The Bookshop by the Bay by Pamela M. Kelley - 3 Stars!

Jess loves her work as a lawyer in the city of Charleston. But when she finds her husband, Parker, has been cheating on her with his assistant, she retreats. She returns with her thirty-year-old daughter Caitlin, to her childhood home on Cape Cod, in Chatham. Caitlin has always been bright but is still looking for her passion and career. Jess needs to regroup with her best friend, Allison, and come up with a plan for the future. After twenty years as an editor for the Chatham magazine, Allison needs to take a step back. When a beloved local bookstore is for sale, a long-held dream turns into a reality. Allison and Jess set a plan in motion and what was once a place that held warm childhood memories is now theirs to run. As the two friends, along with the help of their daughters, reopen the doors of the cherished bookstore and adjacent coffee shop to the community, they also open themselves up to the possibility of romance, the bonds of mothers and daughters, and the magic of second chances.
This was a very good women's fiction book. All the characters were very likable, and it was a fun read. I loved how the friends worked together to get the shop in order and changed their lives for the better, as friends. I also loved how coming home gave them peace and strength to deal with their chaotic lives. The only real problem I have was the amount of story smashed into this one book. There were enough characters and storylines that there could have been two contemporary women's fiction books created. I became confused at times about which character I was reading about. I want to thank St. Martin's Press and NetGalley for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

 

Murder Uncorked by Maddie Day - 4 Stars!

As the manager of Vino y Vida Wine Bar in Colinas, Cecelia “Cece” Barton’s first Alexander Valley harvest is a whirlwind of activity. But Cece barely has a moment to enjoy her new home when a murder occurs within the wine community, and she's identified as a possible suspect. She has no choice but to open up her own murder investigation. With Allie’s help, Cece is determined to catch the killer and clear her name before everything she’s worked so hard for goes up in flames.

I had fun reading this cozy mystery. I had read the first installment of the series as part of a set of novellas and find it strange that the publishing company didn't acknowledge that first story, yet it's alluded to several times in this book. I liked the main character, and felt that she was a good, although reluctant amateur sleuth. I also liked the different side characters and hope to read more about them in later installments. The plot was very confounding, and I didn't know who done it until the big reveal at the end. I will definitely read more of this series. Thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

 

Take the Honey and Run by Jennie Marts - 5 Stars!

Bailey Briggs, a successful mystery author, returns to her hometown of Humble Hills, Colorado and discovers the dead body of the founder. Bailey grew up on her grandmother's ranch where bees were raised and harvested for honey which her grandmother sells. When honey is found to be the murder weapon, Bailey's grandmother is the main person of interest. Bailey has no choice but to use her fictional detective skills to help solve the murder and ‘smoke-out’ the real culprit.
This was one of the funniest cozy mysteries I've read in a long time. I loved how the author used Bailey's grandmother's friends and put them in some silly situations that made me giggle. All of the characters in this story were fun to read about. The plot was confounding enough that I never could figure out who the culprit was and was surprised by the big reveal in the end. I thoroughly enjoyed myself and can't wait to read the next one in this series.

 

Murder in the Tea Leaves by Laura Childs - 5 Stars!

While Theodosia Browning is working on a movie set, the film’s director is murdered in a tricky electrical accident. When her friend, Delaine, becomes the prime suspect, Theodosia begins investigating. Between hosting a Breakfast at Tiffany’s Tea, a Poetry Tea, and trying to launch her own chocolate line, Theodosia hunts down clues and explores the haunted mansion where the murder took place. Then, a Charleston Film Board member is also murdered. Theodosia, with Drayton by her side, will have to find this clever killer before another body drops.
I have always been a fan of this series, and this story is a great installment. Theodosia Can't help but get involved when one of her friends becomes a suspect in a murder. She has the uncanny ability to ferret out the local gossip and the truth amongst all the lies to find out the identity of the culprit. There was a lot of action, and suspense during the climax of the story which made for an unusual ending. I will definitely read another story from this author again.

 

The Silence of the Flans by Laura Bradford - 3 Stars!

 

Baker Winnie Johnson, owner of the Emergency Dessert Squad, has a deft touch in the kitchen and a soft spot for lost causes. When her business professor beau, Jay Morgan, expresses misgivings over having to fail one of his fourth-year students, Winnie cooks up a sweet solution. She’ll offer an extra credit opportunity in exchange for a little help with her business. But when her protégé’s first dessert delivery poisons a student journalist, the publicity threatens to kill Winnie’s business. Now Winnie must uncover the ingredients behind a recipe for murder before she crumbles under pressure.
I really liked this cozy mystery. Winnie is a unique character who doesn't seem like the cookie cutter amateur sleuth. Her business is very different than what would be a normal bakery business. The emergency dessert squad fascinates me because she brings and delivers delicious pastries to people and doesn't really need a storefront to showcase her wares. The plot was very confounding in that I couldn't figure out the identity of the culprit. I will read another story from this author.

Awakening His Shy Duchess by Christine Merrill - 2 Stars!

Evan Bellwether, the Duke of Fallon, is stunned when Madeline Goddard takes a tumble while running away from a ball and accidentally falls into him. But that’s the least of the duke’s worries when the situation forces them somewhere Evan didn’t want to be—the altar! At first, his new bride appears painfully shy. Could the key to discovering the real Maddie lie with unlocking the passion of their marriage?

I really wanted to like this story more than I did. I didn't sense the chemistry between the main characters, and I honestly felt that something was missing to make the story cohesive. Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

 

Wedding Planner's Deal with the CEO by Nina Milne - 3 Stars!

Poppy Winchester’s wedding-planning business desperately needs rescuing. The only person she knows who can help is her former best friend, self-made billionaire Nathan Larrimore. So, Poppy makes a deal with him that benefits them both. But seeing Nathan again brings suppressed, and inconvenient, desire to the surface! Forced together on a whirlwind business trip to Copenhagen, they’re given a chance to overcome their past and perhaps make a fresh start neither saw coming!
This was a good little romance with great characters who had a lot of baggage from the different relationships with their families. It showcased how a families' drama can affect the relationships of children throughout their lives. I also felt the story was too long and lost its momentum towards the end. Thanks to Harlequin Romance and NetGalley for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.