employees as friends – Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery

Catch Me If You Candy review

August 23, 2023August 23, 2023 Tari Hann

This is book 17 in the long-running Bakeshop Mysteries by Ellie Alexander who also writes the Sloan Krause Mysteries. Bakeshop Mysteries are set in Ashland, a place she’s very familiar with as you might know if you happen to get the author’s newsletter. She’s also written the Pacific Northwest Mysteries and Rose City Mysteries as Kate Dyer-Seeley. With this author, you’re always guaranteed some great characters and fast friendships as well as a compelling mystery and adventure!

#NetGalley #MinotaurBooks #EllieAlexander

My Goodreads review:

Catch Me If You Candy by Ellie Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I hadn’t read in this series for a really long time, but it didn’t take me long to catch back up. The author has a really nice way of catching readers up without spoiling anything (like the whodunit) from past books. This was an extra cool time of year to be in Ashland for all the Halloween festivities, but it wasn’t cool for the poor guy who got killed. Of course, Lance was all for sleuthing again with his buddy Jules, so she went along with it since she’s curious like that anyway.

I hadn’t guessed whodunit until the clues started pointing that way, and the showdown was safely conducted with Jules and Carlos in their car and the police taking charge. There was a little side mystery I don’t think we’ll get an answer for until next book concerning Lance who Jules had spotted a few times visiting Richard Lord’s hotel. Then Lance was talking in almost riddles toward the end but left Jules hanging. Ok Lance, you need to tell her what you were about to tell her by the time the next book’s out, lol. This series makes me think it’d be fun to visit Ashland pretty much any time of the year!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin’s Paperbacks via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

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Songs of Wine and Murder review

June 6, 2023June 6, 2023 Tari Hann

This is the fifteenth book in another favorite long-running series, the Tourist Trap Mysteries by Lynn Cahoon. I’ve loved every one that I read and just wish this was a real place I could visit. The shops are awesome and I could probably get lost in Jill’s bookstore for a long time with a favorite coffee drink or go dog-sit Emma while Jill worked. As with all this author’s books, I love how the main character treats her employees like family and even calls them family. Jill might not work in food herself, but she has a need to feed those she cares about, just like the other awesome leading characters.

#NetGalley #LyricalPress/Kensington #LynnCahoon

My Goodreads review:

Songs of Wine and Murder by Lynn Cahoon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a crazy case where we got to see another town business as sorta the spotlight of the story, Darla from the winery and her boyfriend Matt who was in a band that was competing in the festival that weekend. Toby, Aunt Jackie, and Sadie/Pastor Bill each had their own mini side stories which I was relieved all had good outcomes. Toby’s a great character and I love the bro banter between him and Deek. Aunt Jackie’s changed for the better since she married Harrold (he’s such a sweetie!). Sadie and the good pastor were too adorable as well.

It didn’t surprise me as to whodunit and with this perp, the arrest action took place behind the scenes which is always a refreshing change for me (especially if I just read a book with a showdown and a crazed killer). Jill and Greg are always an awesome couple, but they were growing even more as they went through a finance class together and Greg actually got Jill to use a planner, amazing right? Those two are gonna be great parents someday! Can’t wait to see what happens in the next book!

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

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Ashes to Ashes, Crust to Crust review

April 14, 2023 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Deep Dish Mysteries by Mindy Quigley, and the characters quickly became some of my fave cozy characters. I hope the series continues because Dee and her friends seem to have a bunch more stories to tell. One character I got the biggest kick out of was Molly aka Mac who was Delilah’s hostess’s cousin. That girl was so hilarious and charismatic (she got Auntie Biz to smile!)–what’s even more fun is at the end where you find the recipes, you’ll see the first one written in the voice of Mac herself. Auntie Biz’s recipe was pretty funny too!

#NetGalley #St.MartinPaperbacks #MindyQuigley

My Goodreads review:

Ashes to Ashes, Crust to Crust by Mindy Quigley
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another visit to Geneva Bay around Labor Day was pretty exciting and not just because of the festival and local vendor food tasting contest. The place was rich in mobster history, and Delilah worried that maybe one was back to find something he lost while in prison. Auntie Biz was a little grouchier than usual and it turned out she had a good reason.

Delilah’s a great main character and I admire her strength but dang it, girl, can’t you just let people be nice and do stuff for you? LOL, she might be working on that. Lots of little side mysteries were going on but everything wrapped up nicely at the end. For a while though I was worried there was one part that wasn’t gonna be solved, but no worries! The ending was a little odd but I’m betting Delilah did the best thing for everyone concerned. Can’t let out too much, you’ll just have to grab this when it goes on sale Tuesday, April 25, 2023.

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

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Paper Cuts review

April 10, 2023 Tari Hann

This is the sixth book in the Secret, Book & Scone Society Mysteries by Ellery Adams, another favorite cozy mystery writer. I’ve loved everything I’ve ever read of hers, and I haven’t even made it all the way through her backlist of older books. I’ve read this series since the very beginning and love how it always draws me in and makes me wanna settle in and stay in Miracle Springs for a while.

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #ElleryAdams

My Goodreads review:

Paper Cuts by Ellery Adams
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This series always brings such a satisfying read! It’s like hanging out with old friends when I read about Nora and her friends. Her girlfriends are amazing and employee-now-friend Sheldon’s just awesome! I love that Nora and Grant were close and he was able to assure her through the whole ordeal of her being a suspect. A new friend joined the cast of regulars and I’m eager to see what future books hold for that person. And someone’s getting a sweet surprise of our regular friends.

A woman who just needed forgiveness and was sick with cancer was murdered which was super sad especially because of her son she left. I had to hand it to Kirk and Val though. They were genuine troopers as they tried to come through for their grieving little nephew, a sweet boy with Asperger’s. It was great how that whole topic was handled. I’ve heard of it from online friends but never knew of a child with it, but I had a feeling the Walsh family was gonna be fine after they met a helpful child psychologist.

There was one really exciting part and poor Nora’s arm took the brunt of that showdown, but all ended well. And comeuppance did come to everyone who deserved it–I can at least say that without spoiling anything. The very ending was slightly different but a really good one. Can’t wait for the next book! Don’t miss this sixth installment available April 25, 2023.

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

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Gone for Gouda review

September 28, 2022 Tari Hann

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

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

#StMartinsPaperbacks #KorinaMoss

My Goodreads review:

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

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

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

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

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by St. Martin’s Paperbacks via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

View all my reviews