cozy mystery – Page 76 – Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery

Better Off Read–review

May 31, 2018May 31, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the first book in a new series released May 18 by Nora Page. If you like senior sleuths that are very similar to Jessica Fletcher, then you will love this book! Cleo and her friends are pretty amazing and I can’t wait to read more of their sleuthing adventures! I just loved Cleo’s cat, Rhett Butler and Henry’s little pug, Mr. Chaucer.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book which was provided via NetGalley and Crooked Lane Publishing. Thanks going out to them for this opportunity!

My Goodreads review:

Better Off Read by Nora Page

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my goodness, I loved this book! I haven’t read such an enjoyable senior sleuth since Jessica Fletcher. Cleo is just awesome and this was an amazing first book for what I hope is a long series–so much fun!

Cleo Watkins drove the bookmobile bus in Catalpa Springs, GA a lot more now that a storm caused major damage to her beloved library. A local curmudgeon who wasn’t well liked but was a library supporter had basically assured her he had a plan. But someone else had a plan for him, murder. Cleo and her gentleman friend Henry, who owned an antiquarian bookstore, set out to investigate along with the help of her college-age assistant Leanna. There were plenty of suspects and when another body turned up, Cleo realized she had to prove her own grandson’s innocence along with finding the first killer. She was convinced the killer of both was one and the same.

The mystery did get wrapped up very satisfactorily. I like how all the little odds and ends were addressed at the end. The take down was pretty epic…let’s just say Rhett Butler, Cleo’s cat and the skunks living in the library were heroes!

I really enjoyed reading about Cleo and all her friends, especially sweet Henry who was ever the gentleman. All the characters that were good were so interesting–Adelaide was hilarious (a neighbor at Happy Trails retirement village). I didn’t guess the killer at all, was completely fooled but that’s okay, that’s the name of the mystery game. I’m so anxious for the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book courtesy of NetGalley and Crooked Lane, thanks going out to them.

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On the Hook–review

May 30, 2018May 30, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the 12th book in the Crochet Mystery series by Betty Hechtman. I know I’m notorious for wanting to read and stay in order but I couldn’t resist requesting this when I saw it at NetGalley–the cover is so adorable! I’d like to thank NetGalley and Crooked Lane for allowing me to voluntarily read and review this book. I have been collecting the series here and there but now I really want to start it at the beginning.

My Goodreads review:

On the Hook by Betty Hechtman

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was actually the first book I’ve read in this series but since I’d been wanting to at least read something in it, I was happy when the book was available on NetGalley to voluntary read and review it. I have to say, I like the characters a lot and definitely want to go back and catch up with their stories and history. But the author does such a good job of storytelling that new readers like me will have no issue if they decide to read this book as a stand alone.

Molly and her crochet friends got involved in another mystery when her friend Adele had wanted to go into a house that Elise was showing for a reason other than seeing the house, nothing illegal. When the house’s owner turned up dead and Molly’s scarf was found at the scene, the police detective, Barry, started hounding Molly. I got a kick out of her describing him as doing his Columbo act but I think she later found out he still liked her and wanted to be around her.

I always enjoy when a group of ladies get together to work on a mystery while working on their hobby. I actually did guess the killer but the reason was a complete and very cool little twist. I thought the take down was pretty exciting and kind of funny…you’ll just have to read it to find out. The killer was put away and most everyone in the book had a good ending. Except that Molly now had three men interested in her. I think I better hurry up and catch up (mainly because I’m just a little OCD about enjoying books more in order) before the next book comes out.

Molly has two really nice guys interested in her. Since I’ve only read this one book I can’t say if I’m Team Barry or Team Mason. The third is sort of a fluke which you will find out if you read the book. Dinah was an awesome friend that anyone would love to have. I thought her lady cave was really cool. She was married to a guy a little older (all these ladies are around their 40s or 50s to begin with) and made herself a little den so she and her bestie Molly could have girl talk when her hubby wanted to go to sleep early. I think once I read more about the others in the group I’ll have more to say in any reviews but since Dinah was Molly’s best friend and had a little more page time, she just stood out more to me.

A very enjoyable, well written and constructed mystery and thanks again to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review.

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Pairing a Deception–review

May 28, 2018May 28, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the third book in the Sommelier Mysteries series by Nadine Nettmann who is actually a Master Sommelier. Anything you read in the book isn’t just research, it’s this author being knowledgeable about her subject, pretty impressive even if you don’t know anything about wine (that would be me). I had been really anxious for this book to come out. I voluntarily read and reviewed the book provided by the publisher through NetGalley.

My Goodreads review:

Pairing a Deception by Nadine Nettmann

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had borrowed both of the first two books of this series from my library and enjoyed them so much, I was thrilled when this one was available for request on NetGalley before its recent release. I am voluntarily reviewing the book after reading it.

It was such a fun theme, a Wine and Food Festival and I love how Katie and Dean’s relationship had developed in the six months that passed from the last book, obviously in a good direction since he was with her for the weekend. I was really fooled by who the killer was, had no idea until the clues started pointing that way. Even then I wasn’t really sure since the author did such a good of having several other likely suspects or maybe unlikely 😉

Katie Stillwell and her boyfriend Dean were attending a Wine and Food Festival as a relaxing getaway, or about as relaxing as it can get when one of the festival guests ends up murdered outside of the festival emcee’s hotel room. Katie and Dean were on the case and by the last day they had it wrapped up, maybe not as neatly as they’d hoped since she managed to get hurt in the take down. But she was ready as ever to take her Advanced Sommelier exam since the festival had given her some practice especially with blind testing.

Katie and Dean were the only regulars in this installment since they were actually on a little getaway for the weekend. Darius from the restaurant showed up towards the end. The festival characters of Walt and Ben were absolutely hilarious at times. I can just see these two old married guys ditching their wives for a weekend of drinking as many different kinds of wines as they could. Hudson, the festival emcee who was a Master Sommelier and would proctor the Advanced exam, seemed like a likable enough guy. He was definitely not stuffy and had a good personality for running a big festival. I liked how he was willing to hang out with festival members.

I would love to see Katie continue with her police training from earlier years since she and Dean make a really good team solving these mysteries. But I can tell her heart is really into her sommelier job. I can’t wait to find out if she passed her Advanced Sommelier exam in the next book–at least I’m hoping for more books in the series.

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Prose and Cons–review

May 25, 2018May 25, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Magical Bookshop series. A little crow, er I mean bird told me that Amanda Flower is planning on releasing the third book in January 2019. I can’t wait! In the first one, we found out about Violet’s past and what has haunted her for twelve years. She got her closure on that but now in this one, we get to find out a little bit more about her past which I do hope carries on to the next book (and the next and the next…sorry I do love this series and I’m not even getting paid to say that lol)

My Goodreads review:

Prose and Cons by Amanda Flower

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was so excited to start this book after the first one and I had a hard time putting it down. This one takes place around four months later from the first and it’s Food and Wine Festival time in Cascade Springs, NY as well as getting closer to Halloween. How appropriate that the Red Inkers author group has decided to do some Poe readings during the Festival at Charming Books. The festivities are temporarily stopped by the murder of one of the Red Inkers right there in the bookshop. Despite warnings from pretty much everyone she knows, Violet is determined to solve this case too especially since her friend Sadie is the main suspect!

I liked that Violet had accepted her job as Caretaker of the books and even found a job in Cascade Springs. She hadn’t had a close friend since her high school friend died twelve years ago so it’s nice to see her getting closer to the people in town. I’m not sure if she’ll ever have a bestie like some of our favorite book sleuths but if she would, my guess might be Sadie.

There’s still the issue of two handsome men in her life although lately she hadn’t given Nathan the time of day. She did get to meet David Rainwater’s adorable niece and seemed to gain a little more of his trust. I still think they’re more connected spiritually and wouldn’t be surprised if David already knows the secrets behind the shop and the birch tree since he’s already more in tune to the earth and his surroundings.

I thought it was super fun to hear the crow Faulkner actually say “Nevermore!” in this book! I had made a reference to him reminding me of the raven in the Munster house in the first review but at that time had no idea this book would be Poe-themed as far as the books giving suggestions on solving the murder. Excitedly looking forward to the next book!

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Crime and Poetry–review

May 24, 2018May 24, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the first book in a so-far two book series by well-known Ohio author, Amanda Flower. I absolutely love her Amish Candy Shop series so I just knew I’d fall in love with the characters in this book as well…and I did!

My Goodreads review:

Crime and Poetry by Amanda Flower

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was another book I’ve been wanting to read for awhile now because I really enjoy another series that this author writes. I’m so glad one of the online book clubs I’m in chose it for the May discussion!

Violet Waverly was a grad student called suddenly to her hometown of Cascade Springs NY by her Grandma Daisy who was faking being ill. Grandma had a very important job to tell her about. Vi’s plan was to go directly back to Chicago where she was going to the university but finding a dead carriage driver in her grandma’s driveway sort of put a damper on that. Violet was determined to exonerate her grandma of any suspicion in this death and despite handsome police chief Rainwater’s warnings, she continued to investigate hoping that she’d find the killer before that person found her.

I am in love with these characters already and I even dug out the second book to start. I’m not sure how I would have felt in Violet’s shoes if I’d driven like crazy for seven hours to find my grandma healthy and fine. Probably relieved but since Daisy was such a sweet lady, Vi couldn’t possibly hold this against her. I loved the cat that sort of adopted Violet. He was the perfect cat for a magical bookshop, very intuitive, appearing at places when Vi could have sworn she’d locked him in the house. The shop crow Faulkner was hilarious at times. All I could picture was the raven on the Munsters that kept saying “Nevermore!” lol.

The story about Violet’s past was interesting and I was glad to see her get some closure from what happened twelve years ago. I like the new friend she met–Sadie was a very enthusiastic person with nothing but kind words for everyone. And she wasn’t really annoying about it either. The two men interested in Violet both seem awesome but for some reason, I tend to be Team David Rainwater. He seems to have more of a connection with Vi. Nathan seems to really care for her too so it’ll be interesting to see what happens in the next book. I sure hope the author is planning to write a third book–maybe someone at the discussion will ask her that.

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Hair of the Dog–review

May 23, 2018May 23, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the third book in the Cypress Cove series by Carlene O’Neil. She is a new to me author and while normally I would rather have started at the beginning of the series, I couldn’t resist when I saw some of the other reviews coming in. I definitely like this author’s style. It’s smooth, easy reading meaning it has just enough description to picture where it all takes place but there isn’t anything unnecessary. The dialogue sounds natural too–that’s always a huge factor for me.

My Goodreads review:

Hair of the Dog by Carlene O’Neil

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was the first book in this series I’ve read but it was so good that I’m going to go back and read the first two books. I’m really liking these characters!

Penny Lively had been a photojournalist and now that she was back in her hometown of Cypress Cove, running the winery that was left to her by her aunt, she seemed to be a dead body magnet. Unfortunately the latest one she’s found is the body of her cousin Annie’s business partner at their veterinary clinic. The suspects are plentiful and when Penny discovers a second body, she knows the killer isn’t just playing games. Things are getting dangerous and she’s afraid she or her cousin could be next! Of course warnings from her winery manager (and favorite guy) Connor as well as Lucas, the police chief have never done any good to keep her off the case. It does get wrapped up fairly nicely with an odd twist at the end but it was so good!

With all the great twists and turns in the plot and so many good suspects, I never guessed the killer but definitely enjoyed the ride in finding them out. One clue planted by the author told me who it was but by then I think we were supposed to be figuring it out.

I really enjoyed these characters. I’m not sure if Annie was in the other two books but Connor and Hayley, Penny’s manager and assistant manager at the winery are amazing to have as friends and family–Hayley is also Penny’s niece who happens to date chief Lucas. Lucas is sort of a good mix of the typical cop in these stories. He’s not so hardened that he’s ready to toss Penny in jail for interfering. He does actually admit that she’s helped and even gave her a little assignment of her own this time. I do have some other books I want to get to but I ordered the first two in this series so I’m ready to read when I find some extra time! (I hope there is going to be more in the series since I like what’s developing between Connor and Penny!)

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Mission Impawsible–review

May 22, 2018May 22, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the fourth in the Paws and Claws series by Krista Davis. This is one series that I could so easily read and re-read as long as I was in between books that I want to or have promised to read for reviews. I can’t get enough of Wagtail and would love to stay at the Sugar Maple Inn!

My Goodreads review:

Mission Impawsible by Krista Davis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was another fun adventure spent in Wagtail. Just like the others, there is never anything dark or depressing about these books, they are just sheer enjoyment. I don’t think I’ve ever guessed who the killer was in any of them due to the amazing plot twists and turns the author takes us on. Every time I read a Paws and Claws book, I feel like I’m back among friends.

There was a matchmaking event going on in Wagtail in this installment. It was summertime and people were wanting to fall in love. Renowned matchmaker Macon Stotts had matched up the guests at Sugar Maple Inn that weekend. It was also a weekend where people could hang out with a dog and see if they were compatible. The local shelter WAG had sent some sweet candidates over to spend the weekend. Everything seemed fine until the first body was found. It was a man who was not well-liked and he had a note in his pocket from Holly’s grandma. Holly wasn’t sure if this would implicate Oma or not but she wasn’t going to stand around and let it happen. As it turned out, Ben, her ex-boyfriend was among the people coming to be matched. He was able to help with the investigation. Holly herself might have even found a new guy to be interested in but as with a lot of the folks, she was finding out all was not what it seemed.

This mystery featured Zelda, who worked at the inn and was a self-proclaimed pet psychic. I’ve always liked Zelda and thought it was fun to have her included in a lot of the book this time. That way we readers get to know the not-quite-main characters a little bit better. In this series, Holly doesn’t quite have the typical best friend that we see the main character having and I like seeing her interact with either Zelda or Shelly, although Shelly wasn’t in this one very much, just mentioned as serving here and there. I was really pleased with the happy ending–not only did the humans (who weren’t the killer) have a good end, the dogs did too!

I’ll have to say bye to Wagtail for awhile since I have a real and virtual pile of books calling to me but I will be back, Trixie and Twinkletoes! Even if I have to re-read until another book comes out! 😉

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A Battered Body–review

May 18, 2018May 18, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the fifth book in the Supper Club series by Ellery Adams. The series has become one of my favorites. I’m always anxious to see what my friends in Quincy’s Gap, VA are up to. I did jump ahead a little bit since I wanted to do a review for NetGalley but I since bought the book as well. I’m definitely going to read books 3 and 4 so I can feel caught up more to go on to the sixth.

The seventh book is releasing soon after quite a hiatus. Ellery Adams teamed up with author Rosemary Stevens for book 7 which will be “Pasta Mortem.”

My Goodreads review:

The Battered Body by Ellery Adams

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really love this series and these wonderful friends who originally got together to lose weight but have become more than just sleuths. They’re true best friends that have each others’ backs no matter what.

In this book, James’ dad and a cooking teacher name Milla (Camilla) were getting married on Christmas Eve. Since Milla’s younger sister was a celebrity baker, she had agreed to make the cake and other items for the wedding. When Paulette was found with her cake batter all over her face, it appeared to be an accident but Lucy who was now a deputy, didn’t feel right with the accidental ruling so she and her supper club friends set out to do one of the things they did best together…investigate!

It seems like all of the friends had some sort of epiphany in this book that was really enjoyable to read about. What’s cool about this series is that it’s not just a mystery story. Each story is one that’s also about friendships. I’m not sure why I wanted to read this book out of order (it wasn’t a problem at all, I’m just particular that way). It didn’t ruin anything for me. There are a couple of fun surprises that happen to some of our favorites. I love that James now has a mom in his life again and that his dad is living grouchily happily ever after! I think I will go back and get caught up before reading the sixth book though.

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Murder Most Howl–review

May 17, 2018May 17, 2018 Tari Hann

In one of the Facebook book clubs I’m in, we’re discussing an entire series, a month at a time. The series is Paws and Claws by Krista Davis. I adore this series! The whole town of Wagtail is based around dogs and cats so that would be a fun place to go visit if it was real. For May, we are reading the third book in the series, Murder Most Howl, which happens to be the name of the murder mystery weekend game that the guests at the Sugar Maple Inn in the book are playing. I may just hang around Wagtail and read the fourth book. That way I’ll be a little bit ahead for our June discussion!

My Goodreads review:

Murder Most Howl by Krista Davis

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another fun visit to one of my favorite fictional towns, Wagtail! As usual, this one didn’t disappoint at all. It was a murder mystery weekend in January at the Sugar Maple Inn and Holly’s friend Val who owned the pub Hair of the Dog, was one of the people planning it. Val had come up with 100 clues to be placed in the inn and around various businesses. Players collected fake weapons which allowed them to find out secrets about their fellow players. This was a great idea to boost business in January but no one counted on a real murder, later followed by an attempted murder to complicate things!

I loved how the weekend also included letting people interact with various dogs from the Wagtail If the Dog Fits program. Three dogs got their forever homes that weekend and Trixie, Gingersnap and some of the guest dogs and cats got extra playmates for a few days.

As with the previous books, this one was a page turner and had me guessing the whole time who the killer was. I was pretty surprised at the end and the interesting reasoning/plotting. The take down was great, assisted by who else, one of the soon to be adopted dogs, Rooster, whose name got changed to Duke.

I missed the presence of Holly’s grandma Oma and her good friend Rose (Holmes’s grandma) but I do love Mr. Huckle who did an amazing job of filling in. At the beginning it explained Oma and Rose were on a two week relaxation cruise. When Oma returned, she was super proud of Holly and how she’d managed to keep her cool despite a murder, power outages, blizzards and everything else that happened that weekend. I’d like to stay in Wagtail awhile so I might just start the fourth book soon!

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Cake and Punishment–review

May 9, 2018May 9, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the very first book in what I hope will be a long-running series by well-known and established author Tonya Kappes, writing under the pen name of Maymee Bell. I love the other series books I’ve read by Tonya so I knew this was going to be a fun series as well. I know that Tonya went all out to make this the really awesome book that it is. She even took cake decorating lessons so she would completely know what it’s like to bake and professionally decorate a cake like what Sophia does in her story. You will love this book!

My Goodreads review:

Cake and Punishment by Maymee Bell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I did not want this book to end, that’s how good it was! From the small town Southern setting to the amazing characters and their overall chemistry with one another, I loved everything there was about this mystery. I do admit that I was able to guess the killer but it was fun seeing how that person got caught. Retribution came swiftly to the killer at the end, but to me it was very satisfying.

Sophia Cummings was head pastry chef for The Manhattan, an exclusive New York restaurant, who, after finding her boyfriend Noah, their main chef, with the hostess, needed some time away to keep herself sane. She came back to her hometown of Rumford, KY where just about right away she found herself the cake baker for her good friend Charlotte’s wedding. The more word spread about Sophia’s amazing desserts, the more people just assumed she would be staying. Sophia even let herself dream about staying every so often when she saw that the local bakery had closed. Conveniently, her friend Madison was the listing agent for it as well as a very cute little cottage.

Sophia didn’t think there would ever be a murder in this small town but when the country club chef was found dead and Evelyn, the general manager became the main suspect, Sophia felt it was only right to clear her longtime friend who had given her her first job right there at the country club. Hopefully Sophia and her other friend Madison can figure out who the killer is before Sophia becomes the next one killed!

This book had so many fun and likable characters! Sophia’s mom, Bitsy, was a real trip! She had a way of getting her way all the time but everyone loved her for the kind person she was. I felt like any of the main characters would make for some really good friends especially Madison and Charlotte. At first I wasn’t sure whether to trust Charlotte’s fiance Brett or some of the other suspects to choose from. I did pick the correct one but I feel like the author helped a lot by planting clues that I picked up on.

I could totally picture this book as a TV mystery movie since it has everything they look for in a very sweet but compelling mystery. There was a wedding, a budding romance, a few tense or scary moments but the very happy ending that I always love when I read a cozy mystery. This book fit everything I have come to expect in a great cozy! I absolutely cannot wait for the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance e-copy of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

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