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The Diva Delivers on a Promise review

May 24, 2023 Tari Hann

It’s hard to believe this is the sixteenth book in this long-running and fun Domestic Diva Mystery series by one of my fave cozy authors, Krista Davis. I love visiting with Sophie and all her friends who act as her support team whether she’s sleuthing out a mystery with her bestie Nina or just needing a plus-one for an event. I enjoyed the side mystery centered around ghost kitchens and how Sophie and Nina sleuthed that out. As always, I can’t wait for the next book!

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #KristaDavis

My Goodreads review:

The Diva Delivers on a Promise by Krista Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Sophie and Nina got in a lot of sleuthing together in this mystery because there was plenty to sleuth out. I liked the side mystery of the ghost kitchen scammer, and we got to learn more about Officer Wong and her disastrous marriage. I liked Gerrie and her granddaughter a lot—it’d be fun if they showed up in a future book especially now they’ve got a furry companion. Nina always cracks me up with her love of food which is always a good way to get her to do something, like maybe a stakeout or two?

The showdown was a really good one with the perp finally being caught and hauled away. The ending was typical cozy Sophie style—friends, food and a warm fireplace. And pups, of course!

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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Witch Upon a Star review

May 23, 2023 Tari Hann

This is the fourth in the Witch Way Librarian Mysteries by Angela M. Sanders. I’ve followed the series since its beginning, and each book just gets better and better. I’ve really come to love these key characters and now that Josie’s sister’s had a visit, it’d be kinda nice to have her in on the action more often. The two did pretty well sleuthing together. I can’t wait to see what adventures Josie and her friends get into next!

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #AngelaMSanders

My Goodreads review:

Witch Upon a Star by Angela M. Sanders
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It was fun to meet Josie’s younger sister, Jean but not so fun for Jean when the workshop she was attending became a scene for murder. For some parts, Sam let the sisters work with him in figuring things out, but there were only limited things he could disclose, so of course two sleuths are better than just Josie winging it on her own, right? Would Josie be able to tell Jean about her witchy powers? Or was Jean tuned in pretty well? You’ll have to read and see!

The showdown after the quiet was a good one and with Jean (along with Josie’s trusty books) helping, the perp was caught. Josie finally got the nerve to say something to Sam she’d been wanting to say for a while now…but did he feel the same? Another thing you’ll find out if you read this book. It’s just out today!

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

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Flat White Fatality review

May 22, 2023May 22, 2023 Tari Hann

This is the third book in the Ground Rules Mysteries by Emmaline Duncan. It’s set in Portland, Oregon in the food cart scene among all the fun and hip people who design games or have startup companies. I sure didn’t like that guy that Sage and Harley used to work for or that she was worried they hadn’t seen the last of him. He just seemed like he’d be a jerk they didn’t need in their business lives anymore. Hopefully he’ll just belly-up and go away, lol, not him literally but his business. Join Sage and all her friends in this latest installment which goes on sale tomorrow, Tuesday, May 23, 2023.

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #EmmalineDuncan

My Goodreads review:

Flat White Fatality by Emmeline Duncan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A good and interesting murder mystery that kept me reading! It seemed like an impossible case for both the real police and Sage who was determined to find out who killed her boyfriend’s employee in Sage and Harley’s roastery. It made Harley look bad since she might’ve been the last to see the woman alive. When the clues started coming together, I had an idea of whodunit and was right, but it was fun to see how the takedown would go.

The showdown was a good one–I love when the perp incriminates themselves and someone thought to record the whole thing. The very ending was super sweet and just plain awesome as Sage, Bax and Niko celebrated Halloween in a very special way! Don’t miss this latest installment of the Ground Rules Mysteries available tomorrow, Tuesday, May 23, 2023.

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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Death by Chocolate Marshmallow Pie review

April 21, 2023 Tari Hann

This is the sixth book in the Death by Chocolate Mysteries by Sarah Graves, and I’ve enjoyed it since its beginning as well as drooling over the yummy chocolate concoctions that Ellie and Jake came up with. The title represents a special pie Jake was working on despite her extreme dislike of marshmallows. That’s a seriously good friend!

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #SarahGraves

My Goodreads review:

Death by Chocolate Marshmallow Pie by Sarah Graves
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was worried there wasn’t gonna be another book in this series, so I was really happy to see this when it came to NetGalley. I’ve followed this series since its beginning and was glad to read more of Jake and Ellie’s crazy adventures and narrow escapes. Life with those two is never, ever boring!

Jake was worried her checkered past had come back to bite her with the latest murder, then when the bodies started piling up, things got clearer. I loved the little side stories in this book and now I feel totally satisfied after reading this book and all the many loose ends that got neatly packaged up, one of which was a little bittersweet. If for some reason the series does end here, I think I’m good with it. Sure, I’d love to read more about these amazing characters, who wouldn’t? But just in case it ends, I felt like everything was in a super place! Don’t miss this latest installment available this coming Tuesday, April 25, 2023!

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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Mother of the Bride Murder review

April 19, 2023 Tari Hann

Can you believe it? This is the 29th book in the long-running Lucy Stone Mysteries by Leslie Meier. We’ve seen her kids grow and get careers and even move to another country for said career. Now Lucy’s oldest daughter was planning to get married in France…hold onto your chapeaux! It’s gonna be a bumpy ride!

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #Leslie Meier

My Goodreads review:

Mother of the Bride Murder by Leslie Meier
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A wild and crazy adventure that only Lucy and her family could manage to have in France trying to attend her daughter’s wedding. Lots of crazy stuff happened, secrets were found out and just as Lucy wondered if this wedding was ever gonna get off the ground, something else happened to rock their world…

I can’t tell about too much or it’d give everything away, but it was pretty exciting in parts and actually fun to see the whole family back together…and the adult kids sometimes bickering just like when they were little kids, lol. Some things never change, but the love they all have for each other was the most important thing that never changed. This latest installment comes out next Tuesday, April 25, 2023.

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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Eat, Drink and Drop Dead review

April 6, 2023April 6, 2023 Tari Hann

This is the first book in a brand new series, Tiffany Austin Food Blogger (sorry, Goodreads doesn’t have a series page up for it so no link for that) by established cozy mystery author, T.C. LoTempio. Her longest running and probably most well-known is the Nick & Nora Mysteries. I still need to start the Nick & Nora series and probably have most of them in some form or another. This lady always writes an awesome mystery with adorable pets!

#NetGalley #SevernHouse #TCLoTempio

My Goodreads review:

Eat, Drink and Drop Dead by T.C. LoTempio
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Anything I’ve read by this author always has characters you’d like to have as friends and storylines that pull me in right away. And this book didn’t disappoint in either of those things. I really enjoyed meeting Tiffany and her coworkers at the magazine. Hilary was such an awesome bestie. I don’t think there’s anything that girl wouldn’t do for her buddy, Tiff as you’ll read when they go sleuthing. And Hilary was very good when it came to enabling Tiff on dating a certain handsome detective. Dale was the kind of boss anybody would just love to have. He was fair and easy to get along with…and he didn’t mind hybrid employees as long as they came to the staff meetings.

The mystery was a good one and I was stumped until a clue came along toward the end of the book. Then I knew exactly whodunit possibly a little sooner than Tiffany did. That was one good showdown too, and the ending was super sweet. I can’t wait for more in this series!

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

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The Bark of Zorro review

April 4, 2023 Tari Hann

This is the fourth book in the Gone to the Dogs Mysteries with this one being written by Kathleen Y’Barbo who also wrote the second book in the series and is slated to write the sixth upcoming book. I’ve already requested and received the fifth book to review before it comes out July 1, 2023. I really enjoy these characters and their sense of family and good Christian friendship. It’s so fun that the ladies who work at the vet clinic are also friends outside the workplace. They’d accepted Dr. Cameron recently and now there’s another possible family member who happens to be related to Cameron. And I could tell Cassidy liked him a lot! Can’t wait to see what the future holds for them.

#NetGalley #BarbourPublishing #KathleenYBarbo

My Goodreads review:

The Bark of Zorro by Y’Barbo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was another sweet addition to this cute cozy mystery series that so far hasn’t had any murder, but it’s always a good mystery. I’m enjoying how the characters have had turns being the main character and first person narrator of the story. This time it was Cassidy Carter, the vet clinic’s receptionist and Mari Evans’s best friend.

It was a good, twisty mystery as well as super sweet when Cassidy found a nice guy as well as an awesome new home. There was a good side mystery about the building Cassidy and her friend Nora were buying, but that was resolved nicely too. I’m eager to see Cassidy and Jason enjoy a nice relationship. Now she’s got someone to go to Mari’s wedding with!

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

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Four Parties and a Funeral review

April 4, 2023April 4, 2023 Tari Hann

This is the fourth book in the hilariously fun Catering Hall Mysteries by Maria DiRico, better known to cozy mystery fans as Ellen Byron. I’ve loved every book in this series, and they just keep getting better! It’s awfully hard to wait for the next one!!

#KensingtonCozies #NetGalley #MariaDiRico #EllenByron

My Goodreads review:

Four Parties and a Funeral by Maria DiRico
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I always have the best time reading this series! Mia makes me think of an Italian Fran Fine, well voice-wise anyway, lol. She had her hands full helping to babysit bridesmaids when Madison’s maid of honor went into rehab, then she had to deal with a film crew doing a reality show of what else, wannabe dons of course! And their ladies, but one of the crew or someone had it in for the CEO so now Mia had a murder she couldn’t resist snooping into as well.

There were so many funny scenes, you just gotta read it to appreciate everything! The showdown was a good one, and I hadn’t really suspected the whodunit. The side story of Shane having something to hide was resolved nicely for him and Mia, and now I just have to wait (im)patiently for the next book!

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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Witch Way Out review

March 30, 2023 Tari Hann

This is the third book in the fun, magical Full Moon Mysteries series by Cate Conte who wrote the Cat Café series under this pen name and the Pawsitively Organic cozy mysteries under her Liz Mugavero identity. I’ve enjoyed some books from all the series and am up to date with Full Moon. Always some good characters and engaging plots whether you read her as Cate or Liz!

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My Goodreads review:

Witch Way Out by Cate Conte
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Violet had enough witchy world issues to worry about, so she definitely didn’t need the murder of a mortal who was running the spring equinox festival. At least the police didn’t seem too interested in her as a suspect. With another genieing in her witch world, Violet couldn’t help worrying she might be next since the battle seemed never to end.

The showdowns for both the murder and the magical issue were good ones and finally there seemed to be peace in both worlds. Some secrets had come out and explanations were made. And finally Violet seemed to have a good man in her life as well. I’m not sure if this is supposed to be the last in the series, but if it does end here, it’s all in a really good place.

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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A Flicker of a Doubt review

March 29, 2023 Tari Hann

This is the fourth book in the Fairy Garden Mysteries by Daryl Wood Gerber, and it’s just too much fun getting to visit with Courtney and her adorable garden fairy, Fiona. It was another enjoyable mystery with secrets, surprises and everything you could ask for in a magical cozy!

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My Goodreads review:

A Flicker of a Doubt by Daryl Wood Gerber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Always an enchanting visit to Carmel to hang out with Courtney and all her friends/family and garden fairies like Fiona. I just love Fiona! She’s really learning a lot and she’s come sooo far from that first book and the stuff she tried to pull! There were some cool new things Fiona found out about too.

I was never really sure whodunit until Courtney found out. I loved how Fiona was able to help, but Courtney wasn’t too shabby herself as she kept the perp talking and remembered a karate move Ziggy taught her. Brady and Courtney were still in a good relationship place with really too much going on as far as the murder went to even interact a whole lot. They need to take a relaxing trip between books lol. With everything wrapped up neatly at the end, there was still somewhat of a shocker and now I’m beyond eager to see what happens next!

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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