christmas time – Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery

O Deadly Night review

October 16, 2025 Tari Hann

This is the eighth book in the super fun Year-Round Christmas series by a fave cozy author, Vicki Delany. Who wouldn’t love living in Rudolph, NY? Well, I guess the neighboring town of Muddle Harbor folks wouldn’t want to, lol. Merry’s dad always cracks me up at how awesome he can be to everyone, and even was trying to keep peace between the two towns by offering to help Muddle Harbor with their lack of business. But then you wouldn’t expect anything less of good old Santa Claus, right? 😉

#NetGalley #CrookedLane #VickiDelany

My Goodreads review:

O, Deadly Night by Vicki Delany
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Mabel D’Angelo was always more of a behind-the-scenes character with mainly just greeting her tenants like Merry, Wendy and Steve, but this time she got her chance in the spotlight when she became a little too interested in what was going on over at the house across from her. It could’ve had a tragic ending for the sweet old thing, but luckily it didn’t. Someone else found in the house wasn’t as lucky though, so of course Merry’s sleuthing senses started going nuts, even at the shop’s busiest time of year.

I wasn’t too surprised at the whodunit but the showdown was awesome and Vicky got to shine there. It’ll be interesting to see who the newest neighbors are and if Mattie gets his doggie wish to meet their little white dog. Good old Mattie always cracks me up at how well he behaves for Det. Diane Simmonds, lol. See you in the next book, Rudolph and residents!

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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Epilogue to a Christmas Murder review

September 30, 2025 Tari Hann

This is the eleventh book in the Beyond the Page Bookstore Mysteries by awesome but no long with us author Lauren Elliott. She sadly passed away this summer and it really felt like the cozy world lost a good friend as well as a storyteller. This book was bittersweet knowing there’s probably no more coming unless there was a manuscript she was finishing up. (readers can always hope I guess!)

But I wonder if maybe she did intend this book to be the last since she titled it with the word “epilogue.” Once the book’s read, I feel like as readers, we’re an imaginative enough bunch that we can kinda figure out what’s next for Addie. I know it’s finally something happy! She’s sure due for something amazing in her life after all this!

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #LaurenElliott

My Goodreads review:

Epilogue to a Christmas Murder by Lauren Elliott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Addie’s old friend Marc got a little taste of what an amateur sleuth goes through when he recused himself from a murder case that ended up involving his cousin. Good old “dog with a bone” as Addie had been called before wouldn’t let go this time either, and as always provided the missing clue to the puzzle when she confronted a killer.

The coolest part of all was that Noah, the British detective Addie met and solved a case with was there in the States getting in her head in person. But he’d never really left her head (or heart) since she came back from England.

Everything was mostly wrapped up and explained, although there were a couple minor things that I still had questions about, so I guess those won’t ever get cleared up. We can always use our imaginations on who that donation thief really was and I’m pretty sure Addie was finally, finally gonna get her happily ever after.

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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Spoon to Be Dead review

November 5, 2023 Tari Hann

This is the third and final installment in the very enjoyable Shake Shop series by Dana Mentink. I was a little sad it was coming to an end, but you can definitely tell by the ending that it’s wrapping up, so it shouldn’t be a shocker. And the author’s little message afterward was super sweet. I thought she did an amazing job of giving everyone a good ending, including Noodles the Lab and Scooter the parrot Trinidad adopted.

#NetGalley #PoisonedPenPress #DanaMentink

My Goodreads review:

Spoon to be Dead by Dana Mentink
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was definitely the adventure to end all since it did officially end this series of three books. There’s a really nice note from the author at the end of the book. Even if it wasn’t the last, I believe it’d still be my favorite. Secrets came out, but new friends were made as were apologies and new chances were given to those who might be needing them.

The showdown was really something and if you love dogs and how they can be heroes, you’ll have happy leaky eyeballs for a little bit while reading about sweet Noodles and his heroic act—and the cuddles he got afterward too. I really enjoyed this series a lot and while it’s bittersweet for it to end, it ended in the best possible way with some characters making amends where they were needed as well as some characters enjoying their happily ever after.

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

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Eggs on Ice–review

April 16, 2019 Tari Hann

This is the eighth book in the Cackleberry Club series by Laura Childs. I had never read any in the series before, but I think someone could easily pick up this or maybe any of the other books and not be lost. It would be nice to know the back stories of the characters, so I definitely plan to start reading this series from the beginning. I felt like I could the main characters by friends by the time the book was finished. I love the idea that the Cackleberry Club diner has an adjoining book store and a yarn shop too.

My Goodreads review:

Eggs on Ice by Laura Childs

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Even though this was the first in the series that I have read, I felt like I was quickly able to know who was who among the regular characters, and definitely by the time the book ended, I felt like I knew them and wanted to visit again. I definitely want to start reading from the beginning, but this shiny, new copy at the library just tempted me so much, I had to borrow it. The Cackleberry Club diner and its adjoining book store and knitting store sound so cool!

I actually did figure out who the killer was, but when that happens (few and far between lol), I enjoy reading along and seeing how soon the characters will pick up on it. The showdown was really good. Toni’s husband Junior had lost his trailer in a fire and was storing all his tools in Suzanne’s car. I think Suzanne was probably very thankful she still had those tools in her car when it came to confronting the killer. This was a Christmas themed book, but I can read about Christmas any time of the year. Kindred sounds like a fun place to be at Christmas, minus the murders of course!

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Death of a Russian Doll–review

November 24, 2018November 24, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the third book in the Vintage Toy Shop by Barbara Early. I didn’t feel lost since I haven’t read the other two yet, but I do need to go back and fill in some questions and history with the characters. I really love this author’s style. There are so many funny little scenes and it was so easy to get to know the characters!

My Goodreads review:

Death of a Russian Doll by Barbara Early

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Even though I have copies of the first two books, this is the first book of the series that I’ve read, but I definitely hope to fix that over the next month or so. I quickly fell in love with the regular characters and I think Liz’s dad Hank has to be my favorite. He’s so…punny, lol. My dad always loved the kinds of jokes and puns that Hank was always spouting.

Liz had dated the police chief Ken Young for awhile and they thought their relationship was making progress when (assuming in the last book) his estranged wife from Russia who had been living in the south showed up. When she was found strangled in the barbershop next door to the toy shop, Ken became the main person of interest. Liz was still friends with Ken and didn’t want to see him go to jail for something she knew in her heart he didn’t do. Along with her dad and an FBI accountant named Mark (who is becoming a closer friend of Liz) Liz started investigating. Hopefully she could discover the truth before it was too late for Ken.

I loved the little side mystery of the Russian doll that seemed to keep moving. Cathy, Liz’s sister-in-law, loved to tease her that it was haunted, since Liz is creeped out by dolls to begin with. The local characters like the two older ladies Irene and Lenora and the local PI Lionel were so funny at times. I loved the scene where Liz ended up at the library thinking it was a book club for seniors that she was investigating. I didn’t guess the killer until it was time to realize it. I thought the mystery was awesomely plotted and moved along at a good pace. I could hardly put it down.

Disclaimer: I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

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Read and Gone–review

September 10, 2018September 10, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Haunted Library series that is quickly becoming one of my favorite series. I love how the author combines different holidays with Carrie’s family and fun things they do, not simply going through the motions. These people know how to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas, and birthdays too! I love books that are set around Christmas anyway, and this one includes a big gem hunt as well.

My Goodreads review:

Read and Gone by Allison Brook

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was just as good and maybe even a little more exciting than the first one since there were different people going after some stolen gems since a huge reward was being offered by the owners.

Carrie Singleton’s dad Jim was back in town, and Carrie was worried that he was still up to no good since his line of worked happened to be stealing things. He was actually back for his half of the gems he helped a friend steal. Only when his friend turned up dead and he happened to be at the scene, Jim was taken in for questioning. He was let go into Carrie’s custody, but with another rough thug in town and a couple more murders, it seemed like no one was safe. Even Carrie herself was whacked on the head while looking for the gems–had she found them, she was going to turn them over to Dylan, her insurance investigator boyfriend who would take them to the rightful owner. In the meantime, Christmas is in full swing at the library with parties, programs and finally the staff party. Smokey Joe, who belonged to Carrie but was the library cat, was having a feast racing through the library since a family of mice had been born.

Everything wrapped up nice and clean at the end with an awesome Christmas Eve feast at Harriet and Bosco’s house. I hadn’t quite guessed the killer this time. This was a really well-plotted and at times seemed like a little bit of a confusing mystery, but it was all explained eventually. I love books that take place at Christmas and I could just picture the library tree and decorations as well as Carrie’s Christmas tree. I can’t wait for the next book since Carrie is in a really good place with Dylan and even in her relationship with her dad.

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