Author: Chapters & lattes

My name is Suzanne and I have lived in Tennessee my entire life. I am marred with 3 kids and 3 grandchildren. My family is my! I love to read so I decided to support the authors I love by writing reviews. I also post my reviews to Goodreads and Amazon. Besides reading, I love to spend time with my family, travel, Corvette road trips & working out. I hope you enjoy my blogs.
Cozy Mystery, Fiction

Clues and Canines by Kathi Daley

Chapters & lattes
  • Title: Clues and Canines
  • Author: Kathi Daley
  • Series: The Bistro at Holiday Bay #5
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place:  Holiday Bay Maine
  • Main Character: Shelby
  • Other Characters: Carly, Colt, Beck, Dawson, Amy
  • Stars: 3

Bistro at Holiday bay is a spin off of The Inn at Holiday Bay & this book is the 15th in the Bistro series. While I love this series, I think I prefer the inn at holiday bay. I do like Shelby who first arrived in Holiday Bay after her inheritance when she discovered she had two half sisters whom she did not know about. The sisters grew very close and Shelby chose to remain in the house inherited by the sisters and opened a bistro in the town.

It is Halloween and Shelby along with her employees are preparing the Bistro for a big Halloween party. Carly is the local dog walker and she comes in looking for Beck, who is the local private investigator and uses a booth at the Bistro to conduct his business. Carly is all flustered because she is sure she just saw the after math of a murder. Or did she? Even though she is convinced she saw a dead body, there isn’t any evidence to prove it so the local Police chief Colt and his deputy Alex are on the case with the help of Beck & Dawson (bartender/computer genius).

This book was ok. I do like catching up with the characters of Holiday bay but this book wasn’t fantastic and there weren’t a lot of twists to discover if there really was a body. It is Halloween after all. I like a mystery with a ‘wow, I didn’t see that coming’ type ending and this one just didn’t deliver. If you like a good read, you will enjoy it but if you like that ‘wow’ factor, then you might find it a bit boring.

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

Fatal Blooms by Claire Harlow

Chapters & lattes
  • Title: Fatal Blooms
  • Author: Claire Harlow
  • Series: A Sparrow Haven Cozy Mystery #2
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place: Sparrow Haven
  • Main Character: Olivia Harper
  • Other Characters: Millie, Ethan, Detective Fred O’Malley, Isabel, Cassandra Reed, Charles Hatmore, Leonard Riley, Eleanor Montgomery, Isabel, Keith (Cricket)
  • Pets: Olivia’s Golden Retriever Barkley
  • Stars: 5

This is the second book in the Sparrow Haven Cozy Mystery series and I am really enjoying this series. The characters are relatable and 3 dimensional and the plot is interesting.

There is another murder in Sparrow Haven and, once again, Olive finds herself in the middle of it. This time, the victim is a prominent Rose Garden Gala sponsor, who appears to have been in good health before her untimely death. There are numerous suspects in the case, as the protagonist embarks on an emotional rollercoaster ride to discover who is to blame for the murder of this woman.

The protagonist, Olivia, is highly relatable. She is intelligent, a devoted friend, resolute, and owns a Golden Retriever. I have a fondness for canine characters in stories.

This is a series that is sure to appeal to readers who appreciate a good, clean, cozy mystery, with a cast of sympathetic characters, a canine companion, and a plot full of surprises that culminate in a satisfying conclusion. I am hoping there will be third book in the series, as I am eager to learn more about the protagonist, Olivia, and the quaint town of Sparrow Haven. I suggest reading the previous book, Mystery at the Lighthouse, first so you can get to know the characters. I think you will really enjoy this author and her way of telling a story,

***Disclaimer***
I received this book free as part of th ARC team. This review is my honest opinion.

Happy Reading!

Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction

Flower shop on Magnolia by Kay Correll

Chapters & lattes
  • Title: Flower Shop on Magnolia
  • Author: Kay Correll
  • Series: Blue Heron Cottages #6
  • Genre: Romance, Women’s fiction
  • Takes Place: Moonbeam, FL
  • Main Character: Daisy, Jack
  • Other Characters: Rose, Violet, Melinda, Ethan
  • Stars: 5

Kay Correll delivers another captivating story in this 6th installment of the “Blue Heron Cottage” series. I enjoyed visiting the residents of Moonbeam once again.

This time, we get to know Daisy, who is relatively new in town and is the owner of the flower shop. When Jack visits the flower shop to purchase a corsage, Daisy is curious about who this man is and what is his story. Then when Daisy’s neighbor seeks a tenant for his residence, Jack simply happens to be in search of a residence to rent and becomes Daisy’s neighbor. They become instant friends but could it be more? Daisy has a secret that may keep her from getting too close to Jack.

We get to see how Melody and Ethan are doing with their relationship and of course there is Rose. I would very much like to have a Rose in my life and have the opportunity to converse with her and gain insight from her experiences, as well as receive her invaluable advice.

I enjoy the way the author spins a story to keep the reader engaged and wanting more. If feel like I know these residents and are a part of their lives. Moonbeam is a place I would love to live.

If you’re a fan of sweet stories of small town friendship and romance with great relatable characters, you’re going to love this series. You can read it as a stand-alone book, but I highly recommend reading it in order to get to know each of the characters. That way, every time you read the next installment in the series, you’ll feel like you’re catching up with old friends.

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

Witness in the Wedding by Kathi Daley

Chapters & lattes
  • Title: Witness in the Wedding
  • Author: Kathi Daley
  • Series: The Inn at Holiday Bay #24
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place: Holiday Bay, Maine
  • Main Character: Abby, Georgia
  • Other Characters: Shelby, Amy, Colt, Alex, Lacy, Calista, Phinneas Potter, Jeremy, Mylie, Annabelle, Jovana, Carlos, Geselle, Stephan, Efren, Aldo, Viveca, Gwenevere, Megan
  • Stars: 4

This latest Inn at Holiday Bay book is the 24th in the series and it doesn’t disappoint! The author has a way of telling an engaging story.

This installment of the series is dedicated to the upcoming wedding of Jeremy and Mylie. To commemorate the event, Jeremy’s mother, Annabelle, and her new husband, Carlos, are arriving from Spain to attend the nuptials. The presence of Jovana, Jeremy’s sister, has caused a stir in the Inn, as well as the presence of a suspicious guest. In the meantime Georgia and Amy participate in a cook-off competition where there is speculation that the food has been tampered with. Following the discovery of a deceased body behind a dumpster, Local Police Chief and Abby’s boyfriend, Colt Wilder, is on the case to find a killer. With Abby wanting to back her friends at their cook off, wedding chaos, an Inn bursting at the seams with guests, a deceased body, and now trying to solve a murder with the help of Colt’s deputy Alex, it’s all been a little bit too much. Just another day in Holiday Bay!!

I really do like this series. The characters are empathetic and relatable. I love the atmosphere of the small town and the relationships formed between the residents. If you enjoy of a good clean cozy mystery that is captivating and full of surprises, then this is the type of story for you.

Happy Reading!

Fiction, Mystery

First Victim by L.A. Larkin

Chapters & lattes
  • Title: First Victim
  • Author:L.A. Larkin
  • Series: A Sally Fairburn Crime Thriller #3
  • Genre: Mystery, Thriller
  • Main Character: Sally Fairburn
  • Other Characters: Paul Fairburn, Scott Fairburn, Harper Fairburn, Fiona Austin, Joseph Austin, Detective Fred Clarke, Olivia Wiesner, Esme Lin, Salvador Sobrai, Niall Pickerd, Bob Kerns, Robin Kerns
  • Pets: A dog named Jax & a cat name Pajamas
  • Stars: 5

Sally Fairburn is back in another top-notch book by LA Larkin. This is the third book in the Sally Fairburn Crime Thriller series. I really like Sally, She is always on a mission to solve the crime, and she doesn’t stop until she gets the answers she’s looking for. She’s also a great mother, and there’s nothing she won’t do for her son, even if it means protecting him from his own father.

Sally is a former police officer and an amateur detective. Initially, she believed that police work was a thing of the past. However, when her former employer requests her return to the force as a detective in order to assist in the investigation of Joseph Austin’s murder and the attempted Murder of his wife, Fiona, who is left comatose, how can she resist. This her chance to prove herself. With two more murders, including their top suspect for the Austin murder, Sally is in a race against time to connect the dots. Not helping matters is the fact that her abusive ex-husband comes back to the Franklin Police Department and attempts to obstruct the investigation. Fiona, who is in a coma & is the sole surviving witness to her husband’s murder, may possess all the answers.

I can’t get enough of this series! It’s got everything you want in a good mystery: secrets, compelling characters, an amazing protagonist, and plenty of twists and turns to solve a murder with an ending you won’t see coming! It’s a must-read!

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Mystery

Peril in the Poolhouse by Judy L .Murray

Chapters & lattes
  • Title: Peril in the Pool house
  • Author: Judy L. Murray
  • Series: A Chesapeake Bay Mystery #3
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place: Port Anne, Maryland
  • Main Character: Helen Morrisey & her Detection Club
  • Other Characters: Eliot Davies & his wife Allison, Detective Joe McAllister, Liz, Shawn, Tammi, Diane, Ronnie, Maggie, Britany, Craig
  • Pets: A Golden Retriever named Rocky & 2 cats Trixie & Watson
  • Stars: 5

This is the 3rd installment of the Chesapeake Bay Mysteries series and Ms Murray does not disappoint. Helen Morrisey once again finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation and of course she has to try and solve it much to the chagrin of the handsome detective, Joe McAlister.

A haunted Bed & Breakfast, A party given by a State Senator Candidate and a dead body! What could go wrong! Despite the fact that the Victorian Mansion has been rumored to be haunted, Helen ultimately sold the property to Eliot Davies, who is running for the office of state Senator and his wife Allison. They’ve turned it into a Bed & Breakfast, and they’re getting ready to party. The party comes to a screeching halt when a dead body is discovered in the Pool House, with Allison standing over it. Of course, the main suspects are Eliot and Allison, so Helen is intent on proving that her friends could not have committed this murder. Did they do it and If they didn’t, then who did? When someone else dies, the conspiracy deepens to discover what the two victims might have in common. Is the past coming back to haunt them? Is this murder connected to a 50-year-old mystery? Helen and her world-renowned detection team are on a mission to discover the answer. But how will her involvement in yet another murder case affect her blossoming relationship with handsome detective Joe?

This is an amazing book! The Protagonist is genuine, a great friend, She loves her kids and she is funny. I just adore her detection club and the way she interacts with them as if they were real people. The term “detection club” is derived from Helen’s collection of Literary Amateurs Sleuths. Those who have read the preceding two books of the series are aware of her ‘Detection Club’. If you haven’t read them, then what are you waiting for!! I recommend that readers read the books in order to gain an understanding of the characters’ back story. It really helps to develop the relationship with the characters.

The author has a great way of building tension and pulling the reader in. What I like the most is that the book is full of twist & turns to solve the puzzle. Just when you think you have solved the mystery, she adds another twist that makes you rethink it. I must warn you, be prepared to lose some sleep because this book is hard to put down.

Real Estate Rule #3: It’s rare a buyer who wants to buy a haunted house”

Happy Reading!

Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction

All Tucked Inn by Rachel Hanna

Chapters & lattes
  • Title: All Tucked Inn
  • Author: Rachel Hanna
  • Series: Jubilee #2
  • Genre: Women’s Fiction
  • Takes Place: Jubilee, GA
  • Main Character: Heather, Madelyn, Brady,
  • Other Characters: Geneve, Ethan, Jasmine, Anna, Clemmy
  • Pets: Gilbert the goat and a dog named Murphy
  • Stars: 5

Rachel has done it again. Everything Rachel writes is captivating, interesting, and has wonderful 3-dimensional characters you are going to fall in love with. All Tucked Inn is the second book in the Jubilee series and it is just as great as the first one. First, I have to say, I love the name of the Inn, “All Tucked Inn”.

In this episode, we visit with Madelyn and Brady again. Brady is dealing with the fact that his sister and niece are living with him, which is causing a bit of a stir. We also meet some new friends. Heather lives in Atlanta and is visiting her mom, Lanelle, who runs All Tucked Inn, which has been in the family for generations. What Heather doesn’t know is that her mother has been keeping secrets from her which is causing Her some concern. A charming new guest arrives at the Inn, leaving Heather torn between the hustle and bustle of the city and the laid-back atmosphere of Jubilee. But is this new arrival who he seems to be? I was also pleasantly surprised when a familiar guest shows up at the Inn.

This book is full of surprises, suspense, second chances, romance, and a deeper understanding of what truly matters. I read it in a single sitting because I couldn’t put it down! I’m sure you’ll love Jubilee and the people who live there, just like I do. Of course there are pets, too. I especially loved Gilbert the goat, who we met in the book One.

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

Upstaged by Murder by Grace Topping

Chapters & lattes
  • Title: Upstaged by Mrder
  • Author: Grace Topping
  • Series: Laura Bishop Mystery #3
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place: Louiston, Pennsylvania
  • Main Character: Laura Bishop
  • Other Characters: Nita, Tyrone, Detective Spangler, Mrs. Webster, Will Parker , Josh Sheridan, Olivia, Simon, Chris, Beth, Neil
  • Pets: Inky the Cat
  • Stars: 5

The author has done it again with book three of the Laura Bishop Mystery. I can’t even choose which book is my favorite in the series because they are all so good. Ms. Topping has the ability to craft a suspense story in such a way that it leaves readers wanting more.

In this installment of the series, we’re back with Laura after her best friend encourages her to enter a home staging competition. We’ve got some familiar faces and some brand new ones in the mix Just as she gets ready to start staging for the challenge, a dead body is found in an old trunk.

This novel is full of unexpected twists and turns, a murder mystery, a daring attempt to apprehend a burglar, Laura’s emotional reckoning with the past, and the potential emergence of a romantic relationship.

At this time, this is the final installment in the series. However, I am hoping there will be more to come. I would be delighted to learn more about the character of Laura and the other characters who are featured in the series. Each of them has a great deal of depth and is highly interesting. I am a fan of small town tales with unexpected twists, mysteries, romance and humor.

Let me know in the comments if you have read this series.

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction

Staging Wars by Grace Topping

Chapters & lattes
  • Title: Staging Wars
  • Author: Grace Topping
  • Series: Laura Bishop Mystery #2
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place: Louiston, Pennsylvania
  • Main Character: Laura Bishop
  • Other Characters: Nita, Tyrone, Monica, Detective Spangler, Mrs. Webster, Will Parker, Damian Reynolds, Josh Sheridan,
  • Pets: Inky the Cat
  • Stars: 5

The second installment of Grace Topping’s Laura Bishop Mysteries series begins with a bang – or rather, a stabbing.

I really love this series.  It is really a page turner. It is a series that I look forward to reading and then I have trouble putting it down. This is a sign of a brilliant book. I loved this one as much as I did the first.   It has it all, A Great protagonist that you will love, 3-dimensional characters with distinct personalities that just seem to all fit together & then of course there is Laura’s Nemesis, Monica, the one that nobody seems to like.  There is always one!

Between someone sabotaging her new staging business, two dead bodies, and her nemeses in jail for one of them, Laura has her hands full.

You will enjoy the ride as Laura once again finds herself in sticky situations to discover the truth. Her investigation to solve a crime takes a lot of twists and turns with an ending you won’t see coming. I love a mystery with a good twist.

I also love that at the beginning of each chapter there are some hints on staging a house to sell.

Happy Reading!

Cozy Mystery, Fiction, Mystery

Mystery at the Lighthouse by Claire Harlow

Chapters & lattes
  • Title: Mystery at the Lighthouse
  • Author: Claire Harlow
  • Series: A Sparrow Haven Cozy Mystery #1
  • Genre: Cozy Mystery
  • Takes Place: Sparrow Haven
  • Main Character: Olivia Harper
  • Other Characters: Millie, Ethan, Detective Fred O’Malley
  • Pets: Olivia’s Golden Retriever Barkley
  • Stars: 5

This is the first book I have read by this author and I will be reading more. I really enjoyed this mystery. It’s a little different from what I’m used to reading. I’m used to mystery books, but rarely one that takes place more than a century ago.

Olivia, who lives in the small New England town of Sparrow Haven is the town librarian and an amateur sleuth. Mysteries has always fascinated her and her best friend, Milly. They always seem to be involved in some kind of investigation, much to the dismay of Detective Fred O’Malley. When some local teens find an old painting, it piques Olivia’s curiosity, so of course she has to find the secrets hiding beneath the brush strokes. Olivia, her Faithful companion, a Golden Retriever named Barkley, the hot new veterinarian, Ethan, and her best friend Milly solve a 100-year-old mystery with present implications. During their journey, they uncover family secrets that may be best left alone. Could uncovering the past get Olivia, Ethan and Millie killed!!

If you love a suspenseful mystery that takes you on a journey to past secrets that carry on to the present, then you will love this book. I read it in one sitting, which I rarely do. I just couldn’t seem to put it down. I had to find out how it ends and it definitly did not disappoint. The author just has a way of keeping the reader engaged and wanting more.

***I received this free ARC. This review is my honest opinion***

Happy Reading!