crooked lane books – Page 5 – Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery

Live and Let Grind review

October 12, 2022October 12, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the third book in the super fun A Coffee Lover’s Mystery series by Tara Lush. By this third book, I’m really enjoying and getting to know these characters even better and see how Lana and her friends all connect as a team and friends. I liked the addition of a new friend in this book and hope she visits again in the upcoming books. I’m eager to read the next book when it comes out, probably in about a year.

#CrookedLaneBooks #TaraLush

My Goodreads review:

Live and Let Grind by Tara Lush
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was so good in so many ways! It’s funny to the point of hilarious at some points, then it’s just sweet in other places. The mystery was a super good one and while there was someone I hoped was guilty and someone I hoped wasn’t, I’m not sure I was ever 100% sure until the showdown. Lana and Joey zooming off on a jet ski just cracked me up! These friends were unstoppable when it came to proving their buddy Erica’s innocence. If a person ever needed to be proven innocent of something, they’d definitely want a friend like Lana!

I got the biggest kick out of Lana’s hippie dad, but when he’s not off on one of his crazy missions or agendas, he’s an awesome dad and café worker. Lana’s done a lot of growing and maturing since the first book and since she’s such a workaholic, I was happy to see her finally come across something she enjoyed doing just for the fun of it as you’ll see at the end. I loved how everything was explained at the end. I never feel like there’s a loose thread in this series. It’s all always really well-explained. Can’t wait for the next book!

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

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Kill Them with Canvas review

October 11, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Paint by Murder series by Bailee Abbott, another pen name for Kathryn Long who wrote the 2-book cozy mystery Sierra Pines B&B series along with other mysteries. I haven’t read either in that series, but I’ve liked both books in this one so far and thought this second book really made a fun Halloween time read. There was even a spooky local legend, lol. I liked the direction this book ended in so I’m eager for the next in series!

#CrookedLaneBooks #BaileeAbbott

My Goodreads review:

Kill Them With Canvas by Bailee Abbott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Halloween and its ghost tales were scary enough, but the scariest thing for Chloe and Izzie was the idea of their aunt getting hauled back to jail for murder, so the girls knew they needed to sleuth this one out just like last time. I love little Max whose sniffer comes in handy sometimes for finding evidence. He ended up with a sweet little houseguest, but since said houseguest had an owner, he had to go back eventually. But sometimes with cute dogs come handsome owners…for unattached sisters, as I could tell Chloe’s brain was working toward. It did help that Izzie seemed to be interested!

During the case itself, Chloe did seem to be getting closer to Hunter like she wanted to. She’s just kinda scared to commit but he seems like a sweetheart who’s willing to take things slow if needed–and he’s there for her a lot more than Ross had time for. I was proud of Chloe for finally telling Ross how it was gonna be now. Ross wasn’t an awful person or anything and his attorney skills definitely came in handy for Constance’s case, but Chloe already knew life with him was fairly lonely since he worked so much. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Chloe and Hunter in the next book!

There were lots of good red herrings as far as suspects went, but I kept going between two of them and I don’t think I was ever sure who I picked, so I just enjoyed the showdown and reveal. Aunt Constance was safe from any prison threat now, and Hunter was just happy Chloe was safe from any killer lurking around. A crazy case and a fun lakefront Halloween celebration made for the perfect read for this time of year.

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

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A Christmas Candy Killing review

October 6, 2022October 6, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the first book in a brand new series, Killer Chocolate Mysteries by new cozy author Christina Romeril. She’s definitely got the right idea of what a cozy mystery’s all about, and I really loved her first offering. Her descriptions really made it feel like Christmas! I was pulled in from the beginning and really enjoyed all the different characters in the town that made up the interesting village of Harriston, Montana. I can’t wait for the next book now!

#CrookedLaneBooks #ChristinaRomeril

My Goodreads review:

A Christmas Candy Killing by Christina Romeril
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was such a fun Christmas read! I’m a summer fan who’s simply ready for Christmas once summer’s all over. I could ideally skip fall aka allergy season lol, and this helped put me in a good Christmas mood. I really liked these sisters who were different enough but still enjoyed sleuthing together, although it was usually Alex doing the legwork since Hanna was the chocolate maker and felt she needed to stay put. The people making up their circle of friends were just so awesome it made me wish I could be friends with them too, like Maggie and Drew, bless his li’l hypochondriac heart anyway lol. The store was so cool too with the poison-named chocolates and the bookstore selling just mysteries.

That sweet doggie Miss Watson reminded me so much of the adorable boy who looked just like a Staffordshire that we fed over Labor Day, and her adoption story was similar. (Happy ending: the dog we helped has his forever home with someone now). Watson was super gentle but boy, when Alex needed her in action, Watson made her proud!

I’d sorta suspected someone from when clues just started to click, but it was definitely before Alex had the idea. She and Watson were holding their own in the showdown, but the help from a couple friends was very appreciated too. Hopefully one of said friends might be thinking in terms of being more than friends with Alex.

And the end was a little bit funny and a little bit sad for Duncan who’d broken up with Hanna a while back but still liked hanging out with her. He realized he might not be the only guy interested in her now! And a refreshing change from the MC getting a triangle–I think I could handle it better for a secondary character. I’m definitely eager to read the next book which does have a GR title listing only, but I’m waiting until there’s a cover picture to add it to my WTR. I’m just weird like that lol. Don’t miss this awesome embodiment of all things expected in a cozy mystery when it releases October 11!

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

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Bound by Murder review

September 11, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the third book in the Antique Bookshop Mysteries by Laura Gail Black. These characters and the setting are just about as cozy of a cozy mystery as you’ll find! As you’ll see in my review I didn’t get a chance to read/review the second book but I do intend to go back and read it. I really loved this one and remember liking the first one a lot too! Can’t wait to see how Keith and Jenna’s story continues!

#CrookedLaneBooks #LauraGailBlack

My Goodreads review:

Bound by Murder by Laura Gail Black
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

For some reason, I never got around to reading book 2 of this series, but I did read the first book in 2020. Everything as far as characters started coming back to me, and I love how Rita’s taken Jenna under her wing like a mom or big sister. Add Keith to that (they had a few ups and downs in here but nothing that can’t be remedied!) along with a new friend and business owner named Shelby, and you’ve got an unstoppably cozy quartet of friends. I loved how they all talked about the case and supported each other, mainly the ladies since Keith most of the time couldn’t talk about it.

Oh there was the funniest part when the subject of Det. Sutter came up. I know he really had it in for Jenna in the first book, but he was so close to retirement in a couple weeks, he didn’t dare step outta line. It was hilarious what Keith told him he’d make him do if he pulled anything like wrongly accusing people. I’m pretty sure Jenna might want a frow row seat to that if it happened!

Now I really have this need to go back and read the second book because that sweet little Eddy pup stole my heart and I want to know his whole story. The author did a great job of catching readers up but not to the point of being repetitive or letting any spoilers out. If you’ve read neither first or second books, I think you’d enjoy this, although I do recommend at least reading the first book to get a firsthand experience of just what a jerk Sutter was as well as how Keith and Jenna got together and Jenna’s friendship with Rita started. Another great character was Jenna’s employee Mason who’d come a super long way from the first book! He was so cute with the girl Lily he wanted to date!

I started suspecting whodunit eventually and wow what a showdown! Even little Eddy pup got in on it. I can’t wait for the next book, so in the meantime, I’m definitely planning to read that second 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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Dewey Decimated review

September 6, 2022September 6, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the sixth book in the Haunted Library Mysteries by Allison Brook aka Marilyn Levinson. I’ve loved this series and enjoyed it from the beginning when we first met Evelyn, the friendly library ghost who only Carrie and her little kid cousin can see.

When a body was found and Uncle Alec joined the library as a ghost, I wondered at first if Evelyn thought it was a little fun to have someone like her. She was really good to him since he was pretty depressed, and Carrie needed him to not get too excited or he’d scare everyone without meaning to. But part of me thinks Evelyn was a little relieved knowing that hopefully her charge would get to where he was destined once his murder got solved. I’m glad we’ve been getting these books more often than just once a year because I’m always eager to read the next!

#CrookedLaneBooks #AllisonBrook

My Goodreads review:

Dewey Decimated by Allison Brook
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I thought it was pretty awesome that the library acquired another ghost when a body was found during renovation of the building next door the library bought for expansion. It was especially cool that the ghost turned out to be Dylan’s Uncle Alec, an uncle he’d idolized as a kid but drew distant from as an adult. Anyone following this series knows that Dylan was told about Evelyn already, but was he ready to hear about his own uncle being a ghost? You might wanna read and find out! Evelyn’s job was to herd this ghost and keep track of him, but he was pretty depressed. Was he a temporary visitor or what?

Poor Alec was stuck there until Carrie could solve this. As always she was torn in every direction especially with the pesky reporter who wanted to go full-out Sherlock Holmes with Carrie as her sidekick. Carrie handled everything the best she could and I was proud of her for not letting that reporter walk all over her at one point.

The showdown brought on by the reporter was a good one and I gotta say the woman had guts to do what she did. Carrie did help too but wanted no part of the recognition. I hadn’t for sure suspected this person due to so many great red herrings.

The ending was so cute when Steve and Angie got their puppy which sort of helped nudge Carrie in the right direction to talk with Dylan about their own future (which I was happy to hear might include a couple dogs! Smokey Joe’s a cool cat, he’ll adjust great I’m sure!). I feel like she was much more peaceful in her mind and felt ready to move toward setting a wedding date soon.

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

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A Dish to Die For review

August 8, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the twelfth in the long running Key West Food Critic Mysteries series by Lucy Burdette, and it’s always a foodie’s paradise to go visit Hayley and see what she orders and writes about. You can always count on some yummy recipes as well at the back of these books! This book releases tomorrow, August 9 and would make a great beach read if you’ve still got a vacation coming up!

My Goodreads review:

A Dish to Die For by Lucy Burdette
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another case for Hayley as she gets used to married life, and poor Nathan was agonizing over his dad being in town. Once we met his dad, I didn’t eventually think he was so bad. I could almost picture him as DiNozzo Sr. only less jovial or joking around. He seemed like an acquired taste, lol, but Hayley’s probably one of the easiest and nicest people to get along with, so I didn’t think he’d have any issues with her. She kinda seemed to charm him a little if that was possible.

I like how Miss Gloria got to help out a little with the sleuthing again and after successfully solving the case of “who killed the rich guy on the beach,” she got some good news at work too. Always a yummy time visiting Key West with Hayley and friends!

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

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A Poisonous Page review

July 12, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Sweet Fiction Bookshop Mysteries by Kitt Crowe, the pen name of Marie Harte who looks to be a romance author under that name. I’m glad she started writing cozies or I’d have never gotten to know her sense of humor and what fun characters she weaves. I absolutely love Uncle Jimmy and Uncle Elvis! They always crack me up and now that Elvis joined the Macaroons Murder Club, er I mean, Book Club, he’s having to actually do some reading. Well maybe not regular books, but they did accept his suggestion of a comic surprisingly well!

A Poisonous Page by Kitt Crowe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

It’d been a year since I read the first in this series, but it didn’t take long to catch up with all the hilarious antics and snarky comments/zingers these characters exchange on a regular basis. I love the author’s sense of humor, and that sweet Cookie dog! OMG I just wanted to hug her like crazy. Chad even sorta made friends with her by letting her be involved in a kids’ police safety event.

Boy this was one involved mystery! It was sometimes hard to keep track of who was with what person and when, but I got the general idea. I really didn’t zero in on one specific person but holy cow, at the end I was telling Lexi NOT to go somewhere! I’m totally Team Chad for her and hopefully she’ll realize he’s not really the jerk she thinks he is. Sometimes Lexi herself could be a real jerk to him too, so I felt bad for the guy. Cat and Teri crack me up wanting all the crazy details as every good bestie would, lol. And sweet Abe’s a heck of a lot nice neighbor to Lexi than his grumpy dad who got offed in the first book.

I loved that the whole book club got involved trying to solve the case and it was too funny how they hurried to hide their murder board whenever Chad came around. That showdown was wild, hilarious and super tense! All was explained in the end though, and now I’m eager to see what all these fun and crazy characters find themselves involved in by the time the next book comes out!

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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A Fatal Booking review

June 10, 2022June 10, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the third book in the A Book Lover’s Mysteries series by Victoria Gilbert, who also writes another fave series, The Blue Ridge Library Mysteries. I love how her characters are smart and likable yet realistic. She’s great making you love the good guys and very good at hiding who the baddies are! In either series, I feel like I’m visiting old friends, and I can’t wait for the Book Lover’s series to continue!

#CrookedLaneBooks #VictoriaGilbert

My Goodreads review:

A Fatal Booking by Victoria Gilbert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It seems like the third book of any newer series, at least to me, is the magical number of after having read the first two books, you really feel a strong connection to the characters because their roles and sometimes secrets are already established. I just felt like this was the book where I was going back to visit some old friends. I absolutely love Ellen’s character and now with Gavin as a possible dating interest for Charlotte, the three seemed unstoppable as far as murder investigations. I really like Amber Johnson too, the detective who’s learned to take things that Charlotte and Ellen tell her very seriously. She’s respectful of them, has a decent appreciation of joking and is never purposely mean. Bookstore owner Julie makes a great bestie for Charlotte since she hears all the good gossip when there’s a case.

With a houseful of suspects and no clear leads, Charlotte was getting as tired as the police were of nothing turning up. Gavin did help a lot once he was back since he had resources he could tap into from his agent’s job. I hadn’t actually suspected the one whodunit, and the showdown was a real nail biter especially for Charlotte and Ellen!

The ending party as they’d done in previous books was fun and wrapped up the case along with a few cool announcements. I can’t wait to read the next book!

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

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Peril at Pennington Manor review

June 9, 2022June 9, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Avery Ayers Antique Mysteries by Tracy Gardner who also wrote the Shepherd Sisters Mysteries. I devoured the first book last year and eagerly waited for this one to come up on NetGalley as well. It didn’t disappoint, and I loved how Art and Avery were working together again and coming to a new friendship. It was too cute when she started calling him “cat dad”, but you’ll just have to read it and see what led up to that!

#CrookedLaneBooks #TracyGardner

My Goodreads review:

Peril at Pennington Manor by Tracy Gardner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another awesome installment in this new series! I fell in love with the key characters in the first book and just had to see what they were up to this time. That Aunt Midge sure has her connections with getting Avery and her crew an appraisal job for royalty. Something hinky was going on at the Duke’s manor though. Things did seem a tad slower than the first book because that one obviously had the constant suspense of the “is he alive or not?” question.

But boy when this one picked up some speed toward the end, I just couldn’t read fast enough! The events leading up to catching the perp were pretty suspenseful with Art and Avery sleuthing together. I was never totally sure about whodunit although it wasn’t who I originally suspected. But there were definitely some exciting moments going on.

I loved that Avery and Art were getting closer and opening up about themselves, especially Art. The whole cat dad thing was so funny too! And super sweet. Avery got to achieve something she’d always dreamed about, had closure about something else, and her future with Art was definitely looking brighter!

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

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Death by Beach Read-review

June 6, 2022June 6, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the ninth book in the Lighthouse Library Mysteries by Eva Gates also known as Vicki Delany. You can check the links to see what she’s written under both, but I know she’s used the Eva Gates exclusively for the Lighthouse Library.

I just love this long-running series and how all the characters have grown and developed. Probably the most changed was Louise Jane. She went from being someone I absolutely couldn’t stand to someone who’s actually a decent supporting character now. Yep, she’ll never get over loving to tease Lucy (because Lucy’s just so teasable, lol.), but since she’s now the proud inhabitant of the Lighthouse Aerie, part of her lifelong dream came true. I believe Louise Jane might just achieve complete happiness if she could adopt a ghost as a pet or a roommate!

My Goodreads review:

Death by Beach Read by Eva Gates
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lucy and Connor didn’t exactly count on a ghostly roommate when they started working on fixing up the Harper house on the beach, but good ole Louise Jane’s always hoping for a new haunt to talk about. Lucy didn’t think for a minute that the noises she heard in their house had anything to do with a ghost but more like a flesh ‘n blood intruder…which they’d find out soon enough when a guy was killed in their house.

OMG I was so unhappy to see that Diane, one of the nasty previous library board members was back in town and just wondered what kind of trouble she’d get into this time. Then we met Ralph’s recluse sister Jo who surprised everyone by attending book club. Another woman came around claiming to be the dead guy’s ex-wife and wanting her fair share of the house’s sales. Was it one of them whodunit…or could one of Louise Jane’s wishes come true, and the man was killed by a ghost? Not that she’d ever wish someone was killed by a ghost, but she sure likes talking about ghosts.

Lucy definitely had her plate full…again with juggling the murder and sometimes actually being asked to help Sam, she was planning her wedding, and there was pesky Diane back in town probably hoping to get back on the library board. What’s a girl to do? Well for starters, you just cuddle a certain library cat named Charles. Speaking of Charles, he got to be a hero cat in this book-I always love when a pet gets to intervene and help. Poor guy, I felt bad for the cat having to get used to living in a house when he previously had full run of the library.

That showdown was something else, but Lucy used her head about at least part of it, and there was some good evidence to turn in. It was pretty sweet how poor, troubled Jo had gotten some closure for an event that’d still haunted her from long ago. And a nice older gentleman got a new friend in her. I’m really eager now for the next book figuring and hoping it’s Lucy and Connor’s wedding story. As in everything Lucy does, I’m sure it’s gonna be an adventurous tale!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC provided by Crooked Lane Books via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own. This book releases June 7, 2022.

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