Epilogue to a Christmas Murder review

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!

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My Goodreads review:

Epilogue to a Christmas Murder (Beyond the Page Bookstore Mystery, #11)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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Death of a Tom Turkey review

This is the eighteenth book in the long-running Hayley Powell Food & Cocktail Mysteries by brother/sister duo Lee Hollis (Rick Copp, Holly Simason), and the authors never fail to come through with lots of funny scenes and a great overall mystery. I always love Hayley’s sweet pup Leroy who’s still around, but in the cozy mystery world anything can happen while real-life dogs would be on Leroy Junior, Junior, Junior by now lol. He’s a good mainstay and has been from the beginning.

I was excited that my fave police chief’s Sergio-isms as I like to call them returned. Yes, I’m that nerd who actually counts how many times he says something funny when he means something else. I love the character to pieces and really missed his little additions in the last book. His delivery says it all and while I didn’t notice any Sergio-isms in the last book (Sergio was a touch boring in that book), he definitely made a comeback in this story and was better than ever!

Another thing I noticed several books ago was the articles in between chapters that Hayley writes for the Island Times have gotten better and even funnier. I gotta admit in the beginning I’d kinda skim those but these recent ones have been pretty hilarious.

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My Goodreads review:

Death of a Tom Turkey (A Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery Book 18)Death of a Tom Turkey by Lee Hollis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was so happy to see the Sergio-isms return! Those are just so funny and had always been part of this series but the last book or two just didn’t cut it and Sergio was just plain boring. But not in this book, he was in rare form, so if he was real I’d wanna hug him lol! Mona was also in rare form as well. Of all the B characters, I think I love those two best!

What a crazy and complicated case that even included some court action but a cool plot twist toward the end took care of wrapping up the case, and it was in typical Hayley style too. What a wild Thanksgiving!

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

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Murder at Blackwood Inn review

This is the first in a brand new series, Haunted Dead and Breakfast, by Penny Warner and the characters didn’t take long to work their way into my heart as some memorable and what might be some fave characters. I loved that cat Pye and how he was always showing up in different places. Come to think of it, the handyman Noah kinda did the same thing, lol.

Can’t wait for the next in this fun series–those aunts were cracking me up! I was sorta thinking of the Sabrina the Teenage Witch TV series my daughter grew up with that had Aunt Hilda and Aunt Zelda when I read this, lol. If Pye could talk, I’d totally channel Salem as that cat!

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My Goodreads review:

Murder at Blackwood InnMurder at Blackwood Inn by Penny Warner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed meeting Carissa and her quirky, but sweet aunts when she moved into the B&B with them. The room themes of that place were awesome! (I’d stay in the Scooby Doo one for sure!) And what’s not to like about that mysterious Noah that Carissa took a liking to, right? He was as mysterious as the cat Pye that came and went without much sound. Carissa found herself facing off with a killer and luckily that clever orange cat was there to help out. Loved the ending but I could’ve kept reading more about these characters. I’m absolutely hoping this is the first of a series and not just a standalone.

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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Tails from the Crypt review

This is the third book in the absolutely fun and adorable Magical Menagerie series by Sarah Fox, another fave cozy author. I loved this series from the very first book and always am eager to read the next when it comes out. Twilight Cove celebrating Halloween was awesome!

#NetGalley #SevernHouse #SarahFox

My Goodreads review:

Tails from the Crypt (A Magical Menagerie Mystery #3)Tails from the Crypt by Sarah Fox
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve enjoyed Georgie’s character and those of her friends and family since the very first book. I just love those sweet spaniels, Flossie and Fancy as well as the cool abilities they’ve got and can do. Fancy’s so cute when she howls “a-roo” and Flossie cracks me up when she opens locks with just her paw. That’d be some crazy prints the police might find, lol!

The mystery was fun since it was set around Halloween, and I was never really sure whodunit until the actual reveal which was a good surprise. And of course the sweet doggos had a part in making that showdown happen and causing the perp to have to stick around. Can’t wait to read the next book!

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

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A Brew for Chaos review

This is the third and long-awaited book in the Enchanted Bay Mystery series by Esme Addison, and I absolutely loved it! It took a little while to get reacquainted with everyone, but it didn’t take super long for me to remember what I liked about each character. I’d love to see more books in the series!

#NetGalley #SevernHouse #EsmeAddison

My Goodreads review:

A Brew for Chaos (Enchanted Bay Mysteries Book 3)A Brew for Chaos by Esme Addison
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved the first two books in this series, then it took a hiatus, but since I get the author’s newsletter, I knew it was gonna return at some point. This book was bigger than the first two combined with shocking revelations and secrets, but there was plenty of family love, support and togetherness going on as well. There were so many different things happening, it was hard to trust anyone except for the main players meaning Alex and her immediate family. Her boyfriend Jack had a secret, his mother had one she didn’t realize she had, there was a murder and a friend of Alex’s was looking into an old cold case. But there was an epic showdown, and help came for Alex from a really unexpected but super welcome source. After the very ending, I’m so eager now to read the next book!

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

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Mrs. Morris & the Day of the Dead review

This is the tenth and sadly the final book in the Salem B&B mysteries by Traci Wilton, the talented writing team consisting of Traci Hall and Patrice Wilton. This final book was bittersweet and I’m really gonna miss this series a lot, but the authors sure did a nice job of wrapping it up.

#NetGalley #TraciWilton #KensingtonCozies

My Goodreads review:

Mrs. Morris and the Day of the Dead (Salem B&B, #10)Mrs. Morris and the Day of the Dead by Traci Wilton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It’s always sad to say goodbye to a favorite series, especially one I’ve read since the very first book. But I thought it was really fitting that the first book and this last one should take place on Halloween, the heart and soul season of Salem. It showed a lot how the characters grew and developed and was basically an emotional rollercoaster for this reader. There were still plenty of funny Jack and Avery moments now that she could see and talk to the ghost. It was hilarious how he could still get her to almost answer him in front of people.

Without giving away any spoilers, just trust me that if you’ve followed this series, you’ll want to read this, although I give this a strong tissue alert. I absolutely loved it. If you’re just starting with this book, I actually recommend not doing that and reading this series from the beginning. You’ll be very glad you did!

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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Laying Down the Latte review

This is the 21st book in the long-running Bakeshop Mysteries by Ellie Alexander, and it’s definitely  a good one featuring a trip to Costa Rica that Jules and Carlos wanted to make sure Andy got to go on with them. Poor guy had no idea what was in store, but neither did they as murder and mayhem was afoot.

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My Goodreads review:

Laying Down the Latte (A Bakeshop Mystery, #21)Laying Down the Latte by Ellie Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It was fun reading about Jules, Carlos and Andy being in Costa Rica and even cooler when I read Ellie Alexander’s newsletter the same day telling how she’d gone there last year. I figured she must’ve been there at some point since the coffee facts and everything was described like someone who’d actually seen all this firsthand. Obviously except for the murder, lol.

Jules found herself investigating a murder even while on vacation and getting a little help/encouragement from back home from her mom and Lance. Lance was a hoot without even being there while he was energetically searching for a wedding venue for him and Arlo, and bouncing ideas off Jules probably the same way he was bouncing on caffeine.

My final guess for the killer was right (after a couple fails and my suspects didn’t pan out), and it was awesome what Jules did to said killer. The ending was filled with food and fellowship as everyone was now at home celebrated Andy’s trip to Costa Rica with Jules and Carlos and their safe return. Can’t wait to see what happens next!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin/Minotaur Books via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

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Sour Crime Donuts review

This is the tenth book in the super enjoyable Deputy Donuts Mysteries by Ginger Bolton, a series I’ve enjoyed since the very first book. Dep’s just the sweetest little cat and she’s definitely got a nose for mystery! And she got to go along on a mystery with Emily and her friends this time too, doing what she did best.

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My Goodreads review:

Sour Crime Donuts (A Deputy Donut Mystery)Sour Crime Donuts by Ginger Bolton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Emily and her two employees who were also good friends did some major sleuthing in this case and took little Dep with them a couple times. The cat had a nose for clues and dead bodies. When an old friend of Emily’s came to town, it was a fun reunion since the girl was now grown up with some impressive career goals.

When a body was found on the land Izzy was gonna own soon, Izzy was an obvious suspect, so Emily and her pals worked hard to help Brent get the clues in place to find the real perp. And when that perp came face to face with Emily, I’m pretty sure after what she did, they were really sorry they ever met her lol. I was so sure someone I had in mind was the killer, but I was wrong. Can’t wait 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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The Mango Murders review

This is the fifteenth book in the long-running cozy series Key West Food Critic by Lucy Burdette. Hayley’s grown a lot and changed throughout the series but only in a good way. She’s got a new adventure ahead in this book and rumor has it her mother-in-law might just be sleuthing with her at one point (if anyone remembers Hayley and Helen sleuthing in a previous book, it was pretty funny! Helen’s scary good!). It was just as good in this book too. And little Ziggy even got a moment to shine. Can’t wait for the next book!

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My Goodreads review:

The Mango Murders (Key West Food Critic Mystery #15)The Mango Murders by Lucy Burdette
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really loved this book and how it was completely and totally focused on the mystery at hand and the characters’ lives like it always used to be. For a while there, it seemed some of these books took too much of a political turn, something I absolutely don’t wanna read about especially in cozy mysteries. But there’ve been a few recent books that’ve gotten better and this was definitely one of those! I might have to call this one my fave so far.

When the party cruise Hayley, her mom and Sam were on and helping cater blew up, Hayley did her usual sleuthing thing and once again had Nathan’s mom sleuthing with her. That lady cracks me up! She’s a tough cookie but boy can she get things done in an investigation. Helen did have a little run-in with someone’s motorcycle though. Hayley found herself facing off with a killer again but thanks to a couple of awesome helpers with a sweet four-legged along, quick work was made of the nasty perp. The ending was super sweet and I can’t wait for more in this series!

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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