Four Parties and a Funeral by Maria DiRico - 4 stars!

 

Mia Carina lives in Astoria, Queens, and runs her family's catering hall, Belle View Banquet Manor. The June events schedule is busting out all over with proms, graduations, and of course, weddings. There are unexpected bookings too, including a casting call for the pilot of Dons of Ditmars Boulevard. Belle View quickly becomes the site of a sea of wanna-be goombahs and phony girlfriends, and some of Mia's friends insist on getting in on the action. The production company owner and his executive producer ex-wife have assembled a motley crew that does as much infighting and backstabbing as the on-screen "talent." Even so, it's a shock when a dead body is found in the pool house of a local mansion rented by the show. But Mia intends to make sure the killer gets jail time, not airtime.
This was a great cozy mystery to curl up to and read. The characters are unique in that I haven't seen too many of them in other stories. They make me laugh with their curious antics. The plot of this story was very entertaining, and it kept me guessing about whodunit until the very end. I recommend this story to anyone who likes a cozy mystery with some humor. thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Publishing for the honor of reading this advanced reader's copy. This review is my honest opinion.

Beguiling Her Enemy Warrior by Lucy Morris - 3 stars!

Captured by the infamous Lord Rhys, a Welsh prince intent on revenge against her family, Viking healer Helga must keep her wits about her if she’s to be freed. Easier said than done when she desires him rather than fears him! Helga senses there’s good inside Rhys and feels compelled to reach his heart. But first, she must convince him that she's not the enemy.
Even though this romance is the 3rd in the series it can be read as a standalone. I loved the main characters and how they found they had a lot in common despite being from different religions. There was a lot of action, and you could feel the romance between the main characters. My thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin for the honor of reading this advanced reader's copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

 

Curds of Prey by Korina Moss - 5 stars!

Yarrow Glen's favorite cheese shop, Curds & Whey, gets to be a part of Summer Harrington’s wedding. Cheese monger Willa Bauer is going all out for the wedding shower’s cheese bar. A tasting ends in disaster when Willa’s potential beaux, Roman, gets in a fight with the groom. Then at the end of the wedding shower Willa finds the groom in the stable, dead. Willa must follow the trail of cheese curds to find a killer before she gets creamed.
This was a wonderful cozy mystery full of tasty characters and a scrumptious plot. Willa is one of my favorite sleuths because she tries to work with law enforcement, and she doesn't think that they are stupid. I also love that the law enforcement characters are well crafted and not dumbed down. But the best thing about this story is the plot. I always try to figure out whodunit, but I was very surprised with the culprit in the end. I can't wait to read another tasty mystery from Korina Moss. Thank you to NetGalley and St Martin's Press for this advanced reader's copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

 

Guarding a Forbidden Love by Carla Cassidy - 4 stars!

Long before he started helping her renovate her bakeshop, Sam Bravano noticed Harper Brennen, but she refuses to believe that he’s interested in an older woman. He’s doing his best to charm her when they make a grisly discovery together. Someone is very unhappy with their budding relationship. Sam wants to protect Harper, but his attraction to her might make him a deadly threat.
This story is a part of a four book romantic suspense series. Even though the story is a continuation, the romance is the main plot of this book. I loved how this young man became the hero to an older independent woman. The passion between them was heartfelt, and sweet. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Publishing for the honor of reading this advanced reader's copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

 

Murder at an Irish Bakery by Carlene O'Connor - 2 stars!

In Ireland, the locals are buzzing with excitement over a reality TV baking contest. When someone is murdered, Garda Siobhan O’Sullivan is on the case.
Even though this story had a good plot and some interesting characters, it didn't hold my interest like I hoped. It seemed to drag and there was no excitement. It felt like a mystery but there wasn't enough coziness for me to keep interested in it. I want to thank Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity of reading this advanced reader's copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

 

Cinderella's Forbidden Prince by Ruby Basu - 4 stars!

 

As conservator Priya starts her first day at the palace on Adysara, the excitement of landing her dream project still hasn’t faded! But it’s Prince Rohan’s unexpected offer to be her tour guide that truly has her heart racing. While visiting the island’s caves and murals, she can’t ignore how he makes her feel. Yet Rohan is duty bound to “marry well.” Is a forbidden fling with the prince a line she’s willing to cross?
This was a great little romance to read after something heavy and daunting. The characters were well written and likable, and the plot was sweet and not overly sensual. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Romance for the opportunity and honor of reading this advanced reader's copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.

A Midsummer Night's Sheme by Harper Kincaid - 2 stars!

Everything is returning to the calm that Quinn Caine and her cousin Sister Daria are used to in their town of Vienna, a movie star crash lands into their peace and quiet. Chad Frivole is Vienna’s prodigal son. The once notorious lothario has returned a Broadway star, ready to make a different kind of mark on his hometown. Not everyone is celebrating his return. When he turns up dead in his car, trapped with a sack full of snakes, and then Quinn's brother's life is threatened, Quinn investigates with the help of her cousin Sister Daria to find the truth.

I really wanted to like this story more but ever since the first page I felt a disconnection. I never read mysteries in order so, admittedly, I didn't read the first story in this series. I got into the story and understood most of what was going on. The characters are likable, and the plot made me want to turn the pages until the end. I was surprised by who the culprit was. The very end of this story left a bad taste in my mouth. I hate when there are cliffhangers. There was really no reason to use such a device for this book. I want my mysteries all tied up in a neat bow at the end of the story. Thank you to NetGalley and Crooked Lane Books for the honor of reading this advanced Reader's copy. This review is my unbiased opinion.