Diane Kelly: Dead Post Society

House Flipper #7

In Diane Kelly’s seventh House flipper Mystery, Dead Post Society, main character Whitney Flynn, a carpenter in Nashville Tennessee, works with her father and cousin Buck. She and her cousin  also flip houses, and she solves mysteries in her spare time. Her husband and homicide detective Collin isn’t always pleased to have her poking around in murder cases. His love for her motivates him to want her to stay out of it and be safe, the detective in him welcomes her insight and whatever clues she happens to supply. Currently, Whitney and Buck haven’t been flipping houses for a few months because his wife is about to give birth to their first child. The family is beyond excited, and once the little bundle of joy arrives, it doesn’t take Whitney long to come across a fresh project for them. read more

Korina Moss: Bait and Swiss

Cheese Shop #6

Gouda news readers, the sixth book in Korina Moss’ Cheese Shop Mystery series is here. In Bait and Swiss, Willa Bauer is celebrating the second year of her shop, Curds and Whey, being open and successful in Yarrow Glen. Her employees and friends, Mrs. Schultz and Archie, are now also joined by a fellow cheese enthusiast, June. Willa is rightfully proud of her shop’s success and is going all out for its birthday celebration, complete with cheese from around the world themes on rotation throughout the day and costumes to match. There is more cause to celebrate around town when Hope is ready to reveal and open her new cakery shop. Ever ready to support her community and friends, Willa and team are excited to attend the grand opening event, until she sees who Hope’s new partners are. read more

Allie Pleiter: One Sharp Stitch

Nimble Needle #1

One Sharp Stitch is the first of the Nimble Needle Mysteries by Allie Pleiter. Readers are taken to Gwen Lake, outside of Asheville, North Carolina, with Shelby Phillips. Having just lost her job as well as a possible relationship, Shelby is headed home for a break from her life and to help her mother out at her needlepoint shop, the Nimble Needle. Her parents are finally taking a vacation in their RV. Shelby will only be minding the shop for a month, as she keeps reminding her parents and her perfectionist sister, Jessica. There’s also a trunk show coming up for local vendors, and Shelby will have to work with an old classmate, Kat Katsaros, who now makes needlework scissors — very artsy and expensive needlework scissors. Kat also sharpens blades of all kinds in a van that she happily uses to transport her scissors and crafts. read more

Lauren Elliott: A Spirited Blend

Crystals & CuriosiTEAS #3

In Lauren Elliott’s third Crystals & CuriosiTEAS mystery, A Spirited Blend, Shayleigh Myers is making the most of her life in Bray Harbor, California as a tea shop owner and local seer. After having her life completely destroyed, and everything taken from her, Shayleigh is slow to trust and cautious of new ventures. Despite that, Bray Harbor has quickly begun to feel like home thanks to the lovely locals, a large white German Shepard named Spirit, and her sister Jen and her family. Not only is she learning how to run her tea shop, she’s also having to learn how work with and use her ancestors powerful magic, known as Early Magic. For the longest time, she fought against the validity of her visions and the magic local Gran Madigan talked about. However, there’s only so much proof denial can stand against, and now Shayleigh is embracing the magic and learning to respect the dangers that come with it. read more

V.M. Burns: The Next Deadly Chapter

Mystery Bookshop #10

In V. M Burns’ mystery bookshop series, Samantha Washington, who prefers to go by Sam, owns a bookstore in Michigan and is a recent publisher of her own cozy mystery. Thanks to the support from her grandmother, Nana Jo, and her friends from the Shady Acres Retirement Village. Sam has not only written about murder, but has solved a few as well, including one where the ever ornery and confrontational Sheriff Brad Pitt, or Stinky Pitt as they prefer to call him, ended up in her debt, much to his horror and embarrassment. Sam has also recently become engaged to her friend and former investigator Frank Patterson. It really does seem that Sam’s life is looking up, even with the murders she keeps helping to solve. read more

Ellie Alexander: Killing Me Soufflé

Bakeshop #20

Killing Me Soufflé is the 20th addition to Ellie Alexander’s Bakeshop mysteries. Juliet, baker and owner of Tort bakery, is facing a lot of new changes in her life – being pregnant with twins, adjusting to decaf coffee, losing two of her valued employees and friends, Sterling and Stephanie, and hiring their replacements. While she regrets the loss of her friends in the shop, she knows that it is important for their own futures for them to take advantage of this new opportunity. Becoming head of the SeaBreeze Bistro at Whaleshead Resort could be Sterling and Stephanie’s big chance to make a name for themselves in the culinary world. However, what seemed like a fantastic opportunity with nothing but potential quickly turns into a nightmare. read more

Carlene O’Connor: Murder in an Irish Garden

Irish Village #11

In Carlene O’Connor’s latest Irish Village mystery, garda heroine Siobhan O’Sullivan is studying for her detective sergeant exam, which is causing her quite a bit of stress. She is looking forward to relaxing with the local gardening competition, as well as the opening of her brother’s restaurant. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that gardeners take their craft very seriously, especially those who feel confident enough in their skills to compete on the quality of their work. Kilbane County Cork, Ireland, has plenty of talented amateur gardeners keen to show off their skills and win. However, this year a former Kilbane resident and professional landscape designer Cassidy Ryan is returning home to try and claim the prize for herself. She’s also been hired by Siobhan’s brother, Eoin, to help spruce things up for the grand opening. read more

Emily George: A Cold Dose of Murder

Cannabis Café #3

Just a disclaimer for this review: this book is a part of the Cannabis Café mystery series by Emily George, and legalized cannabis and its uses are major theme in A Cold Dose of Murder. If you find that topic off-putting, please stop reading. Right now. Medical use is the primary motivation, but responsible recreational use is also portrayed. As the book cover, and many characters, emphasize: consume responsibly. This goes for reading about it, too. If you know legalized cannabis isn’t something you are comfortable with, do not read this review or the book. Not every book is for everyone. For those who do not mind or perhaps even enjoy seeing legalized cannabis normalized and represented, this is indeed a review and book for you. read more

Jean-Luc Bannalec: An Island of Suspects

Brittany Mystery #10

An Island of Suspects is Jean-Luc Bannalec’s tenth book in his Brittany mystery series. The main character is Commissaire George Dupin, who works along with his team of investigators to solve various mysteries throughout Breton. An Island of Suspects focuses on the island of Belle-Île, and the murder of a wealthy and well known sheep farmer Patric Provost. Mr. Provost was actively being blackmailed and the deadline for payment came just before the discovery of his body. Almost as soon as they start investigating it’s clear that the victim was not at all liked in his community. Even his own employees seem to outright hate him. Mr. Dupin is soon faced with the realization that he has an entire island of suspects. read more

Jenny Elder Moke: She Doesn’t Have a Clue

Series debut

She Doesn’t Have A Clue by Jenny Elder Moke is a mystery romance combo. Just a quick disclaimer: it has a bit more sexual content than what one might expect from a cozy. It was the description of the book that made me take a chance on this particular novel. Then I was hooked when the protagonist, Kate Valentine, recounts an incident in her past of hiding in some shrubbery to eat a massive piece of cake in peace without regret or shame – truly something an inspiration to introverted sugar addicts. Kate is a quirky introvert, who is also a bestselling mystery author. Her own main character is Loretta Starling, and Kate comes up with scenes using her own every day experiences and to figure out how to deal with situations using Loretta’s perspective instead of her own. read more