small businesses – Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery

Cheddar Late Than Dead review

January 31, 2023January 31, 2023 Tari Hann

This is the third book in the Grilled Cheese Mysteries by cozy mystery author Linda Reilly who also wrote the Cat Lady mysteries as well as the older Deep Fried Mysteries. Carly hadn’t been widowed too long when the series first started, so I’m happy she’s got someone like Ari who’s willing to take things slow. She’s a strong lady, but even strong people need someone sometimes. I just love her little Havarti pup! He’s adorable and I think he knows it! 😉 I can wait to read the next book whenever it’s out. Look for this book today, January 31, 2023.

#PoisonedPenPress #LindaReilly

My Goodreads review:

Cheddar Late Than Dead by Linda Reilly
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It was great visiting with Carly and all her friends again-and still wishing her shop was real, lol. Carly had an almost locked door type murder mystery on her hands but thanks to her pestering, er I mean tenacity in getting a videographer to show her the murder day footage more than once, she finally came up with something. Hopefully it wasn’t too late! You’ll just have to read and find out but the showdown was pretty epic! Go Carly!

The side mystery of a missing person definitely tied in so I won’t give any details on that but just wanted to say I did suspect the right person fairly early and for the right reasons. There was something else I’d thought of that wasn’t even part of it though. Another side mystery concerned Carly’s new manager, but that ended up having an awesome ending too. And I love where Carly and Ari are in their relationship. Hopefully it’ll lead to much more eventually.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Poisoned Pen Press via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own. It’s available today, January 31, 2023.

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Steeped to Death review

September 12, 2022 Tari Hann

This is the first in a brand new magical cozy mystery series, Witches Brew Mysteries by Gretchen Rue. It was fun following Phoebe on her search for whether or not her aunt Eudora was a witch and whether she was one herself. The surprises were good ones though, and I’m super eager to read more in this series! I just love the key characters and setting. All those little shops sound amazing. I can’t wait to visit Raven Creek, WA again!

#CrookedLaneBooks #GretchenRue

My Goodreads review:

Steeped to Death by Gretchen Rue
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I absolutely loved the first in this new series! It had just the right balance of magical things going on and cozy elements for the cozy mystery part. Phoebe’s newfound ability was a pretty cool one that she couldn’t just call on, but it sure knew when she needed it! Aunt Eudora definitely left her everything she needed, even a sweet cat named Bob who didn’t appear to be magical, at the moment anyway.

I know who I wanted to be guilty, but there were a few other suspects out there too. I liked how the detective didn’t automatically think Phoebe was guilty because the body was found behind her store. The stakeout she mentioned would’ve been awfully cool, but other things happened instead that you’ll just have to find out when you read it.

The showdown was exciting and could’ve gone a lot worse had Phoebe not been who she was. I liked the revelation at the end and how someone she’d suspected actually turned out to be an awesome protector and true friend.

It’ll be interesting to see who exactly Phoebe ends up being sleuthing besties with and if she and Rich ever officially date. Honey seemed like a like-minded fellow business owner that might make a good sleuth, so I’m eager to see what all Phoebe and her new town of friends gets into next time. I hope there’s another book planned for sooner than a year away!

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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Fillet of Murder–review

August 16, 2018August 16, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the first book in the Deep Fried series by Linda Reilly. This is a fun idea for a sleuth job, working at a fish and chips restaurant that’s owned by a couple from England who came to Massachusetts to live. I loved these characters and the sweet calico kitty that Talia found that had been abandoned. She named her Bojangles, since she’s living in her Nana’s house and that was Nana’s favorite song.

My Goodreads review:

Fillet of Murder by Linda Reilly

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this book so much! The main characters were all people that I would want to be friends with in real life. Bea and her husband Howie are such sweethearts, and Rachel is just about the coolest friend a person would want.

When Talia Marby comes home to Wrensdale MA to live in her Nana’s old house and work her old job at Lambert’s Fish and Chips, she never knew she’d be playing amateur sleuth to clear her friend Bea’s name. One of the shop owners who was an insufferable jerk, was found dead in his shop with all signs pointing to Bea since the knife that killed him was a fillet knife. In the meantime, Bea and her husband Howie wanted to sell the shop to Talia so they could start their retirement in Myrtle Beach. With so many events coming and going, Talia at least had her mom and Rachel–and an adorable little calico cat she’d found hanging around, to keep her at least partway sane.

I just loved how she met Ryan, an old classmate, whose dad had early Alzheimer’s. His dad was a sweetie too. I’m glad there’s some sort of guy interest there for her. Rachel has met a guy too, another shop owner had some baby news. Even Talia’s mom had something awesome to tell her.

I loved the showdown with the killer in this book! It was pretty exciting and well, you’ll just have to read it. Let’s just say Arthur, Ryan’s dad being a Shakespeare fan came in really handy. Arthur himself was somewhat of a hero as well. I’m anxious to read the next book in this series and hang out in Wrensdale again soon sometime!

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