small town california – Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery

Tell-Tale Treats review

January 27, 2026 Tari Hann

This is the third book in the Magical Fortune Cookies mysteries by Jennifer J. Chow, another cozy series I’ve had the pleasure of reading from the first book. These characters are now like old friends and I just love that sweet little Whiskers, Felicity’s bunny who’s got a real nose for clues and evidence.

#NetGalley #StMartinPaperbacks #MinotaurBooks #JenniferJChow

My Goodreads review:

Tell-Tale Treats: A Magical Fortune Cookie Novel by Jennifer J. Chow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve enjoyed these key characters since the very first book, so it was like meeting up with old friends to read about them again in this new adventure. Felicity’s pet bunny Whiskers was at his sleuthing best again as Felicity and Kelvin were hired by the B&B owner to have flowers and snacks for her wealthy guests every day. But one of said wealthy guests might’ve offed another one, and it wasn’t just human sleuths who helped figure it out. I wonder what these friends are gonna get into next time.

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

View all my reviews

A Very Novel Murder review

January 20, 2026 Tari Hann

This is the first book in a new spinoff series, Novel Detectives Mysteries by Ellie Alexander. The original series was A Secret Bookcase Mystery and ran for six books, all of which I absolutely loved and devoured. I was thrilled about this spinoff especially after the last couple books hinted at a new business venture for Annie and her coworker pal Fletcher.

No worries, all our other faves are here. Hal’s still living on the estate and working in the bookshop along with three additional employees, Liam and Annie are as closer or closer than ever, and Pri’s still delivering fun snarky banter with anyone she can. She’s still with Penny who’s coming along with her renovation of the property she bought.

I imagine this series could be enjoyed without reading the other series, but I’d still recommend reading the other series for backstory and all those awesome little details you won’t find in a recap.

My Goodreads review:

A Very Novel Murder (Novel Detectives Mystery #1)

A Very Novel Murder by Ellie Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I was so glad when the author decided to spin off a new series from the Secret Bookcase which had quickly become a fave series. It unfortunately had to come to an end because the ongoing storyline was solved. I was hoping so hard she’d do another series when it came out in the last books that Annie and Fletcher were interested in running a PI agency.

Flash forward, here they are doing both jobs they love so much along with the characters we came to know and enjoy in the original series. Nothing’s really changed, just the fact that now Fletcher and Annie own the bookshop and added some employees, so their ducking out to talk to suspects was a legit thing and not just chasing down one of Dr. Caldwell’s cases.

The two detectives had one heckuva first case, and Fletcher was cracking me up with all the stuff he brought to a stakeout they did, lol. Annie came close to losing her life in a showdown with the killer, but as always something awesome happened and she lived to sleuth another day. I can’t wait to read the next book!

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

View all my reviews

Murder at Blackwood Inn review

September 24, 2025 Tari Hann

This is the first in a brand new series, Haunted Dead and Breakfast, by Penny Warner and the characters didn’t take long to work their way into my heart as some memorable and what might be some fave characters. I loved that cat Pye and how he was always showing up in different places. Come to think of it, the handyman Noah kinda did the same thing, lol.

Can’t wait for the next in this fun series–those aunts were cracking me up! I was sorta thinking of the Sabrina the Teenage Witch TV series my daughter grew up with that had Aunt Hilda and Aunt Zelda when I read this, lol. If Pye could talk, I’d totally channel Salem as that cat!

#NetGalley #CrookedLane #PennyWarner

My Goodreads review:

Murder at Blackwood Inn by Penny Warner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really enjoyed meeting Carissa and her quirky, but sweet aunts when she moved into the B&B with them. The room themes of that place were awesome! (I’d stay in the Scooby Doo one for sure!) And what’s not to like about that mysterious Noah that Carissa took a liking to, right? He was as mysterious as the cat Pye that came and went without much sound. Carissa found herself facing off with a killer and luckily that clever orange cat was there to help out. Loved the ending but I could’ve kept reading more about these characters. I’m absolutely hoping this is the first of a series and not just a standalone.

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

View all my reviews

Solid Gold Murder review

July 30, 2025 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Golden Motel Mysteries by a fave cozy mystery author, Ellen Byron. I loved the first book and definitely wasn’t disappointed in this one! I’m really eager for the next book and hope Dee’s dad might decide to hang around longer, he’s such a hoot, just love his character!

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #EllenByron

My Goodreads review:

Solid Gold Murder by Ellen Byron
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved that Dee’s dad Sam was staying at the motel grounds and helping out. It was hilarious to think of him as the character Prospector Pete and imagine the funny voices he was doing. I liked his character a lot in the first book and hope he’ll stick around closer to Dee. He’s a lotta fun!

When a body was found in one of the mines, there was no shortage of suspects, which was good for anyone who’d made the comment they hoped the person ended up at the bottom of a mine, but it made it hard for law enforcement and nosy amateur sleuths to find the real killer. But Dee came through once again, although she had to face the killer and live to tell about it.

There were some good comic relief moments that may or may not’ve included Bud the Bear (formerly known as Stoney the Bear). Dee and Jeff’s senses of humor and banter was always good for a laugh or two as well. Can’t wait for the next book!

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

View all my reviews

A Body at the Book Fair review

June 16, 2025June 16, 2025 Tari Hann

This is the sixth and final book in the Secret Bookcase Mysteries by well-known cozy mystery author, Ellie Alexander, best known for her Bakeshop Mysteries. Although I really liked her Sloane Kraus Mysteries too and the Pacific Northwest Mysteries she wrote as Kate Dyer-Seeley. Word around her newsletter says she’ll be reviving that series soon! You can find her social links and her website links on her Goodreads page shown above.

Back to the Secret Bookcase series, while it’s ending with book six, it’ll be continuing as Novel Detectives Mysteries and I’m super excited to read that. I highly recommend reading Secret Bookcase Mysteries in order to get the whole experience of how the characters changed and developed. I’m so glad these amazing characters get to continue on!

#NetGalley #EllieAlexander #StormPublishing #SecretBookcaseMysteries

My Goodreads review:

A Body at the Book Fair by Ellie Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve absolutely loved these characters and was so sad at first that this was scheduled to be the last book in the series. But doing a little Nancy Drew digging of my own especially after reading what Annie and Fletcher’s plans were, I asked the author (replying to one of her newsletters) telling her how much I enjoyed the series and guessing/hoping there’d be a spin-off. Which she graciously told me I was right, then the most recent newsletter confirmed the new series was with our fave characters with a new series name. And I can’t wait to dig into it!

Annie had a book convention to go to, but she and her friends had an ulterior motive of that final step it was gonna take to bring justice to her friend Scarlet after ten long years. Justice was totally sweet in an epic showdown with the killer. I loved the side coffee tasing trip that Pri and Liam did. She’s come a long way from being so snarky to him to actually being a good pal now, and I’m sure Annie’s glad she’s got her bestie’s approval of her man. Pri was a hoot after having all that caffeine though as she rambled on and on, a little comic relief during the murder investigation and leading up to the showdown. I’m so glad that instead of goodbye, we just have to tell these characters ‘see ya real soon!”

I voluntarily read and reviewed and ARC of this book provided by Storm Publishing via NetGalley, and my opinions are my own.

View all my reviews

Bait and Swiss review

April 28, 2025 Tari Hann

This is the sixth book in the Cheese Shop Mysteries by Korina Moss, and I’ve enjoyed this series as well from the beginning. Willa and her crew couldn’t really enjoy the shop’s second birthday because of the murder that happened at the newspaper office. Not to mention her ex-fiance and his girlfriend were opening a pop-up in her friend Hope’s Cakery. A feud ready to happen? Catch this latest release tomorrow, April 29 and see!

#NetGalley #KorinaMoss #TeamCheese #MinotaurBooks

My Goodreads review:

Bait and Swiss by Korina Moss
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Willa’s team at the cheese shop and her sleuthing buddies are like visiting old friends now. Her protégé Archie’s grown and changed so much since the first book, and now they had not one but two new employees. I remembered June from the last book and how she’d hit it off well with Archie at the dairy festival.

Willa’s worst nightmare came true when the pop-up shop going in with Hope’s Cakery was her ex-fiancé and his girlfriend, so poor Willa had a ton on her emotional plate including being a person of interest in the murder case. She and her sometimes-buddy AJ from the paper did their own sleuthing. He cracked me up going under cover dressed like some 1940s detective, lol. Willa said the same thing I was thinking: he’s gonna attract more attention that way.

After a tense and crazy showdown at Hope’s Cakery, the perp was going away for a long time and peace reigned in Yarrow Glen once more. Willa and her friends celebrated my favorite way with food and fellowship. And Willa had a special moment with her detective who finally wanted to give their relationship an official label. I can’t wait to see what happens next!

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

View all my reviews

Murder by the Hook review

April 8, 2025 Tari Hann

This is the sixteenth book in the Crochet Mysteries by Betty Hechtman. I always love reading about this group of crochet ladies of all ages and interests. Boy was their friendship tested in a big way when they all decided to go on a weekend crochet getaway using a house that Molly’s boss at the bookstore arranged for them. With Adele along, who knows what’s gonna happen, right?

#NetGalley #BeyondthePage #BettyHechtman

My Goodreads review:

Murder by the Hook by Betty Hechtman
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Poor Molly was torn in a million directions when she agreed to work a case for Mason that happened to be where the crochet getaway was that weekend. Oh boy, Adele was in rare form and I felt sorry for those crocheters having to put up with her 24/7 instead of just their get-together at the bookstore.

Molly’s case was a crazy one and may or may not’ve included aliens and a spaceship, some definite kleptomania (her main reason for working the case) and a man’s death that appeared to be deliberate but couldn’t be proved. No worries, we know when Molly’s on the case, nothing goes unturned…and it didn’t. I’m sure everyone was glad by the time this weekend was over!

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

View all my reviews

A Spirited Blend review

March 24, 2025 Tari Hann

This is the third book in the Crystals and CuriosiTEAS mysteries by Lauren Elliott, another fun series I’ve enjoyed since its beginning. I really like Ms. Elliott’s other series too, Beyond the Page Bookshop Mysteries. Shay and her sister Jen have an awesome dynamic as sisters along with being business partners. It’s always a fun trip to Bray Harbor to catch up with these characters. Pssst, Gran’s my fave secondary character!

#NetGalley #KensingtonCozies #LaurenElliott

My Goodreads review:

A Spirited Blend by Lauren Elliott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ve come to think of these characters as old friends now especially Liam’s crazy fun Gran, she’s such a hoot! She’s always after Shay and Liam to get together since her fairies predicted it, so I guess it’ll remain to be seen if Gran gets her wish soon or not lol. This was a mystery with a couple sides thrown in that weren’t gonna be solved immediately, but the main murder was solved so that’s what matters. There’s always a storyline waiting on the sidelines in this series which makes readers eager for the next book!

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

View all my reviews

The Library Game review

March 18, 2025 Tari Hann

This is the fourth book in the Secret Staircase Mysteries that I’ve had the pleasure of reading and enjoying as ARCs from the get-go, and this book definitely didn’t disappoint at all. The author, Gigi Pandian had such a sweet article in her latest newsletter about how the series came to be and how she made Grandpa Ash’s character be modeled after her own dad. The picture of them together was just too adorable!

#NetGalley #MinotaurBooks #GigiPandian

My Goodreads review:

The Library Game by Gigi Pandian
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Tempest and her friends/family are like old friend to me by now since I’ve read this series from the beginning. I’ve enjoyed the character developments and relationships growing. Poor Sanjay, he’s such a hoot normally but he was a worried man this time since he was a suspect. The showdown was tense and I really loved what someone did to the perp! The outcome was a satisfying one, and as all the friends were taking another friend to the airport, I can only wonder what the next book might bring!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an ARC of this book provided by Minotaur Books via NetGalley and my opinions are my own.

View all my reviews

A Victim at Valentine’s review

February 10, 2025 Tari Hann

This is the fifth book in Ellie Alexander’s awesome new series, The Secret Bookcase Mysteries, and I’ve loved every single minute of these books since the very first one. These characters found their way into my heart and they aren’t leaving even though the sixth book is supposed to be the last. I can only hope maybe the author still has plans for the characters in a new series. ::fingers crossed and wishing like crazy::

#NetGalley #StormPublishing #EllieAllexander

My Goodreads review:

A Victim at Valentine’s by Ellie Alexander
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I’ll be really sad when this series wraps up with the next book since these are some of the most awesome characters I’ve come across in cozy mysteries. They’ve all got the best chemistry among them.

This mystery was a real puzzler as Annie and her pals tried to figure out who killed the nicest guy in town. And she had a side mystery that may just crack the cold murder case she’s worked on since her friend was killed. The showdown was hair raising to say the least but Annie’s a survivor and lived to have a super sweet dinner date with her guy Liam at the end.

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

View all my reviews