Romance and Cozy Mystery New Releases for March 2023

 There are several great books being released in March. Here are my recommendations: 

The Heiress at Sea by Christi Caldwell, published on March 14th

A Midsummer's Night Scheme by Harper Kincaid, published on March 21st

A Flicker of a Doubt by Daryl Wood Gerber, published on March 28th

Four Parties and a Funeral by Maria DiRico, published on March 28th

What Happens in the Ballroom by Sabrina Jeffries, published on March 28th

Curds of Prey by Korina Moss, published on March 28th

Yours Truly, The Duke by Amelia Grey, published on March 28th

I want to thank NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, Montlake, Crooked Lane Books, and Kensington Books for granting me the opportunity to read and review these wonderful stories. Happy Reading!

A Bookshop, Candy, and Murder!

 

A Christmas Candy Killing by Christina Romeril
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Identical twin sisters Alex and Hannah are the owners of Murder and Mayhem, a mystery bookshop that sells their famous poison-themed Killer Chocolates. Shortly before Christmas, their neighbor, Jane, confides to Alex that a murderer from a true-crime show has taken up residence in the village. The next morning, Alex shows up at Jane’s house to watch the show, but instead discovers Jane's body, with a box of Killer Chocolates nearby. The sheriff quickly zeroes in on two suspects: Alex, a beneficiary in Jane’s will, and Zack, a handyman who was seen leaving the crime scene. But Alex maintains her innocence and sets out to find the true killer.
This was a great first-in-a-series cozy mystery. I loved the idea that a bookshop sells chocolate. It would be wonderful to visit. Alex is a wonderfully likeable sleuth who solved the mystery using her intellect and observational skills. I can’t wait to read the next one in the series. Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.


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Coffee and Murder!

 

Live and Let Grind by Tara Lush
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Laid-off journalist Lana Lewis is thriving as the proprietor of Perkatory, a coffee shop on Devil’s Beach Island, Florida. She’s dating police chief Noah Garcia, hanging out with her best friend, Erica, and loving her Shih Tzu, Stanley. The only problem is when her neighbor, Gus, uses his leaf blower, and disturbing everyone in the neighborhood. After Erica gets mad and confronts Gus, he’s found dead, killed when his leaf blower explodes. Erica immediately becomes a suspect. Can Lana clear her friend’s name?
This was a great whodunnit with a likeable sleuth, a sunny and warm setting, and a cute romantic subplot. The side characters, like Lana’s quirky father, made me giggle at times. I really enjoyed this book, and I recommend it! Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.


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Five Fortunate Girls!

 

Five Fortunes by Barbara Venkataraman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

When five fourteen-year-old girls get their fortunes from an arcade machine just for kicks, it turns their world upside-down and their close-knit group of friends starts to fall apart. Misunderstandings abound as allegiances shift and outsiders start to come between them. The fortunes seem to be self-fulfilling prophecies - whether the girls believe in them or not.
This short story is an interesting tale about friends and their daily struggles to cope with the world around them. I think that this would’ve been a great full length story, but it needed to be fleshed out more. Thank you to the author for the opportunity to read this story. This review is my unbiased opinion.


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Murder in Miami!

 

Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking by Raquel V. Reyes
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

In Coral Shores, Miami, Cuban-American cooking show star Miriam Quiñones-Smith wakes up to find a corpse in her front yard. Then, her mother-in-law puts her in charge of the Women’s Club annual gala. Miriam and her girlfriends spice up the gala with Caribbean food trucks and a calypso band. While visiting the country club, they hear an argument between the head chef and the club’s manager. Not long after, the chef falls to his death at the bottom of the grand staircase. Can Miriam figure out the truth before she gets stewed?
This was an interesting cozy mystery with a main character that was a refreshing change from the norm. She spoke both Spanish and English, and I liked seeing the different foods and aspects of Latin culture showcased. The plot was intricate, and I felt that there were too many suspects. I became confused at the end during the big reveal. Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for this advanced reader’s copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

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