wait a year, because it comes out on November 30 of this year.

My Goodreads review:

Death in Bloom: A Flower House Mystery by Jess Dylan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed getting to know Sierra, Granny and friends. Deena and Sierra made for an unlikely friend/sleuth duo, but the worked out pretty well. I liked that just because they didn’t hang out in high school, they were still able to be friends as adults. Granny was cool–for some reason I always like the granny or quirky aunt characters, lol.

The murder was almost a closed door type, since it happened during a flower arranging class. The author did a great job of making me suspect nearly everyone. Just about everyone at the class had a motive, but Sierra and Deena were determined to find out who offed the most despised man in town. As a side story, Sierra’s boss left, and she was trying to solve that little mystery as well as wonder if the cute new tenant Calvin who rented the apartment upstairs from the flower shop was to be trusted.

The showdown was a really good one, and several people and a super cute dog got to have a hand in catching the killer. I’m really eager to read the next book now!

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

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Four Cuts Too Many review

May 25, 2021 Tari Hann

This is the fourth book in the Sarah Blair series by Debra H. Goldstein. I just love Sarah’s cat RahRah and her rescue dog Fluffy. Fluffy belonged to Cliff’s uncle, her old neighbor across the street, George Rogers. Until he went into assisted living, that is. But he was doing really well at the assisted living place, especially now that he and Sarah’s mom seemed to be an item–even though Maybelle probably wouldn’t admit it, lol.

My Goodreads review:

Four Cuts Too Many by Debra H. Goldstein
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Between paying attention to what Southwind nemesis Jane was up to and investigating a murder that Chief Gerard seemed satisfied to pin on Emily’s sous chef, Sarah was kept hopping this time. I love how cute her mom and George Rogers have become together. As I said after the last book, if someone told me in the first book or two that I’d end up liking Maybelle’s character, I would have thought they were nuts, lol. But she and George are two of my faves now. I like Grace’s character a lot too, so I was really pulling for her, and I knew as Sarah did that Grace wouldn’t kill anyone. Now Jane…if she ever turned up as a victim or the killer, I would never be heartbroken, lol. The turmoil she can cause for Sarah and her sister is just endless. The author did an excellent job of creating someone detestable, that’s for sure.

The showdown was pretty scary, and I hadn’t really guessed the killer until Sarah did. I wanted to shake Sarah for even going alone, but her heart was in the right place, since she heard someone vulnerable was with the killer. Sarah’s heart for others is gold, but she really needs to start thinking of her own safety once in awhile. It’s been so weird between her and Cliff and hard to tell where they were going in their relationship or if they either one even wanted said relationship. But I think they’ve ironed things out now in a good way.

It was great how the ending told all the little details of the wrap-up. Harlan is one of the kindest and most generous characters in any of the books I’ve read, and this book was no exception. He never does these good things for personal gain either, and I love that about him. You’ll see what I mean when you read the book. I’m eager to see what adventures face the crew of Southwind next.

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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Apocalypse Meow by Zara Keane review

May 24, 2021 Tari Hann

This is the seventh book in the Movie Club Mysteries series by Zara Keane. It quickly became a favorite series. If anyone’s familiar with the series, in the last book, Lenny and Maggie had to deal with a very rambunctious cat named Quibbles that summer who’d since had some fame when he got credit for solving the murder. After losing a contract during a hysterically funny video call, Lenny and Maggie agreed to be bodyguards for Quibbles in a cat contest. And it was all hilariously downhill after that. Catch yourself up in the series, because you won’t want to miss this new release coming tomorrow, May 25!

My Goodreads review:

Apocalypse Meow by Zara Keane
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely love this series and was really craving more of it when I found out the latest was coming out tomorrow. I always know when Lenny’s on the case with Movie Reel Investigations, laughs are guaranteed. In fact, the laughs started before the first chapter even ended, and it kept going from there. Maggie’s usually good for some good scenes too. When they found themselves in a rundown hotel run by Maggie’s cousin Angel, for some reason, I liked Angel immediately.

With a storm raging outside, a power outage and the bodies piling up, Maggie and Lenny had their hands full, since Liam hadn’t quite made it to the hotel yet. I had an idea early on of who might be the killer, but I had no idea why. It was just a gut feeling. As everything was revealed in a hilarious showdown, I felt relief for everyone who wasn’t guilty and could finally get out of the worse-than-Batels Motel.

The ending wrapped everything up neatly, there’s no other word for it but awesome. I knew I liked that Angel!

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

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Beyond a Reasonable Donut review

May 24, 2021 Tari Hann

This is the fifth book in the Deputy Donut series by Ginger Bolton who’s also known as Janet Bolin, author of the older discontinued Threadville cozy series. The Deputy Donut crew has become like old friends to me, and I love that we’re getting another book that’s Christmas-themed later this year on October 26. You can bet I’ll be reading and reviewing that one too!

My Goodreads review:

Beyond a Reasonable Donut by Ginger Bolton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just as I was craving a good donut mystery from Deputy Donut (and reading about their yummy food), this book was about to make its debut (actually tomorrow). Wow what a lot of little things that added up to be part of the murder. When Emily’s assistant Nina was arrested for murder, Emily never once thought she could kill someone, but when some things came to light in the case, Emily wondered how much she really knew about her friend and employee. As a side story, Samantha and Hooligan’s wedding was coming up, and everyone was just holding their breath as to whether the world would finally get to know Hooligan’s real name. It was a lot of fun having that as a little comic relief.

And who knew a bachelorette dinner would ultimately turn into a showdown with the killer? I’d sort of suspected this person of something when they first came on the scene, but I wasn’t sure what. I just knew I didn’t trust them. I didn’t really trust anyone except the key players. After the murder was solved, everyone got to attend their friends’ wedding. But I promised Samantha and Hooligan I wouldn’t spill another word about it. 😉

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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Pint of No Return review

May 23, 2021 Tari Hann

This is the first book in what I hope is going to be a long and successful series, Ice Cream Shop Mysteries by Dana Mentink. These characters are a lot of fun, and one I failed to mention in my Goodreads review was Trinidad’s Cuban grandpa aka Papa. I loved that guy! He came up from Florida for the summer to help her out, but I’m secretly hoping he stays longer than that.

This book publishes this coming Tuesday, May 25, 2021. Who could go wrong with ice cream, right?

My Goodreads review:

Pint of No Return by Dana Mentink
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’m pretty sure this is going to be another favorite series for me. It got off to a nice strong start with some very likable characters. The twin teen boys who worked for Trinidad were really nice but cool kids, and I just loved her dog Noodles. I enjoyed the storyline that Quinn, a guy I hope Trinidad will be seeing as more than a friend one day, has some PTSD going on that’s mostly under control. It was awesome to see him caring for his challenged brother Doug who took great comfort in Noodles.

I was pretty shocked at who the killer was and honestly hadn’t seen it coming. It was great how the police chief did actually listen to Trinidad and helped her with the showdown. I was glad the ending wasn’t just cut off, and we got to spend a little more time with the characters once the case was solved. I’m definitely interested in reading the next book. I think the three exes of Gabe could be fairly good friends. It definitely seemed like Trinidad and Juliette were off to a good start.

Thanks to Poisoned Pen Press for granting my wish on NetGalley and letting me read and review this. I voluntarily read and reviewed this book, and my opinions are my own.

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Peaches and Schemes review

May 17, 2021May 17, 2021 Tari Hann

This is the third book in the Georgia B&B series by Anna Gerard who cozy fans also know as Diane A.S. Stuckart and Ali Brandon. I’ve loved this series since it first came out a couple years ago, and it just keeps getting better. Nina and her housemate Harry have grown a lot in how they treat one another and may be developing more than just tolerance and tossing around fun-loving insults at each other. I’m really excited to see what the next book will bring! At one point toward the end, I was a little sad, but the next chapter fixed that right up! You’ll see when you read it, and as my review below suggests, maybe a few tissues for those happy tears would come in handy!

My Goodreads review:

Peaches and Schemes by Anna Gerard
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think I love this book the best so far in the series! I never in a million years thought I’d come to love Harry’s character so much when I first met him in book one. But he went above and beyond to prove that maybe sometimes he’s really got a good heart that’s not scheming something.

Harry happened to be back staying at the B&B, and Nina was surprised to run into him at a trade show. I had to laugh at his new venture, a hired plus one. And boy did he get in over his head with his first and only job! Nina’s friend was murdered at a wedding expo fashion show, and she was going to stop at nothing to bring her justice and also prove that an older lady who was the woman’s biz partner wasn’t a killer. Nina was worried about a stalker being the killer and was trying to avoid a certain car. The dead woman’s dog Gus was so darn sweet, I was hoping Nina would get to keep him, since he was already Mattie’s playdate buddy. But Gus did get a good ending.

This showdown was absolutely epic and kind of typically Harry. But it took all the ingenuity of the parties involved to pull it off successfully. Luckily, it worked out and two people got a surprise happily ever after, while two more people were starting to realize something good. What a sweet and fitting ending! Have a few tissues handy for the happy kind of eye-leakage!

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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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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