level best books – Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery

Diamond in the Ruff review

May 7, 2025 Tari Hann

This is the first in a brand new series called Wiggle Butt Manor Mysteries by Cindy Goyette. While she’s a newcomer to cozy mysteries, you’ll see from her Amazon bio that she knows what she’s talking about, being no stranger to law enforcement. And like main character Charlie, it’s clear the author loves dogs. I absolutely devoured/loved this book and can’t wait for the next one!

#NetGalley #LevelBestBooks #CindyGoyette

My Goodreads review:

Diamond in the Ruff: A Wiggle Butt Manor Mystery by Cindy Goyette
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really liked Charlie’s character a lot especially when I found out what all she’d gone through that led her to come help at the dog hotel. That was a fresh and different spin on a cozy main character and an eye-opening reality that some things we usually equate with older people do hit younger people if it’s a hereditary thing.

Charlie didn’t seem to let her physical limitations own her and worked on other strengths. That Aunt Jo-Jo was such a hoot! I could just picture her knocking down road cones with her wheelchair at rehab lol. When Charlie and the part-time teen employee found a body, everything seemed to go sideways. I was so sure of the whodunit and was surprised at the twist that came toward the end. What a showdown, but Charlie did a good job controlling the perp. The very ending was pretty sweet and now I can’t wait for the next book!

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

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Easier Dead Than Drawn review

May 7, 2024 Tari Hann

This is the long-awaited third book (as opposed to book 1 as shown on the big book site) in the Paint by Murder Mysteries which Goodreads now correctly lists as part of the series. Yay for some GR librarian who fixed that! The author’s Bailee Abbott who also writes cozies under the name Kathryn Long. I was really glad to see this series coming back and happy for the author that she’d found it a new publisher home.

#NetGalley #BaileeAbbott

My Goodreads review:

Easier Dead Than Drawn: A Paint by Murder Mystery by Bailee Abbott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The last book which was the second one was published in October of 2022, so I was glad to see the return of this series. This is book three for anyone reading as a standalone, since it’s not listed that way on the two book platforms I use. I’d very much recommend reading the first two books so you can get to know the characters and their stories. I’m happy I’d started the series from the beginning. Now that the series has a new home, I hope there’ll be more books.

Chloe had her hands full after a woman she recommended for a mural painting job was murdered. Not only did she need to clear her own name but now Whisper Cove had another killer loose. I never knew how to take that new detective since he could be hard core one minute and friendly the next. Maybe he was his own one-man good cop/bad cop act.

The showdown was a bit different since the perp wasn’t the one holding the weapon, but all worked out. I’m pretty happy with where Chloe and Hunter are in their relationship and hope that continues so there’ll be more books.

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

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No Small Murder review

April 9, 2023April 9, 2023 Tari Hann

This is the first book in a brand new series, Mini-Meadows Mysteries by one of my fave cozy mystery authors, Lena Gregory. I’ve devoured the other series she’s written and definitely loved meeting these new characters. Her books always have fun characters you’d like to be friends with or at least have coffee with! Granny Rose is hands-down my fave character, although I do like everyone else in the key players. She’s such a hoot and I can’t wait for more adventures in this series!

#NetGalley #LevelBestBooks #LenaGregory

My Goodreads review:

No Small Murder by Lena Gregory
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh that Granny Rose! I just love that character! Every time I read a book by this author, I’ve always gotten taken in on the first page or two, so this book definitely followed that same expectation. I loved Emma’s group of friends and now that her Granny was living there, they had an additional sleuth…and someone to keep an eye on since Emma wasn’t super thrilled over her matchmaking lol. The Great Dane pictured on the cover’s name is Butch, and he’s a sweetie!

The mystery was a good one that I definitely didn’t figure out, and that showdown was absolutely priceless! Not gonna spoil anything, but it was epic. I sure hope there’s another book in the series ’cause by the end, I was so glad for everyone’s turnout that I just needed more time with these characters.

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

View all my reviews