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A Victim at Valentine’s review

February 10, 2025 Tari Hann

This is the fifth book in Ellie Alexander’s awesome new series, The Secret Bookcase Mysteries, and I’ve loved every single minute of these books since the very first one. These characters found their way into my heart and they aren’t leaving even though the sixth book is supposed to be the last. I can only hope maybe the author still has plans for the characters in a new series. ::fingers crossed and wishing like crazy::

#NetGalley #StormPublishing #EllieAllexander

My Goodreads review:

A Victim at Valentine’s by Ellie Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ll be really sad when this series wraps up with the next book since these are some of the most awesome characters I’ve come across in cozy mysteries. They’ve all got the best chemistry among them.

This mystery was a real puzzler as Annie and her pals tried to figure out who killed the nicest guy in town. And she had a side mystery that may just crack the cold murder case she’s worked on since her friend was killed. The showdown was hair raising to say the least but Annie’s a survivor and lived to have a super sweet dinner date with her guy Liam at the end.

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

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Mrs. Morris and the Venomous Valentine review

December 23, 2024December 23, 2024 Tari Hann

This is the ninth book in the Salem B&B Mysteries by Traci Wilton aka the writing team of Traci Hall and Patrice Wilton. I’ve loved this series from its very first book and continued to enjoy each boo that’s come out since that. Charlene sure had her hands full with a bunch of diva models, both men and women who were there with a famous photographer to shoot a cupid calendar. As always, madness and mayhem followed, but Jack and Sam made it tolerable for Charlene. I was excited to see on the book’s series page from GR that there’s gonna be a book #10 coming in August, Mrs. Morris and the Day of the Dead (this is a Goodreads link). Especially after the epic ending of this book! No reading ahead now LOL!

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #TraciWilton

My Goodreads review:

Mrs. Morris and the Venomous Valentine by Traci Wilton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I can totally see why Charlene could be in love with Jack the ghost as well as her own flesh and blood detective boyfriend Sam. They’re both amazing and Jack sure proved above and beyond in this book just how amazing he could be as far as helping in the showdown.

I loved that Avery was back for a visit and it was sweet how Charlene turned all mama bear when she was home since Avery was the closest thing she ever had to a daughter. The guests this time had been a group of self-centered models but they definitely came together against a common enemy toward the end. All mysteries were solved but the ending has me absolutely on pins and needles until the next book drops! I hope it comes in the spring!

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The Diva Goes Overboard review

May 22, 2024 Tari Hann

This is the 17th book in the long-running Domestic Diva Mysteries by fave cozy mystery writer, Krista Davis. (I love her Wagtail series too!) Sophie and her sorta-friend (maybe frenemy?) Natasha are going strong after all these years. Natasha’s sorta toned it down where Sophie’s concerned since she’s got all kinds of other people to insult LOL! The series is definitely like visiting old friends!

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #KristaDavis

My Goodreads review:

The Diva Goes Overboard by Krista Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It was great having a visit to Old Town Alexandria with Sophie and her friends again and of course seeing what newest craze Natasha came up with this time for her business. She’s like a pesky relative who doesn’t really mean any harm, but everything she does is always about her lol. Sometimes she’s a real train wreck waiting to happen 😂. I’m not lying, wait’ll you read the scene that has to do with water.

Sophie and her pals had one heckuva of a mystery to solve this time and nothing was adding up…until it did and Sophie was able to figure out what happened. Orson was a smart man to leave her what he did and make that request he made. There was definitely plenty of suspects and a pretty cool twist was discovered toward the end.

The usual explanation session I’ve come to love about this series (along with them brainstorming along the way) was with Sophie and her close friends which always means including Wolf and his update of the case at hand. And Sophie’s always right in her element when she had a party for everyone and gets to take care of their food needs. She might not have actual kids of her own but over these seventeen books she’s definitely taken on a mom role more than once.

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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Mrs. Morris and the Mermaid review

February 25, 2024 Tari Hann

This is the eighth book in the Salem B&B Mysteries by Traci Wilton, the writing team of Traci Hall and Patrice Wilton. I’ve read it from the beginning and fell in love with Charlene’s B&B ghost, the awesome Dr. Jack Strathmore. In the last few books, he’s been a real help to Charlene during cases since he’s learned the internet really well and became an ace at research. I like that he’s not this sad ghost sitting around playing computer games all day, lol. His character’s really grown a lot since Charlene discovered him too. Can’t wait to see what the next book brings!

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #TraciWilton

My Goodreads review:

Mrs. Morris and the Mermaid by Traci Wilton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was so emotional in some parts and really bittersweet, but I absolutely enjoyed this installment of the series. I’d never guessed whodunit at all, what a surprise and and real nail biter of a showdown as well as some ingenuity on Charlene’s part. I was so happy about a decision that’d really been weighing on Sam and Charlene as well, but now they’re still in a good place and someone else might just benefit from having done a good job too.

It was sweet that Avery was able to come home for a few days, I’m sure she’s really missing her work there but that girl was so interested in justice that she’ll make a great cop or whatever she decides in that field someday. A fun ending to a crazy case was had with food, fellowship and some real barbecue fun.

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 Pie to Die For review

February 6, 2024 Tari Hann

This is the first book in a new series by Gretchen Rue called Lucky Pie Mysteries, and I really enjoyed it a lot. I liked her previous series, Witches’ Brew as well, so I knew I’d want to read this one as well. I just loved Este’s Grampy Chuck, what a character! She’s lucky to have a bestie like Kitty as well and an awesome, laid back chef like Seamus. The setting was really fun and reminded me a little of Mackinac Island. Can’t wait to see how this series develops.

#NetGalley #CrookedLane #GretchenRue

My Goodreads review:

A Pie to Die For by Gretchen Rue
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book started what seems like it’ll be a fun series with a little touch of magic. I really love the setting and the similarity to another famous Upper Peninsula island with no cars, just horses and this island had golf carts. I liked Este and her best bud Kitty as well as Grampy, once we finally got to meet him that is lol. Tom was a good and fair sheriff, and I really hope he and Este can become an official couple.

I would’ve never guessed what was going on as the reason for an outsider’s murder, and while the showdown was tense, Este was also smart about it so it was pretty short once all the details were told by the killer. Once I was done with this book, I was really wishing for some caramel apple pie lol.

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

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A Shimmer of Red review

July 23, 2023 Tari Hann

This is the third book in the Odessa Jones Mysteries by Valerie Wilson Wesley, and I’ve really enjoyed it ever since the first book. I think this might be my favorite of the series so far. Everyone needs an awesome friend like Dessa. She’s like a mom to so many even though she and her hubby were never blessed with kids, and Dessa’s about the most faithful friend anyone could know. I love how she’s helped Louella heal and how she even helped her a little more when Louella had made a startling and sudden decision in this book. I’d recommend reading this series in order so you can get to know the characters and see how they’ve grown and developed. I’ll be eagerly waiting for the next book!

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #ValerieWilsonWesley

My Goodreads review:

A Shimmer of Red by Valerie Wilson Wesley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Anyone who has Dessa as a friend should consider themselves blessed ten times over. She’s absolutely the best and most faithful friend anyone could want and always wanted to see any possible good in people. I have a feeling Edgar was a little too far gone for that though, since he was just delusional and creepy as well.

What a great reveal at the end and a super tense but really good showdown. A good takeaway is if a loved one wants to add a find a friend app and have you join it, it’s a good idea especially if you have a habit of coming into contact with crazy people and killers. But seriously, I’m really loving this series more with each book and look forward to the next one.

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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Gone for Gouda review

September 28, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Cheese Shop Mysteries by Korina Moss. It’s got lots of twists and fun red herrings as Willa chases down yet another wily killer, but if she’s not careful she might get herself and her pals taken out in the process. I love her friendship with Baz and how she’s always trying to help him get a girlfriend. This time his heart was set on Ginger who was dating someone else. And of course, he wasn’t having it that Ginger just might be one of the many suspects. See what happens in this newest installment that just came out yesterday.

If you’ve finished this and you’re eager for the next book, we don’t have to wait a year because the next book, Curds of Prey looks to be scheduled to release March 28, 2023. That’s the Goodreads link by the way, but you can go from that page to pre-order.

#StMartinsPaperbacks #KorinaMoss

My Goodreads review:

Gone for Gouda by Korina Moss
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It was fun visiting with Willa and her employees/friends as they investigated the death of a visiting chef author who turned out to not exactly be what she claimed (and everyone who met her soon found out she over-praised people to get them to do stuff for her). Poor Willa was counting on the extra income and publicity she’d get from hosting the woman, but all she ended up with was a bunch of extra food and expense she’d gone to.

At times the storyline seemed to drag a bit, but then something a little more exciting happened. I guess it’s kinda like real life cases that just from reading these books anyone can learn they don’t go as fast as on TV, lol, so maybe it’s just a dose of reality when it gets a touch slow.

Willa’s got an awesome bestie in Baz (who only lets Mrs. Schultz call him Basil lol), but I honestly don’t know which I prefer for her, Roman or Heath. I guess I’m not over the moon about either guy so maybe that’s why. But we don’t have to wait super long for another book because Curds of Prey, book 3 comes out March 2023.

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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