Hello fellow book lovers and sleuths! So I am back from taking a week off to celebrate my birthday and share with y’all what I’ve read, what I’m reading and what’s next on my summer reading TBR.
Happy reading!
Currently Reading:
Smile Beach Murder (Book 1-An Outer Banks Bookshop Mystery) by Alicia Bessette

What better book to read while you’re enjoying your birthday at the beach than a mystery that takes place at the beach! I just started this book but I am enjoying it so much!
Blurb from back of book
When Callie is laid off from her reporting job, she returns to her hometown of Cattail Island and lands a gig at the local bookstore — the same one where she found comfort after her mother died. In fact, the anniversary of her mother’s infamous death is approaching. Years ago, Teri Padget tumbled from the top of the lighthouse. As islanders are once again gossiping about the tragedy, devestating news strikes: the lighthouse has claimed another victim — Eva Meeks, of Meeks Hardware. The police are calling it suicide, but Callie does not believe Eva jumped any more than she believes her mother did — especially because Callie knows that before her death, Eva had dug up a long-forgotten treasure hunt that could have put a target on Eva’s back. In Callie’s search for answers, she enlists the help of some beloved books and several new friends, including the handsome local martial arts instructor, Toby Dodge. But when another death rocks Cattail Island, Callie must face her fears alone. As she earns enemies in pursuit of the truth, Callie knows she will either uncover the killer or become a victim herself.
Finished Reading:
A Side of Murder (Book 1-A Cape Cod Foodie Mystery) by Amy Pershing

When I finished this book I immediately went on Amazon and ordered the other books in this series! So far there are three books in this series, the third one came out this month, and I am hoping this series has a long run!
I loved Samantha Barnes who is or was an up and coming chef in the NYC food scene until that unfortunate YouTube video that costs her her job and her marriage and now she finds herself back home after inheriting her great aunt Ida’s house. Instead of getting her aunt’s house fixed up to sale and then back to NY she finds herself reviewing a restaurant for the local paper that was formerly run by her parents and on top of that she stumbles across a body! It doesn’t help that the new harbormaster is her teen crush Jason Captiva.
The author did a great job keeping the plot moving and a big plus for me is there were not too many suspects! I loved Samantha and her friends back story it was just enough to know them and to look forward to getting to know them. There was not too many red herrings.
What didn’t work for me was I felt it was too long and I was not a fan of two different murderers and one of the culprits didn’t technically commit a murder. It just got really complicated at the end.
I give this book 3 1/2 stars
Pint of No Return (Book 1-Shake Shop Mystery Series) by Dana Mentink

This has been on my TBR pile for months so what better time to move it from TBR to read than summer time! I’ve heard so many rave reviews about the new series so I was really excited to read this book. I finished reading this book at the beach.
Trinidad Jones fines herself starting over after her divorce from her criminal husband Gabe in his hometown of Upper Sprocket, Oregon instead of Miami because Gabe left her one of his businesses in her name. Upper Sprocket is also home her ex’s two other ex-wives who he left businesses and property to. Trinidad along with her senior canine sidekick Noodles is working to have Shimmy & Shake Shop’s grand opening for the upcoming 4th of July celebrations. Of course there is the murder of the Popcorn Palace owner and Juliette one of the ex-wives is arrested for the murder. Trinidad along with her new friends and new love interest Quinn who own the nut farm with his brother Doug set out to prove Juliette’s innocence and find out who’s the real killer.
There is also a second mystery that involves a priceless artifact going on at the same time that is connected to the murder that at times kinda took away from the actual murder.
Anytime you read a book that makes you constantly crave milkshakes then the author has done their job!
I give this book 4 stars!
Next Read:
Tea and Treachery (Book 1-Tea by the Sea) by Vickie Delaney

This is the Cozy Mystery Book Club’s June pick and I am excited to re-read this delightful book again. Vicki Delany is one of my favorite authors.
Blurb from back of the book
As the proud proprietor and head pastry chef of Tea by the Sea, a traditional English tearoom on the picturesque bluffs of Cape Cod, Lily Roberts has her hands full, often literally. But nothing keeps her busier than steering her sassy grandmother, Rose, away from trouble. Rose operates the grand old Victorian B & B adjacent to Lily’s tea shop . . . for now. An aggressive real estate developer, Jack Ford, is pushing hard to rezone nearby land, with an eye toward building a sprawling golf resort, which would drive Rose and Lily out of business.
Tempers are already steaming, but things really get sticky when Ford is found dead at the foot of Rose’s property and the police think she had something to do with his dramatic demise. Lily can’t let her grandmother get burned by a false murder charge. So she starts her own investigation and discovers Ford’s been brewing bad blood all over town, from his jilted lover to his trophy wife to his shady business partners. Now, it’s down to Lily to stir up some clues, sift through the suspects, and uncover the real killer before Rose is left holding the tea bag.
All Fudged Up (Book 1 — A Candy-Cody Mystery) by Nancy Coco

I also belong to a Facebook book club and the first book of Nancy Coco’s Candy-Coated mystery series All Fudged Up is the June book for this book club. There are ten books in this series. This series has been on my to buy list forever and so I am so glad this is the June pick and I have high hopes for this book.
Blurb from back of the book
Welcome to the Historic McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop — where life is sweet, revenge is sweeter, and murder is here to to stay…
You Can’t Fudge An Alibi
Allie McMurphy is up to her neck in renovations at the grand old hotel that’s been in her family for generations. With its quaint Victorian charm — and world-famous fudge shop — the place is one of Mackinac Island’s most beloved landmarks.
Sure, every family has a skeleton or two in the closet. But Allie didn’t expect to find an actual corpse inside hers, especially one Joe Jessup, who had a long-running feud with her dear departed grandfather. Which makes Allie the number-one suspect.
Can she sniff out the culprit before another victim checks in?