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Silent Nights Are Murder review

September 13, 2024September 13, 2024 Tari Hann

This is the ninth book and sadly, the finale of the Poppy McAllister Mysteries by Libby Klein. But I have it from a reliable source that it’s possible it could be revisited sometime. I absolutely love this wrap-up that one of my favorite series got and think the author did a fabulous job. There were extra doses of hilarity (LOTS of extra doses which I loved!), cuteness and just plain awww moments. And you’ve just never experienced Christmas in Cape May until you celebrate with Aunt Ginny!

Don’t miss this last in the series but do yourselves a favor and definitely read the entire series first. It’s honestly worth it to get the complete picture of characters, relationships, not to mention the total comedy scene as well. You won’t wanna miss one minute of any of the moments this series has to offer!

If I had time to reread, this series would be up there possibly first for me. If someone’s feeling sad, I can guarantee this series will bring a laugh or ten and make you feel tons better once you read about all of Poppy’s issues! But they’re always presented in a lighthearted and comical way, so it’s never anything too heavy. Poppy, Aunt Ginny, the Biddies and of course Gia and Henry will always remain among my most favorite cozy mystery characters! And who can forget Sir Figaro Newton! I didn’t know if I liked Fig much in the beginning, but now I’m crazy over that silly cat! (And…just don’t read when you’re hungry because Poppy’s quite the chef!)

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #LibbyKlein

My Goodreads review:

Silent Nights Are Murder by Libby Klein
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My most fave of all the books! There was so much going on that was absolutely hilarious, I was laughing practically the entire time I read. The ending was just perfect and I loved that all this happened at Christmastime. The mystery case was solved and everyone went on and had an amazing Christmas Eve and Day. I’d loved to’ve seen that Christmas village display inside the B&B, it sounded hysterical! I never guessed the culprit for that or for the main case itself, lotsa great intrigue which kept me reading.

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 Slay Ride Together with You review

September 12, 2024September 12, 2024 Tari Hann

This is the seventh in the long-running Year-Round Christmas Mysteries by Vicki Delany, and I absolutely love this series. What an awesome concept although as showed in this book, they do celebrate other holidays besides Christmas since the book was taking place around Easter time. I just love that sweet, big old Mattie, the St. Bernard. It cracks me up how he listens to Det. Diane so well but Merry, not so much lol.

#NetGalley #CrookedLane #VickiDelany

My Goodreads review:

A Slay Ride Together With You by Vicki Delany
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another awesome offering from a fave cozy author who never fails to hand readers a super satisfying showdown and takedown of a killer in the story. And there was just the right amount of creepy atmosphere for the old house Vicky and Mark bought together haunted by a very flesh and blood ghost. I loved how the girls teamed up against the killer and as always, it led up to a fun-filled ending with food, dancing and lotsa friendship.

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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The Grim Steeper review

September 10, 2024 Tari Hann

This is the third book in the Witches Brew Mysteries by Gretchen Rue, a series I’ve enjoyed since it started. Ya just gotta love a crazy orange cat named Bob! Who’s a good boy, Bob? I love the camaraderie of the town and how they’ve accepted Phoebe into their small business family.

#NetGalley #CrookedLane #GretchenRue

My Goodreads review:

The Grim Steeper by Gretchen Rue
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve loved this series from its beginning two books ago and now I’m loving it even more. Along with some murders and other shenanigans going on with some of a visiting bird guy’s staff, Phoebe found out a lot about her own witchy powers and things started looking a lot better for her everywhere.

That showdown was epic and I do believe Det. Patsy thought so too. Phoebe was shocked at what others already knew about her when she was just learning some of this stuff herself. A favorite ending theme, food and fellowship was enjoyed by Phoebe and all her friends which were really her little family she’d acquired when she moved to Raven Creek. I can’t wait for the next book!

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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French Quarter Fright Night review

September 1, 2024September 1, 2024 Tari Hann

This is the third book in the Vintage Cookbook Mysteries by Ellen Byron, and I’m so glad it found a new home with a different publisher. I sure hope it’s continuing but if not, this was a really good way to end the trilogy. I’ll have to stay tuned to the newsletter the author sends out to see what’s going on with the series. Halloween in NOLA, is there anyplace crazier to party for Halloween? LOL

#NetGalley #SevernHouse #EllenByron

My Goodreads review:

French Quarter Fright Night by Ellen Byron
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was so happy when this series got a new publishing home since I was definitely not done being caught up in NOLA with these amazing characters. I hope there’s more to come since there’s one continuing mystery that got solved, but I can see tons more stories for these folks.

This book was especially cool taking place during October leading up to Halloween in NOLA. It was a great armchair vacation as well as a twisty, fun mystery. I hadn’t seen the whodunit coming until it was there, and the showdown was short but effective. I love how Ricki had taken intern Olivia under her wing like a younger sister, but I was never sure Liv appreciated it until toward the end. A cute side story about a kitten had a good ending and while I’ve only known this author to use an epilogue when she’s ending a series, I really, really hope this one isn’t ending! It nicely wrapped up the three books, but I guess it’s just hard to let go of characters we’ve come to like so much as readers. Hoping for more but pretty happy with the ending if this was it.

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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In the Event of Murder review

August 23, 2024 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Starlit Bookshop Mysteries by Cynthia Kuhn which seemed like a long time making an appearance since the first book was published in December of 2021, but luckily it did happen. Once the book got moving along, everything came back as far as the characters and why I liked (or in some cases, didn’t like) those people.

In this book the local who stood out to me was Vivi the caterer. She’s such an amazing friend to Emma when she needed different things like a replacement venue. What an awesome lady! Her polar opposite was Tabitha, a a former high school mean girl turned into a mean woman who Emma unfortunately had to work with professionally for the gala. Tune into the book and see how this all comes together!

If you tap/click on the series link above, you’ll see a third book listed called Save the Date for Murder, but there’s no publication date or cover yet. I’m actually glad to hear a third book’s coming since this book ended on such a happy note, and I just know there’s more to come.

#NetGalley #CrookedLane #CynthiaKuhn

My Goodreads review:

In the Event of Murder by Cynthia Kuhn
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I’d actually forgotten a lot about this series since it’s been nearly three years since the first book came out, but it didn’t take long at all to remember what I liked about the different characters…or didn’t like as in mean girl Tabitha’s case lol.

I hadn’t guessed whodunit and enjoyed the low key showdown, although there’d been plenty of drama to make up for that throughout the book. I love the relationship Emma and Lucy have with their aunt Nora who lives with them in their childhood home where she raised them. Lucy had an amazing ending and the other two as well.

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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Sticks and Scones review

August 21, 2024 Tari Hann

This is the nineteenth book in the long-running foodie series Bakeshop Mysteries by well-known cozy mystery author, Ellie Alexander. I think this could be my favorite book so far in the series and the way it ended (no cliffhanger, I promise, and it was a good ending too), I’m really glad the next one releases in February!

#NetGalley #St.MartinPaperbacks #EllieAlexander

My Goodreads review:

Sticks and Scones by Ellie Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was an extra awesome one as readers soon find out toward the end of the book. Meanwhile, one of the actors in Lance’s player company was murdered, and Lance was itching to sleuth with Jules again. Those two always crack me up when they go sleuthing! Lance is such a fun and crazy character, love him to pieces!

The series has lotsa other amazing characters that’ve grown and changed over the course of the series. I really love The Professor’s character and how he’s been such an awesome dad figure for Jules as well as a fair and hard-working police detective. Eye leakage may be experienced toward the end but it’s the happy kind. Can’t wait for the next book which thankfully comes in February!

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

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Shock and Paw review

August 20, 2024 Tari Hann

This is the eighth book in the Cat Cafe Mysteries by Cate Conte which had quickly become one of my new favorite series when it started. I love the Christmastime setting in Daybreak Harbor but there was a grinch out there somewhere determined to spoil it for everyone. It released today, so grab it and have a merry little Christmas in the middle of summer.

#NetGalley #StMartinPaperbacks #CateConte

My Goodreads review:

Shock and Paw by Cate Conte
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was another fun book in the series, especially being set at Christmastime. I got such a kick outta Grandpa Leo and how serious he was about the Christmas lights contest, to the point of being injured in the line of duty. But that didn’t stop the former police chief at all, lol. I just love that guy!

The showdown was a crazy one that somehow I just had a feeling Maddie was gonna get involved in. Thanks to a cat, the killer didn’t get far before the police burst in. I love it when cats or other pets help in the showdown—this little guy was pretty amazing. There was a good twist toward the end that explained so much of some earlier issues about a little side mystery going on with the lights.

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

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Booked on Murder review

August 5, 2024 Tari Hann

This is the eighth and final book in the Haunted Library Mysteries by Allison Brook aka Marilyn Levinson. It quickly became a favorite series because who doesn’t love cute library cats and friendly, helpful library ghosts, right? Evelyn the ghost became as much of a fave to me as the living characters, so while this is the book we all waited for, it’s also the one I kinda dreaded knowing it’d be the final book. But I really loved how the author gave us a nice big dose of our characters and we got to linger as long as possible in this book.

#NetGalley #CrookedLane #AllisonBrook #MarilynLevinson

My Goodreads review:

Booked on Murder by Allison Brook
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Knowing this was the last book didn’t really affect me until the end which I was super thankful the author drew out like she did knowing fans would need tons of closure and a way to say goodbye to some amazing favorite characters. I’m getting leaky eyeballs again just writing the review. She did an absolute stellar job of closing out what had become one of my all-time favorite series.

Although I’m sure the characters had their own ideas of how they were gonna spend this last book, so in true Carrie fashion our sleuth found herself taking on something dangerous when it was just hours before her wedding. But her man was right there with her too—Dylan is so perfect for her!

I loved the old house they bought and how special it was too! There was just everything to love and give final hugs to in this book, but do yourself a favor by savoring the first seven books before reading this. There weren’t spoilers but there’s just a vibe you need when you read the last in a series, imho anyway.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of his book provided by Crooked Lane via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

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A Cup of Flour, a Pinch of Death review

July 22, 2024July 22, 2024 Tari Hann

This is the third book in the Baker Street Mysteries by a favorite cozy mystery author Valerie Burns, aka V.M. Burns when she’s writing the Mystery Bookshop Mysteries. I always love her characters and this series was definitely not an exception. It was awesome to read her comment on Facebook recently that she was working on book 4 of this series, yay!

I just love that big ol’ Mastiff dog, Baby! I never would’ve pegged book 1 Maddy as someone who’d grow to love a 250-lb. slobbery dog, but the two are pretty darn inseparable.

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #ValerieBurns

My Goodreads review:

A Cup of Flour, A Pinch of Death by Valerie Burns
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What an amazing conclusion for what was actually a story arc of related events. Maddy was finally gonna get closure on her beloved aunt’s death but not before the fight of her life. Not to mention her nemesis and ex coming to town. The book started out with a super funny scene and just kept getting better and better.

Maddy’s grown so much in these three books and I was so proud of the stuff she did in this book. Her dad the Admiral was in town too and I never thought we’d ever get to see the more human side of him, but I’ve got a new admiration for his character. And I know he approved of Maddy’s choice of a boyfriend this time, you could just tell.

That was one of the best showdowns I’ve ever read about and all I can say is that perp deserved everything anyone did to them in self-defense. In some ways, I wasn’t surprised at who it was. I’m super eager now to read book 4 that I saw on social was in the works.

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 Murder for the Sages review

June 26, 2024June 26, 2024 Tari Hann

This is the third book in the Sunflower Cafe Mysteries by Amy Lillard and it’s tons of fun. That little Yorkie that Sissy, the main character has is just a character himself. He’s named Duke and believes he’s a Great Dane or something that’s usually named Duke, lol.

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #AmyLillard

My Goodreads review:

A Murder for the Sages by Amy Lillard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This mystery seemed very slow-going but it could’ve been that it was just building toward a really good ending that I thoroughly enjoyed. I’d never suspected the person who ended up as the killer, and honestly I couldn’t really come up with anyone as the perp. The showdown was a little tense but didn’t drag on forever which was good. I also love it when dogs or cats are the heroes of the day or to paraphrase Sissy “better than Lassie even.”

The ending was super sweet and pretty much what I’ve waited these three books to see. I haven’t heard anything about whether there’s gonna be a book four but I definitely wouldn’t be opposed to it.

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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