small southern town – Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery

A Perfect Bind review

September 18, 2021 Tari Hann

I was super excited and grateful to #Berkley Publishing for approving me to read this second in the Beloved Book series by Dorothy St. James who wrote the Southern Chocolate Shop and White House Gardener series. I’m really loving this new series maybe even more than the chocolate shop one (even though I adore chocolate!). It’s probably because the bookroom is a secret one. The cool history part of this particular book was that long ago, the place was actually called The Bookroom. But you’re gonna need to read it and find out why!

It was a little hard to put this book down due to all the “what if someone finds out about the bookroom while investigating the murder” suspense. The town rumors, meanwhile, were um, interesting to say the least. And Mama Eddy had even more of a reason to be happy with herself later on in the book. There’re just so many reasons why you’ll want to read this book. For more complete enjoyment and getting to know the characters better, I’d recommend reading the first one first, but this one does give enough backstory without spoilers that readers should be able to figure out who the key players are.

My Goodreads review:

A Perfect Bind by Dorothy St. James
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow just when you thought the secret bookroom was all safe and sound…vandals were striking, then a murder happened outside the library. Tru and her book friends had their investigating job cut out for them in trying to figure out how the vandalism and the murder could connect in with some events of the past that the victim was looking into.

I love how the whole time I’ve pretty much despised Anne for coming in and setting up the ridiculous bookless library–I seriously hope this is just the author’s imagination, and this never, ever happens anywhere! But just when you want to be mad at her, she does something actually nice. You’ll have to read and see.

I hadn’t quite seen the whodunit coming until the very end which was really exciting. I was so proud of Tru for calling Jace in for his help. But…what happens in the bookroom stays in the bookroom ’cause I don’t want to spoil even one little tidbit. This awesome mystery comes out in ten more days, but I was so grateful to Berkley for approving me to read it, that I just couldn’t wait any longer to pick up where the last book left off. I’m super happy with the good direction Jace and Tru’s relationship is going too, thanking the author for that one!

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

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Can’t Judge a Book by Its Murder review

October 28, 2019 Tari Hann

When I saw this book on NetGalley and that it took place in a bookshop, I just had to request it to review. It’s set in a fun little town in Mississippi with some great new characters. The book club ladies made me laugh with their sleuthing plans and antics. It was amazing what a former teacher could say to get a favor from a former student who happens to be police chief. 😉 I’m anxious to read more in this series!

Photo was found searching on Google under “licensed for reuse.” This is the book that the ladies were supposed to be discussing but wanted to talk about the murder instead.

My Goodreads review:

Can’t Judge a Book By Its Murder by Amy Lillard

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a really enjoyable bunch of new characters, and I got such a kick out of the book club ladies wanting to do their sleuthing in such a way that Arlo must have felt like she was herding cats trying to keep them under control and out of danger. I liked Arlo and her bestie Chloe. They worked well together at their business, and Arlo was a fierce and faithful friend when Chloe was charged with murder. She was relentless at trying to prove her best friend’s innocence, and I know Chloe and her little boy truly appreciated it. Mads, not so much, but he seemed to have an incredibly large amount of patience with Arlo–possibly because they dated in high school, but maybe because he’s just a nice guy to begin with. I also enjoyed the character of Frances, the seventy-something woman who worked the desk at the police station. She was a great source of info and gossip.

I loved how when Arlo realized who the killer was, she raced to where she needed to be but managed to get Sam to call the police for backup. Both men who liked Arlo were her exes from high school, and for once I’m a little stumped as to which guy I like for her, although I always tend to lean toward the law enforcement officials in a case like this. Not sure why, but I don’t get tired of that theme of the sleuth liking the cop. Sam does seem nice, and he’s well-liked by the book club ladies. I’ll definitely be interested in reading more in this series and visiting this sweet southern town again.

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

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Better Off Read–review

May 31, 2018May 31, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the first book in a new series released May 18 by Nora Page. If you like senior sleuths that are very similar to Jessica Fletcher, then you will love this book! Cleo and her friends are pretty amazing and I can’t wait to read more of their sleuthing adventures! I just loved Cleo’s cat, Rhett Butler and Henry’s little pug, Mr. Chaucer.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book which was provided via NetGalley and Crooked Lane Publishing. Thanks going out to them for this opportunity!

My Goodreads review:

Better Off Read by Nora Page

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Oh my goodness, I loved this book! I haven’t read such an enjoyable senior sleuth since Jessica Fletcher. Cleo is just awesome and this was an amazing first book for what I hope is a long series–so much fun!

Cleo Watkins drove the bookmobile bus in Catalpa Springs, GA a lot more now that a storm caused major damage to her beloved library. A local curmudgeon who wasn’t well liked but was a library supporter had basically assured her he had a plan. But someone else had a plan for him, murder. Cleo and her gentleman friend Henry, who owned an antiquarian bookstore, set out to investigate along with the help of her college-age assistant Leanna. There were plenty of suspects and when another body turned up, Cleo realized she had to prove her own grandson’s innocence along with finding the first killer. She was convinced the killer of both was one and the same.

The mystery did get wrapped up very satisfactorily. I like how all the little odds and ends were addressed at the end. The take down was pretty epic…let’s just say Rhett Butler, Cleo’s cat and the skunks living in the library were heroes!

I really enjoyed reading about Cleo and all her friends, especially sweet Henry who was ever the gentleman. All the characters that were good were so interesting–Adelaide was hilarious (a neighbor at Happy Trails retirement village). I didn’t guess the killer at all, was completely fooled but that’s okay, that’s the name of the mystery game. I’m so anxious for the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book courtesy of NetGalley and Crooked Lane, thanks going out to them.

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