small town kentucky – Cuddle Up With a Cozy Mystery

Dead to the Last Drop review

February 23, 2020 Tari Hann

This is the eighth book in one of my favorite series, Killer Coffee written by Tonya Kappes. I just love everything I read by this author, and I haven’t even gotten around to a few of her older series. I know that I love reading about Roxy, Patrick, Aunt Maxi and all the fun folks in Honey Springs, Kentucky. I wish that it was a place I could go to and vacation there. Going across the lake to the bee farm always sounds fun! Aunt Maxi got her chance to shine on stage, or she thought she did anyway. Fun and laughs as always!

My Goodreads review:

Dead To The Last Drop: A Cozy Mystery by Tonya Kappes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I always love a visit in Honey Springs, KY with Roxy and her family/friends. It sounds like a little storybook town any time of the year, but in the winter it seems extra Hallmark-y. After a well-placed clue, I had a good idea of who the killer was, and I was right. The reason never really comes out until the end anyway. I liked the mention of having a mystery group in town, and Kayla at the Bee Farm got to be in this book a little instead of being just a mention. I like how the various friends and businesses sort of rotate around in the stories. Roxy and a friend in town were going to have exciting changes in both their lives/business, but you’ll have to read and find out!

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Stamped Out review

November 13, 2019 Tari Hann

This is the first book in a brand new series by one of my favorite cozy mystery authors, Tonya Kappes. The series is called Mail Carrier Cozy Mysteries and features a mail carrier in her forties named Bernadette Butler. I just love the front porch ladies, a group of four older friends who wait every day for Bernadette to show up with the mail. They’re always a great source of gossip too! I’m really anxious to read the next book when it’s out. Isn’t the cover adorable? That’s Rowena, Bernadette’s cat and Tonya’s real life kitty who always wins employee of the month.

My Goodreads review:

Stamped Out by Tonya Kappes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a fun cozy and a different occupation for the main character. It had everything I’ve come to love about this author’s books…great small town in Kentucky, nosy but caring neighbors and just the whole family thing going on. Bernie was in her forties, so that made for a little change of pace too. I loved how everything turned out for her, Mac and her friends. I had definitely not guessed the killer, and the showdown was quick but exciting. It was great how Bernie was able to think of what she did to disable the killer, despite the obviousness of being with a killer and what was going on at that moment (which is something I won’t spoil).

I think Vince and Harriette were my favorites on Bernadette’s route. I hope that Vince and Bernie team up again in upcoming books. I think it was awesome how he used his skills after being retired, and he made quite the sleuth. I won’t give away some of the background stories because they’re just fun. Harriette cracked me up how she’d always appear when Bernadette thought she was sneaking quietly around investigating. I’m really anxious for the next book! I think the series is going to be another winner for this author!

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Forests, Fishing and Forgery–review

February 24, 2019February 24, 2019 Tari Hann

I just loved this third book in the Campers and Criminals series by well-known cozy author, Tonya Kappes. I love her casual and down home dialogue and stories, it’s just so much fun. And the characters always become someone you’d want to be friends with. The Laundry Club ladies are great examples of some would-be good friends.

I would really recommend reading the other two books in this series first. Not because of any spoilers, but I think you just need to get to know the characters and Mae’s love life status or lack thereof to fully appreciate the outcome of this book. Enjoy! There’s a FB book club discussion on this book later in the week, and now I’m ready!

My Goodreads review:

Forests, Fishing, & Forgery by Tonya Kappes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I think this is my favorite in the series so far! Mae’s heart has finally come to a decision on her love life, her adopted poodle had some puppies, not to mention another great mystery was solved.

Mae had her hands full on Labor Day weekend. There was possibly a drought going on, and if the park was closed, that meant financial trouble for her and all her fellow small businesses. One of her campers, the groom from a rowdy bachelor party group, went missing, then someone was murdered, or was it accidental? As the bodies continued to pile up, Mae was wondering how these cases were all connected, but in the end the case was solved and life was good again.

I just love the Laundry Club member Queenie! She’s a longtime member of Normal and seems to know just about everyone and all their business too. I loved the outcome of the whole story, as well as the birth of the puppies, so sweet! After you finish the books, there are three RV hacks/tips and three campground recipes to enjoy. We don’t camp, but I’m sure we can figure out a way to enjoy the recipes anyway.

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Decaffeinated Scandal–review

January 18, 2019January 18, 2019 Tari Hann

This i Decaffeinated Scandal: A Cozy Mystery by Tonya Kappes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is just the funny and lighthearted story I needed after reading a more serious (but awesome) cozy. I mean who doesn’t love reading about an adorable farting Pug named Norman?

The Halloween festival was in full swing in Honey Springs, but Roxy had heard some disturbing news that the owners of the Bee Farm were going to sell part of their land to a resort developer. That would either slow down or close Camey Montgomery’s Cocoon Inn. When Roxy asked the owners, she said they needed to add more bee colonies which was expensive. Right away, Roxy got the town together in collecting donations for them so they wouldn’t have to sell any of their land. In the meantime, the head of the developing firm was found dead in the Inn. As usual, Roxy couldn’t rest until she was checking into things to keep her friend Camey from being charged with murder.

I think this is my favorite book of the series yet since something very special happens. The showdown with the killer was super quick, but absolutely awesome! And little Norman got his forever home as well.

There are some yummy-sounding Bean Hive recipes at the end of the book, including Jean Hill’s Apple Pie Jam which sound deelish! There’s even a recipe for the pumpkin dog treats that seemed to help little Norman get over his gaseous tendencies, along with his special diet dog food.

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s the fifth book in the Killer Coffee series, another favorite series by another one of my favorite authors (I have about 100 each of those!) 😉 If you haven’t read this series, you really need to, and I would really advise not starting with this book. It’s my favorite so far, but you might want to read from the beginning to get to know the characters all better. Roxy always brings in a dog to the shop in the hopes that she can help her friend who runs the shelter to adopt out the dogs and cats she gets. This book had a super cute pug named Norman who had a problem with flatulence, but he found his forever home anyway by the end of the book.

My Goodreads review:

Batter Off Dead–review

January 6, 2019 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Southern Cake Baker series by Maymee Bell, who is actually many-times-published cozy mystery author, Tonya Kappes. I love reading any book by this author. The characters are always so fun and down-home. There’s always some humor (especially with the sleuth’s Southern mama!) and a great mystery! This one really had me stumped! Then at the end of the book, they had a celebration, and I didn’t want to leave!

Even though the kitty in the picture isn’t blue-eyed, I thought maybe Duchess in the book might look something like this. It was the best free-for-use picture I found.

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

My Goodreads review:

Batter Off Dead by Maymee Bell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I really loved the first book in this series when I read it last year, so I knew the second book wouldn’t disappoint, and it sure didn’t! I didn’t want my visit to Rumford, KY to end!

Sophia was hired to do the dessert catering at a library and winery event. When she found the former benefactor to the library dead by the vineyard and one of her best friends was the prime suspect in the murder, Sophia knew she’d never be able to leave this one alone. It’s a good thing Carter loves her so much, or he’d have been furious at her a few times. He did continue to give her warnings. There was a little side story of Sophia wanting to make the famous donut recipe that the bakery before she bought it was known for. After that, her house was broken into, and someone threw a rock through the bakery window. Could it be the killer wanting her to back off investigating?

I get such a kick out of Bitsy, Sophia’s Southern mama. She even got into the whole investigating this time and went as far as calling it Operation Merlot. I love how fiercely loyal Sophia is, not only to to her close friends, but the entire town. I had absolutely no clue who the killer was until the last minute at the showdown, which was excellent. The library got a happy ending as did everyone else, but I especially love it when a library gets a happy ending! I can’t wait for the next book!

Disclaimer: 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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Deserts, Driving and Derelicts–review

August 27, 2018August 27, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the second book in the Campers and Criminals series by well-known author Tonya Kappes. I always love her quirky Southern characters and the down home charm they always bring to the stories she writes. Mae and her friends are quickly becoming some of my favorite Southern characters.

My Goodreads review:

This was another super fun visit to Happy Trails Campground in Normal, KY. I love reading about Mae and all her friends. The Laundry Club is always a lot of fun, I really like all those ladies she’s made friends with. I had absolutely no idea who the killer was, boy was I surprised.

When Mae and a wealthy woman named Tammy Jo found Tammy Jo’s dog nanny dead in her husband’s office, Tammy was jailed for the murder, but Mae knew she couldn’t have done it. Tammy might have been strange enough to have her dog Fifi cloned and have its offspring insured, but she was no killer. In the meantime, Mae’s foster brother, Bobby Ray was in town. Her friend Dottie had a bad feeling about him being there. Mae found Tammy Jo’s expensive watch that had gone missing while plumbing out Bobby’s toilet, so he was arrested for robbery–but was he the killer instead–and were Dottie’s instincts about him correct?

Everything got wrapped up in a fairly quick but very cool showdown. Bobby proved his worth then and the real killer was hauled away. Mae was finally ready for that elusive date with Ty…will it ever happen? I still think I might like Hank for her instead even though Ty is sweet. I guess we’ll just have to keep reading!

Freshly Ground Murder–review

August 8, 2018August 8, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the third book in the Killer Coffee series by well-known author, Tonya Kappes. She has quite a few series she’s written, and they all take place in a small town in Kentucky, which I just love reading about. Her style is relaxed and lots of fun. This book made it feel like Christmas in August! (minus the snow, not ready for that yet!)

My Goodreads review:

Freshly Ground Murder by Tonya Kappes

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was such a good Christmas mystery! I could just picture this sweet little town at Christmas with a big tree and Patrick being Santa Claus. I just love visiting Honey Springs, KY! They sure know how to do Christmas right.

The town of Honey Springs was getting ready for the Christmas festival. At the official town tree lighting ceremony, a pair of feet and legs were sticking out from under the big tree. One of their own townspeople had been killed and placed under that tree. The lawyer in Roxy couldn’t help once more being part of the investigation, even though Spencer, the sheriff, wasn’t crazy about her interfering. This time when an attempt was made on her life, she backed off. Thanks to someone else, the police were informed, the arrest was made and Christmas continued as planned.

I really enjoy all these characters and it was pretty exciting that the series is going to have a couple of new characters as well. I always get a kick out of shop employee Bunny and Aunt Maxi fussing with each other–they’re really friends, but they like to pick at each other sometimes. Emily, the girl who was working for Roxy in the last book, got some really good news which made me happy too. I hope the next book is set in the spring and that it includes a wedding!

I didn’t pick out the killer till close to the end and I believe it was probably when we were supposed to be putting the clues together anyway. It was a great twist that really surprised me. I’m anxiously waiting for the next in this series and I can’t wait to attend the book discussion on this book!

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Cake and Punishment–review

May 9, 2018May 9, 2018 Tari Hann

This is the very first book in what I hope will be a long-running series by well-known and established author Tonya Kappes, writing under the pen name of Maymee Bell. I love the other series books I’ve read by Tonya so I knew this was going to be a fun series as well. I know that Tonya went all out to make this the really awesome book that it is. She even took cake decorating lessons so she would completely know what it’s like to bake and professionally decorate a cake like what Sophia does in her story. You will love this book!

My Goodreads review:

Cake and Punishment by Maymee Bell

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I did not want this book to end, that’s how good it was! From the small town Southern setting to the amazing characters and their overall chemistry with one another, I loved everything there was about this mystery. I do admit that I was able to guess the killer but it was fun seeing how that person got caught. Retribution came swiftly to the killer at the end, but to me it was very satisfying.

Sophia Cummings was head pastry chef for The Manhattan, an exclusive New York restaurant, who, after finding her boyfriend Noah, their main chef, with the hostess, needed some time away to keep herself sane. She came back to her hometown of Rumford, KY where just about right away she found herself the cake baker for her good friend Charlotte’s wedding. The more word spread about Sophia’s amazing desserts, the more people just assumed she would be staying. Sophia even let herself dream about staying every so often when she saw that the local bakery had closed. Conveniently, her friend Madison was the listing agent for it as well as a very cute little cottage.

Sophia didn’t think there would ever be a murder in this small town but when the country club chef was found dead and Evelyn, the general manager became the main suspect, Sophia felt it was only right to clear her longtime friend who had given her her first job right there at the country club. Hopefully Sophia and her other friend Madison can figure out who the killer is before Sophia becomes the next one killed!

This book had so many fun and likable characters! Sophia’s mom, Bitsy, was a real trip! She had a way of getting her way all the time but everyone loved her for the kind person she was. I felt like any of the main characters would make for some really good friends especially Madison and Charlotte. At first I wasn’t sure whether to trust Charlotte’s fiance Brett or some of the other suspects to choose from. I did pick the correct one but I feel like the author helped a lot by planting clues that I picked up on.

I could totally picture this book as a TV mystery movie since it has everything they look for in a very sweet but compelling mystery. There was a wedding, a budding romance, a few tense or scary moments but the very happy ending that I always love when I read a cozy mystery. This book fit everything I have come to expect in a great cozy! I absolutely cannot wait for the next book!

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance e-copy of this book provided by the publisher and NetGalley.

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