Book Review: Death by Espresso by Alex Erickson

Krissy is meeting Vicki’s parents at the Pine Hills, Ohio, airport—it’s the least she can do as maid of honor, even if her relationship with Mr. and Mrs. Patterson is a bit strained. Besides, her own dad is coming in on the same flight. But there are a few additional arrivals, too. Her father’s brought a date—and the Pattersons, both actors, seem to have an entire entourage trailing behind them.

Uninvited guests are a headache—especially when one turns out to be, allegedly at least, the most important wedding planner in all the world. Though Vicki and Krissy have already made arrangements for a small, simple party, Vicki’s snobby drama queen mother has her own ideas. Cathy the wedding planner is raring to go, possibly energized by the chocolate-covered espresso beans she compulsively munches. But while the caffeine keeps her awake, it doesn’t keep her alive—and after Cathy chokes on an espresso bean after being hit in the head, Krissy has to find out who ended her supposedly stellar career . . .[summary via Amazon]

THEME: Bookstore "Death by Coffee"

CRIME:  Vicki and Mason are getting married, and everyone is invited! Her parents take this literally when they invite a wedding planner to "spruce" up Vicki's wedding. However, before the big day the wedding planner, Cathy Carr, is found dead. 

DENOUEMENT: Wow! I didn't guess the murderer at all! I wasn't even close. There are a lot of out-of-town guests visiting Pine Hills, and it really thew me off trying to guess!! I loved the atmosphere of gathering all the suspects for the final denouement. Very Agatha Christie!

FURRY SIDEKICK: Trouble and Misfit are so adorable, and so much trouble!! Krissy's dad's in town, with his new girlfriend, Laura, and I love how Trouble takes a shine to Laura!!

ROMANCE: Are Krissy and Will on the outs? I sure hope so! Of course I'm #TeamPaul and I can't wait to see what happens in the next book.

MY VERDICT: Love! I'm thoroughly addicted to this series and I can't wait for more adventures at Death by Coffee. 

Book Review: Plot Boiler by Ali Brandon

It’s almost Fourth of July, and to boost customer traffic in their Brooklyn neighborhood, bookseller Darla Pettistone decides to throw a block party. All the local shop owners are thrilled—except the proprietor of Perky’s Coffee Shop, who thinks Darla is trying to poach his customers by selling her own caffeinated brew in her new bookshop café.

But when Hamlet comes upon the owner’s not-so-perky wife, it’s clear a killer has crashed the party. And when a second local business owner shuffles off this mortal coil—as Hamlet’s namesake would say—Darla and her curious cat must perform some fancy footwork to shine a spotlight on a secret worth killing for…[summary via Amazon]

Since the very first Black Cat Bookshop Mystery, I have been smitten with Hamlet, the black cat in this series. He is feisty, fun and he has a host of humans at his beck and call. Those humans sometimes get up to adventures too!!

In their fifth adventure, Darla, and the shops in her neighbourhood, are organizing a block party. They're hoping to bring new shoppers to the neighbourhood, and celebrate the 4th of July at the same time. The day looks to be a perfect day, that is until Hamlet discovers the dead body of one of the owners of the local coffee shop. Who would kill the quiet wife of the boisterous Coffee King? It's up to Darla and Hamlet to put their nose to the crime and find the clues!!

I love this series! Books within books? Check! Adorable cat? Check! Memorable characters? Check! A great whodunnit? Check! It honestly has it all, and I'll be very sad when I read the last book the series. Thankfully Plot Boiler isn't the last book!!

The mystery itself was really interesting. I didn't guess who the killer was before Darla, even though looking back the author did lay a few clues down. The killer's identity totally blew me away. I read 50+ mysteries a year, and so this is hard to do! I definitely was surprised, which made me enjoy the mystery even more!!

I'm very much a character-driven reader and I love the characters in this series. They've grown and changed since the first book. Barista Robert, with his "goth dude" love for Hamlet is so adorable!! And, our amateur sleuth, Darla? She has settled into her life, as a bookstore owner, and life with "Hammy", and I like that she is her own woman. Maybe if the right man came along, but being in a relationship isn't central for her. I like that the author hasn't tried to fit her into common tropes in other series, like making a romance between the sleuth and detective. It's very refreshing.

I simply adore this series so much!!! Plot Boiler was another great addition and I can't wait to read the next book in the series.

Book Review: Murder, She Barked by Krista Davis

The Sugar Maple Inn in Wagtail, Virginia, is the country's premiere vacation hot spot for pet owners who can’t bear to leave their furry friends behind. But this tourist town smells trouble when a killer goes on the prowl...

Holly Miller's life has gone to the dogs. She has no job, her boyfriend's former flame is sniffing around, and a scruffy but loveable Jack Russell Terrier is scattering crumbs all over her borrowed car. Just when she thought things couldn't get worse, a troubling phone call about her grandmother sends her rushing home to the family inn on Wagtail Mountain.

The staff—and a frisky Calico kitten named Twinkletoes—adopts Holly and her new dog on arrival. But someone in this friendly town is bad to the bone. One of the employees at the inn has been killed in a hit-and-run accident—which is looking anything but accidental. Now Holly and her furry companions will have to nose out the murderer before someone else gets muzzled.[summary via Amazon]

A fellow reader described Murder, She Barked as Gilmore Girls meets Murder She Wrote and oh boy! they were right!!! This is the perfect description to describe the first book in the Paws & Claws Mysteries.

Holly Miller is returning to Wagtail, Virginia, to check in on her aging grandmother, Oma. What she doesn't expect is to find herself in the middle of a murder investigation!! With the death of an employee of her Oma's Sugar Maple Inn, and another murder around the corner, Holly (with the help of her new furry friends) must put her nose to the clues and solve the crime.

I've read one other Krista Davis book, The Diva Runs Out of Thyme, which I quite enjoyed. I'm not as big a fan of culinary cozies, so I didn't continue with that series. However, this series is right up my alley! I absolutely love the Sugar Maple Inn and Wagtail! An entire town that is build around the concept of bringing your pets on holidays? Sign me up! I wish this was a real town you can visit because the way Krista Davis describes it, makes me want to visit right now!

I like Holly Miller. She has a boyfriend, Ben, who (in my opinion) is a bit of a boring dud and she initially is just visiting her Oma. Of course the reader is hoping she settles in Wagtail, because we need more mysteries in this delightful town!

The mystery itself was very intriguing. I didn't solve the mystery before Holly, even though looking back the author did leave a few clues for the reader to pick up on! I find it interesting that Murder, She Barked involved a dead Mayor, and so did my last book, Tide & Punishment. Clearly it is not safe to be a Mayor of a small town!

I loved Murder, She Barked so much!!! It delighted with small town charm, a fabulous whodunnit and a unique concept. I absolutely can't wait to read the next book in the series, The Ghost & Mrs Mewer. 

Book Review: Tide & Punishment by Bree Baker

It's Christmastime in Charm, North Carolina, and while Everly Swan would prefer to focus on decorating her iced tea shop and café for its first holiday season, Great-Aunt Fran has decided to run for mayor against her long-time nemesis. But when the other candidate turns up dead just before the first scheduled debate, all eyes turn to Fran as the suspect with the most obvious motive.

As a rare blizzard threatens to bury all evidence, small-town holiday cheer turns to suspicion. and the tension between Everly and the handsome Detective Grady Hays builds. Everly knows her sweet, elderly Aunt Fran couldn't have murdered anyone, but as she struggles to find the real killer, it begins to seem like this may be the last happy holiday her family will ever have. Can she tie this Christmas mystery up in a bow before it's too late? This next book in Bree Baker's cozy mysteries will keep you guessing right up to the end![summary via Amazon]

I'm so hooked on the Seaside Cafe Mysteries that I accidentally bought book 4, A Call for Kelp, and I had to wait for my local bookstore to order in the third book, Tide and Punishment. Well guess what? It was completely worth the wait!!

It's Christmas in Charm and the little seaside village is covered in snow! Snow being something of a novelty has caused all the mishaps that snow will cause. However, what Everly Swan is not expecting is to be in the middle of another murder investigation. This is what happens when the Mayor is found dead outside her cafe, and the police have her Aunt Fran fingered for the crime. Everly must solve the murder and save Christmas!!

Love, love, love, love!!! I know readers must be sick of me saying this about every series I read. The truth is I'm lucky to pick up tremendously readable books, and I love shouting from the rooftop how much I love them! 

I love every visit to Charm, and its almost becoming a virtual holiday destination. I can't wait to see what Everly's aunts are up to when I visit Blessed Bee. What Amelia has going on at the cozy, cute bookstore, and of course what Everly is serving at her cafe! It really is like visiting old friends. That is, if old friends got themselves in the middle of a murder investigation.

I enjoyed the mystery element. I did manage to guess the killer's identity early on, but it didn't take away from my enjoyment of the story. Bree Baker delivers such a great story, that if you manage to guess the murderer, you still want to read on and see how it all unravels.

Tide and Punishment was a home-run for me! It had all the elements I love... mystery, a little romance, and that cozy feeling of being in a small town where [almost] everyone cares about each other. It wrapped me up in that cozy feeling of Christmas hope, and I'm so glad I picked it up as a "Christmas in July" read.