cape cod – Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery

Steeped in Malice review

July 26, 2023 Tari Hann

This is the fourth book in the Tea by the Sea Mysteries written by Vicki Delany, one of my personal fave cozy mystery authors. I’ve followed this from the beginning and while book 1 had me wondering if I could ever warm up to Rose, Lily’s grandma even though I did like her a lot right away, by this book, I’m cheering her on and feel like we’re old friends, well as friendly as a person can get with Rose. Bernie always cracks me up, so she, Lily and Rose always make for some good sleuthing adventures.

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #VickiDelany

My Goodreads review:

Steeped in Malice by Vicki Delany
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rose rocks! After someone was killed at her B&B, she did something kinda courageous and very cool to help the police catch the killer. I’ve always loved her character and knew she’d just take a little getting used to since she’d not a huggy-type grandma we usually see in cozy mysteries. But her cool level’s pretty much through the roof, lol. Bernie’s an awesome best friend and I think sometimes she figures she (Bernie) gets along better with Rose than Lily does as Rose’s granddaughter. I really enjoy it when those three go sleuthing! Rose just instinctively knows when the girls are up to something, so it’s never a good idea to actually plan to ditch Rose and works out much better if she goes along, as she proved.

I love how the ending was centered around food and friends while the detectives debriefed everyone and answered questions. I couldn’t stand that ex-boyfriend of Lily’s who had the nerve to think she’d still be interested in him, so it was awesome to see him deflated. And the very ending was pretty cute for Simon and Lily.

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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Murder in a Teacup review

July 22, 2021 Tari Hann

This is the second in the Tea by the Sea series, the newest by Vicki Delany who’s also known as Eva Gates, author of the Lighthouse Library series. Under Vicki Delany, she also has Year-Round Christmas and The Sherlock Holmes Bookshop cozy mystery series. I’ve found in any of these series I’ve read (I’m up to date in Tea, Sherlock and Lighthouse) that you get lots of great characters, most being very endearing that you’d like to meet in real life. Then some are like Rose, not a huggy person but still a pretty awesome lady.

My Goodreads review:

Murder in a Teacup by Vicki Delany
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Never underestimate the power of an eighty-year old, lol! At least Rose Campbell proved it over and over so far in this series, and this book was definitely not a disappointment. I just love Rose’s character and how she’s always getting out of working the breakfast at the tearoom. She loves Lily fiercely, but she just not the soft and cuddly granny we sometimes see in these books. Rose and Bernie always make for a great sleuthing team, but sometimes I feel bad for Lily who usually gets left out due to having to work the tearoom.

The families staying at the B&B this time for a so-called reunion would give the Ewings of Dallas and the Channings of Napa Valley a real run for their money in the drama department, lol. I guess I basically pictured the Ewing clan only upgraded with phones and tablets. I’m glad that Det. Redmond got to play an important part eventually. That Williams, well let’s just say the author’s done a great job creating a character no one likes! On the other hand, Simon’s such a sweetheart that I really hope Lily lets him closer into her life sometime in the future. Matt turned out to be a good person for Bernie to hang with-maybe being a writer, he’ll help her overcome some of her writing issues she always has.

That was some awesome showdown! At least part of Lily’s plan worked out. And they finally got peace from this crazy bickering family when they left. I can’t wait to see what Lily, Rose and Bernie get into in the next book!

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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Murder at the Taffy Shop review

April 1, 2020 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the fun new Cozy Capers Book Group series by Maddie Day who write the Country Store series under the same name, aka Edith Maxwell. I’m really enjoying this series and definitely recommend reading the first one before this for the most enjoyment. It’s not totally required, because there aren’t any spoilers, but getting to know the characters and Mac’s crazy parrot, Belle, seems more fun that way. I’m super anxious for the third book in the series now.

I did order my own copy from Barnes&Noble (it’s an exclusive now for a year), but I was also sent a paperback ARC from the publisher, @Kensington Publishing, which I voluntarily reviewed, and my opinions are my own.

My Goodreads review:

Murder at the Taffy Shop by Maddie Day

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’m glad I read the first book recently, because the characters were all still fresh in my mind. Being a new series, I’m sure if I’d read it when the first book came out, I’d have forgotten a lot. I’m not a fan of birds at all, but I just love Belle the gray African parrot! She’s such a hoot and talk about being handy during a killer showdown!

I liked the main characters a lot the first time around, but they’re definitely among my faves now. I hadn’t guessed the killer, so the reveal was a surprise for me. I hope that Mac and Tim can work out their differences, but I think toward the end of the book, it was looking that way. I’m so anxious now for the next book, but I’m pretty sure we’ll have to wait at least a year.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a paperback ARC of this book provided by the publisher, and my opinions are my own.

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With a Kiss I Die–review

April 24, 2019April 24, 2019 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Theater Cop series by J.A. Hennrikus aka Julia Henry of the Garden Squad series. I really enjoyed the first book in this series when it came out last year and the idea of a retired police officer working as a theater manager. Sully quickly became someone that I would definitely want to be friends with. Somehow even though she’s not on the force, she manages to find herself near a murder investigation. Once a cop, always a cop? At least in her heart maybe.

My Goodreads review:

With a Kiss I Die by J.A. Hennrikus

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When Sully Sullivan decided to help out her friend Dimitri at a theater in Boston, she had no idea she’d be getting herself into more investigating as well as running into her old police partner, Toni. She and her cousin Emma Whitehall were investigating her ex-husband Gus’s disappearance. There were two murders, and a lot of people had a lot of secrets. I hadn’t guessed who the killer was, and the showdown with the person was a bit nerve-wracking.

I’ve really grown to like and admire Sully even more after this book. She’s an amazing and loyal friend who would give her friends just about anything without thinking twice about it. That also included doing anything for her friends. The character of Emma was introduced in the first book, and this time she got to go on sleuthing expeditions with Sully, since she luckily wasn’t a murder suspect. Dimitri is such a hoot! He’s definitely a multi-faceted character. He can be sweet and mild or go on a yelling spree at the theater, but when it’s all said and done, he’s one of Sully’s best friends as is her cousin Eric. I’m anxious to see where Sully’s next adventure will take her, since this one was in Boston and away from her home theater.

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