Thank you to the authors, publishers, and NetGalley for providing these ARCs in exchange for honest reviews.
Candy Slain Murder
By Maddie Day
Published by Kensington Books
Release date: September 29, 2020 available on Kindle and paperback
Christmas time in South, Lick Indiana at the Pans N' Pancakes cafe/shop/B&B. The perfect time to be with family and friends and to enjoy a hearty bowl of stew and some chocolatey mocha peppermint muffins. Yes the recipes are included so be sure to skip to the end, get cooking, and thenrelax as Robbie Jordan solves not one but two murder mysteries. In this installment, Mayor Corrine meets her son, Dr. William Geller finds his "long lost" wife, and Robbie finds herself between a rock and a hard cookie. There are plenty of unusual characters with more than enough motive to have committed the crime. Although Robbie is not a native of South Lick, her restaurant is the communications hub making it a great setting for meeting all of the friendly and some not so friendly people. With each book you get to know the main characters a little bit better but Maddie Day always takes time to reintroduce the locals and their quicky personality traits. It is easy to pick up a random Country Store Mystery and still be able to understand the relationships withouth having to start at the begining. You will want to read the others just because they are so good and those recipes! Who needs a cookbook when you can have a cozy collection with recipes. Another winner with an awesome ending!
By Joanne Fluke
Published by Kensington Books
Release date: September 29, 2020, available on Kindle, Audible, hardcover, and paperback
A flash from the past and a new twist with wonderful holiday recipes! Hannah is busy cooking up sweet things when she encounters a mystery man with amnesia. The residents of Lake Eden take him in and start brainstorming on how to help. No murder to solve in this one folks, which is pointed out in the preface, but there is still the mystery of Joe Smith to solve. One thing is certain, there is no mystery about how good Hannah's cookies and cupcakes can taste. Layered throughout the story are holiday confections that are sure to please everyone's palate with easy to understand instructions that flow right along with the storyline. I do wish that they were at the back of the book, only because they can be distracting because I want to stop reading and start baking! I am especially eager to try the Pineapple White Chocolate Bar Cookies and the Christmas Baked Brie. A very nice foray even without a murder and another story that makes me even more a part of team Norman!
By J.C. Eaton
Published by Kensington Books
Release date: September 29, 2020, available on Kindle and paperback
Norrie Ellington is literally counting the days until her winery overseeing job is complete and her sister and etymologist brother-in-law return. Ah, but that means there is still time for at least one more mystery and this time it involves the two witches which the winery is named for. The two witches who created a two part curse. Any publicity is good publicity right? Not if it means that the odious from the historical society is dead and Norrie's new etymologist friend is Grizzly Gary's number one suspect. Thanks to this series you will learn about wine and bugs, not that they are a good pairing but it does make for interesting reading. Remember to beware the partridge eye while armchair sleuthing. I have noticed that Norrie seems to be getting more and more brave with regards to her fact finding missions and manages to get Don, Theo, Stephanie, and Godfrey involved in one way or another. I am surprised that she hasn't considered using one of her experiences as a screenplay and save herself some work and time. This series is so good with character developement that I am not ready for Norrie to go back to the big city and leave the wine trail, her winey family and friends, or her handsome attorney behind.
By Katie Murphy
Published by Kensington Books
Release date: September 29, 2020, available on Kindle, Audible, and paperback
A Texan in the land of leprechauns, or at least a Texan who has become limo driver for Leprechaun Limousine Service in Ireland. Another first for me, both the book and the main characters vocation. This story wastes no time in teeing up the murder and the mystery sending Megan Malone into a water hazard to try and help a drowned Lou MacDonald. There is no putting around with this story, it was intriguing and humourous while at the same time I never felt stuck in the sand because I hadn't read the series starter. The story was masterfully developed and the red herrings were par for the course. It's not easy being a professional driver but as you learn when she dons a gold chauffeur's uniform at the request of infamous Carla de la Fuente. That segue was highly entertaining and added a bit of glitz and glamour. I do think that even with Megan's friend Niamh and Detective Bourke being an unofficial pair there is a little spark there for Megan and Detective Bourke. But who knows what the future holds or who Megan's next job might introduce her to. Oh wait, there is a teaser for book three at the end of this one so you do know that she is involved with a "brash American" named Cherise Williams who is on the hunt for proof that she is the heir to the Earldomn of Lyetrum.
By Vivian Conroy
Published by Poisoned Pen Press
Release date: September 29, 2020, available on Kindle and paperback
Cozys are extrememly infomative and great way to learn new things such as the uses of washi tape, a crafting tape found at Wanted. This Stationary Shop Mystery involves 3D card making, a socialite birthday party, and murder. Once again stationary store co-owner Delta is asked by former police officer Jonas Nord to get to the bottom of a mystery. Hazel, Delta's friend and business partner has her back and the Paper Posse (Tundra's very active adult ladies) are buring up the cell lines hunting down clues to help. This story was full of action from the get go with plenty of suspects to go around. Is it the over wrought model/wife, the wealthy interior decorator/husband, the young and coquetish dog walker, the local designers who were pushed aside, a golden boy nephew, the mysterious workerman, or the ghost of tragedies past. No need to have read the first book to be able to follow along. Definetly a page turner with a suprise ending, a surprise in so many ways and a little bit of a cliff hanger, but isn't that what makes a cozy so good in addition to the well developed characters and the smidge of potential romance for maybe both of the Wanted gals?
By Maya Corrigan
Published by Kensington
Release date: September 29, 2020, available on Kindle and paperback
I had no idea that there was such a thing as a gingerdead man cookie. I also have never tried Grasmere gingerbread before now, I would say that it is more like a shortbread than a gingerbread, but very tasty especially with a cup of tea. I have read a Five-Ingrediant Mystery before, but you don't need to know the characters to be able to enjoy the story. Set with a Christmas backdrop and a bit of A Chrismtas Carol feel, the Ghost of Christmas 'presents' visits Santa at the volunteers' tea and let's just say that Santa should have left the cookie alone. In this case, Santa was very naughty and the ghosts from his past are catching up with him. At the same time, Val Deniston, personal chef and the Cool Down cafe manager is teamed up with her Granddad the guy behind the Codger Cook newspaper column and part time private eye will have a Dickens of a time solving this one. With more than one death in this holiday tale and Val is caught up in the middle of both. This story offers red herrings and and easy to make recipes for cookies and a casserole, each only takes five ingredients. A quick easy and highly enjoyable read.
Mistletoe, Moussaka, and Murder (A Kabob Kitchen Mystery)
By Tina Kashian
Published by Kensington
Release date: September 29, 2020, available on Kindle and paperback
It is the Christmas season on the Jersey Shore. There is a nip in the air and the sea when takes a dip in the Polar Bear Plunge and finds herself involved in yet another murder mystery. Lucy doesn't really have time to be involved but once again the number one suspect, baker and fellow business owner Susan Cutie, has pleaded with Lucy to help clear here name. This series has developed quite nicely, especially the relationship between Lucy and her fiancé, Azad. I really enjoy reading about a couple who are supportive of each other and even go as far as to sleuth together. While Lucy and Katie are running around town looking for clues and wedding venues, the evidence is mounting against Susan. On the plus side, Lucy does learn how to make moussaka, and you can too thanks to the recipe at the end of the story. I would suggest you make or pick up some hummus (recipe found in Hummus and Homicide) and sit back with this Christmas cozy sure to entertain while also enthralling. The solution is not an easy one to figure out but it certainly does explain things. Looking forward to the next book and Lucy's upcoming nuptials.
By Misty Simon
Published by Kensington Books
Release date: September 29, 2020, available on Kindle and paperback
This story puts a new spin on the word "family." It's Christmas time and the Bingo game is hot or at least fast paced and slight scary when you play with Tallie's family. This time the game turns deadly when cleaning queen Tallie finds her Aunt Roda dead right outside of the Bingo hall. To make this mystery even stranger, her Uncle Hoagy, Roda's husband goes missing and a look alike is found at his hardware store, dead. With the exception of Tallie's boyfriend, Max it seems that everyone is relatd to everyone else in . That is until Tallie starts asking just how are they related to Hoagie and his family. In addition to that mystery, Uncle Sherman head of the fire department wants no needs Tallie to try and figure out who the fire bug might be that is creating havoc around town. Mysterious fires that do just enough damage but not complete destruction. Lots of secrets and Tallie just cannot leave well enough alone and it seems that she has garned some respect from Police Chief Burton who wants her thinking skills but not her getting into trouble as a result of what she thinks" skills to help him discover the murderer, locate Hoagie, and relocate the look alike corpse. Good think Tallie is a well developed character who can multitask with just enough snark to added in to get the job done, and done right. She might not want to be in the family mortuary business but she sure does know how to clean up a murder mystery.
By Denise Swanson
Published by Poisoned Pen Press
Release Date: September 29, 2020, available on Kindle and paperback
The personal chef trifecta and an absolute dream job in my opinion, is what Dani Sloan does for a living. Cozy mysteries have the best main characters, so very real and down to earth, completely relateable and is no different. So what is worse than taking a much needed catering job for a bridezilla? When the bridezilla is your boyfriend's exwife and the murder victim. This series is told in a He said/She said format which means you get know what our culinary clue-finder is thinking as well as her campus cop love interest. I really enjoy the way the chapters go back and forth to give a bigger picture and such great character developement. Dani knows that Drake is going to be top of the suspect list, especially since he was at the dinner when the storm hit and Yvette aka Bridezilla was hit. Dani knows that there is no way her guy could have done it, after all, he was well rid of the god-digging diva and couldn't be happier with his personal chef, accept that he would really like more alone time with her, but their jobs keep them both so busy. So in addition to getting up before the crack of dawn to make lunch-to-go bags to sell to the college kids, landing the catering job that is going to help her with home maintenance, personal chef gigs for the well to do, playing Dear Abby to the three girls who live with her, work for her, and treat her like a big sister, Dani will also need to add a dash of sleuthing that might just help more than one person have a happy ever after.
By Allison Brook
Published by Kensignton Books
Release Date: September 8, 2020, available on Kindle, Audible, audio CD, and Hardcover
Turns out you don't have to be a Hollywood star to act like a diva, just being married to an actor can have the same effect. Carrie, mild mannered librarian, daughter of a reformed con man, girlfriend to an investigator (priate sector), friend of the library ghost and former librarian Evelyn Havers and local sleuth, if caught up not only in some Hollywood style film drama but also with a mysterious woman who claims to be a psychic who is later murdered. Sort of draws you right in doesn't it? Well it gets even better as Carrie tries to calm her mother's nerves when her (younger than Mom) Stepdad is cast to star opposite of his former vixen-like fiancee who left him high and dry years ago has decided to flirt like there's no tomorrow. Carrie hates turmoil and wants to help everyone around her, including Daphne, the girl who claimed to be psychic. The two had hit if off and Carrie just knows that they would have been the best of friends if they had been given the chance. I really enjoy the way Carrie looks on the bright side and has a knack for hunting down knowledge, must be those librarian research super powers that make her such a natural sleuth. It seems that there are two and maybe even three mysteries to solve in this story and Carrie is ready and able with her guy and her friends ready to back her up. Excellant number of twists and turns that create a nice and tidy ending bringing it all together.
By Laura Gail Black
Published by Crooked Lane Books
Release Date: September 8, 2020, available on Kindle, Audible, audio CD, and Hardback
A troubled past, a bright future, a broken heart, a heart flutter, old family, new friends all sum up Jenna Quinn. Wrongly accussed of a crime she didn't commit, Jenna just needs a fresh start in a new place and her Uncle, whom she hasn't seen in years contacts her to offer the very sanctuary she seeks. Right away this story grabs a hold of your emotions, as Jenna's life goes from bad to really bad when she finds her Uncle, dead at the bottom of the stairs and learns that she is the sole heir to his shop, his home, and his various book investments. Needless to say, she is suspect number ONE and the lead detective refuses to see it any other way, his partner on the other hand, well he is not only easy on the eyes but also open minded. Jenna makes new friends as she takes on the task of starting her life over while trying to find out why her Uncle's life is over. This is a great start for a new series with an nice amount of interesting characters who may or may not be the guilty party. I do believe there was even a little foreshadowing and maybe even some name clearing for Jenna further down the road.
By Maggie Blackburn
Published by Crooked Lane
Release Date: September 8, 2020, available on Kindle, Audiobook, audio CD, and Hardcover
A beach read about a book store that specializes in beach reads, I LOVE it! This story does an excellent job of taking an uptight literary professor and turning her into a more carefree individual. The death of Summer's Mom brings her back to the home she left behind for what she thought, would be academic greatness only to suffer from an embarrassing episode of arachnophobia while teaching a class which leads to a viral video and a leave of absence. Summer returns to the busom of family with a goal of getting in and getting out, after all why would she want anything to do with her mother Hildy's romance littered bookstore. Me thinks she doth protest too much until Summer learns that while Hildy was trying "to be" someone else decided that she was "not to be." With the help of her super supportive aunt, cousin, and Hildy's book club ladies, Summer is sure that she can get to the bottom of this because they will listen to many and speak to few. Though she be but little, she is fierce! Excellent plot building and an ending that is going to make you say "huh" and wish that the next book was already out. Sit back and enjoy this great beach read with a cup of Constant Comment or better yet, take it to the beach and read.
By Ellen Byron
Published by Kensington Books
Release Date: September 8, 2020, available on Kindle and Hardcover
A dip in bookings and a climb in rougarou sightings lead to murder and mayhem in this latest Cajun Country Mystery. It is Halloween time at the Crozat B&B and Maggie is not a fan of the October holiday. The one thing she had been looking forward to was meeting a new Canadian cousin and her family who found them through an ancestry search. As luck would have it, the cousin is a massage therapist and Crozat B&B just opened a new spa to increase bookings. In addition to the spa they are also taking part in Pelican's Spooky Past with four other B&Bs to combat a local real estate investor and creator of an app called Rent My Digs. Each location was offering an event that capitalized on the Halloween traditions of the region and the Crozats were offering an immortelles craft and Creole and Cajun meal to give one the experience of an authentic condolence call at the Crozat Plantation. Guest will also have the opportunity to watch a play taking place in a boneyard/cemetery. Sounds like fun right? Except that there is a rougarou making an appearance and scaring all of the guests. It is sure to be the death of the Spooky Past tour or at least the death of someone. Don't worry if you get a little lost with the characters because every Cajun Country Mystery comes with a listing at the front of the book of the cast of characters and there are some incredible recipes at the back of the book straight from the story. I heartily recommend the very hearty Trinity Chicken Soup, so named because it uses the Holy Trinity of Cajun cooking, onions, green pepper, and celery. Perfect for cold October nights or just because you need to feel some comfort while you read your Cozy.
By Debra Sennefelder
Published by Kensington Books
Release Date: September 8, 2020, available on Kindle
My first fashionista Kelly Quinn cozy and I know that it will not be my last! Even the name Kelly Quinn sounds fashion forward. I did feel a little like I had jumped into the middle of the story but since it was more of a novella it made me hungry for the next book, which is due out in December. This one takes place around Halloween, perfect opportunity for a fashionista with a resale business to make a killing. Or in Kelly's case, she finds a murder victim. The very same one who would have been giving her a windfall for finding a lost dog. So instead of getting ready for renovation to the Lucky Cove Resale Boutique with the reward money, Kelly is getting ready to track down a killer by following the clues. Once I got into the story I was hooked and wanted it to go further and to "meet" more characters. One last thing to remember, high heeled stiletto style boots are an example of What Not to Wear to a Graveyard.
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