Cooking with Cozies

Murder on the Green by H.V. Coombs

I tend to prefer cozies that take place here in the US of A and have a female main character. I do not always appreciate the English sense of humor so I don't usually choose such books to read. I could not say no to a book about a cook though. I'm imagining Julia Childs meets Mr. Clean with a little zen in the mix when picturing Chef Ben Hunter. Great story line and wonderful characters in the little town of Hampden Green and the cooking tidbits are wonderful. Can't wait to read the next story to see what is new at the Old Forge Café.

The Quiche and the Dead
by Kirsten Weis

Valentine Harris has been unlucky in love but she is determined to stay in San Nicholas and make her pie store business a success. After all, she has more than just her heart in it, she is financial all in . So needless to say this business needs to do well and when a customer dies shortly after eating breakfast quiche that she prepared in her new fledgling bakery. What's a new shop owner to do when she has a fitness junky/personal trainer who is determined to see her go out of business for selling "toxic" food runs the new gym right next door. Val makes it her business to find out who or what happened to her neighbor, the comic book caretaker. With the aid of her odd yet talented pie crust maker (and the promise of a tiny house) Val and Charlene will sort through the questionable characters, a Sherlock Holmes trio, and a handsome big city cop who has come home to enjoy a quieter(?!) pace. Good start to this new series and I hope to see more of the character development especially between Carmichael and Val.

Ghostly Cozies for Spirited Reading courtesy of NetGalley

These reviews are made possible with a free or advanced copy by the most excellent publishing companies of Crooked Lane and Henery Press by way of NetGalley.

Be Our Ghost (Merry Inn Mystery #3)

by Kate Kingsbury

Crooked Lane Publishing

Everyone wants the benefits of progress but sleep towns also want to keep their small town feel and a new  high rise hotel most certainly will not fit in for the town of Sully's Landing on the Oregon Coast but who is so against it that they would kill the real estate developer. Thankfully neither Melanie West or her English Grandmother Liza are suspected but their friend and tavern owner, Doug is the number 1 suspect. Melanie suspects that Liza is more concerned than she is letting on and makes it her job to help get to the bottom if for no other reason than to keep Liza out of harm's way. Melanie will have her hands full as partner of their B&B The Merry Ghost Inn, home to Orville the resident laughing ghost who has been known to throw a clue their way when needed.  So many possible suspects, so many possible reasons and they might just be desperate enough to harm anyone who asks too many questions. Great story and I really liked the extra personal mystery that Melanie tackles on her own apart from the murder. I look forward to the next installment.

Read and Gone

(A Haunted Library Mystery #2)

by Allison Brook

Crooked Lane Publishing

Carrie Singleton's life is going great, she's happy with her job, she has an amazing boyfriend, great friends including the spectral librarian Evelyn , and loving family. Well she's happy with most of her family, that is with the exception of her grifter Dad who is in town and involved with some missing diamonds. While Carrie tries to create a Christmas to remember she also has to nurse her father back to health when he is roughed up, while keeping her insurance investigator boyfriend in the dark while she desperately tries to figure out who killed the crooked jeweler, where are the gems, and how is her Dad ever going to go straight, and all without losing her heart or her life as she second guesses herself and Dylan her boyfriend. This was a great read with so much depth of character, my heart absolutely ached for Carrie between choosing family, choosing love, and choosing to do the right thing. This one is sure to be a hit and I can 't wait for the next one!

Ax To Grind

(A Kenni Lowry Mystery #3)

by Tonya Kappes

Everybody needs a little help now and again and Sheriff Kenni is no exception. The exceptional aspect of her help is that it comes in the form of her Poppa the former Sheriff. Former as in former member of the living. Cottonwood, Kentucky is your typical small, country town but it is known for having at least one celebrity, well known romance author Beryle Stone. An author who wrote a "tell-all" manuscript that has gone missing since her death. Her death was not unusual but her assistants is a different story. Now Kenni and her new deputy Finn are on the hunt for a killer and a killer manuscript which means Kenni will have to read the other books to piece together the clues. The only problem is that this town is full of more characters than a 100 piece puzzle and Deputy Vincent's good looks and friendly mannerism are more than a little distracting, not that Kenni's Mom has a problem with that. This plot had me embroiled and I thoroughly enjoyed the character development. A great read looking forward to the next one!  

The Haunted Heist

(Southern Ghost Hunter Mystery #3)

by Angie Fax

Verity Long has an unusual roommate, not only is he a gangster, but he is a dead 1920s era gangster. Of course she has an unusual pet as well, not a lizard, not a snake, not even a potbelly pig, nope she has a skunk named Lucy. She is an unusual gal, who is trying to avoid her ex future mother in law, help spectral Gangster Frankie find his favorite gun so he can "move on," have a successful freelance designing career, while nurturing a new relationship with local lawman Ellis (also the brother of her former fiancé, the much better brother). What starts out as a new gig for the bank goes all wrong when Lauralee's Uncle Reggie, the bank manager is found, shot through the heart in a bank safe by himself. A supposedly haunted safe, or not so supposedly as Frankie explains about his buddy Suds. Add in a spirited speak easy and a dead hit man from the 20's and you have the makings for a Haunted Heist. Fun to read and can't wait for the next installment as Verity walks the line between the worlds solving crimes and chatting up ghosts.



Wine cozies make it a happy hour! Courtesy of NetGalley

Have a glass while reading these excellent stories.

Chardonnayed to Rest by J.C. Eaton (Wine Trail Mysteries #2)

I love learning something new especially about wines. I had not heard of a Federweisser, but it sounds wonderful. Unfortunately they only take place in the New York area or in cute cozy mysteries.  The festival is set to take place at Two Witches Winery substitute operated by Norrie Ellington, a good friend and screen writer. After her neighbor is told to expect the rent to increase to the point of peril, the same man is found dead, and Miss Rosalee's flower stake is the murder weapon. Norrie tracks the clues at great personal peril while juggling wine tastings, food prep, and the Federweisser to worry about on top of a writing deadline. There are so many leads to chase down, but the locals are ready to do it as they look for the mysterious blue windbreaker. Great read am looking forward to the next and I hope to find a winery one day just like the Two Witches!

Seven Deadly Zins by Nancy J. Parra (A Sonoma Wine Country Mystery)

I do love a good cozy especially one about wine country! Our heroine is an entrepreneur and problem solver. Meet Taylor O'Brien, owner of Off the Beaten Trail tours who gives quirky tours tailored to fine wines and outdoor encounters. She had the niche market, at least until some unexpected competition showed up. But never fear, her friends will still be there for her, like Holly her best gal pal (because all cozy hero/heroines need someone to watch their back) and Tim, the best guy friend (yep it's good to have a platonic friend too). Tim has it all and is about to have a wonderful new Zinfandel that is sure to put his vineyard on the map, with a magnificent blend, more than 7 actually. At least he was until a body turns up in the fermenting vat. Bonus points to the author for an interesting body location. It made me flinch to think of all that lovely wine being spoiled. Over shadowing it all is a Hollywood-style self help guru with his flock of followers who are self realizing that all things are possible at least until he ends up dead as well. Tim is under suspicion for both murders. Taylor is a great character, a true friend, and a fearless spirit. I look forward to reading more about her exploits and adventures.

Pairing a Deception by Nadine Nettman  ( Sommelier Mystery #3)

What could be more relaxing than a weekend wine retreat right before the big Advanced Sommelier test? At least that is what Katie Stillwell and her boyfriend Detective John Dean thought when they went away for the weekend. What a great way to get a peek into what a wine tasting and educational weekend could look like with a little extra excitement. Truly educational and informative while being equally entertaining. I learned a lot including the proper pronunciation for sommelier (some-all-yay) after all don't we all say YAY when it comes to some good cozy ready and some good tasting wine. The story was a page turner that had me second guessing "who done it" and why. Looking forward to the next installment to enjoy with a nice bottle of red.

The Hair of the Dog by Carlene ONeil (Cypress Cover Mystery #3)

Penny Lively is outgoing, outspoken, and out of time if she is going to help her cousin veterinarian Annie who if found standing over her business partner holding the lethal weapon. Penny has plenty to keep her busy between the timing of the harvest and the not so perfect timing of the handsome vineyard manager. There's talk of missing money, missing drugs, a revolutionary rabies vaccine, and mayhem as the dead bodies become 2 and the suspects become more. Penny knows that there is no way her best friend and cousin could have possibly killed anyone. Some would say that Penny has the wit that bites like a crisp Chardonnay. She is no nonsense and gets right to the point which doesn't make  many friends. Penny is the sort of friend you want on your side, going to almost any lengths to get to the bottom of the problem even though she knows her niece's boyfriend, the police chief has it well in hand, she still needs to do her part to get the answer.. I can't wait to read the next installment of the Cypress Cove Mystery Series as #3 was most excellent with a great cast of characters.

Witch Cozy to Pick courtesy of NetGalley

Sugar Spells
(A Spellwork Syndicate #2)
by Lola Dodge

A most excellent story, so good that I wish I had found the series sooner. Anise Wise is a wiz in the kitchen, literally; well as least she was until she was exposed to a little too much death magic and now the only goodies she can make are deadly macarons. Macarons that a strange little vampire/bat guy wants to purchase for who knows what reason. To complicate matters she has to deal with a surly bodyguard who would do anything to protect her while at the same time hating her because of his indentured servitude to a malicious overlord. Anise is as sweet as the baked goods she is known for making, her character is real and relatable. The story line kept me wanting more and I look forward to seeing the ice melt as things heat up between Anise and Wynn.

Death by Séance

(A Ghost and Abby Mystery)

by Jo-Ann Carson

This is the 3rd installment in the Ghost and Abby series. Abby is single mom with a sense of purpose and the senses of a witch. She didn't start out as one but she is quickly mastering the skills. I enjoyed reading about Abby and her crazy Mom life that includes a ghost for a boyfriend, a male-witch for a mentor who is also a distraction, a medium for a friend, and a whole cast of zany characters. A town with ghosts, witches, vamps, and the like and Abby works as a janitor in a haunted tearoom at night and as a PI during the day. She leads a complicated life but handles it as simply as she can and puts her family first and friends next. Which is what lies at the crux of this mystery when she gets guilted by her friend Joy, to take part in a first time séance that ends up with a dead body but no ghost. Abby is hired by Joy's seductive vampire boyfriend to solve the mystery of the slit secretary. The book had a Charlene Harris feel to it and I was thinking that Abby was going to be like Sokie but instead she was more of an Aura which pleasantly surprised me. So glad I didn't prejudge and finished the book.

To Catch a Witch

(A Wishcraft Mystery)

by Heather Blake



A whole community of innately talented people, some born with it and some who acquired it. That's the community for Darcy Merriweather, a Wishcrafter who can make other's wishes come true which she puts to use as an Event Planner and this time she has been hired to help plan and run a 5K run. Unfortunately the race director turns up dead before the race even starts. So many secrets running around town. Secret weddings, secret wedding plans, secret illnesses, secret secrets. To get to the bottom of this mystery Darcy will have to pull out all the stops as the Inquisitor and leave no rock unturned. Great story from beginning to end with a story line that flowed and I had no idea who was responsible until the author chose to reveal it. Had me guessing the whole time.

That Olde White Magick
(An Abracadabra Mystery)

by Sharon Pape

This was a magical cozy complete with Merlin and a couple of witches and familiars. But it's not your typical witchiness, nope these are 21st century witches, a family with a long history and a fabulous Magick shop full of anything and everything that will cure what ails you. Managed by our main character, Kailyn Wilde who is a bit of a sorceress sleuth in addition to a teleportator in the making. New Camel, not to be confused with Camelot, is a nice little town and not one that necessarily needs or wants big development or high rise hotels coming in. Unfortunately someone wants it so bad they are willing to kill for it and it is up to our intrepid enchantress to solve the who before her Aunt Tilly gets the blame for finding the body. Great story line and Merlin adds that little extra comic relief, now if I could bake as good as Tilly I'd feel transported. Looking forward to the next installment and the blossoming romance. Every good book needs a little mystery, a little come hither stare, maybe even a little witchcraft.