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Songs of Wine and Murder review

June 6, 2023June 6, 2023 Tari Hann

This is the fifteenth book in another favorite long-running series, the Tourist Trap Mysteries by Lynn Cahoon. I’ve loved every one that I read and just wish this was a real place I could visit. The shops are awesome and I could probably get lost in Jill’s bookstore for a long time with a favorite coffee drink or go dog-sit Emma while Jill worked. As with all this author’s books, I love how the main character treats her employees like family and even calls them family. Jill might not work in food herself, but she has a need to feed those she cares about, just like the other awesome leading characters.

#NetGalley #LyricalPress/Kensington #LynnCahoon

My Goodreads review:

Songs of Wine and Murder by Lynn Cahoon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a crazy case where we got to see another town business as sorta the spotlight of the story, Darla from the winery and her boyfriend Matt who was in a band that was competing in the festival that weekend. Toby, Aunt Jackie, and Sadie/Pastor Bill each had their own mini side stories which I was relieved all had good outcomes. Toby’s a great character and I love the bro banter between him and Deek. Aunt Jackie’s changed for the better since she married Harrold (he’s such a sweetie!). Sadie and the good pastor were too adorable as well.

It didn’t surprise me as to whodunit and with this perp, the arrest action took place behind the scenes which is always a refreshing change for me (especially if I just read a book with a showdown and a crazed killer). Jill and Greg are always an awesome couple, but they were growing even more as they went through a finance class together and Greg actually got Jill to use a planner, amazing right? Those two are gonna be great parents someday! Can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!

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

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Six Feet Deep Dish review

August 23, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the first book in the brand new Deep Dish Mysteries series by Mindy Quigley. I felt drawn in by the characters immediately and had a hard time putting the Kindle down when I needed to! I was excited to see that the next book’s already listed on Goodreads as coming out in April 2023, and it’s called Ashes to Ashes, Crust to Crust. The blurb definitely makes me eager to read it, and I was pretty fast to add it to my ginormous WTR shelf. I’m glad we don’t have to wait a whole year!

This book definitely fits the description of a fun cozy mystery that has some strong characters, but there’re a lot of family vibes going on too. I could already see the team camaraderie among Delilah’s employees and how she and her aunt were very close. Sometimes I don’t get those feelings about a book right away, so when I do, I feel like it’s a sign of a strong series that’ll survive well.

#St.MartinsPaperbacks #MindyQuigley

My Goodreads review:

Six Feet Deep Dish by Mindy Quigley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed the start of this new series! When characters grab my attention as quickly as these key characters did, in my book that’s a winner of a cozy mystery. Biz and Delilah were a little out of the ordinary type cozy characters since Biz was definitely not your typical cute, squishy-huggy great aunt and Dee (as Delilah was called) was a real force to be reckoned with but still had her soft side moments.

The ladies were both strong yet didn’t mind (too much anyway) having people look after them when needed. Although Dee could get on my nerves a little bit being such a control freak, lol. I’m not sure I could work for her, but her team sure seemed happy, so that’s the main thing. I mean, I thought I was bad at giving up control over certain things, but that lady’s got me beat haha! Some of the stuff she wanted to say to people absolutely cracked me up because it’s just what I would’ve been thinking of saying but not saying, particularly when it came to teen employee Carson!

Wow what a showdown! I honestly had the actual perp in mind but not for the reasons they ended up being the killer. It almost made me feel sad for the perp, but that’s all I’m gonna say about it without going and spoiling things. Kind of a case where the person killed was a pretty lowdown scoundrel and some people figured the person deserved it. I enjoyed the ending and hope we find Delilah and Cal becoming better friends in the next book!

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

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Death of an Ice Cream Scooper review

July 22, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the fifteenth book in the long-running Hayley Powell Food & Spirits series by brother and sister duo, Lee Hollis. I love how the characters have grown and changed since the first book but yet they’re familiarly the same and so much fun to feel like you’re coming home to Bar Harbor and hanging out with these people.

I’m just crazy about the little dachshund on the cover! Sprinkles might not have a huge role in the book, but just being a buddy to Leroy while Hayley and Sprinkles’ doggie mom Lynette walked them was super cute. I love how it was described that Sprinkles brought out the puppy in Leroy.

#KensingtonCozies #LeePowell

My Goodreads review:

Death of an Ice Cream Scooper by Lee Hollis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Book 15 and Hayley’s going strong! I love the characters and town as much as when I first picked up the debut book. And just as I was wondering if we were getting any of his famous Sergio-isms, he didn’t disappoint!

There was a lot going on this time. Dustin’s as grown of a man as he could possibly be now while Gemma was roasting away in a New York summer as she was telling her mom. Three of Hayley’s friends had new boyfriends, Liddy was getting an expensive mansion as a listing and all through this, Hayley was trying to figure out who killed the ice cream scooper.

I loved the mention of the ice cream shop owner’s little dachshund, Sprinkles! He sounded adorable and good old Leroy, Hayley’s beloved Shih-Tzu was still plugging along and finding his second wind when Sprinkles was around. Which to the dachshund lover (me) wasn’t quite enough, but I’ll take whatever I can get of a dachsie in the story! I’m always grateful when one shows up!

In true Hayley fashion, she found herself in quite a predicament but managed to slip out of it only to confront a killer not long after. But all went well, ending in the familiar family get-together that I always love about this series. I’m sure it won’t take Hayley long to transition into her new role! I’m being purposely vague and leaving out anything I personally would’ve thought was a spoiler before reading this book. You can get the whole scoop (ice cream pun intended) on July 26 when it releases!

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

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Bear a Wee Grudge review

December 8, 2021December 8, 2021 Tari Hann

This is the fifth book in the Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear series by Meg Macy. It quickly became one of my favorite series. I mean, who doesn’t love an adorable teddy bear, right? I’m not sure I’d want to be in on the making and sewing of said teddy bears, but I’d sign up for testing them for cuddling!

There was such a sweet surprise toward the end of the book, and now I can’t wait to read the next!

My Goodreads review:

Bear a Wee Grudge by Meg Macy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

No festival in Silver Hollow would be complete without the seemingly-requisite murder. (At least it was of someone mean and nasty!) But the worrisome part was the detestable detective Hunter zoning in on Sasha’s dad as his only suspect. Call in the reinforcements, Sasha’s back on the case!

This was really a wild and confusing case with any number of people who’d have wanted to kill the dead guy. The man’s widow was a real piece of work! At least the detective that Sasha knew from a previous case, Mason was around this time and available to relay information to. She really didn’t have to deal with Hunter much. The showdown was super exciting, and a couple of people had a good hand in helping.

Toward the end, there was the sweetest surprise, and now I absolutely can’t wait to read the next book!

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

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The Chocolate Raccoon Rigmarole review

July 29, 2021 Tari Hann

This is the eighteenth book in the Chocoholic Mysteries series by JoAnna Carl, and I was honored to be asked by a rep from Berkley Publishing to read and hopefully review. I’d recently read the first book, so even though I haven’t read the others, I was still able to follow along, and everything made sense, so it’s possible to read it as a standalone. I didn’t mind learning that a couple marriages had happened in the span between the first book and this, in fact, I’m pretty sure I knew (and had hoped) they would from when I peeked at all the blurbs for the books, lol.

I love that reading the first book and now reading this didn’t seem much different. I know some series change voice over the years or read differently, but to me this one still has the awesome running theme of family and good friends. I’m definitely planning to start catching up with this series though!

My Goodreads review:

The Chocolate Raccoon Rigmarole by JoAnna Carl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The whole theme in this book was centered around an elusive mama raccoon and her six babies that Lee and Nettie wanted removed from in back of the chocolate shop. It spiraled into a lot more after that including seemingly meaningless burglaries that led to attacks and eventually a murder as well as an attempted murder.

I just love Aunt Nettie’s character! She’s one lady you really want on your side and can be sweet as a granny or well, vicious as a raccoon. Let’s just say if you’re having a showdown with a killer, it’d be a really good idea to invite Aunt Nettie along! The showdown was pretty epic, and I never really guessed the killer. I did have a basic idea of what the burglaries were all about though.

Another character I liked in the very first book, and I’m glad he’s not changed is Hogan Jones. (Admittedly, I’d only read the first book of the series so far when I was asked to read this, but with a little working knowledge of the characters from book 1, I had no trouble keeping up.) I love that Hogan’s not like the typical cozy mystery cop who’s always warning the sleuths off the case. His main interest is always catching the bad guy which means he listens to Lee (or now Nettie seeing how he’s married to her lol), and what could come off as a hair-brained scheme to other officers is at least given some thought by Hogan. He’s one of my favorite fictional lawmen.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book provided by Berkley Publishing via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own. Look for it at your favorite book seller on August 3!

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