cozy mystery – Page 35 – Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery

Batten Down the Belfry review

February 20, 2022February 20, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the fourth book in the House-Flipper Mysteries by Diane Kelly who has other cozy mystery series under her belt as well as a couple of new ones. I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve read so far by her even though I haven’t dipped into the older series yet. I just love the characters in the House-Flipper series and hope she continues writing it at least as long as she did Paw Enforcement. Little Sawdust is so cute on all these book covers in this series, and he even gets featured in several short chapters giving a cat’s-eye-view of what’s going on.

My Goodreads review:

Batten Down the Belfry by Diane Kelly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It looked like Whit and Buck had scored themselves another nice property, and with all the ideas they collectively had for it, it promised to be a good profit and future moneymaker for them. Only the one little problem of the body in the bell tower needed to be addressed first. And if that wasn’t bad enough, there was another death on the property after that.

I loved the idea Collette came up with for having a cafe to go along with the theater venue building. It was cute how she and Buck were getting closer. I like where Whitney and Collin are in their relationship. He finally realized she’s useful to investigations, and it doesn’t do any good to tell her to keep away anyhow.

The showdown was crazy exciting! Sawdust got to play a part, and that old bell in the church definitely came in handy! The very ending was so sweet and now I can’t wait for the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC provided by St. Martin’s via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own. This book comes out March 1, 2022.

View all my reviews

A Fatal Glow review

February 19, 2022February 19, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Odessa Jones Mysteries by Valerie Wilson Wesley, and I like it even better than the first book. Dessa’s one of the most likable main characters I’ve met, and I just love her Aunt Phoenix, what a hoot! I thought it was sweet how Dessa let Loella’s little girl come over and bake with her. She even took the murdered guy’s teen boy under her wing for a while.

#KensingtonCozies #NetGalley

My Goodreads review:

A Fatal Glow by Valerie Wilson Wesley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed Dessa’s character in the first book, and this book was even better. Dessa’s one character who’d be the most awesome friend a person could have. She’s taken the coworkers from a job she doesn’t like and turned them into her family which is probably why she feels like she can’t leave that job even though she’s not doing that great selling properties and enjoys catering much more.

What a crazy dysfunctional bunch of people Dessa got mixed up with when she agreed to take on a catering job as a favor to boss Tanya. But as always, she made the most of it, and with Harley and Louella’s help was able to pull it off…until the host died. I was never sure who to trust except for Dessa and her friends. I hadn’t guessed the killer but it made total sense once the reveal happened.

I really like it when Dessa can spend time with Lennox at the restaurant and can totally see those two being happy together someday. Until she’s ready though, I’m just glad she’s got someone like him to hang out with. Don’t miss this book when it releases next Tuesday, February 22.

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

View all my reviews

Put Out to Pasture review

February 17, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Farm to Table Mysteries by well-known cozy mystery author Amanda Flower who’s written quite a few successful cozy series. I always enjoy her characters for being unforgettable but real people. Some are quirky, hilarious and just plain amazing. Usually there’s a funny and/or cuddly animal involved (think Jethro from the Amish Candy Shop), but I know when I start one of her books, I usually get lost reading and don’t want to stop till the story’s done.

My Goodreads review:

Put Out to Pasture by Amanda Flower
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It was good to catch up with Shiloh and her dad again especially during the fall season. Her dad’s quickly become my favorite character with Hazel being a close second. That kid is like 11 going on 19 or 20 lol. But boy is her grandma a piece of work. It’s just a shame that deliciously handsome Quinn comes with such a cantankerous mom, although Shi always got along well with Quinn’s dad, Chief Randy of the Cherry Glen PD.

Sometimes I just felt like knocking some sense into Shi with gorgeous Quinn right there who may or may not be hinting he wants more than friendship. Then another nice looking guy arrived, so she’s got a smorgasbord. In all fairness, I’ve never lost a spouse or fiance, so I can’t know the pain or how long it’d take to get to a dating point again, but for fiction’s sake, I really hope she picks one soon! And for the record I’m #TeamQuinn. He’s cute and he has a kid who’s pretty amazing too.

Poor Kristy was the suspect this time, and Shiloh was doing her best to get her bestie out of the limelight and find a real suspect. The showdown was definitely exciting and I absolutely loved what Sully did to help! Funny and awesome at the same time! I hadn’t quite seen the whodunit coming although it made total sense and I’d thought about that person at one point. Don’t miss this second book in the Farm to Table Mysteries coming out next Tuesday, February 22, 2022.

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

View all my reviews

Caught and Collared review

February 15, 2022April 5, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the fourth book in the Lowcountry Dog Walker series by Jackie Layton, a series I recently rediscovered after seeing and getting this ARC on NetGalley. I already had the first book and knew I’d be able to binge through the first three before reading this. In fact, now that I’ve read all four, I strongly suggest reading from the beginning. The series is more like a serial story that has characters, relationships and even a new dog or two in each story that all build on each other. Sometimes a person or dogs are just randomly mentioned, but it’s really cool to be able to think back and know you’ve already met those or read about them. And some of the people you might not’ve thought would be important when you met them turn out to be pretty important to a book’s storyline.

I just love the series so much that if I had time and not a gazillion other books on my WTR, it’d be one of those series I could easily reread. I hope the author keeps on writing in it as I feel some of the main characters and side characters still have lots of great stories to tell!

I found a picture of a beagle that made me think of poor sweet Peanut in the story who lost his human but eventually gained a new dad to love and take care of him.

My Goodreads review:

Caught and Collared A Low County Dog Walker Mystery #4 by Jackie Layton
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I love how the character and their relationships have built in this series. It’s definitely a series I’d recommend starting from the beginning. Leroy, for example actually became a pretty important character in this book, but a couple books ago, he was just that guy out there fishing. Same for Jeremiah and Frank, two veterans that I’ve liked since I met them. And Ike’s another veteran and a sweetheart, but you really need to get his backstory before reading this book, if you want full enjoyment. The series is more like a serial story without cliffhangers, if that makes any sense.

Marc and Andi have such an awesome relationship that isn’t too mooshy or unbelievable. They’ve learned mutual trust and I thought it was sweet how they had some plans for gifting that included her siblings. Andi’s whole posse of friends and family are so amazing with how they help each other out in the community. And again, it’s told in a believable way and not bigger than life and not outrageously flaunting how good they are. It’s just normal nice people doing everyday nice things for each other expecting nothing in return except the love and friendship they all enjoy.

This was one crazy mystery that had everyone puzzled until Andi’s research led her to something big. It all built up to an exciting showdown where both Marc and Andi along with two very cool veteran characters managed to survive a killer.

If Heyward Beach with its characters and places was real, I’d visit in a heartbeat and rent part of the renovated old kitchen building–or maybe I’d wanna stay on the beach. Now I’m so eager for the next book. I’d gotten and read this book as an ARC but liked it so much, I went ahead and bought the Kindle file. I just want the author to keep writing this series!

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

View all my reviews

Long Overdue at the Lakeside Library review

February 7, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Lakeside Library Mysteries by Holly Danvers who also wrote the Handcrafted Mysteries under the name Holly Quinn. A lakeside library makes a great setting for a cozy mystery! It’s such a cool-sounding place to vacation even in the winter!

My Goodreads review:

Long Overdue at the Lakeside Library by Holly Danvers
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It was a more enjoyable book than the first one was, and I wasn’t nearly as confused with the mystery like last time. I do like Marge and her dog a lot and wished they’d been in this book a little more. I don’t know why, but I just can’t get into the key characters. While I love how the author writes very realistically worded dialogue, I feel like these characters aren’t people in their thirties but much, much younger by some of the stuff they say to each other. Sometimes Jace doesn’t come off quite as professional-sounding as he should. Maybe it’s just me.

The mystery was good, and I didn’t quite guess whodunit. The showdown was exciting. There was a slight possibility of a new man in Rain’s life, and I hope I guessed right at the very end! #TeamJace

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own. Release date is February 8, 2022 (tomorrow).

View all my reviews

A Dash of Death review

January 30, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the first book in the Catering & Cocktails Mysteries by Michelle Hillen Klump who’s a former investigative reporter herself just like her main character Samantha Warren. I definitely can appreciate when an author writes what they know about. And I’d never heard of drink bitters, so I learned a little something new by reading this. It’ll be interesting to see how the new catering and cocktails business goes in the next book.

#crookedlanebooks

My Goodreads review:

A Dash of Death by Michelle Hillen Klump
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a really different hobby, soon to be a job for a main character, at least that I’ve read. It seemed interesting, although I gotta admit I’m not really interested in drink mixing and tended to skip those details, but she definitely had a lucrative thing going for her. I enjoyed her two besties characters more than I did Samantha’s at first. Maybe she’ll grow on me more in the next book, but it just seemed weird to me that she’d go crying to her ex every time something went wrong. Now I just love David and really hope they’ll end up together. He’s got his head screwed on right, lol. I started liking Sam’s character a little more after a point in the book. I won’t give that away, but you’ll know when you read it!

I’d guessed who the killer was, but I wasn’t totally sure why. The showdown was pretty exciting and ended in injuries for Samantha, but I was proud of her for her bravery. There was some good news about a new business partnership at the end, and I was happy to see that maybe Samantha and David might get a chance together.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Crooked Lane via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own. This book releases February 8, 2022.

View all my reviews

Easter Bonnet Murder review

January 24, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the twenty-eighth book (can you believe it’s been that long?) in the long-running Lucy Stone series by Leslie Meier. Lucy’s sure come a long way from Zoe not even existing yet in the first book to this one where she’s headed off to Portland for her own apartment and first career job. Good old Miss Tilley gave a little scare in this book though as you’ll find out when you read it.

#kensingtonpublishing

My Goodreads review:

Easter Bonnet Murder by Leslie Meier
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was lots more enjoyable than a few of the more recent Lucy Stone mysteries. With Miss Tilley having a big role in it, it seemed like the old sleuthing Lucy rather than some of the newer, more politically-driven mysteries. I like plain old regular mysteries the best, and Lucy definitely had one on her hands with the missing person at the retirement center and dealing with her very upset daughter. Lucy hun, you need to hang your PI shingle out once and for all! Ooo that’d be a great retirement career for Lucy down the road.

That Miss Tilley always cracks me up! I was thinking she’d realistically have to be over a hundred seeing how long ago this series started, and in those first books I’m pretty sure she was described at least in her eighties if not close to ninety. However old she might be, she’s sharp as ever and nothing gets past her. Lucy had Miss T and Miss T’s new friend Howard helping snoop out some things at the facility, but she eventually realized it might get too dangerous once she realized something more serious than double billing was going on.

The showdown was great! I loved seeing those seniors in action against a perp who’d taken out one of their own. There were a few side things going on at the retirement center that I’m sure “off camera” got taken care of since they were unfortunately the unsavory things sometimes heard about at retirement homes. Another side story that was kinda cute was Zoe hunting for the perfect apartment for her move to Portland. Everything ended nicely, and Lucy got one heckuva story out of what she’d uncovered.

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

View all my reviews

Honey Roasted review

January 20, 2022January 20, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the nineteenth book in the long-running Coffeehouse Mysteries by author Cleo Coyle who’s actually married writing couple Alice Alfonsi and Marc Cerasini. I also love their other series, The Haunted Bookshop Mysteries.

The Coffeehouse Mysteries have been around since 2003 and are still going strong! I always enjoy the author acknowledgements that include something about buildings in New York or something else fun. It’s especially an interesting read for this book where it explains about the rooftop beekeeping aspect of the book as well as talking about the small neighborhood in New York known as The Hole.

#berkleypublishing

My Goodreads review:

Honey Roasted (Coffeehouse Mystery, #19)

Honey Roasted by Cleo Coyle My rating: 5 of 5 stars There wasn’t a current murder going on in this book, but there was definitely an almost-murder with a woman now in a coma, and since the woman was a friend of Madame’s, Clare made it her priority to get to the bottom of this. Meanwhile, Mike was very involved in a case of a string of dead OD/homeless bodies showing up in New York’s The Hole neighborhood. Side note: Every time I read one of this series, I learn a little more about something interesting in New York. Not that The Hole is now on my bucket list or anything, but I did Google it just to get a feel for the type of area Mike was having to deal with. Yep, saw some pics of the perfect body-dumping spots, and it’d definitely be extra creepy at night, but on the other side just bording it, things looked very normal.

Anywho, I hadn’t guessed who the main perp in all of this was at all! I was surprised at who it was when Clare confronted them in a pretty awesome showdown. For a while there, the side story of Mike getting so involved in his case and the extra animosity he was showing toward Franco (young undercover cop who’s dating Clare’s daughter), that I was a little worried about the engagement. But I trusted the authors, and they came through in a really nice way. And…I had to giggle at all the bee puns well-sprinkled through the book in the dialogue! Loved it! I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Berkley Publishing via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own. View all my reviews

Up to No Gouda review

January 16, 2022January 16, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the first book in the Grilled Cheese Mysteries, a brand new series by Linda Reilly who also wrote the Deep Fried Mysteries and Cat Lady Mysteries. I’ve really enjoyed what I’ve read of those series as well, but I absolutely devoured (yes, grilled cheese pun intended!) this book! I just loved Carly’s little work family! And sweet Havarti was a great addition! (Hint: he’s on the book covers!)

I just had to share what I found on Goodreads! The second book is scheduled to come out July 26, 2022, and the cover’s completely adorable! It’s called No Parm No Foul, so just tap or click that link and check it out.

#PoisonedPenPress

My Goodreads review:

Up to No Gouda by Linda Reilly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really loved this book even more than I first thought I would. I wasn’t sure how a restaurant in a cozy could be that interesting with only grilled cheese, but this was a fun surprise. I’m not one to experiment with grilled cheese. Kinda a plain American singles and if I wanna be adventurous, a sprinkle of cheddar inside. But I loved the names of Carly’s different creations, and that Grant was just a genius in the kitchen! Carly, Grant and Suzanne had a great dynamic in the restaurant…that is, until poor Suzanne was nearly charged with murder.

There were some side mysteries that did tie in with the main one, and it was pretty cool how Carly managed to sniff it out. I’d suspected someone randomly for my own reasons and was surprised when I was right. But there was another whole layer to things done and people caught for said things. I got a kick out of that crazy guy Don, the reporter and how Carly had babysat him once. The Dennis the Menace of the twenty-first century? lol. But he seemed like an okay guy now.

You know how awesome some books are, and you just want more after the showdown and perp or perps were caught? And in some books you get it and some you don’t. This book was incredibly generous (thanks to its amazing author) in providing just that perfect wrap-up ending. I really loved and appreciated how every single dangling thread was explained so thoroughly. One of my favorite characters was Becca, a homeless veteran. I have a special place in my heart for veterans (LOTS of them in our family!) and was so happy with her good ending! This is a book that if I had time, I could easily read it again! I absolutely can’t wait for the next book.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own. Don’t miss this book when it comes out January 25, 2022!

View all my reviews

Tailing Trouble review

January 12, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Furry Friends Mysteries by Laura Scott. I noticed some of the books showing up on the page listed for her name in GR aren’t her titles, so I’ve linked her name to her Amazon profile where you’ll see a nice picture of her and the two cozies along with the romance books she’s actually written.

I loved this book as much as the first one and hope the author and publisher have more in store for us! Gramps cracks me up and needless to say, he’s my favorite character. Roxy the Boxer took a bit of a back seat to boarding guest Standard Poodle Domino, but she should be happy Domino was there at a crucial time or her mommy might not be!

My Goodreads review:

Tailing Trouble by Laura Scott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I get to the end of a book and tell myself, “Oh wow, that was so good!” I know I’ve found a winner. I remember doing that same thing at the end of the first book in this series when I read it too. I absolutely just love Gramps’ character! Maybe it’s because I’ve been without my own grandpa for so long that I just devour anything that has to do with an awesome grandpa/granddaughter duo. I had to laugh at different parts when he’d make Ally pick him up, or she’d give in going somewhere knowing he’d find a way to get to wherever it was he wanted to investigate anyway. The running joke of him shouting into his cell phone might seem corny, but it makes me giggle! He should probably just get a bullhorn and stand outside to call to Ally, lol.

I get such a kick out of the widows fawning all over Gramps in a friendly competition for his attention. It’s cute how he’s got a different way he interacts with each of the ladies living at Legacy House, like playing cards with Tillie. I think if I was Ally, I’d be eating every meal I posssibly could there, lol. Harriet definitely knows how to feed her guests and seems to thrive on doing that. And Lydia’s a whiz with her knitting.

The stories about Ally’s clients and their pets are always entertaining, and I found out it pays to read carefully and not just skim these as not being related to the mystery. Sometimes someone who’s a client might end up being someone to pay attention to in the mystery–or a client knows a key player in the mystery. Now Gramps, he just seems to know everyone! 😉

The showdown was really exciting and I loved how Ally got the upperhand, and sweet Domino ended up being a hero. I nearly expected Ally to end up with three dogs by the time this was over, but everything worked out great. As to whether she’ll get to enjoy a nice date with “her detective” as Gramps was so fond of calling him, well I’m just hoping the next book will address all that and he doesn’t get called away!

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

View all my reviews