Cozy Review: Smoking Bun

 

* Books 18 in the Bakeshop Mystery series *

Ramiro's family is visiting Jules and company after the holidays. They are busy planning all sorts of outings. But one of those outings ends in murder. 

And one of the main suspect's is Andy's friend. He asks Jules for her help in solving the murder. She can't turn him down. 

My Thoughts: Although I love a good Christmas book, I enjoyed the fact that this book took place after Christmas and included New Year. I love this series - for the mouth-watering food and the characters. I enjoyed reading more about Ramiro's family - especially the moments between his mom and Jules. I liked the winter traditions in Ashland. It would be a fun place to spend a week! It's always fun to visit Torte and I can't wait to read what's coming next for Jules and her family. 

* Now I'm finally caught up and ready for the next book which comes out in August! 

Review: The Diva Goes Overboard

* Book 17 in the Domestic Diva series * 

Sophie's frenemies mother is getting remarried. At the engagement party, the would-be groom collapses and dies. Right before he died, Orson asked to talk with Sophie about something important. Sophie was going to meet him to speak in private.

At the reading of the will, Sophie was given Orson's antique store and instructions that she will know what to do. Before long, Sophie discovers a secret room. There's a bulletin board with pictures of women on it. Sophie isn't sure what to do with the board, but she digs into the case.

She hears rumors about Orson's past. Rumors that could explain about the board of pictures. What could have happened between Orson and the past? Can Sophie solve the murder and the mystery of why Orson left her the store?

My Thoughts: This series is one of my favorite cozy series. Clearly, I've been reading it a long time and I'm happy to keep reading them. I love catching up with the characters. I love all the foodie moments. The mystery was interesting with the added mystery of the photo board. I love the idea of a secret book - especially behind a bookcase. Looking forward to the next installment of this series! 

Cover Thoughts: Charming

Source: ARC sent for review

Library Recommendations: A fantastic series for your cozy readers - give this one to your Halmark Mystery fans. 

This book talks a lot about Charcuterie boards, so I created one. 

Although I really love the idea of a cookie board. 

We are creating a candy board at the library this summer. 

5 Things: Proof of the Pudding

 

Book 17 in the Royal Spyness series!

This is a favorite cozy series of mine. Here are 5 things I loved about this book! 

Review: Donut Disturb

 

* Book 15 in the Bakeshop Mystery series *

Kerry and Thomas are getting married and the whole town is invited. But Kerry's father shows up unexpectedly and Kerry knows nothing will go smoothly. Unfortunately, she's right. One of the band members is murdered the morning of her wedding and her father's arrested.

The town pulls together to make it a magical day for the happy couple. Kerry and Thomas leave for their honeymoon after Kerry asks Juliet to help solve the murder. Juliet's determined to figure everything out before the couple returns. 

My Thoughts: I really enjoyed learning more about Kerry - she hasn't been an open character. I as happy for her and Thomas for their big date, even though there was a dark cloud hanging overhead. I loved the conversation between Juliet and Carlos and what that might mean for future books. I was a little behind on this series, but I'm almost caught up. This is one of my favorite cozy series - for the characters, the small town, and the mouth-watering food. 

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: A series that should be in your public library! 

Review: Bake, Borrow, and Steal

 

* Book 14 in the Bakeshop Mystery series *

Torte Bakeshop has been selected as the bakery for the biggest Shakespeare happening - an exhibit of the unveiling of a long lost manuscript. It's the first time the pages will be on American soil. Jules and her team have been working around the clock to create a massive chocolate centerpiece and an authentic meal fit for the Bard himself.

On the day of the gala, a rumor races through the event. The manuscript has been stolen before anyone's been allowed to see it. The public is kept at bay, but that doesn't stop someone from murdering the security guard...

My Thoughts: Another page turner in the series - I read this one on the plane. It's nice to go back and spend time with favorite characters. It would be lovely to visit Torte! My mouth waters at the baked good available in the store. Although, I'm not a huge Shakespeare fan, I did enjoy the different ideas surrounding the author's identity in this book. 

Cover Thoughts: Love it

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Hopefully, you already have this cozy series in your library....

Review: The Diva Delivers on a Promise

 

* Book 16 in the Diva series * 

Sophie and Nina are headed to a luncheon meeting at Gerrie's house. Lunch is cut short when a dead body is discovered on the floor of the dining room. No one knows the victim, or so they say. Sophie and Nina dig into the mystery only to discover that several people in the room didn't speak up. 

There was bad blood between him and Gerrie's family. All of the family members were in and out of the house that morning. Any one of them could have murdered the man. Gerrie's worried that one of them did. She asks Sophie for a little favor...

My Thoughts: Another fun addition to this series. The idea of a ghost restaurant seems both strange and smart to me. As always, it's lovely to catch up with favorite characters and to read about the mouth-watering goodies they all eat. I enjoyed the plot twists and turns as Sophie and her friends tried to undercover the murderer's identity. I enjoyed getting to know more about Wong and my heart went out to her. Another fun read that kept me turning the pages. 

Cover Thoughts: Charming

Source: ARC sent for review

Library Recommendation: This is a perfect series for your library' cozy collection. 

Release Date: May 23rd (Next week!)

Review: Brewed Awakenings

 

* Book 18 in the Coffeehouse Mystery series *

Clare wakes up on a bench in Washington Park with no memory of the last several years. She believes her divorce is recent and that her daughter is still young. It's a shock to her to discover the truth - she's lost her memories.

To make matters worse, the police want to question her for the disappearance of a woman. Clare might have been with the woman when she vanished. The authorities are convinced she knows something, but Clare doesn't understand. She doesn't remember her past investigations. 

Clare needs to figure something out and fast - before the authorities or someone worse captures her.

My Thoughts: I really enjoy this series - and I'm not a coffee drinker. But I do love the atmosphere of the coffee shop and the characters. This one was a great addition to the series - I enjoyed watching Clare struggle through her memories and reexamine her life. I had come around to Matt and this book soured me on him a little again. Looking forward to the next book in this mouth-watering series.

Cover Thoughts: Cute

Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: This is a great cozy for your public library's collection.

Bookstagram:

Just a little thought about what the coffeeshop might look like....

Book Lists: Cozies

 

On Tuesday, I started thinking about how this blog has evolved over the years. It was mostly a YA blog and then I added in cozy mystery reviews. I read so many of them for year until the market was super saturated with them and collapsed. I'm happy they are making a big comeback now and I need to read more of them.

Anyways, that's all to say, let's talk about cozies.

I've talked about foodie cozies before - and they are my favorite.

But here are some cozy series I used to read:

Abby Cooper Psychic Eye by Victoria Laurie

Mum's the Word by Kate Collings

The Trouble with Magic by Madelyn Alt

Death by Inferior Design by Leslie Caine

Deadly Greetings by Elizabeth Bright

Scent to the Grave by India Ink

Killer Mousse by Melinda Wells

Stamped Out by Terri Thayer 

Just Desserts by G.A. McKevett

Truly, Madly by Heather Webber 

On Your Radar: The Diva Spices it Up (41)

Title: The Diva Spices it Up

Author: Krista Davis

Publisher: Kensington

Release Date: April 28, 2020

Why It Should Be On Your Radar

* Fall Book

* Pumpkin and Apple Foods

* Mouth watering food shared

* Recipes

* Book Characters are like Old Friends

*Ghostwriting a Cookbook

* Mars is in trouble

* Fantastic Series

* Importance of Friendship

* Importance of Families

* Spies 

* Dead drops

* Good Neighbors

Another great addition to this charming series.

I love the cover!

** ARC sent for review

Blog Tour: Four Funerals and Maybe a Wedding

About the Book:

The date is set and arrangements are being made for royal amateur sleuth Georgie Rannoch’s wedding! At last, she will wed the incredibly charming, always mystifying Darcy O’Mara. With a dress in the works and a royal wedding party ready to waltz her down the aisle, Georgie’s next affair is finding a place to live with her betrothed after the big day.

But alas—house-hunting is harder than it seems! After visiting a series of less-than-glamorous lodgings, Georgie’s luck finally turns around when she’s invited by a close family friend to live in his grand estate in the English countryside. Georgie expects a life of luxury and elegance, but is met with a very different reality…

At Eynsleigh Manor, Georgie finds a gaggle of incompetent servants and a run-down estate. And when she wakes up in the middle of the night to find a gas tap running in her bedroom, Georgie suspects something rotten is afoot…will she have the chance to walk down the aisle, or will death get in the way of her happy ever after?

About the Author: 

Rhys Bowen is the New York Times Bestselling Author of the Royal Spyness Series, Molly Murphy Mysteries, and Constable Evans. She has won the Agatha Best Novel Award and has been nominated for the Edgar Best Novel. Rhys’s titles have received rave reviews around the globe.

My Review: This is book number 12 in the series and I've enjoyed reading them all. I loved this one for the wedding talk, especially the conversations about the dresses - and the princesses. I loved the moments between Lady Georgiana and her grandfather, he's a favorite character of mine. I also love Queenie; she's come into her own later in the series and I appreciate her.  I enjoyed learning more about Eynsleigh Manor - both the good and the bad. Of course I enjoyed the moments with the Queen and Fig. I can't wait to read what happens next!

If you haven't read these book, you're in for a treat.

Review: Death in the Stacks

* Book 8 in the Library Lovers series *

Lindsey and her staff are getting ready for their annual fundraiser - a night of dinner and dancing in the library. It's supposed to be a magical night - and it would be in her board president wasn't trying to insult everyone.

Olive Boyle just took over as the library board president. She has a talent for making everyone's life miserable. She's threated the library, Lindsey's job, and spoke ill of Paula. After the dinner, her body's discovered in the stacks with Paula leaning over it.

Lindsey knows that Paula didn't kill Olive, even if she does have a secret past. While Lindsey vowed not to investigate, she's reluctantly pulled back in; she must figure out who murdered Olive before things for the library turn really bad.

My Thoughts: I love this series and I loved this book even more because of the crossover with characters from other books series by the same author. It was charming to see everyone in the small Connecticut town. I loved seeing old friends. I really enjoyed the mystery here - with Olive's terrible personality there were many suspects. The personal lives of the sleuths are also great - I love seeing where Lindsey lands. I also really like Emma and Robbie together. Another fantastic chapter in the series! Can't wait for the next book.

Cover Thoughts: Charming, as usual
Source: My library
Library Recommendation: This cozy series about libraries is a must have for public libraries.

Cozy Review: Caramel Crush

*  Book 9 in the Cupcake Bakery series *

An old friend from Mel's college days appears asking for a debt to be settled - she wants cupcakes baked for her soon to be ex fiance. She wants to be on the phone with Mel when they are delivered. Except when Mel finally tracks him down, he's been murdered.

Of course, Diane is the number one suspect. She begs Mel to figure out the murderer and then they will be square. Mel isn't thrilled with the plan, but she goes along with her old friend.

What she uncovers makes her remember why they're no longer friends - she doesn't belong in that world. 

My Thoughts: I adore this series; I enjoyed this addition to the series. I loved Angie as bridezilla. I loved her and Mel's interactions will all the wedding talk. I loved more of Mel and Joe. I'm so looking forward to the next book, all about weddings, in this series. Another scrumptious read from Jenn McKinlay. 

Cover Thoughts: Yummy! Is is wrong that I want to gobble those up?
Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: Serve these up at your library, your patrons will thank you

Cozy Review: Assault and Beret

 * Book 5 in the Hat Shop Mystery series *

While Vivian teaches a hat making workshop in Paris, Scarlett noses around trying to find her cousins husband. Vivian plans on having her marriage annulled, Scarlett is only too happy to help locate William. When she finds him, she hears his side of the story. Struck by the romance of it all, Scarlett convinces her cousin to have dinner with him.

After the three of them eat, William insists on showing them something work related that Vivian will appreciate. Outside his office, he's kidnapped. Vivian's beside herself. Scarlett vows to uncover the truth about William's kidnapping and the stolen painting. 

My Thoughts: I adore this series. I loved the setting. I enjoyed learning more about Vivian and William. I'm glad that Scarlett's friends came by to help, especially Harrison. I loved the romance of this one, especially when Scarlett was able to confront her past. I liked the mystery surrounding this book, especially the art aspect. I'm sad this is the last one of the series, I would have read Many More of these. 

Cover Thoughts: Adorable and perfect
Source: My Library

Library Recommendation: This series is perfect for cozy sections of your library - highly recommended!