Tea, Tiramisu and Tough Guys (Cape Bay Cafe #2) by Harper Lin

When Francesca’s old high school crush, Todd, is accused of murder, she is convinced he is innocent. The police don’t believe Todd’s story, and neither does Matty.

During the busy summer tourist season at Cape Bay, Francesca sets out to prove Todd’s innocence. Matty, however, investigates to prove Todd is guilty. Why does Matty detest Todd so much? But what if he’s right—what if Todd is a murderer?  (summary via Goodreads)

This is the first book in the Cape Bay Cafe Mysteries that I have read. I will definitely be reading book one because I loved this book two. The flow of this book was spot on with a very easy to follow plot and character development.
The main character, Libby is a very strong independent woman. She owns the Antonia's Italian Cafe which she inherited from her mother who passed away.. She has grown up in this cafe and learning to make coffee since she could stand. Tea, not one of Libb's strong areas comes into play when an older English couple comes into her coffee shop and really wants a cup of tea. She brings them tea much to their dismay. It is awful compared to their English tastes and can't hide how they feel. Libby becomes obsessed with making it as good as the English. This is really a fun part of the story when she begins to get advice from the old couple on how to make it properly. She also gets a lot of help from the internet and orders every tea known to mankind. 
Everything in Libby's life is going ok, she is falling for her best friend Matt, her business is busy and she has great employees. What more could she need? Then walks in Mrs. D'Angelo with news of a murder. And it just so happens that it occurred in the parking lot of an old high school classmates business. So now there have been two murders in the past few months. Libby is so concerned because things like this just don't happen in Cape Bay! It is the kind of place where you don't lock your doors and now murder?? The number one suspect is a person every girl including Libby had a crush on in high school, Todd Caruthers.
Libby decides she is going to help get to the bottom of this murder. But will she find the murderer before he or she finds her? What will happen to Cape Bay now that two murders have occurred in their sleepy town?
The cast of characters in this book for great to get to know. I loved this book. The author has you from the first chapter through to the very end sitting on the edge of your seat. If you love Cozies with a great dog, mystery, suspense, and a little romance you will not want to miss this second book in the Cape Bay Mysteries.
I received this book as an ARC as a member of a review crew. Thank you for letting me read your wonderful work Ms. Lin.

Review by Penny M.

The Legend of Tabby Hollow ( Whales and Tails Book # 5 ) by Kathi Daley

A cozy mystery series set on Madrona Island, a fictional island within the San Juan Islands off the coast of Washington State. As a fourth generation islander Caitlin Hart is struggling to make her way as the economy and culture of the island evolves toward a tourism based industry. Cait lives in a cabin on her aunt's oceanfront estate where she helps her aunt run Harthaven Cat Sanctuary. When she isn't working with the cats, she helps best friend Tara, operate the coffee bar/bookstore/cat lounge they own, named Coffee Cat Books. In the fifth book in the series, Cait and Cody join forces to track down a killer when a body is found in the hollow.  (summary via Goodreads)

Wow, Kathi has done it again. I absolutely loved this book. I don't know how she does it but I feel like every book in this series just keeps me on the edge of my seat. These adventures are so much fun to read and the characters just keep growing and evolving on Mandrona Island. 
This adventure starts in the hollow. The hollow is a haunted place legend has it where many strange things have happened. Not only is a place full of feral cats but now it is the site of a murder. I bet you can guess who is drawn there, yep, Cait. She is told by Tansy that she is to meet her messenger at the hollow. This is where she meets "Ichabod"a black cat with glowing green eyes. This is the beginning of a great adventure. Cait needs to find out if there is one killer or multiple killers on the island. Who would have thought that their little island would be the backdrop for murder.
With the help of Cody, Cait's boyfriend, and her friends and family and an unexpected visit from her big sister Siobhan they begin to unravel secrets on the island that will lead to a killer. But, who will be the next victim? Will the group find enough clues before one of them becomes number two? 
I have loved all of these characters throughout this series. Things have been changing and a lot of twists and turns have occurred on the island. There are a lot of surprises in this book that you will love. I know I did and can't wait for the next installment in the Whales and Tales mysteries. 
If you are looking for a great mystery, romance, and unexpected endings you will love this book as well as all of Kathi Daley books.

Review by Penny M.

Got this im the mail today from one of my favorite authors, Alyssa Maxwell..... She is the author of the Gilded Newport Mysteries. Murder Most Malicious is the 1st book in her new A Lady and Lady's Maid Mystery series..... The book is not out until December but I'll share my thoughts on it when I finish reading it. Im sure you will be adding it to your Christmas list....
Thanks Alyssa .....you are AWESOME !!!

Stabbing in the Senate (Washington Whodunit, #1) by Colleen, J. Shogan

Life is good for Kit Marshall. She's a staffer in D.C. for a popular she pulls the weapon out of his chest and instantly becomes the senator, and she lives with an adoring beagle and a brainy boyfriend with a trust fund. Then, one morning, Kit arrives at the office early and finds her boss, Senator Langsford, impaled by a stainless steel replica of an Army attack helicopter. Panicked, prime suspect in his murder.Circumstances back Kit's claim of innocence, but her photograph has gone viral, and the heat won't be off until the killer is found. Well-loved though the senator was, suspects abound. Langsford had begun to vote with his conscience, which meant he was often at odds with his party. Not only had the senator decided toquash the ambitions of a major military contractor, but his likely successor is a congressman he trounced in the last election. Then there's the  suspiciously dry-eyed Widow Langsford.Kit's tabloid infamy horrifies her boyfriend's upper-crust family, and it could destroy her career. However, she and her free-spirited friend Meg have a more pressing reason to play sleuth. The police are clueless in more ways than one, and Kit worries that the next taskon the killer's agenda will be to end her life.Book 1 in the Washington Whodunit series. (summary via Amazon.)    

I thought this book was excellent. I couldn't believe it was the author's first book. Everything about this book from the first chapter has you wanting more and not wanting it to end.The main character in the book, Kit is an up and coming staffer on Capital Hill. She is working her dream job with Senator Langsford, living with a wonderful man in a great condo with the cutest dog a beagle mix named Clarence. She believes in everything that the Senator stands for and has been with him since the beginning. Little does she know when she walks in his office on Tuesday morning that her life would change forever. She finds her beloved Senator with a stainless steel model military helicopter sticking out of his chest. Of course she thinks she maybe able to save him so she pulls it out. Now she has major issues because she is now holding the murder weapon and everyone thinks she killed him. She is now the main suspect and has every news agency reporting this with her picture on the front page. 

Now she has to explain all of this to her boyfriend Doug who's family is very connected and will not look kindly on her because of their reputation. As we all know gossip spreads like wildfire on Capital Hill. To try and douce the flames she starts investigating the murder along with her friend Meg. They come up with a list of suspects that will lead them all over Capital Hill. She finds allies that she didn't know she had in the people she has worked with for four years. Everyone wants to know why someone would want to kill the Senator. 

There are a lot of twists and turns in this book. You never know who to trust at any given time. Will Kit and her friends find the killer or killers before they strike again? What does a company called Carter Power play in his murder? Could all of this be about the oldest motive in the book, Money? Or is it something else know one will see coming? 

I hope their will be many more books in this series. I am not a person who enjoys political novels but this was a pleasant surprise. The mystery, adventure, suspense, and intrigue are not to be missed.

Review by Penny M.

Murder She Typed (Izzy Greene Cozy Mystery) (Senior Snoops Cozy Mystery Book 1) by Sylvia Selfman

Izzy Greene, a widow of a certain age, joins a writing group in an attempt to actually finish one of her stories.She gets more than she bargained for, however, when her nemesis, sexy blonde bombshell, Sondra Sockerman disappears under suspicious circumstances. Izzy soon realizes she has a natural detecting ability when she and her friend, Flo, try to find the killer...who is now after them.  (summary via Amazon)

Who says that once you reach a certain age, your life is over. Whoever said that old people should be "put out to pasture" sure didn't meet Izzy Greene.  Izzy still has a lot of spunk in her for an "old lady" and the men still seem to think so also.  

It all starts when Sondra Sockerman attends one of Izzy's writing group meetings.  Not only is she a total knockout and attracts the attention of all the men in the group but she gets under Izzy'z skin and she cannot get her off her mind.

While Izzy is waiting for her best friend, Flo, so they can again try to keep with their exercising regimen, Sondra "strolls" past her up the hiking trail.  Izzy can't wait for Flo any more, she has to prove to herself that she is just as good as Sondra.  Unfortunately Izzy cannot keep up with Sondra and has to stop and rest.  While resting another hiker passes her but shortly barrels past Izzy just after screams are heard !! Were they Sondra's ? Did the other hiker hurt or kill her ? 

When Sondra doesn't return to the writng class, and Izzy tells the police what happened and they don't do anything, she starts investigating on her own.  

This is a book that you not only will thoroughly enjoy but it will keep your interested from the beginning until the shockingly twisted end.  Sylvia Selfman is an amazing author and I personally intend to continue reading her books.

Booked for Trouble by Eva Gates

Lucy has finally found her bliss as a librarian and resident of the Bodie Island Lighthouse. She loves walking on the beach, passing her evenings with the local book club, bonding with the library cat, Charles, and enjoyingthe attention of not one, but TWO eligible men. But then her socialite to Boston—and reunite her with her ex-fiancé.  To make matters worse, Suzanne picks a very public fight at the local hotel with her former classmate Karen Kivas. So, when Karen turns up dead outside the library the next morning, Suzanne is immediately at the top of the suspect list. Now Lucy must hunt down a dangerous killer—before the authorities throw the book at her poor mother....mother, Suzanne, unexpectedly drops in, determined to move Lucy back....

If you like books, libraries, cats, the beach, lighthouses, murder, and a little bit of romance, Booked for Trouble by Eva Gates is right down your alley.

Lucy had recently moved to the Outer Banks, where she spent her summers when she was younger, to get away from the noise and craziness of living in Boston.

Not only had Lucy landed a dream job working in the local library, which is in the old lighthouse, but she also obtained the living quarters at the top of the lighthouse.

Lucy was enjoying working at the library, living in the lighthouse, hanging out with her cousin, Josie, flirting with the Mayor, Connor, as well as local police officer, Butch, and running a Book Club at the library.  But Lucy's mother comes for an undetermined amount of time visit and seems to be acting differently.  Of course, she wants Lucy to return to Boston and marry her cheating ex-boyfriend, Rickey but Lucy knows there is more to the visit.

Before Lucy can interrogate her mother on her real reason for being there, one of the members of the Book Club is found murdered outside the lighthouse.  And the police are looking at Lucy's mother as a person of interest.

Lucy is told more than once to stay out it and let the police do their job.  But Lucy knows her mother is innocent and can't sit in her library chair being quiet and doing nothing.

Booked for Trouble is a definite book to put on your "Books to Read" list.  You will enjoy the setting as well as the characters.  And as you get involved in the story you will want to help prove Lucy's mother's innocence.

I apologize that there have been no posts on here for quite some time.  There have been some major changes to the blog as well as the Facebook page, Cozy Mystery Book Reviews.  As many of you know, Anna founded both the blog and the Facebook page and she ran them, mostly single-handedly.  And Im sure you will agree that she did a WONDERFUL job.  A few weeks ago she decided to step down and away from reviewing and blogging and asked if I or a few others would be interested in taking it over.  I did not want the blog or page to go away and I felt it would be a HUGE honor to take over and try to fill her shoes.  So we began the process.... It has taken me a while getting use to the Facebook page and receiving messages there but I now feel that I have the hang of that.  She also gave me the email address for the blog and page....that has taken me longer to get a grip on but I feel I am beginning to master that as well.  Now I am here....

Let me introduce myself.  My name is Missi and I have been a huge reader even since I can remember.  A few years ago I was placed on permanent disability due to RA so I found that I had a lot of time on my hands.  I began reading more and also began to send friend requests on Facebook to authors.  My list of authors began to grow and I was able to communicate with some.  I felt it was great to read a book and then discuss it with the author.  As a result I begin posting reviews on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and Facebook.  In doing all of this I became friends with Anna and you now know how that went.

Authors are my celebrities..... Yes I admit it....I am a book nerd and I am proud of it !!!!

I do not know if I can ever truly fill Anna's shoes but with your help, I intend to try ! !  I just ask that you continue to have patience and know that I am here to read your books, post reviews and help promote your books.  Just let me know what I can do for you and we will work together to get your cozy mysteries promoted....

So I am ready when you are ..... Let's do this ! ! ! !