Category Archives: ARC
Review: A Bean to Die For by Tara Lush
A Bean to Die For
Tara Lush
A Coffee Lover’s Mystery Series, Book 4
280 pages, Hardcover
First published January 9, 2024
Perfect for fans of Cleo Coyle and Lucy Burdette, reporter-turned-barista Lana Lewis is back on the case when a body is found in the community garden.
Lana Lewis is brewing up new concoctions at Perkatory, a popular café in Devil’s Beach, when she decides she wants to try her hand at growing her own coffee. She secures a gardening plot in the community garden, thanks to her father and the garden’s owner, Darla. Darla’s list of rules is long, but that doesn’t stop someone from leaving Jack Daggett’s body amongst the gardening plots.
4 Stars
Tara Lush delivers another caffeinated entertaining mystery.
Welcome back to the southwest Florida island town of Devil’s Beach. Lana finds herself right in the middle of a whole lot of stuff going on. Deciding to grow her own coffee, she has secured a spot in the community garden to be able to grow her plants. She has an offer to test out a cool new machine at the coffee shop, Perkatiey. Not to mention she’s about to meet Noah’s family for the very first time.
And last, but not least, there’s the Local funnel cake festival going on. Just as everything’s getting started, lana finds a body among the garden plots. With the long list of rules for the community garden, a body is one thing that should definitely not be there. Laura’s mind starts brewing to try to figure out the pieces to be able to crack this case.
I absolutely love this series. Not only because the only thing that I love more or equally as much as reading is coffee. Lana, her best friend Erica, and her hippie. Father, Peter are all on the case. I love the interaction between not only these three, but all of the characters that we have grown to know through the course of the series. What makes this story interesting and a little different from the others is that someone is coming to Lana to help get this mystery solved. We see growth within all of the characters within the story. Along with the twisted mystery that kept me guessing for most of the book.
Tara Lush includes humor with her mysteries, like a well-blended brew. The characters she has created are complex, but yet grow with each book, have their quirks that make us love them and provide something to each and every story. A Bean to Die For is a well-crafted and entertaining read.
Review: The Friendship Club by Robin Carr
The Friendship Club
Robin Carr
336 pages, Hardcover
First published January 23, 2024
Four women come together at a tumultuous time in their lives, forging an unbreakable bond that will leave them all forever changed.
Celebrity cooking show host Marni McGuire has seen it all. She’s been married—twice—and widowed and divorced. Now in her midfifties, she’s single. Happily so. She just needs to convince her pregnant daughter, Bella, of this fact. And maybe convince herself, too. Especially after Marni’s efforts to humor her determined daughter result in a series of disastrous dates that somehow prompt Marni to wonder if maybe the right man for her is still out there after all.
Similarly single, Marni’s best friend and colleague is confident she’s content without a man, but both older women soon find themselves leading by example as the young intern on their show appears caught in a toxic relationship—and Bella reveals her own marriage maybe isn’t built to withstand the stresses of the baby on the way.
Suddenly, all four women find themselves at a crossroads, each navigating the challenges of dating, marriage, loneliness and love. Thankfully, they have each other to lean on. The realities of modern love are far from easy, but there’s no better group to have in your corner than friends who will lift you up, no matter what, and hold fast in the face of any storm.
4 Stars
Four women from four different walks of life come together in a unique friendship that has the bonds of a lifetime.
Marni is a Famous cooking show host who has been married twice, lost a husband to death and one to divorce. Now in her 50s, she is happily single and living her best life. And excited to become a grandma. Ellen, who is Marni’s friend, and production person on her show. She spent years taking care of her husband, who is now no longer with her. Ellen two is happy to be living the single life. Bella is about to embark on a new phase of womanhood by becoming a mother. And Sophia, an intern, at the cooking show who quickly becomes a friend. It’s just learning the ways of life and love.
Robyn Carr beautifully blended some romance, some suspense, and some women’s fiction into a fantastic story. It shows the bonds and strength of friendship. Coming together when needed. Finding strength through someone that you care about. Building each other up in the best possible way. And being there just being there. Robin touches on subjects that can be strenuous and triggering for some people. She does it with class and style. She is able to take these harsh subjects and show what friendship is really like amongst women who care about each other. This story was more than I expected it to be.
Review: Death by Irish Whiskey by Catie Murphy
Death by Irish Whiskey
Catie Murphy
The Dublin Driver Series, Book 5
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Expected publication January 23, 2024
Kensington Cozies
Dublin limo driver Megan Malone finds her relationship on the rocks when a double murder at the whiskey festival draws her in – despite promising her girlfriend she’d quit sleuthing for good…
Perfect for fans of Carlene O’Connor, Sheila Connolly, and Rob Osler alike, Catie Murphy’s acclaimed Dublin Driver Mystery series is a charming blend of Irish humor, compelling whodunnits, and the allure of the Emerald Isle.
“There is so much to like about the cozy perfection that is Catie Murphy’s [Dublin Driver series] from the lush Irish travelogue to the precise balance between comic relief and crime.” —Bookpage STARRED REVIEW for Death on the Green
The competition for best whiskey in Ireland will be a publicity bonanza for the winner, and that means there are celebrities involved—like boxer Angus McConal and Megan’s friend Niamh, an up-and-coming actress who’s teamed up with Megan’s uncle, the retired Sligo harbormaster. But rivalries and revelries turn out to be a bad blend when McConal dies at a whiskey tasting. Megan promised her girlfriend she’d quit her amateur sleuthing, but with Niamh and her uncle as suspects, she’s over a barrel . . .
With her relationship on the rocks, Megan gets in even deeper when a second entrant in the competition is killed—and her investigation starts zeroing in on a suspect. Now she just needs proof . . .
3 Stars
It’s a Dublin’s whiskey festival and they’re on the search for the best local/amateur brew. When contestants start turning out dead there’s gonna be more than sorrows, drowning in your whiskey glass.
Limo Driver Megan Malone, locally known Murder Driver. She has a habit of stumbling over dead bodies. When one of the contestants of the whiskey making contest is found dead in the punch bowl, Megan does everything she possibly can to avoid getting involved. But then, when her uncle’s recipe whines up in a dead man’s pocket, it’s all she can do to stay away.
This was my first forte into the series, and while I did find the story entertaining it was not the best book as an introduction. Death by Irish Whiskey is a twisty mystery, but yet I find it to be more of a character building novel as Megan is faced with some tough choices about her relationship in the story. I did like the cast of characters. Megan’s pals are quite funny and entertaining. Although Megan did not get fully involved in the solving of the murder, I can see how she would have loved to be more involved. I really love the diversity that we saw it within the story. Kudos to the author.
Review: Good Time Boyfriend by Carrie Ann Ryan
Good Time Boyfriend
Carrie Ann Ryan
First Time Series, Book 1
Expected publication January 22, 2024
A new town. A new bar. A new life.
At least, that’s what I’m hoping for.
I moved to Denver to try to piece my family back together, but I have no idea how to do that.
Then the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen walks into my bar, and I think things are looking up.
She needs a fake boyfriend for the night and I’m all too eager to play along.
But when the sun rises, reality settles in and I know I want more. Only I don’t think she’s ready for what I have to give.
I want to be more than a good time, but I know what I’m good for. I need control. And she’s far too innocent.
Only when something happens that changes the rules, we’ll have to make a choice quickly, or we could lose everything before it even starts.
3.5 Stars
Heath Cassity, along with his siblings, moved to Denver to try to put back his family after their not so great upbringing. He has begun to make routes in this new place. Hico owns a bar with a good friend and has wonderful support around him. One day a beautiful woman who takes his breath away, walks in and out of his life, as quick as it is to take a breath. Until another day she comes storming into his life while having us stare down with a table full of strangers.
Devney Womack is the absolute middle child of a large blended family. She has five older step siblings, and five younger, half siblings, but yet to her they are all equally her siblings. She knows they love and care for her; however their meddling has become a bit too much. With the older group of her siblings, finding happiness and a new chapter in their lives. They want nothing but the same for her. Tired of the constant nagging and meddling, she creates herself a fake boyfriend, but yet he’s based on a real person. It all becomes too much when her family conference, a man that she never even had a relationship with. But yet that man surprises her in ways she never imagined.
Heath and Devney start their relationship in a very unique way, and I love how it unfolds. For something that should have been fake, turned into something extremely real. It’s a sweet and endearing story of finding love in the most unexpected ways. Carrie Ann Ryan starts off this new series beautifully.
ARC Review: Dragon Frost by Donna Grant
Dragon Frost
Donna Grant
76 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication December 5, 2023
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant returns for a Dragon King holiday novella.
The holiday season is Rhi’s favorite time of year, which means Con loves it, too. Except they’re on Zora, where there are no traditions—and beginning one could be hazardous. Finding the lost dragons should’ve given everyone peace. Instead, they’re facing powerful enemies at every turn. Despite the danger, the King of Dragon Kings knows his mate longs to have their space dripping with holiday decorations and gifts piled under the tree, and he’s going to do his best to give it to her and make sure they have time to celebrate the season and their love.And perhaps a surprise or two.
4 Stars
A sweet and warming short story.
Con and Rhi are on the Dragon Realm as the holidays approach. There is still tension between them and the dragons but yet they feel that’s where they need to be. Christmas is Rhi’s most favorite time of the year. Con knows what Rhi needs at that moment. To decorate, doing what she loves the most for the holidays. Con shows Rhi that he knows her well, knows what she needs and even though they’re not in their home, they can make new traditions for their holiday times.
This is such a warm and romantic tale that just shows how much love they have, and continue to grow more in love with one another.
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Review: The Stand-In by Kristen Proby
The Stand-In
Kristen Proby
Single in Seattle Series, Book 5
From New York Times bestselling author Kristen Proby comes The Stand-In, the newest novel in her beloved Single in Seattle series, featuring Drew Montgomery!
I don’t like my new boss. Not at all.
London Ambrose is a spoiled billionaire’s daughter. And now she’s the new co-owner of the Seattle football team, but that doesn’t mean that she knows diddly squat about football.
There’s nothing I hate more than having someone micromanaging me, shadowing my every move, and giving me their two cents on Every. Little. Thing. as I coach MY defensive line.
I don’t care about new team jerseys and branding or answering her million and one questions about how I do my job. But, I can’t help but come to her defense when an old flame shows up and starts harassing her. I’m a Montgomery. We don’t let anyone mess with women.
Now, I’m suddenly in a fake relationship, pretending to date the gorgeous billionaire and learning so many surprising things about this captivating woman that I just can’t seem to stay away from her.
When the lines between our fake relationship and real relationship blur, and my initial distaste for her turns into desire, I find myself coaching the most important game of my life – do I let my guard down or do I let London Ambrose walk away forever?
The Stand-In gives all the feels. Kristin Proby pens a wonderful story that can’t help, but to make your heart feel all kinds of things.
London Ambrose is many things. Successful entrepreneur, a fantastic mother, an amazing businesswoman and now part owner of an NFL football team. London is definitely one of those women that you cannot judge by your cover. She’s an amazingly smart woman who is kind and caring beyond what the average person would know. Drew is the coach for Seattle’s football team. Drew had to change his dream of being in the NFL to coaching for the NFL. Too many concussions within his playing years in high school made him go from a playing role to a teaching and coaching role. Drew is genuinely a good man and is deeply loyal to those he cares about.
The Stand-In is a truly romantic read. London and Drew don’t understand each other on the surface. Being in the same place at the same time, when something goes against what tDrew feels and believes he steps up and does what any Montgomery man would do. Drew and London share a slow burn that builds up so beautifully. Being a single mom, London and Caleb are a package deal. That is something that true does not take lightly. We don’t just see one relationship develop within the pages of this heartwarming story, we see several develop in such a beautiful and natural way. It is very well-known that I am not a fan of sports in any way. While the story may have elements of sports, it’s truly focused on the romance, relationship and family that star within its pages.The Stand-In is one of those stories that will make you feel good in all the ways of romance should make you feel good.
Review: Christmas in Cape May by Jennifer Probst
Christmas in Cape May
Jennifer Probst
Sunshine Sisters Series Book 3.5
169 pages, Kindle Edition
Expected publication November 7, 2023
1001 Dark Nights
From New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Probst comes a new story in her Sunshine Sisters series…
Devon Pratt loves many things in life. The beauty of flowers. The yin and yang of energy. The power of positivity in people. And everything to do with the Christmas season.
As a floral shop owner in the beach town of Cape May, she looks forward to decorating both the town and running the annual holiday party to benefit the local animal shelter. Too bad the new owner of her favorite venue is more like the Grinch than Santa. Working with him will be a challenge, but she’s too full of seasonal cheer to let him annoy her, right?
Jameson Franklin hates many things in life. Crowds. Fake cheer. Ostentatious décor. And especially Christmas. The season is full of things he’d rather avoid, but since taking over the popular restaurant Vintage temporarily for his cousin as a favor, he’s trying to play nice with the locals. Too bad the florist is insisting on overrunning his sacred space with blooms, dogs, and an endless positive persistence that pushes all of his buttons. But when too many heated confrontations lead to heated encounters, he begins to wonder what it would be like to love not only Christmas, but Devon Pratt.
Let the festivities begin.
4 Stars
Devon Pratt loves life. She sees the good in many things and gets joy from simple things like flowers and animals. Christmas time is truly her favorite time of year and it brings her a tremendous amount of joy. She enjoys decorating the town and loves running the annual holiday party to benefit the local animal shelter. Just weeks before the event someone steps in at the restaurant where the event is to be held and tries to change all of her plans last minute. She shows just what holiday cheer can bring out in a person.
Jameson Franklin is easily annoyed by many things in life. Less than tasteful, decor, and crowds get to him, but what really raises the fur on his haggles is Christmas time. Taking over his cousin’s restaurant during the Christmas season is not his ideal thing, but he will try to play nice with the locals. Jamison make some changes to the restaurant that he thinks will help his cousins bottom line however, he has definitely gotten under one particular florist’s skin.
Christmas in Cape May was a fun and sweet holiday short Reid. Devon and Jamieson seem to be the opposite of each other. However, through some heated conversations in close proximity, they realize they have a bit more in common than they knew. Someone over filled with holiday cheer, and another one who wants nothing to do with it. Their banter is absolutely fantastic. I love that they are constantly fighting their chemistry until they can no longer fight their feeling and it just explodes. Jennifer Probst gives her readers a fun and heartwarming Christmas story to get our holiday season started.
Review: Snow Place for Murder by Diane Kelly
Snow Place for Murder
Diane Kelly
Moutain Lodge Mystery Series, Book 3
International resort developer Nigel Goodwin has traveled all the way from London, England to Misty Murphy’s little corner of North Carolina and bought out the Mountaintop Lodge for the week prior to Christmas. Their intention? To pitch an exclusive new resort concept to wealthy American investors.
But locals are at odds over the idea, and when a group comes to the lodge to express their worries to Mr. Goodwin and the potential investors, a blizzard hits Beech Mountain. Like the weather outside, things quickly get frosty, and Misty has to call local police to intervene. Handyman Rocky Crowder plows the lodge’s drive and, in an attempt to regain a jovial holiday atmosphere, smooths the snow pile into a makeshift sledding hill for the guests to enjoy.
Misty’s boys have finished their exams and are “home” from college for the winter break, planning to spend most of their time snowboarding at the ski resort. While taking a few runs down Rocky’s sledding hill, they discover a funny-looking, nose-shaped rock. Only it’s not a rock. It’s the frozen nose of Nigel Goodwin, who’s found dead and buried under the mound of snow.
Who put the developer on ice and why?
Audio Review: Murder by the Seashore by Samara Yew
Murder by the Seashore
Samara Yew
California Bookshop Mystery Series, Book 1
October 17, 2023 by Crooked Lane
256 pages, Hardcover
Perfect for fans of Jenn McKinlay and Ellery Adams, Scarlett Gardner’s dream was to open a bookshop in Southern California, but it soon becomes a nightmare when she finds the dead body of a customer—and becomes the prime suspect.
Southern California is where dreams come true—or so Scarlett Gardner thought. When she came out and opened the Palm Trees and Page Turners bookshop, she thought her boyfriend and business partner would be part of the story. When he leaves her for a better job, Scarlett finds herself struggling to keep her new business afloat. That’s not the only thing she has to worry about—she discovers something underneath the pier by her bookstore that she didn’t outline for her life’s story: the dead body of a book-buying customer.
After Scarlett gives a statement to the police, she thinks her life can go back to business as usual. But when a lawyer, representing someone named Lorelai Knight, tells her that Scarlett now stands to inherit a small fortune, Scarlett is left with more questions than answers. Before she can think about any of it, the police bring her in for questioning; the body she found was Lorelai Knight. And the evidence they have against Scarlett doesn’t look good—not only does she have a motive because of her inheritance, but a bottle of the same poison found in Lorelai’s system was discovered near the bookshop. Business is booming as Scarlett returns to the bookshop, but for all the wrong reasons – they want to question the last known suspect of the murder.
Who could really be behind all of this? And why frame Scarlett? To clear her name, she’s going to have get creative—and hope she can remain one page ahead of the killer.
4 Stars
Scarlett Gardner is trying to make her dreams come true. Opening her beach book shop Palm Trees and Page Turner is the beginning of a good thing. Until her boyfriend/business partner decides to leave for a better job. Then to top things off, Scarlet finds a dead body under the pier not far from her Bookshop, making her a suspect in the murder. Then to mix things up just a little bit, a lawyer shows up wanting to speak to Scarlet about an inheritance from a person she has never heard of. Scarlet is filled with lots of questions and not finding too many answers. Deciding to do a little investigating of her own, Scarlet has to clear her name, and that of the book shop.
Murder by the seashore, is a fantastic opening book for this new series. Scarlett Gardner is an interesting main character. She has some complexities to her, has dreams and desires. She wants to fulfill and has a very good heart. She has a solid character any Author has written her in a way that she will be able to grow through future installments. I thought we were going to see the beginning of a love interest in the first book but I guess we’re not quite there yet. As for the mystery, I found it very enjoyable. Author Samara Yew does a wonderful job at keeping the reader guessing as to whether they have actually figured it out or not. From the setting to the characters to the storyline, I found this a very enjoyable, cozy mystery.
Audio Review: Sugar Plum Poisoned by Jenn McKinlay
Sugar Plum Poisoned
Jenn McKinlay
Cupcake Bakery Mystery Series, Book 15
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
Expected publication October 10, 2023 by Berkley
Narrated by Susan Boyce
It’s Christmastime, and this holiday season, things are heating up for the bakers at Fairy Tale Cupcakes, in the newest Cupcake Bakery Mystery from New York Times bestselling author Jenn McKinlay.
When up-and-coming singing sensation Shelby Vaughn arrives in town for two weeks of concert dates, she hires her old friend Angie and the rest of the bakery crew to supply cupcakes for the VIP guest lounge every night.
After overhearing Shelby in a heated argument with her manager, Mel is concerned, but she and the crew decide to make the best of their time working with the star. Just as the bakers fall into the rhythm of the job, Shelby’s manager is found dead, clutching a bit of fabric from a Santa suit and a cupcake. With the bakery crew and Shelby’s backup dancers all dressed in similar Santa costumes, it’s impossible to say who is the killer. When all suspicions lead back to Shelby, Mel and Angie stand up for their friend, determined to prove her innocence before she’s frosted for a crime she didn’t commit.
4 Stars
It’s Christmas time! Fairy Tale cupcakes is on deck to provide the delectable treats for the VIP guests of up-and-coming, singer and friend of Angie, Shelby Vaughn’s two week Christmas showcase in Scottsdale. It’s the busiest time of the year and spirits are bright. Well, until Shelby‘s manager is found dead with a fairytale cupcake in his hand. Mel and Angie have their hands full with the ongoing catering of Shelby shows, Mel hosting Christmas dinner for a small army, and now they are tangled up in a murder once again. Mel and Angie, not only want to clear the bakeries name because they know there was nothing wrong with their cupcakes. They’re out to clear Shelby’s name from this murder as well.
Sugar Plum Poisoned was a fun and entertaining weed. I love the combination of Mel and Angie. Their friendship is solid, extremely strong, and it’s to the point that they are basically family. And have been for a very long time. Angie is that person that will go to bed for the people she cares about. Mel is a little more stand back and think it through. They are truly a perfect team. Sugar Plum Poisoned shows us that Angie has definitely rubbed off on Mel after all these years. Although I figured out who the culprit of this caper was fairly early on, I very much enjoyed the story. Marty and Oz are always a trip whenever they are on the page. Seeing the brothers up to their antics is always a good laugh. They also help solve a murder and give a good friend a Christmas that she truly needed.
Narrator Susan boys did an amazing job with this book. She beautifully distinguish each character and truly brought the story to life.
Coffee Books Life 