Archive for the ‘Cozy Mystery’ Category

 

.

Death at the Scottish Broch: A Mia Reid, Archaeologist, Mystery
by Rose Kerr

 


Death at the Scottish Broch: A Mia Reid, Archaeologist, Mystery
Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Isle of Skye, Scotland
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Level Best Books (November 5, 2024)
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 264 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1685128025
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1685128029
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DK89D1R9

.
goodreads badge

Dr. Mia Reid arrives on the Isle of Skye for a summer dig. She learns her friend and trusted colleague, Dr. Ethan Carter, is dead and valuable artifacts are missing.

Interpol agent and Mia’s former lover, Luke Forbes, is working the case with the police. They suspect murder and a smuggling ring.

Mia and her team uncover a treasure with ties to Bonnie Prince Charlie.
Then two students are kidnapped, forcing Mia to trade the treasure for their release. During the rescue, she finds a collection of missing artifacts.

Are the smugglers and kidnappers the same people?

Can she dig up the truth before someone else dies?

~~~~~

Enjoy this peek inside:

The flight to Glasgow was uneventful and arrived slightly ahead of the scheduled time. Mia and Diana went through Immigration and then picked up their large backpacks from the luggage carousel. They breezed through Customs. They made a pit stop at the ladies’ room. Mia washed her face, brushed her teeth, and tied her hair in a braid. She glanced at her watch. Just past noon in Scotland, and back home in Lakeview, it was after seven in the morning. Her stomach gurgled. She had to eat before leaving the airport.

Mia went out to wait for Diana and watched people go through the arrivals area. Two men walked by who looked exactly like the two men who’d run into her yesterday. What were the chances they were in Scotland at the same time as she was? Diana exited the washroom.

“That’s strange. I thought I saw the two men who ran into me yesterday.”

“Where?”

Mia pointed down the hall. “I’m sure it’s just a coincidence. Or someone who looked like them.” Mia shrugged. “Anyway, I’d like to get some food before we leave. How about you?”

“Yes. I’m hungry. How long’s the drive?”

“Depending on the traffic, about five or six hours. I wasn’t sure we’d be able to make the ferry at Mallaig, so we’re going to have to cross the bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh. There should be a coffee shop down here.”

They found the coffee shop and placed their orders.

After eating their meal, Mia scanned her email but didn’t see a new message or text from Ethan. She sent him a quick text letting him know she had arrived in Glasgow. And did the same with Alex and Gran. “Right then, let’s find the car rental agency.”

“Good day, miss. Do you have a reservation?” The rental agency clerk had a shock of red hair, freckles, and snapping blue eyes.

“Hi. Yes, I do.” Mia pulled out her driver’s license and credit card.

The clerk provided her with a form, and Mia filled in the required information.

“There you go, love. It’s in slot eight in our car park. Have you driven in Scotland before?” The rental agency clerk held onto the car keys, almost as if he was afraid to give them to Mia.

Mia grinned. “I have. It’ll take me a few minutes to remember the basics, but I’ll be fine. I last visited the U.K. a year ago.”

“Aye. Then it will work just grand for you.” He handed her the keys and the information packet for the car.

Diana chuckled as they walked out of the airport. “I was afraid he wouldn’t give you the keys.”

“Driving on the left-hand side of the road can take some getting used to. And some people never get it.”

~~~~~

About Rose Kerr

Rose Kerr writes cozy mysteries featuring strong, smart, women protagonists who must draw on their wits and resourcefulness to solve the crime.

Rose was born in a small community in Nova Scotia and has traveled across Canada.

More recently, Rose and her husband have moved to Southern Ontario. When she isn’t writing, Rose and her husband enjoy exploring the new region.

You can find Rose at her website https://rosekerr.com/

She’s active on social media (Facebook, Instagram, and Pinterest) as well.

Author Links: Facebook / Instagram / Pinterest / Goodreads

Purchase Links: Amazon US  – Amazon Canada – Barnes and NobleKobo

~~~~~

Giveaway contest ribbon promo label prize. Vector giveaway banner badge design template

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

February 10 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT  

February 10 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 11 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

February 12 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 12 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 13 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

February 14 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 15 – Jemima Pett, Author – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 15 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

February 16 – Frugal Freelancer – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 17 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW

February 18 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 19 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

February 20 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – REVIEW

February 20 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

February 21 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 22 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

February 23 – The Editing Pen – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 23 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW, AUTHOR INTERVIEW

.

.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

.

Welcome to my stop on the virtual book tour organized for Inn The Dead Of Winter by Goddess Fish Promotions.

Author Rhonda Blackhurst will be awarding a free e-book of Inn the Dead of Winter or book one, Inn the Spirit of Murder to a randomly drawn winner. Don’t forget to enter!

And you can click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Inn The Dead Of Winter

By Rhonda Blackhurst

 

 

Genre: Cozy Mystery

Synopsis

Welcome to Spirit Lake in the dead of a Minnesota winter, where the brutally cold temp isn’t the only thing to fear.

Andie Rose Kaczmarek, a six-year sober life coach and owner of the haunted Spirit Lake Inn, has learned the hard way that the living are far more dangerous than anything in the spirit world.

When a controversial guest fails to return to her room on the same night a body is discovered in a fish house on Big Spirit Lake, Andie Rose teams up with her sponsor and sidekick, Sister Alice, and her emotional support red retriever, Aspen, to solve the case.

After Andie Rose discovers illegal activity on the inn’s property that ties to the murder, the investigation shifts into high gear. As she uncovers shocking secrets of those she thought she knew, someone is intent on keeping her quiet at any cost.

Can the inn’s resident ghost save her from impending harm when it seems the ones closest to her pose the greatest threat?

~~~~~

Enjoy this peek inside:

“Hey, Sister Alice. Good timing.” I wandered to the parlor and stood in front of the fireplace.

“Can’t say that there’s such a thing as good timing when I tell you why I’m calling.” I groaned inwardly. It was going to be one of these days, was it? When I didn’t 1 say anything, she continued. “They found a body in Big Spirit Lake.”

“Holy wicked whiskey!” My mind spun furiously. “Who’s they?”

“Police.”

“Hm. Well, on the positive side of things—and I know this won’t sound good—but at least it wasn’t here at the inn this time. And that someone found it before Aspen and I stumbled upon it when I took him there this afternoon.” I’d found a body at the inn last fall, bringing in the Halloween season in an unexpected fashion.

“Keep in mind when you go this afternoon that the police don’t need your help. Stay out of their way.”

“I’m insulted.”

“Stop pouting. You know it’s true. We’re to keep our own side of the street clean. Not stick your nose in where it doesn’t belong.”

“I want to fire you as my sponsor.”

She snorted with amusement. “Have at it. You’re assuming you could find another one.”

.

About Author Rhonda Blackhurst:

Rhonda is an avid reader, writer, coffee and dark chocolate connoisseur, and certified life coach. She has 10 independently published novels: The Inheritance, a contemporary fiction novel; seven books in the Melanie Hogan Mysteries; and Finding Abby and Abby’s Redemption in the Whispering Pines Romantic Suspense duology. She was awarded the 2022 Master of Literary Arts Award from the Brighton Chamber.

Author Links: Website / Personal Facebook / Author Facebook / Instagram / BookBub

TWRP Buy Link

~~~~~

Giveaway contest ribbon promo label prize. Vector giveaway banner badge design template

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

.

Wheels and Dirty Deals: Paranormal Cozy Mystery
(Harper and Moon Investigations)
by Trixie Silvertale

 


Wheels and Dirty Deals: Paranormal Cozy Mystery (Harper and Moon Investigations)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
6th in Series
Setting – Pin Cherry Harbor – also known as “almost-Canada.”
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sittin’ On A Goldmine Productions LLC (February 18, 2025)
• Number of Pages – 250
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DLVJGZ4J

.
goodreads badge

A cryptic murder. A complete lack of suspects. Can our psychic sleuth find a lead or is she spinning her wheels?

Mitzy Moon is brimming with excitement. Planning an anniversary surprise, she’s working overtime to hide the details of a luxurious European vacation from her husband. But before she can book a single ticket, a shockingly suspicious murder lands in her lap.

With only a flimsy lead, Mitzy heads undercover into the local roller derby league. And though she rallies her entitled feline and meddling Ghost-ma to help hunt down clues, she fears if she can’t break out of the pack, this bout will turn deadly.

Can Mitzy find the killer, or will this be her final lap around the track?

Wheels and Dirty Deals is the sixth book in the hilarious paranormal cozy mystery series, Harper and Moon Investigations, a spinoff from the popular Mitzy Moon Mysteries. If you like snarky heroines, supernatural intrigue, and a dash of romance, then you’ll love Trixie Silvertale’s twisty mystery.

Buy Wheels and Dirty Deals to put the guilty in the penalty box today!

~~~~~

Enjoy this peek inside:

“Looks like you have something on your mind, Harper.”

He laughs lightly. “Never try to fool a psychic. That’s what they tell me, anyway. I just came from Myrtle’s Diner, and Odell said that they’ve added two roller derby teams from Pin Cherry Harbor to the Northwoods League.”

Ghost-ma rips across the bookshop and straight through Erick, sending ghost chills down both of his arms.

“Grams! Take it easy.”

“Oh dear! Tell him I’m sorry. I got so excited! You know I used to play, right?”

“Grams is sorry, and thrilled, and wants to remind us all she used to be a derby girl.”

Erick nods. “Oh, Odell told me some stories. Apparently, Tipsy Kitty was the fastest jammer in the league.”

Isadora hoots with laughter and pride.

My jaw hangs as slack as the waistband on a pair of pants in an “after” photo. “What the heck is a jammer?”

My patient husband nods with understanding. “I got a quick tutorial from Odell. Here’s what I know. There are six skaters on the track for each team. Four of them are blockers. One is the pivot and one skater from each team wears a fabric cover with a star — called ‘panties’ — on their helmet. Those are the jammers.”

“Whoa. Whoa.” My non-athletic head is spinning. “Jammers? Panties? Blockers?”

“You know how it is, Moon. Every sport has its lingo. The point is the jammers have to get past the blockers and make as many laps around the track as they can in two minutes.”

“The game only lasts two minutes? Sounds like the most foolish sport in history.”

“No. No. That’s just one jam. They play for ninety minutes with—”

A loud, bored exhale escapes my lips. “Give it up, Harper. You’ve lost me already. If I can’t see it in action, I can’t follow.”

An amused expression softens his firm jaw. “Good news. The local league team is skating an exhibition bout tonight in the gymnasium at the community college. Should I get tickets?”

Unable to erase the image of Cameron Diaz in Charlie’s Angels, I instantly respond, “I love tickets.”

~~~~~

About Trixie Silvertale

USA TODAY Bestselling author Trixie Silvertale grew up reading an endless supply of Lilian Jackson Braun, Hardy Boys, and Nancy Drew novels. She loves the amateur sleuths in cozy mysteries and obsesses about all things paranormal. Those two passions unite in her Mitzy Moon Mysteries and Harper and Moon Investigations, and she’s thrilled to write them and share them with you.

Author Links : Website / Patreon / Amazon / BookBub / Instagram / Facebook

Purchase Link – Amazon 

~~~~~

Giveaway contest ribbon promo label prize. Vector giveaway banner badge design template

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

February 3 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT  

February 3 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – SPOTLIGHT

February 4 – Cozy Up With Kathy – SPOTLIGHT

February 4 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 5 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

February 6 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

February 7 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 8 – Frugal Freelancer – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 9 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

February 10 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT

February 10 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 11 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

February 12 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW

February 13 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

February 14 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

February 15 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

February 16 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

.

.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

.

Seams Like the Perfect Crime (An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery)
by Lois Winston

 


Seams Like the Perfect Crime (An Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
14th in the Series
Setting – New Jersey
Independently Published (February 4, 2025)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 285 pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DNRBGVSQ

.
goodreads badge

When staffing shortages continue to hamper the Union County homicide squad, Detective Sam Spader once again turns to his secret weapon, reluctant amateur sleuth Anastasia Pollack. How can she and husband Zack Barnes refuse when the victim is their new neighbor?

Revolutionary War reenactor Barry Sumner had the odd habit of spending hours mowing a small patch of packed dirt and weeds until his mower ran out of gas. He’d then guzzle beer on his front porch until he passed out. That’s where Anastasia’s son Nick discovers his body three days after the victim and his family moved into the newly built mini-McMansion across the street.

After a melee breaks out at the viewing, Spader zeroes in on the widow as his prime suspect. However, Anastasia has her doubts. There are other possible suspects, including a woman who’d had an affair with the victim, his ex-wife, the man overseeing the widow’s trust fund, a drug dealer, and the reenactors who were blackmailing the widow and victim.

When another reenactor is murdered, Spader suspects they’re dealing with a serial killer, but Anastasia wonders if the killer is attempting to misdirect the investigation. As she narrows down the suspects, will she jeopardize her own life to learn the truth?

Craft projects included.

About Author Lois Winston

USA Today and Amazon bestselling author Lois Winston began her award-winning writing career with Talk Gertie to Me, a humorous fish-out-of-water novel about a small-town girl going off to the big city and the mother who had other ideas. That was followed by the romantic suspense Love, Lies and a Double Shot of Deception.

Then Lois’s writing segued unexpectedly into the world of humorous amateur sleuth mysteries, thanks to a conversation her agent had with an editor looking for craft-themed mysteries. In her day job, Lois was an award-winning craft and needlework designer, and although she’d never written a mystery—or had even thought about writing a mystery—her agent decided she was the perfect person to pen a series for this editor.

Thus, was born the Anastasia Pollack Crafting Mysteries, which Kirkus Reviews dubbed “North Jersey’s more mature answer to Stephanie Plum.” The series now includes fourteen novels and three novellas. Lois also writes the Empty Nest Mysteries and has written several standalone mystery novellas. Other publishing credits include romance, chick lit, and romantic suspense novels, a series of romance short stories, a children’s chapter book, and a nonfiction book on writing, inspired by her twelve years working as an associate at a literary agency.

Author Links: Website / Newsletter / Twitter/X / Goodreads / BookBub

Killer Crafts & Crafty Killers blog / Booklover’s Bench / The Stiletto Gang

Purchase Links 
Amazon    Kobo     Barnes & Noble    Apple Books

~~~~~

Giveaway contest ribbon promo label prize. Vector giveaway banner badge design template

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

February 4 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

February 4 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 5 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 5 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 6 – Cinnamon, Sugar, and a Little Bit of Murder – REVIEW, RECIPE

February 6 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

February 7 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – CRAFT  POST

February 7 – Eskimo Princess Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 8 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – RECIPE POST

February 8 – Ruff Drafts – SPOTLIGHT

February 9 – Cozy Up With Kathy – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 9 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 10 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

February 11 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 12 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

February 13 – Jane Reads – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 14 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 15 – Frugal Freelancer – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 16 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

February 17 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

.

.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

.

Crime and Cat-astrophes (A Purr-fect Relic Cozy Mystery)
by DeAnna Drake

 


Crime and Cat-astrophes (A Purr-fect Relic Cozy Mystery)
Cozy Mystery
4th in Series
Setting – California
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tule Publishing (February 12, 2025)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 199 pages
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DJTZZVH7

.
goodreads badge

Did the professor get what he deserved, or is murder on the prowl in small-town California?

As a late-summer heat wave scorches the sleepy town of Citrus Grove, the suspicious death of a notoriously unpopular professor puts Rebecca and her talking cat, Aneksi, hot on the trail of another cursed artifact and a killer.

Police Detective Nick Devon, her dashing new flame, is following the rulebook in his investigation, but the Cuthbert Exotic Antiques manager is trusting her instincts as she follows the clues. With her grandfather distracted by an unexpected visitor—who may not be what he seems—and Aneksi rekindling a bond with a long-lost sibling, Rebecca knows she’s on her own to search for the ancient scepter that may hold the key to the dead professor’s medical miracle…and the reason behind his demise.

In this twisty tale of hidden motives, intensifying danger, and a dash of magic, Rebecca must rely on her wits—and, hopefully, Aneksi’s sharp claws—to solve the case before she becomes the cunning murderer’s next victim.

About DeAnna Drake

DeAnna Drake is an award-winning author who writes witty and whimsical cozy mysteries filled with magical animals and feisty heroines who are always striving to balance the scales of justice in an offbeat world.

When she’s not plotting new adventures for her characters, she drinks too much tea, binge-watches crime dramas, and escapes to Disneyland whenever she can.

She lives in Southern California with her family, which includes her two favorite people and one ridiculously pampered border collie.

Author Links: Website / Instagram / Facebook / GoodReads / BookBub

Purchase Link – Amazon 

~~~~~

Giveaway contest ribbon promo label prize. Vector giveaway banner badge design template

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

February 5 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT  

February 5 – Frugal Freelancer – RECIPE

February 6 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLIGHT

February 6 – Eskimo Princess Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 7 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 7 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

February 8 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 8 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 9 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

February 10 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 10 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 11 – Cozy Up With Kathy – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 11 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

February 12 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

February 13 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

February 14 – StoreyBook Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 14 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – GUEST POST

.

.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

 

STAR-CROSSED EGG TARTS
by Jennifer J Chow
January 27 – February 21, 2025 Virtual Book Tour

 

 

Synopsis:
A MAGICAL FORTUNE COOKIE NOVEL

  Jin Bakery has been asked to cater the Lum-Wu outdoor wedding at Pixie Park. The day of the ceremony, Felicity is finishing the “cake” of tiered egg tarts as the wedding party arrives for the ceremony. When one of the groomsmen, Miles Wu, doesn’t arrive, Felicity’s best friend and local florist Kelvin generously steps in for him and the wedding goes smoothly―until cake cutting time. That’s when Felicity finds Miles’ dead body beneath the table with her egg tarts display, stabbed by Kelvin’s gardening shears. With the detective’s sights on Kelvin, Felicity starts sleuthing away to prove his innocence, revealing dark secrets about all the wedding’s attendants. They each had something to hide―and a reason to quiet Miles forever. To make matters worse, Felicity’s powers of prediction are on the fritz thanks to the emotional turmoil of a surprise visit from her estranged father.

When the groom gets poisoned at the send-off party and winds up in a coma, the stakes are even higher, not to mention Felicity’s feelings for Kelvin are beginning to feel more than friendly. Will Felicity’s magic return in time to catch the true culprit and rescue her budding relationship with Kelvin?

Praise for the Magical Fortune Cookie series and Jennifer J. Chow:

“A spellbinding whodunit unfolds in the first installment of Jennifer J. Chow’s Magical Fortune Cookie series.” ~ Woman’s World

“The story itself is light, sweet, and delectable. The ensemble of interesting characters adds a crispy texture to the narrative, and, true to the cozy mystery genre, a central mystery―the ill-fated fortune―keeps readers engaged from start to finish.” ~ The Big Thrill

“This first in a new series featuring a likable Chinese American heroine will appeal to fans of Jenn McKinlay, Eve Calder, or Joanne Fluke.” ~ Booklist

“Nobody writes cozy mysteries quite like Jennifer J. Chow. No matter what is going wrong in my life, I know that all I need to do for some comfort is turn to one of Chow’s books. Chow has done it again with Ill-Fated Fortune. I did not want to leave Felicity’s side even for a moment, and you won’t want to either.” ~ Jesse Q. Sutanto, Edgar Award-winning author of Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers

“A magical new culinary cozy mystery series filled with family, friendship, and heart―and a pinch of real magic.” ~ Gigi Pandian, USA Today bestselling author of the Secret Staircase Mysteries on Ill-Fated Fortune

Book Details:

Genre: Cozy Mystery, Amateur Sleuth, Asian American fiction

Published by: Minotaur Publication Date: January 21, 2025 Number of Pages: 352 ISBN: 9781250351623 (ISBN10: 1250351626) Series: The Magical Fortune Cookie series, #2

Book Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | BookShop.org | Goodreads | Minotaur

.

MY REVIEW

I love cozy mysteries. When I was getting ready to write this review I had a thought. How did I get started on reading them. And I remembered. I was at the library, casually browsing shelves when a book cover caught my eye. It was colorful and cute and the clever title made me grin, so I checked it out. After having such fun reading it I went back and checked out the rest of the series. Thus, my love of cozies began.

Star-Crossed Egg Tarts checked all my boxes for a cozy. A fun, colorful cover. A clever title. A murder mystery. And entertaining characters with a sprinkling of romance added to the mix.

Speaking of romance. I wondered whether Kelvin and Felicity would pursue more than being friends. They sure worked well together when trying to solve the murder and I really liked them.

Something I forgot to mention is how many cozies have some kind of theme. It often shows in the title and cover. This one had magical baking. That really made me curious. I was wondering if it would be similar to a movie I’d seen some time ago. The woman’s emotions would become a magical ingredient when she baked and the customers would experience those emotions while eating her creations. That wasn’t the case here but it was still intriguing.

I had a lot of fun trying to figure out who the bad guy was and getting to know the characters. This is the second book in the series and now I want to go back and read the first one. I’ll probably reread this after and plan on following this clever series.

4 STARS

.

Enjoy this peek inside:

Chapter 1

I put the last egg tart in place on the tiered circular display, stepped back, and admired my handiwork. From a distance, if you squinted and tilted your head just right, you might actually mistake it for a wedding cake made of gold, or Jin. Fitting, since “Jin” was both my surname and the Mandarin word for “gold.” I grinned. Guess I’d been fated for this job.

Happily, I even got to rope in loved ones as other vendors. My best friend, Kelvin Love (who has the most fitting name to cater a wedding), handled the elaborate floral displays. And my godmother, Alma Paz, made the candle arrangements, including the votives for the cake table. She’d even handcrafted bowl-shaped lace holders for each votive candle.

Once the late afternoon dissolved into evening, the small candles would be lit, and the cake made of egg tarts would turn into an enchanting display. Quite literally, because my mom had used her magic to bake joy into every last bite. After all, that’s what we Jins do—pour joy into our signature recipe treats to flow out to others. Except my own brand of magic came with an extra bonus: I made special fortune cookies that provided happiness and accurately predicted future happenings. I added a stash of business cards to the table. I’d been made official co-owner of Jin Bakery with my mom, and I now had business cards to attest to that exciting fact. Besides, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to have my contact info out there. If people were in the area for the wedding, maybe they’d decide to check out our local bakery, too. Plus, many of the guests were from nearby Fresno, the bride’s hometown, though a fair share hailed from up north, where the groom’s relatives lived. It wasn’t too much of a trek from NorCal to visit Pixie, right? Not for delicious egg tarts, pineapple buns, and fortune cookies, all coated with magic. “It’s beautiful,” someone whispered from near my shoulder. I would have startled at the interruption, but the voice was so gentle, it didn’t scare me in the least. A bridesmaid must have snuck into the main tent without my noticing. Maybe the soft grass surrounding the tent had masked her footsteps. Or she’d minced along in those stiletto sandals. She was a wisp of a young woman, just a few years past twenty. Even though I was twenty-eight, I couldn’t imagine having ever been so bright-eyed and hopeful as the girl before me. The twin honey-colored braids wrapped around her head only added to her youthfulness. “Haley, was it?” I asked. She nodded, almost bouncing on her heels. “You remembered my name.” “It’s distinctive. Very pretty.” She flushed a sweet shade of pink. “I like your name, too. Felicity is lovely.” “Is that a rose tucked behind your ear?” I asked, pointing to the blossom, the full pink petals brushing up against a tiny golden ear cuff lined with diamonds. She widened her green eyes at me. “Uh, is that okay? I mean, do you mind? Are you and Kelvin together—” “It’s fine,” I said, waving away her concern. “Kelvin and I are just friends.” Best friends, technically. “I take it he’s still working on the flower arch outside?” “Said he was ‘securing the petals.’” Kelvin was a stickler for floral quality. Guess that’s what made us good entrepreneurs in our little town of Pixie. I glanced at Haley’s T-shirt and jeans. “What time is it? Do you need to change?” “Four forty-five,” she said. “I better get ready.” The wedding guests would show up at six. Right now, only us hired help and the wedding party, plus the parents of the bride and groom, were roaming the surrounding green space. “Jada’s in our tent doing makeup, and she said she’d help me,” Haley said. “I should get going, too.” I’d promised the bride, Leanne, that I’d check on the tea ceremony. Not that I’d be super helpful. I’m third-gen Chinese American and had had to google what the traditional tea ritual entailed. I followed Haley’s bouncing steps out of the larger main tent into the lush green of Pixie Park. Our town’s biggest park definitely had enough space for the Lum-Wu ceremony. The bride and groom had asked to pitch four tents for the event: a reception tent for food, his and her tents for wedding prep, and a tent for the traditional tea serving ritual. Pixie Park also boasted a large hill, and it was sure to look magnificent with its aerial view for the actual wedding ceremony and exchanging of vows. Kelvin was on the hill now, fussing over the flowers on the custom arch he’d made. I waved at him. He bobbed his head at me, his fingers still patting petals into place. Kelvin looked good fancied up, in a dress shirt and pressed slacks. His usual go-to was a casual Henley and jeans. There was a rainbow of beautiful blossoms decorating the immense arch he’d constructed. I didn’t know why Kelvin was so worried. There wasn’t a breeze to be found. It was perfect, and the flowers should stay put. If anything, the temperature was slightly too warm today. Thankfully, it was dry heat, typical of the San Joaquin Valley. Whoever thought tea was a great idea in July had not factored in the weather. Then again, traditions were important. I headed over to the tea tent, and as soon as I put my head through the flap, Leanne squealed. “You came to help. Thank goodness,” she said. The bride-to-be wore a red qipao with a golden phoenix trailing down the front. Her hair was pinned up, and pearls were scattered across the hairdo as decoration, matching the dangling pearl earrings she wore. “How can I assist?” I asked. “With the hot plate. You’re good in the kitchen. Er, bakery. Can you get it started?” “I can try.” I mean, I was hired to cater the cake, not the tea. But I’d done the bare minimum online research. Maybe I could fake my way through. *** Excerpt from Star-Crossed Egg Tarts by Jennifer J Chow. Copyright 2025 by Jennifer J Chow. Reproduced with permission from St. Martin’s Publishing Group. All rights reserved.

 

 

About Author Jennifer J Chow:

.

Jennifer J Chow

Agatha, Anthony, Lefty, and Lilian Jackson Braun Award-nominated author. Jennifer J. Chow writes cozy mysteries filled with hope and heritage.

Catch Up With Jennifer J Chow: www.JenniferJChow.com Amazon Author Profile Goodreads BookBub – @jenniferjchow Instagram – @jenjchow Threads – @jenjchow Facebook – @JenJChow

 

.
Tour Participants:

Visit these other great hosts on this tour for more great reviews, interviews, guest posts, and opportunities to WIN in the giveaway! Click here to view the Tour Schedule

 

 

ENTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN!

This is a giveaway hosted by Partners in Crime Tours for Jennifer J Chow. See the widget for entry terms and conditions. Void where prohibited.

 

Can’t see the giveaway? Click Here!

 

 

Get More Great Reads at Partners In Crime Tours

 

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

.

The Mystery in the Margins: A Cozy Mystery

(Havenwood Paranormal Cozy Mysteries)

by L.L. Gray

 


The Mystery in the Margins: A Cozy Mystery (Havenwood Paranormal Cozy Mysteries)
Paranormal Cozy Mystery
1st in Series
Setting – Connecticut
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Heroic Rose Publishing (August 25, 2024)
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 258 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 195887339X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1958873397
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 258 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1958873217
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1958873212
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CR81NTNC

.
goodreads badge

A quaint bookshop, a sprinkle of magic, and a dash of mystery.

Harper Sullivan yearns for a place to call home, preferably with a delightful bakery nearby. When news arrives that she’s inherited her great-grandmother’s bookshop in the charming town of Havenwood, Harper eagerly seizes the chance. Unbeknownst to her, the quaint bookshop carries more than just shelves of stories—it harbors inherited mysteries and a touch of magical mayhem.

But instead of the cozy haven she envisioned, Harper finds herself entangled in inheritance drama, a surprising cousin rivalry, and a daring book thief on the loose. Can she use her wits and witchy powers to untangle the mystery and safeguard her dreams from unraveling before they even begin?

Crack the case today! Grab your copy and solve the mystery!

About L.L. Gray 

L.L. Gray writes warm, witty, and whimsical cozy mysteries filled with magic, mystery, and a dash of humor. Her books transport readers to charming worlds where lovable characters navigate twists and turns with a touch of magic. A lifelong lover of fantasy and myths, L.L. Gray blends humor and heart, crafting stories that feel like coming home. When she’s not writing, she’s often battling gnomes and other magical mischief-makers with her kids or connecting with readers online.

Author Links: Website / Facebook / Instagram / Goodreads / BookBub

Purchase Link – Amazon 

~~~~~

Giveaway contest ribbon promo label prize. Vector giveaway banner badge design template

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

February 3 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

February 4 – Baroness Book Trove – REVIEW

February 4 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 5 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 5 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

February 6 – Angel’s Book Nook – SPOTLIGHT

February 7 – Frugal Freelancer – CHARACTER INTERVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

February 8 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

February 9 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW  

February 10 – Storybook Lady – REVIEW

February 11 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 12 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

February 13 – StoreyBook Reviews – REVIEW

February 14 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

February 15 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

February 16 – Cozy Up WIth Kathy – REVIEW- AUTHOR INTERVIEW

.

.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

.

A Tisket A Tasket Not Another Casket: A Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mystery
by Heather Weidner

 


A Tisket A Tasket Not Another Casket: A Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mystery
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Virginia
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Level Best Books (January 14, 2025)
Print length ‏ : ‎ 277 pages
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DRZ7N3XW

.
goodreads badge

Excitement is in the air as everyone in Mermaid Bay is preparing for the Christmas season. This year promises to be more dazzling than ever when the business council sponsors a competition for the town’s lucrative summer fireworks contract. The quaint little beach town is ready to be wowed with choreographed shows and drone action that light up the night sky.

Instead of goodwill and sparkles, two of the teams take the competition to new lows with corporate espionage, feuds, and sabotage, and Jade and her team at ‘Tis the Season are ground zero for all the explosive action. When one of the competitors turns up murdered near Jade’s shop, she has to solve the mystery before the holidays are ruined.

About Heather Weidner

Through the years, Heather Weidner has been a cop’s kid, technical writer, editor, college professor, software tester, and IT manager. She writes the Jules Keene Glamping Mysteries, the Mermaid Bay Christmas Shoppe Mysteries, the Delanie Fitzgerald Mysteries, and the Pearly Girls Mysteries.

Her short stories appear in the Virginia is for Mysteries series, 50 Shades of Cabernet, Deadly Southern Charm, and Murder by the Glass, and she has non-fiction pieces in Promophobia and The Secret Ingredient: A Mystery Writers’ Cookbook.

She is a member of Sisters in Crime: National, Central Virginia, Chessie, Guppies, and Grand Canyon Writers, International Thriller Writers, and James River Writers, and she blogs regularly with the Writers Who Kill.

Originally from Virginia Beach, Heather has been a mystery fan since Scooby-Doo and Nancy Drew. She lives in Central Virginia with her husband and a pair of Jack Russell terriers.

Author Links: Website and Blog / Facebook / Threads / BlueSky / TikTok

Instagram / Goodreads / Amazon / BookBub / Twitter/X

Purchase Link – Amazon 

~~~~~

Giveaway contest ribbon promo label prize. Vector giveaway banner badge design template

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

January 29 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

January 29 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

January 30 – Baroness Book Trove – SPOTLIGHT

January 30 – Ascroft, eh? – AUTHOR GUEST POST

January 31 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

February 1 – MJB Reviewers – SPOTLGHT

February 2 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 3 – Frugal Freelancer – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

February 3 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 4 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 5 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 6 – Ruff Drafts – RECIPE POST

February 7 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

February 8 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

February 9 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

February 10 – StoreyBook Reviews – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 11 – Eskimo Princess Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

 

 

.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

.

Soft Serve Sleighing (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries)
by Lena Gregory

 


Soft Serve Sleighing (Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries)
Cozy Mystery
5th in Series
Setting – Long Island, NY
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Gemma Halliday Publishing (January 28, 2025)
Number of Pages – 226
Kindle ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DLHPWDNT

.
goodreads badge

From author Lena Gregory comes a delightfully delicious cozy mystery…

With most of Eastern Long Island closed down for a blizzard, Danika Delaney and her friends are holed up in her old fashioned malt shop, the Coffee & Cream Café, with ice cream and hot chocolate. However, their plans to wait out the storm in cozy company are interrupted when a popular YouTuber and her two companions show up at the door—they’ve been trapped by the storm, and Dani generously offers to serve them breakfast. But her generosity isn’t rewarded in kind, as the reviewer then tries to extort money from Dani in exchange for a good review! When the storm finally clears, Dani is happy to have seen the last of them.

Or so she thought.

Dani and her friends decide to go sleigh riding the morning after the storm clears, but instead of a winter wonderland, they find the extorting YouTuber…dead! To make matters worse, Dani suddenly finds herself accused of the woman’s murder. Intent on restoring her reputation, Dani sets out to prove she didn’t do it. This is one storm she’s not sure she can weather…

About Lena Gregory

Lena Gregory is the author of the Bay Island Psychic Mysteries, which take place on a small island between the north and south forks of Long Island, New York, the All-Day Breakfast Café Mysteries, which are set on the outskirts of Florida’s Ocala National Forest, the Mini-Meadows Mysteries, set in a community of tiny homes in Central Florida, and the Coffee & Cream Café Mysteries, which take place in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, New York.

Lena grew up in a small town on the south shore of eastern Long Island, but she recently traded in cold, damp, gray winters for the warmth and sunshine of central Florida, where she now lives with her husband, three kids, son-in-law, and four dogs. Her hobbies include spending time with family, reading, and walking. Her love for writing developed when her youngest son was born and didn’t sleep through the night. She works full-time as a writer and a freelance editor and is a member of Sisters in Crime.

Author Links: Newsletter / Website / Facebook 

Facebook Page / Twitter / Goodreads / Pinterest

Purchase Links
Amazon    B&N    Kobo

~~~~~

Giveaway contest ribbon promo label prize. Vector giveaway banner badge design template

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

January 28 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

January 28 – Reading, Writing & Stitch-Metic – AUTHOR GUEST POST, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

January 28 – fundinmental – SPOTLIGHT

January 29 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 29 – Reading Is My SuperPower – REVIEW

January 30 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – REVIEW, CHARACTER GUEST POST, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

January 31 – Guatemala Paula Loves to Read – REVIEW

January 31 –  Celticlady’s Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 1 – Frugal Freelancer – CHARACTER INTERVIEW, INDIVIDUAL GIVEAWAY

February 1 – Elizabeth McKenna – Author – SPOTLIGHT

February 2 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

February 2 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

February 3 – Angel’s Book Nook – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 3 – Read Your Writes Book Reviews – CHARACTER GUEST POST

February 4 – Ruff Drafts – AUTHOR GUEST POST

February 4 – Cassidy’s Bookshelves – SPOTLIGHT

February 5 – Novels Alive – REVIEW

February 5 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – REVIEW

February 6 – Ascroft, eh? – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

February 7 – View from the Birdhouse – REVIEW

February 7 – StoreyBook Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

February 8 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

February 9 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – REVIEW

February 10 – Deal Sharing Aunt – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

February 10 – Sarah Can’t Stop Reading Books – REVIEW

.

.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

 

.

Secrets, Songbirds, and Succulents: A Succulent Sleuth Cozy Mystery
by Iris March

 


Secrets, Songbirds, and Succulents: A Succulent Sleuth Cozy Mystery
Cozy Mystery
3rd in Series
Setting – Ohio
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Wandering Gingko Press (January 23, 2025)
~250 Pages
Digital ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DQQ8XJLL

.
goodreads badge

The annual Buckeye Trail Town Festival. A trail construction site. And one dead naturalist.

The charming town of Hawthorn Heights is celebrating its connection to the Buckeye Trail with a weekend-long town festival. When a local naturalist is found dead at the bottom of a ravine off the trail, amateur sleuth and garden center manager Molly Green finds herself tangled in a murder investigation – again.

As the Trail Festival concludes, Molly unearths unexpected secrets about the bird-obsessed naturalist’s life along with other people in her small community. When the police focus on who Molly knows is the wrong suspect, she starts her own investigation with her flock of fellow amateur detectives. Will Molly and her team identify the killer or will they fly away free?

Secrets, Songbirds, and Succulents is a heartwarming and suspenseful cozy mystery that will keep readers guessing until the very end. Perfect for fans of small-town mysteries and amateur sleuths with both birding and eco-friendly themes.

About Author Iris March

Iris March has a reputation for killing houseplants and now she’s killing people off in books? Coincidence? Perhaps not. Iris has spent two decades working in the sustainability field and is usually either reading a book or on a trail. She lives in Ohio with her husband, son, and three cats.

Author Links: Website / Instagram / Facebook / GoodReads

Purchase Link – Amazon

~~~~~

Giveaway contest ribbon promo label prize. Vector giveaway banner badge design template

a Rafflecopter giveaway

~~~~~

TOUR PARTICIPANTS

January 27 – Jody’s Bookish Haven – SPOTLIGHT

January 27 – Socrates Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

January 28 – Christy’s Cozy Corners – CHARACTER GUEST POST

January 28 – Frugal Freelancer – SPOTLIGHT

January 29 – Angel’s Book Nook – AUTHOR INTERVIEW

January 29 – FUONLYKNEW – SPOTLIGHT

January 30 – Cozy Up With Kathy – REVIEW

January 30 – Books, Ramblings, and Tea – SPOTLIGHT

January 31 – Sneaky the Library Cat’s Blog – CHARACTER INTERVIEW

January 31 – Christa Reads and Writes – REVIEW

February 1 – Escape With Dollycas Into A Good Book – SPOTLIGHT

February 1 – Boys’ Mom Reads! – SPOTLIGHT

February 2 – Maureen’s Musings – SPOTLIGHT

February 2 – Sapphyria’s Book Reviews – SPOTLIGHT

.

.

~~~~~

Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.