cozy mystery – Page 78 – Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery

The Plot Is Murder–review

April 16, 2018April 16, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the first book in the Mystery Bookshop series by a newer author, V.M. or Valerie Burns. It was kind of nice that it focused completely on the mystery itself and solving it. Sam, the main character had recently lost her husband so there was no romantic hunky guy to sweep her off her feet. I’m not opposed to a little romance in my cozies, it’s fun. But sometimes it’s also fun to not have it at all.

My Goodreads review:

The Plot Is Murder by V.M. Burns

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What an awesome start for a new series! This was a well-written book with a mystery in a mystery. Bookshop owner Samantha Washington is also writing a British cozy set in 1938, so it was fun to get a peek first hand at what she was writing and see that case solved right along with the main case.

Sam had recently lost her husband Leon to cancer but carried out both their dreams of owning a mystery bookshop. When the shady real estate agent who was trying to block the sale at the last minute ended up dead out in her courtyard, Sam was of course the prime suspect. Her feisty grandma, Nana Jo (gotta love this lady, she’s awesome!) and her posse of equally feisty and fun senior ladies from her retirement village all stepped in to help Sam. In fact a lot of their sleuthing was done faster and easier than what Sam could find online, although Nana Jo was no stranger to an iPad. Hopefully the real killer would be found before they strike again.

I just love it when seniors are spotlighted as the clever and wonderful people that they are and when the younger people in their lives actually show some appreciation for them. Nana and her friends were so much like the Golden Girls and then some, lol. I laughed out loud when Nana kept calling the detective by his nickname from when she taught him in school!

I thought the idea of having Dawson there was really a good one. Dawson was a college age guy that Sam met early in the story and eventually hired him as summer help. He was being physically and verbally abused by his dad at home so Sam and Nana stepped in to get him away from that situation. I love how he just took over the baking of treats for the bookstore and I’m anxious to see what happens in future books–hoping that Sam’s tearoom will open and they’ll be able to sell his scrumptious goodies there.

The toy poodles, Snickers and Oreo were so adorable! Poodles this size may not be attack dogs but they sure made good guard and watch dogs.

I did guess the killer but I think there were enough clues planted so that the reader could do this if they wanted to guess. The take down was epic! Let’s just say perp + Nana and Co. can’t end well for him! 😉 When the main case was wrapped up, so was the book that Sam was working on. It was interesting to see her switch off to writing as her own life got hectic. Writing is what calmed her down so when Sam needed an escape, we got the next chapter in her mystery.

The end of the book had an excerpt from the next book. I can hardly wait to read that one!

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On the Chopping Block–review

April 14, 2018April 14, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the first in the Callie’s Kitchen series by Jenny Kales. It takes place in fictional Crystal Bay, Wisconsin in the fall and the town is getting ready to award the Taste of Crystal Bay prize to a deserving restaurant owner. I’ve been wanting to start this series and am glad I finally did!

My Goodreads review:

On the Chopping Block by Jenny Kales

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was such a well-written and thought out mystery! I definitely didn’t guess who the killer was and there were plenty of suspects to pick from, some good twists and some little side mysteries as well.

Callie Costas is a divorced mom of a 10 year old girl who is trying to build her dream, Callie’s Kitchen, which is a Greek inspired restaurant. Everything seems to be going well until Callie finds her boyfriend, Drew, stabbed to death in his home the night they were supposed to have dinner there together. With Callie being first on the scene and also a contender for a local restaurant contest, it’s not looking very good for her since Detective Sands has her in his radar as #1 suspect. Of course Callie isn’t going to listen to him or her friend/lawyer, Samantha, so she proceeds to look into the case on her own to clear her name.

I just loved all these characters and their strong family ties. George, Callie’s dad was everything you’d expect in a protective papa bear type figure. He loved Callie so much especially since he and her Grandma Viv had raised her since she was little. Grandma Viv was such a cool character too. She even insisted on a ride along when Callie need to go do some snooping. Sam was definitely someone I would want as a friend and lawyer, very faithful but definitely earning her fees as Callie sometimes forgot to tell her things about the case.

I liked that Callie wasn’t bitter and hateful of her ex husband Hugh and his new wife Raine for her daughter Olivia’s sake. Raine wasn’t even the usual hateful new wife, she was almost like a puppy dog that wanted to please. I think she felt like she and Callie could be BFFs, lol and she was very good to Livvie (who called her Raine the Pain) It was more realistic because families do have to adjust to situations like this and try to get along with one another.

Max was another fun character. It’ll be fun getting to know him and the rest of the characters in the next books which I’m very anxious to read. I’m also anxious to see how things progress between Callie and her detective friend. There are some really yummy sounding recipes in the back of the book. Those creme brulee cupcakes sound amazing!

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Mayhem at the Orient Express–review

April 10, 2018April 12, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the first book in the League of Literary Ladies series by Kylie Logan which takes place on South Bass, an island in Lake Erie. I’d been wanting to start this series for a long time so when it was chosen for an online book club, I was happy to dive into it. The book discussion never happened since the club was discontinued but I wanted to read it anyway and I’m so glad I did!

My Goodreads review:

Mayhem at the Orient Express by Kylie Logan

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was an awesome start to a series I’ve been wanting to read for quite awhile. Who knew that three unlikely women could actually become friends? I really loved how reading was what brought them together, even though one of them started out by watching the DVD of the book. It was fun how parts of the mystery paralleled the Agatha Christie book “Murder on the Orient Express the ladies were reading.

Bea Cartwright, owner of a B&B on South Bass island in Lake Erie has just about had it with two of her neighbors. They all have mutual complaints and since they can’t get along, the court magistrate sentences them to one year of book discussions which he hopes will force them to get along. Toss in a murder investigation and the three women along with one woman, Luella, who actually wanted to be in the library’s book club, learn how to work together in a peaceful way to uncover a murder plot and the perp. There was no shortage of suspects and clues as well as some laughs along the way.

I really enjoyed the different characters in the book and thought it was cool how their life after the murder mirrored the book the group was reading. The murder happened in town but since a snowstorm started, no one had left the island. That told them that there may just be a murderer in the B&B since it’s been the safe haven from the storm since there’s a generator for power.

It’s interesting that Bea had a secret past as well, some of which she looked back at and explained. Bartender Levi had figured out part of it and I’m hoping that in future books we get to hear a little more about Bea’s past and that maybe she and Levi will become friends. I loved how the characters changed as the mystery went on. They learned to care about each other and of course due to the snowstorm, everyone had to come together and make the best of the situation.

This was a fun, well-written book and I am definitely going to continue reading this series.

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All I Want for Christmas Is Fudge–review

April 5, 2018April 12, 2018 Tari Hann

This is more of a short story/novella and is numbered as #3.5 on Goodreads so that’s the numbering I like to stay with. I love these little in between stories that series have but I tend to be a stickler on getting them put in the right place and in between the correct books. It was different reading it from Jenn’s point of view instead of Allie’s this time.

My Goodreads review:

All I Want for Christmas Is Fudge by Nancy CoCo

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you want a quick, happy ending mystery, then this is definitely for you! I thought it was pretty cool to begin with that this book is written from Jenn’s point of view.

Time jumping from late summer to just before Christmas: Jenn is Allie’s best friend who has missed Mackinac Island so much from when she went back to Chicago at the end of summer, that she is there for a week for Christmas and the Santa Fun Run 10k.

I was so used to recently reading the previous books told from Allie’s viewpoint that I had to remember who “I” was, but it was a lot of fun hearing about the other characters from Jenn’s viewpoint–I also really liked her description of her bestie, Allie.

And just like Allie, Jenn must have a tendency to find bodies because she finds one of the Santa Run participants in a snow bank one of the first mornings she was there doing her morning run. Since no one else was around, of course she’s the person of interest even though the police realize she couldn’t have done it due to later evidence.

The dead man had a girlfriend, a dog and a couple of other friends plus a stalker so there were plenty of suspects. Even though this was a shorter book, it wasn’t lacking for clues and suspense since I didn’t guess who the killer was till it was revealed. I love when Allie gathers everyone around like in the old books and some TV shows, to reveal the killer.

One person Jenn was especially anxious to see was her summer boyfriend, Shane the CSI guy on the island but he seemed a little distant so that was a little side story which turned out really well at the end.

I would love to see a future book in the series set at Christmas but have it be a regular length book. I want to hear about the Christmas festivities on the island and spend time at the McMurphy with my character friends there!

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Dead As a Doornail–review

April 4, 2018April 12, 2018 Tari Hann

This is book five in the Kenni Lowry series by Tonya Kappes. I read and reviewed an advance copy of the book even though I have it pre-ordered for its release May 15, 2018. Every time I read one of these books, I thoroughly enjoy it and wish that I could really go to Cottonwood, Kentucky and meet all the fun residents there.

My Goodreads review:

Dead As A Doornail by Tonya Kappes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I just love coming back to Cottonwood KY for a visit! I really enjoy these amazing and sometimes quirky characters that all live there. My favorite character of course is Poppa’s ghost who unfortunately only appears when there’s been a murder, but hey, it wouldn’t be a murder mystery series without one, right?

Kenni Lowry was trying to enjoy her day off by using a gift card given to her by her deputy now boyfriend, Finn Vincent. She was sitting in Tiny Tina’s hair and nail salon soaking in more than just the water Tina used on her cuticles. When local busybody and all around sometimes nuisance, Lucy Ellen Lowell is found dead at her home early next morning by her husband Darnell, Kenni knows just from Poppa’s presence that this is not just a heart attack.

Add the possible homicide investigation to the mix of Mayor Ryland and Polly Parker’s upcoming wedding and you have a sometimes hilarious combo going on. Polly is a bridezilla and has insisted Kenni be her maid of honor. The job comes complete with a very ugly green dress reminiscent of something from Gone with the Wind. It’s a juggling act for Kenni all through the book.

There were some great twists and turns as always and I definitely didn’t see the ending coming. I had jokingly thought in my head it might be the person that ended up being the killer but I had no idea why so I just enjoyed the ride of reading the story.

Mama is always such a hoot, not that she tries to be funny, she’s just ridiculous sometimes but Kenni loves her dearly and wouldn’t really want her to change.

Friendships are tested to the max in this page turner but everything turns out like it should and life goes on. I can’t wait to see what’s in store next for Kenni and Finn. I hope it’s a Christmas mystery!

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Death al Fresco–review

April 4, 2018April 12, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the very enjoyable and well-written third book in the Sally Solari series by Leslie Karst. In lots of ways, Sally mirrors Ms. Karst’s own life. I saw on the book flap that she worked previously as a lawyer, she enjoys cooking, cycling and singing so I thought that was pretty cool since Sally is always riding her bike somewhere and in the second book she was enjoying being part of the community choir.

My Goodreads review:

Death al Fresco by Leslie Karst

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve read the first two books in this series and really enjoyed reading about the Italian culture and way of life in Santa Cruz where Sally Solari helped her father, Mario, with his restaurant Solari’s and also owned Gaugin that was willed to her by Aunt Letta. I always enjoy that these books have just the right amount of description in them–the food, the scenery and the people, not overdone or underdone, just right. Kind of like the perfect meal! The book was well-written and kept my interest all through it.

This installment has Sally’s dog digging up the body of a dead local fisherman on the beach during one of the art classes she and her ex-now-best-friend, Eric were taking. Sally’s investigations are getting a little too close to the truth so she needs to be careful she’s not the next victim.

One of the side stories had Sally helping her dad with a big dinner that he was throwing for visitors from Santa Cruz’s sister city in Italy. Sally could never turn him down and always felt a little guilty that she had more or less turned away from working at Solari’s to devote time to her own restaurant.

I did love how Sally and her dad’s relationship has gotten a lot better since she first took over Aunt Letta’s restaurant, Gaugin. He realized his little girl had a business of her own to tend to and could respect her for that. They didn’t always share the same opinion on certain things but when the day was over, they always knew they had each other.

The other side story involved Javier looking into running a new restaurant with his girlfriend, Natalie. I won’t spoil how that turns out 😉

I’m enjoying Sally and Eric’s new relationship. They’re simply best friends who take an art class together, confide in each other and are pretty much always there for each other. I like that they are on better terms and she’s not annoyed by him now. I’m not sure if I’d want to see this turn into a romance or not since it obviously didn’t work the first time–they do get along really nice and play well off each other during an investigation.

For those who like to venture into authentic Italian cooking, there are several recipes in the back of the book.

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Oh Say Can You Fudge–review

March 31, 2018April 12, 2018 Tari Hann

Hold onto your hats, I’ve actually finished a third book in a row! And no there really isn’t anything that stays unsolved to keep me reading other than wanting to see how things progress up to the 5th book since I have already read that one as an advanced copy when it came out last year.

This is the third book in the Candy Coated series by Nancy Coco. To be totally honest, I still think I like book 2 a little better but this one was still exciting and it had some really nice family and couple moments.

My Goodreads review:

Oh Say Can You Fudge by Nancy CoCo

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This series is so much fun! There always seemed to be a dog and something chase. In this book, Mal chases a cat around the McMurphy hotel that was let in accidentally and of course it’s like a little comedy during that scene. And Allie may just have another new pet on her hands that she’s not sure if she can even keep at the hotel due to health regs for her fudge shop.

I’m really enjoying this series from the awesome Mackinac Island setting to the adventures in mystery that Allie and her team of friends are having. This time it’s close to the Fourth of July and Allie has volunteered to head up the fireworks committee. Only one minor problem…someone blew up the fireworks and Allie, who was coming to the warehouse to talk to the guy in charge of the fireworks show, had spotted a body in the building just prior to that. The big question is, are they looking for one perp or two different ones?

I love how Allie and her friends investigate. The hotel team along with Trent gets together and discusses the crime much like they do on TV shows and everyone decides on something they can do to help investigate (with or without Rex’s blessing). This time they made an arson board (as opposed to a murder board even though there was a murder involved) Hopefully Allie won’t get so close to the truth that she ends up the next one toasted, literally!

I liked the new character introduced, Sophie, who is the official island pilot. She actually works for the Grand Hotel but if someone can pay the fare, she takes just about anyone off and onto the island who may not want to bother with the ferry. Allie’s parents came for the celebration and it was fun to see them wanting to protect their girl and just be parents. I could tell her dad really missed being on the island.

I’ll be moving to the next book soon!

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To Fudge or Not to Fudge–review

March 29, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Candy-Coated series by Nancy Coco. I couldn’t bring myself to leave Mackinac Island so fast so I started right into the second book. I think I may have liked it even more than the first! Let’s just say I would love to see the Lilac Festival in person someday!

My Goodreads review:

To Fudge or Not to Fudge by Nancy CoCo

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This series just keeps getting better! What an exciting and fun read! Mal got to sniff out bodies again and now Allie had two interested men in her life.

It was Lilac Festival time in June and the entire island was getting ready for the festivities. While walking with Allie to the newspaper, Allie’s furry little friend Mal dug up a bone that had once belonged to a foot. Meanwhile Allie’s cooking school teacher and mentor was on island and wanted her to fill in on a reality series he was doing with a fudge competition. Toss in a couple of bodies and you have another grand adventure for Allie, Mal, Jenn and the gang at the McMurphy.

I think I liked this one even better than the first one. There was so much going on but it wasn’t a confusing type of going on, just lots of fun activities and wondering if some bones and a couple other murders could all be related. We got to meet Sandy, an intern Allie hired for the summer whose chocolate creations sounded amazing! Jenn had really gotten her chance to shine at event planning and even Allie’s mom came to the island to hang out with them a little. I ended up liking her a lot more than I thought I would, probably after hearing her side of why Allie’s folks left the island.

The reality show angle was kind of fun. I’ve never been a fan of reality shows but since this one was centered around fudge making, it was pretty interesting and I liked meeting part of Allie’s educational past, Chef Peter who continued to be her mentor she admired.

The killer was definitely a surprise to me–I had been suspecting someone completely different.

Onward to the next book. Can’t wait to see what happens over July 4th!

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All Fudged Up–review

March 28, 2018March 28, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the first book in the Candy-Coated series by Nancy Coco. In the cozy world, she’s also known as Nancy Parra and Nell Hampton. I had read the fifth book in the series when it came out but I had been hoping to get back to beginning and I’m glad I did. I started the second book right after I finished this one!

My Goodreads review:

All Fudged Up by Nancy CoCo

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had read Oh, Fudge! already in this series so when one of the online book clubs I’m in decided on this for their April book, I was happy I was going to get to visit this series from the very beginning.

Allie McMurphy has inherited her grandfather’s historic hotel on scenic Mackinac Island and it came complete with one dead body in the utility closet who turned out to be her Papa Liam’s friend, Joe.

Allie of course was the main suspect due to the famous rivalry that had developed between the Jessops and the McMurphys. Even though she thought that down deep handsome policeman Rex didn’t suspect her, Allie was still determined to find Joe’s killer and prove her own innocence. With the help of her best friend Jenn who came to help for the season, her front desk clerk Frances and now her new handyman, Douglas, she has to figure it out.

I loved seeing how it all began! Even though book 5 was able to be read by itself, reading this book helped so much in knowing some of the people, getting to know Frances and how Douglas came into her life. I really enjoyed the character of Jenn too. She was an awesome and faithful friend to Allie. And sweet little Mal was such a cutie–she could turn even a tough guy into well, what she was named after, a marshmallow! Frances was such a good employee, almost like a mother to Allie since hers lived on the mainland. She was willing to give up her summer’s salary to help out the hotel.

I found the second book also on my iPad so I’ve started reading that. This is such a fun series. I would definitely love to visit Mackinac Island someday, but probably not during the winter. 😉

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Books Can Be Deceiving–review

March 26, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the first book in the Library Lover’s series by Jenn McKinlay. I have read the first in her Hat Shop series so I knew this would be a good book before I even opened it. It definitely didn’t disappoint! Some things in Briar Creek CT were definitely not as they appeared! 😉 An awesome start to a currently 7 book series.

My Goodreads review:

Books Can Be Deceiving by Jenn McKinlay

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had been wanting to start reading this series for awhile so when another book club online chose it as their discussion for March, I was happy to start reading it. I like settings in libraries and bookstores anyway so I devoured this book (a little slower than usual since real life kept interrupting lol).

Lindsey Norris was happily working as the director of the Briar Creek Library in Briar Creek CT. Her best friend Beth worked with her as the children’s librarian. Despite a grumpy employee named Ms. Cole, the library ran smoothly and life was pretty good. That is until Beth’s long time boyfriend Rick broke up with her very suddenly and the next thing we knew, Lindsey, Beth and their friend Sully (Capt. Mike Sullivan, a boat captain) found Rick dead in his island home.

Since all fingers seemed to point to Beth as the main suspect, Lindsey took it on herself to investigate–along with a little help from Sully and Beth. Surprisingly, they found that Rick was not everything he claimed to be. There was a great plot twist towards the end and at that point, I was really not wanting any interruptions!

This was a great cast of characters, well with the exception of the grumpy library worker. I loved the idea of them having a crafternoon–a book club discussion along with doing their knitting projects. It was so funny that when Lindsey was coming to a difficult part of her knitting (she only learned so she’d be able to meet with them) she would suddenly become very scholarly about the book and pretty hilarious when they all called her on it. I’d love to see an in-person cozy mystery book club do something like that.

Milton, the 80 something year old yoga expert was such a nice guy! I really liked him a lot and I hope he’s in the rest of these books. He was the library board president among other local volunteer things he did. He made me think of one of my favorite actors, Dick Van Dyke in his Dr. Sloane character, an all around nice friend to have.

Nancy was such a sweet lady to kind of take Lindsey under her wing since her parents lived in another state, as well as be a good landlord and friend to her. The other ladies in the crafternoon group were fun too. And there was Beth. Everyone needs a best friend like her!

I had sort of guessed the killer but I sure didn’t guess the twist that came later and the reasoning behind it all. There were some fun and handy things at the back of the book: Tips on how to hold a crafternoon group, a book guide to a book they were reading, Sully’s yummy hot cocoa and Mary’s clam chowder. There was also a short preview for the next book which I already know I’m going to read!

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