Tag: kensington cozies

Murder at First Slice review

Tari Hann

This is the fifth book in the Baker Street Mysteries by Valerie Burns, and it quickly became a favorite series right up there with her Mystery Bookshop series written as V.M. Burns. I love both these series and others she’s written because the characters are just so much fun with tons of humor and good times going on along with the murder, of course. English Mastiff Baby steals the show in the Baker Street Mysteries, he’s such a sweetie! 

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #ValerieBurns

My Goodreads review:

Murder at First Slice (Baker Street Mystery #5)Murder at First Slice by Valerie Burns
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Poor Maddy was having the worst luck of anyone all through the wedding planning and even now as close as they were to the wedding, bad and weird stuff just kept happening. The worst thing was someone was trying to make it look like Michael’s grandma Miss Hannah killed her obnoxious relative. Maddy wasn’t resting until she found the real killer, so with her trusty sidekick Baby, all 250 drooling pounds of him, they nailed another killer. What a cool happily ever after though!

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


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Bubble, Bubble Tea and Trouble review

Tari Hann

This is the seventh book in the Tea by the Sea Mysteries by Vicki Delany, and it’s been a really fun series I’ve enjoyed since its beginning. Bernie always cracks me up with all her different methods of procrastinating, yet she manages to sleuth and find clues. This time was no exception. 🙂

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #VickiDelany

My Goodreads review:

Bubble, Bubble, Tea and Trouble (Tea by the Sea Mysteries)Bubble, Bubble, Tea and Trouble by Vicki Delany
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lily’s pal Bernie doing her edits on her manuscript was cracking me up because she seemed to be doing what everyone does when a not-so-fun job is facing you: she does everything except what she’s supposed to be doing, lol. Bernie gets squirreled away easily enough as it is! And Lily always manages to get dragged into the investigation when all she wants to do is cook and bake for her grandma’s B&B and the tearoom.

When a group of ghost-loving women showed up as guests and their leader seemed to’ve ghosted them (pun totally intended), one of the women took over as leader until the tour leader showed up eventually. Things went sideways from there on out, speculations were made about an accident that seemed like a murder, and Bernie actually did come up with some good info. That led to a pretty exciting showdown where the perp actually needed rescuing, imagine that! Only in North Augusta!

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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Eight Enchanting Elixirs review

Tari Hann

This is the eighth (as indicated by the title) book in the Kitchen Witch mysteries by Lynn Cahoon, and I’ve enjoyed every book from the beginning including all the fun little half-step books in between. I hope it’s not the end but the way it wrapped up, it wouldn’t surprise me. Everything was in a great place though and happy endings were enjoyed by all those who deserved them.

#KensingtonCozies #NetGalley #LynnCahoon

My Goodreads review:

Eight Enchanting Elixirs (Kitchen Witch Mysteries, #8)Eight Enchanting Elixirs by Lynn Cahoon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

From the way this book ended, I’m guessing it’s the last one in the series. I hope I’m wrong but everything was just wrapped up so nicely from the main murder in the story to some other side mysteries. There were some fun revelations in the book too and by the time I read the Acknowledgments after the book, I could infer from what the author said that this was the happily ever after book of the series.

What an awesome book hangover! It’s just too bad the previous fun covers were changed. Now these new book covers look like every other magical story out there, kinda meh. If I was new to reading the series, I wouldn’t be drawn in by them. At least the old covers still exist here on Goodreads.

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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The Chowder House Murder review

Tari Hann

This is the first in a new series, Downeast Maine Mysteries by Lee Hollis, the brother/sister writing team of Rick Copp and Holly Simason. I’ve enjoyed their Hayley Powell series for years now and also like Maya & Sandra as well as the Desert Flowers series, so I knew this series would be fun, full of quirky characters–and it really was. I’m eager for the next book now.

#NetGalley #LeeHollis #KensingtonCozies

My Goodreads review:

The Chowder House Murder (Downeast Maine Mystery #1)The Chowder House Murder by Lee Hollis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed meeting Maggie, Audrey and Jill who seemed to sorta be co-main characters which was pretty cool since with third person it’s easy to slip into another person’s lead. There were some other interesting characters like Iggy the coroner. That guy made me laugh and I couldn’t help picturing him as John Belushi’s “Animal House” character only in a lab coat lol. Deputy Mason Dooley was another good sidekick type character and I felt so bad for the guy getting pulled away from food all the time. Oh well, Jill was just trying to make him into a better cop.

It was cool how the three ladies figured out whodunnit but still lacked some info that came as a surprise toward the ending, who knew? But that perp was just such a scum that the outcome was super satisfying especially when the perp was so smug before. I liked the ending and can’t wait for the next book now.

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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The Diva Hosts a Murderer review

Tari Hann

This is the nineteenth book in the long-running Domestic Diva series by one of the first cozy authors I ever read when I got into cozy mysteries, Krista Davis. Her Paws and Claws series made me a diehard cozy mystery fan ever since that first book, and I’ve come to love her characters in Sophie Winston’s series as well. Sophie and her pals were on their A-game as far as sleuthing went in this book, what a great adventure!

#NetGalley #KristaDavis #KensingtonCozies

My Goodreads review:

The Diva Hosts a Murderer (A Domestic Diva Mystery #19)The Diva Hosts a Murderer by Krista Davis
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a super good mystery with a satisfying conclusion at the showdown. There were a few other side stories like Aunt Melly’s new marriage and just who was Sophie’s sister Hannah secretly dating? I felt bad for Sophie’s neighbor Dollie who felt like the police didn’t believe her every time she called in hearing noises in her house. At least she eventually found out the reason for those sounds.

There was a lot happening and once the perp was put away, a couple friends had some fun surprises in store. I can’t wait to see what happens in the next book now.

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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Death by Chocolate Ladyfingers review

Tari Hann

This is the ninth book in the Death by Chocolate series by Sarah Graves, and I’ve had the best time laughing and sometimes crying through all of them. This ninth book sure didn’t disappoint even after all that time. I think each one somehow one-ups the previous book, lol. As per my usual recommendations, this series is best enjoyed and savored in order. 

#NetGalley #SarahGraves #KensingtonCozies

My Goodreads review:

 

Death by Chocolate Ladyfingers (A Death by Chocolate Mystery Book 9)Death by Chocolate Ladyfingers by Sarah Graves
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my goodness, just when I think the previous book was the most exciting adventure Jake and Ellie had, the next book (this one) came along and knocked it outta the park. From car chases to creepy basements to apprehending a killer, Jake pretty much did it all in this book. And she had plenty of bug bites and various injuries to show for it too. But Jake’s heart is as big as it can be and most of this stuff she went through for the sake of one little girl who lost her mother.

I loved the satisfying outcome and the very ending was tons of fun too. Jake and Wade are in for a bumpy ride for sure and I can’t wait to read the next book.

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


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Confessions of an Amateur Sleuth review

Tari Hann

This is the second book in a new series, Bainbridge Island Mysteries by well-known cozy mystery author, Lynn Cahoon, and I enjoyed it just as much as the first book, maybe even more. I can’t wait to read the third book since there was a preview at the end of this one that got me interested.

#NetGalley #LynnCahoon #KensingtonCozies

My Goodreads review:

 

Confessions of an Amateur Sleuth (A Bainbridge Island Mystery Book 2)Confessions of an Amateur Sleuth by Lynn Cahoon
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’d enjoyed meeting Meg and her friends in the first book last year, so I was glad to be able to continue the series with this book. It was another good murder mystery presented as Meg’s steps for her amateur sleuth book she was writing.

There were some side stories that were interesting but the best part was catching the perp and keeping them from killing anyone else. I’ll definitely be reading the next book since there’s a one-chapter preview of it at the end of this book that I enjoyed.

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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Murder in a Lavender Daze review

Tari Hann

This is the second book in the new Aroma Wellness Mysteries, a fun spin-off of the Fairy Garden Mysteries by Daryl Wood Gerber. If you liked the Fairy Garden series and miss it, some of the characters guest throughout in this book and the first one. No one’s made a series for it on Goodreads, so the link leads to Amazon, but no worries, I’m not an affiliate. 

#NetGalley #DarylWoodGerber #KensingtonCozies

My Goodreads review:

Murder in a Lavender Daze (An Aroma Wellness Mystery Book 2)Murder in a Lavender Daze by Daryl Wood Gerber
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Emma had a client wanting a more unique type of girls’ gathering at the spa, a happily divorced party. Before that could happen though, the client’s mother was murdered and Emma was begged to investigate much to Det. Summers’ dismay. When Emma found herself facing off with a killer, she was thankful for a good security system and a grandma who worried.

I really enjoy Meryl’s character a lot and even the crazy jokes she tells. The side story involved her mom who worked as receptionist when her heart was really more into her standup comic acts. The team got a nice surprise at the end and things worked out for all involved.

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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Some Like It Fudgy review

Tari Hann

This is the fourteenth book in the Candy-Coated Mysteries by Nancy Coco, and I’ve enjoyed all the books to date in this series. It’s really best to read these in order since some relationships build on others and sometimes names might be mentioned. And the Mackinac Island setting really is one of the most awesome places I’ve had the pleasure of vacationing in. This series was what sparked interest in that and I’ve been ready to go back ever since. 

#NetGalley #NancyCoco #KensingtonCozies

My Goodreads review:

Some Like It Fudgy (Candy-Coated Mystery #14)Some Like It Fudgy by Nancy CoCo
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When this author writes a character that makes readers dislike the person so much they just wanna toss that person in the slammer (or worse lol), you know that’s talent. There was definitely a character like that in this book but I won’t elaborate so it doesn’t spoil anything. I’d read the book blurb for this book and knew who the victim was so that in itself created a whole big can of proverbial worms between Allie and Rex.

It was kinda fun to see Allie switch up and sleuth with her girlfriends this time. I love the island seniors, no question about that but for reasons you’ll find out when you read this, she felt she needed a switch-up. There was plenty of comic relief going on in this book, and Allie ran the range of all the emotions she had inside her. Let’s just say I felt sorry for poor Officer Brown, lol.

The showdown and outcome were super satisfying and I really enjoyed the two-chapter preview of a new series being launched by the author. I won’t say more about it so I don’t spoil that either, but I’ll definitely be wanting to read it.

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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Two Purloined Pillows review

Tari Hann

This is the second in the latest series, Nimble Needle, by Allie Pleiter whose other cozy mystery series was also fiber crafts related, Riverbank Knitting Mysteries. I’ve always wanted to get to that series so maybe I should do that while waiting on the next book in this series which I’m super eager for now. Check out her biography page on Goodreads (linked above to her name) if you’re interested in her other non-mystery series.

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #AlliePleiter

My Goodreads review:

 

Two Purloined Pillows (A Nimble Needle Mystery, #2)Two Purloined Pillows by Allie Pleiter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed returning to Gwen Lake and hanging out with Shelby, her mom and the NYAG ladies (Not Your Average Grannies) who remind me a lot of the Golden Girls, lol. When one of the needlepoint artists for the festival was murdered, Shelby took it personally and set out to find the killer. She had a little help from her pals Deb and Jake (with Jake, I hope she becomes a lot more than pals eventually!).

I enjoyed the side story of Shelby’s sweet nephew who just wanted to be an artist and not mess around trying to play sports. I loved what she did for him using the help of one of the festival artists. Meanwhile that wily killer had totally fooled everyone. I never even had a suspicion! I can’t wait for the next book now that some fun changes are coming to the Nimble Needle’s needlepoint groups.

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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