Wines Up by Wendy Meadows My Review

 

About the book 

Murder is on the menu in Rosemary Harbor—and everyone’s favorite gift basket shop might hold the deadly clue.

Hillary Sheridan moved to the picturesque seaside town of Rosemary Harbor for a fresh start after the loss of her husband. Running Something Special, her charming gift basket shop, has been a welcome escape—until a local businessman turns up dead, and one of her baskets becomes the center of a sinister mystery.

When Police Chief Preston Davis starts sniffing around the shop for answers, Hillary is drawn into the investigation despite her best intentions. But her knack for reading people soon uncovers more secrets than she bargained for. With her matchmaking assistant Rose stirring up gossip and her fiercely loyalp daughter Annabelle determined to protect her father’s memory, Hillary has her hands full navigating small-town drama—and a budding friendship with the handsome police chief.

Can Hillary untangle the clues and save her shop’s reputation, or will her sleuthing make her the killer’s next target?

Pour a glass of your favorite wine and settle in for a cozy mystery packed with charm, intrigue, and a parrot who knows too much.

This cozy mystery is a clean read: no graphic violence, sex, or strong language. It can be read in one to two hours. It is perfect for those moments when you are waiting at an appointment or want to enjoy a quick read. gift basket shop, has been a welcome escape—until a local businessman turns up dead, and one of her baskets becomes the center of a sinister mystery.

When Police Chief Preston Davis starts sniffing around the shop for answers, Hillary is drawn into the investigation despite her best intentions. But her knack for reading people soon uncovers more secrets than she bargained for. With her matchmaking assistant Rose stirring up gossip and her fiercely loyal daughter Annabelle determined to protect her father’s memory, Hillary has her hands full navigating small-town drama—and a budding friendship with the handsome police chief.

Can Hillary untangle the clues and save her shop’s reputation, or will her sleuthing make her the killer’s next target?

Pour a glass of your favorite wine and settle in for a cozy mystery packed with charm, intrigue, and a parrot who knows too much.

This cozy mystery is a clean read: no graphic violence, sex, or strong language. It can be read in one to two hours. It is perfect for those moments when you are waiting at an appointment or want to enjoy a quick read.

And I thought 

I am interested in reading more in the series. 

However I really did not care for AI voice. It was monatone and no difference in characters male or female. 

The birds chatter is key to storyline and it just did not come off well. 

I did enjoy the storyline.  

The characters were charming. 

The author did a great job of introducing each one.  

I liked the locale and town name. 

And I enjoyed Hillary's profession and her reasons for making gift baskets. 

I did not notice the length but the book seemed short. 

Perhaps because I enjoyed it

I look forward to reading a print copy of the rest of series.  

The Series

Buy the book 

Available on Amazon 

Click Here

Cover Story feat Knight Brew by Heather Day Gilbert

 

Todays feature . . . 

About the book 

Book Nine in the RWA Daphne Award-winning series!

Welcome to the Barks & Beans Cafe, a quaint place where folks pet shelter dogs while enjoying a cup of java...and where murder sometimes pays a visit.

The Barks & Beans booth at the Renaissance Faire is hopping, since Macy managed to talk her muscled redhead brother into donning a kilt for the occasion. Even better, Macy's boyfriend Titan has come for a visit, so she can't wait to peruse the shops and watch the shows with him.

But when a well-rehearsed joust takes a fatal turn, Macy becomes a key witness. Can she believe her eyes, or did someone cloak their ruthless intent with smoke and mirrors? A late night stakeout seems the only way to determine what really happened...but someone scarier than the plague doctor is lying in wait for Macy, and this time, the damsel might not find a way out of her distress.

Join siblings Macy and Bo Hatfield as they sniff out crimes in their hometown...with plenty of dogs along for the ride! The Barks & Beans Cafe cozy mystery series features a small town, an amateur sleuth, and no swearing or graphic scenes. 

The Series

The Barks & Beans Cafe series in order:

Book 1: No Filter

Book 2: Iced Over

Book 3: Fair Trade

Book 4: Spilled Milk

Book 5: Trouble Brewing

Book 6: Cold Drip

Book 7: Roast Date

Book 8: Shade Grown

Book 9: Knight Brew

Standalone Novella: House Blend 

Buy 

Available on Amazon 

Click Here 

Visit the author 

Meet Heather and sign up for newsletter 

Click Here

Mailbox Monday feat Author BK Stubblefield

Todays feature is Author BK Stubblefield and book 1 of her new Bite-sized tale.

 It's no more than a 5 minute read. 

Midnight Sugar is the first tale in my Nightlight Stories, (Bedtime stories for adults) They are clean, no spice, just nice. 

Blurb: Every night, he walks past her bakery window, briefcase in hand.

Every night, she makes sure she's arranging the display just as he passes by.

But when a storm brings the mysterious lawyer to her door at midnight, Rose discovers some cravings aren't meant to be resisted.

Some romances begin with a glance, others with a taste of sweetness. For Rose, it's both. Her nightly ritual of watching the distinguished lawyer pass her window has become as essential as the sugar in her recipes. Their unspoken connection, measured in footsteps and furtive glances, seems destined to remain just that - until a storm gives them both a reason to break routine. As midnight rain drums against her bakery windows, Rose is about to discover that the most delicious moments in life are the unplanned ones. 

Get yours here

Universal link: https://books2read.com/u/4E0Kne  

Author can be found on Book Bub 

Click Here

Sign up for newsletter 

Click Here 

And receive a free book. 

Murder Over Easy Book Review

 

About the book 

Murder has never been this easy…

When Sunny Charles arrives in small-town Parfait, Florida, the last thing she expects is a note from her aunt instructing her to take control of the famous Sunny Side Up Café. After going through a vicious divorce, losing her entire life savings, and, oh yeah, having the Russian mob on her tail, Sunny’s willing to give it a shot, even if it means trying her hand at cooking.

Let’s face it, eggs over easy aren’t exactly ‘easy’ to make, but they beat facing off against armed men with guns. All things considered, her first day in the café goes well, that is, until one of the customers, a food vlogger, tries her aunt’s eggs over easy and drops dead on the spot. Sunny’s set to lose the café unless she can prove her innocence. But with a handsome chef as a distraction, the creeping suspicion she’s being watched, and a detective on her case, she’s got her work cut out for her.

Can Sunny solve the mystery before the murderer stops her? Find out in this funny starter in a brand new cozy mystery series!

And I thought 

This is the first book I have read by Rosie A Pointe. 

And the first book in the series. 

There were a lot of characters introduced that will undoubtedly become full-time cast members. 

It will be interesting to see how things at out. 

So I will be reading the next book. 

Sunny the main character did some growing as she was left in the lurches to manager her aunts cafe. 

Sunny arrives in Parfait Florida hoping to find safety with her aunt after a messy divorce. 

I thought leaving a note for poor Sunny was odd. Maybe the authors intention of keeping the reader asking questions. 

In fact at 1 point I did wonder if her aunt was actually in hiding

And it was all a plot. But that didn't fit at all.  

The author attempted to keep the reader guessing with lots of suspects with various quarrels with the victim. 

I suspect that future books will develop a really good story line

Buy the book 

Available on Amazon 

Click Here

onday feat. Sharon Michaels

 

Happy New Year 2025

Happy New Year 2025, Cozy Mystery Enthusiasts!

As we step into a brand new year, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to everyone who has accompanied me on this fun journey through twisty plots, quirky characters, and the charming towns we’ve explored together. Your support means the world to me!

Looking back at 2024, I hope you enjoyed my latest releases as much as I enjoyed writing them. Each book is a labor of love, filled with puzzles to solve, secrets to uncover, and of course, the cozy comforts that make our genre so special. If you haven’t had a chance to dive into them yet, now’s the perfect time to curl up with a cup of hot chocolate and get lost in a little mystery!

But wait—there’s more on the horizon! I’m thrilled to share that 2025 will bring even more intriguing mysteries and delightful characters. I’ve been busily penning new stories that I’m sure will keep you guessing right until the very last pages. Get ready for unexpected plot twists, a sprinkle of humor, and, of course, the heartwarming moments we all cherish.

As we toast to a year full of fresh chapters and new escapades, I invite you to revisit some of my past titles that you may have missed or would simply like to enjoy again. Each story holds a special place in my heart, and I love hearing which ones resonate with you the most.

Here’s to a year filled with mystery, laughter, and cozy vibes. I can’t wait to continue this adventure with all of you—stay tuned for updates, teasers, and the little surprises I have in store for us.

Wishing you all a cozy and mystery-filled 2025! 

Amazon bestselling author Sharon Michaels loves writing cozy mysteries filled with mature characters, smart animals, and plenty of twists and turns.

Her short reads are sweet, clean, and fun.

You can find fun books to read on this page:

https://sharonmichaelsauthor.com/cozy-fiction

Copyright © 2025 – SharonMichaels.com – All Rights Reserved

Cozy New Releases

 

Slay, Bells, Ring 

 by Joanne Campbell Slan 

This Christmas, shop owner Kiki Lowenstein has more than holiday crafts on her mind. As she juggles family responsibilities, her thriving business, and preparations for her famous Holiday Crafting Extravaganza, a series of mysterious burglaries plagues their quiet town of Webster Groves, a St. Louis suburb. Kiki soon finds herself drawn into a sinister plot that goes far beyond stolen jewelry. 

Fa-La-La-La-Lola by Melissa Bourbon 

Christmas is a time for giving, but Lola Cruz never expected her holiday spirit to include solving a murder. When PI-in-training Lola Cruz agrees to help Jack Callaghan’s cousin, Margo–with her baby in tow–she quickly finds herself in the middle of a holiday caper like no other. Just when Lola thinks she’s found Margo a safe haven, a man is found dead—and the police want answers. 

Cozy Up to Mystery

 by Colin Conway 

Asher Reed is about to have the worst day since he started working at Coastal Haven, the oldest hotel in Marlowe Bay, Georgia. A flu outbreak has sent most of the staff home, leaving only a skeleton crew to keep the current guests happy. Unfortunately, the hotel is also hosting the annual Mystery Readers of America conference, so things are about to get busier for the only porter on duty. The weekend becomes even more complicated after a couple of figures from Asher’s past unexpectedly arrive. 

Good Lieutenant

 by E.J. Copperman 

While settling into her new home in Los Angeles together with her boyfriend and TV star Patrick McNabb, attorney Sandy Moss receives a phone call from the LA Men’s Detention Center. It’s a new client accused of murder: the near-stoic Lt. K.C. Trench! 

A Killer Hold

 by Leah Dobrinska 

Spring has sprung, and with it, a full line-up of programming at Larkspur Community Library. Director Greta Plank is preparing to host the Wisconsin Library Organization’s annual conference—and dreading the arrival of her ex-boyfriend—while also helping a local treasure-hunting club coordinate a showcase highlighting Northern Wisconsin’s gangster trail and the nearby hideouts of the notorious criminals of the early twentieth  

Mistletoe, Mutts and Murder

 by S.A. Kazlo 

Christmas is coming and children’s book author, Samantha Davies, and her lovable dachshund, Porkchop, are caught up in the holiday festivities in beautiful upstate New York. Sam’s parents, Chuck and Barbara, who have been enjoying their retired life in sunny Florida, have flown into Wings Falls to spend the holidays with Sam and meet her new boyfriend, Detective Hank Johnson. Sam is also busy hosting this year’s Christmas party for the Loopy Ladies, Sam’s rug hooking group  

Scotzilla 

 by Catriona McPherson 

Lexy Campbell is about to put her bridezilla tendencies to one side to tie the knot with her beau Taylor in Cuento. The Last Ditch crew and Lexy’s mum and dad are all in attendance. But just as the couple are about to exchange vows, wedding celebrant Sister Sunshine is discovered dead, strangled with the fairy light decorations 

Caroling Chaos 

by D.B. McNoil

Roger Thornton has been in charge of the music in Holiday Corner for more years than most could remember. But when Ada Starr, a retired professional singer, moves to town some folks feel she is better suited to conduct the church choir and Christmas carolers. 

Frosty Fugitives

 by Sharon Michaels 

As word spreads through the small town, twin sisters, Alexa and Aria, become the unwitting suspects. Several eyewitnesses claim they saw two figures, one resembling Alexa and the other Aria, running from the town square minutes before the body was discovered.

Holiday Heist

 by leana Muñoz Renfroe 

Set in the charming town of Holiday Corner, Vermont. The story revolves around Celeste and Edwin, who are eagerly preparing for their wedding. However, their celebration takes on a deeper meaning when they decide to host a fundraiser in conjunction with their nuptials to support the Sutton family, who have fallen on hard times.  

Murder at the Bee Farm

 by Sue Hollowell
Welcome to Honeyridge Falls, where the sweet scent of honey masks dark secrets. Moxie Rayburn returns to her grandmother’s cozy B&B seeking a fresh start, but her plans are derailed when a shocking tragedy strikes at Sweet Buzz Farms. To her dismay, a person from her past becomes a prime suspect. Despite their complicated history, Moxie can’t shake the feeling that he might be innocent. Torn between lingering resentment and a sense of justice, she reluctantly decides to help uncover the truth. 

The Peanut Butter Murders 

by Corinne Holt Sawyer 
The dead man was a mere fifty, too young to have much in common with the well-heeled oldsters at the beautiful Camden-sur-Mer retirement community in southern California. His death looks like an accident, but when those ever-alert senior sleuths Angela Benbow and Caledonia Wingate discover that he was courting one of their neighbours, they can’t help hoping they’ll luck into a nice murder investigation. 

Malicious Intent 

by Hannah Ellis 
After successfully catching a killer, Lily Larkin has gained herself a reputation on the quaint Cornish island of St Mary’s. But her plans to open an ice cream shop mean she doesn’t have time for solving mysteries. At least until a teenager turns up on her doorstep claiming he’s in danger and begging for her help. When the boy disappears, he’s already given Lily a list of likely suspects. 

Cozy New Rèleases

 

A Killer Christmas by Rosie A. Point (
When down-on-her-luck librarian Libby arrives in Snowy Oaks, Wisconsin, for Christmas, she’s excited to spend time with her eccentric grandmother, wrap gifts, and forget the past. After her no-good husband cheated on her, Libby has nowhere to call home, and her fussy cat, Bob, isn’t making this holiday season any easier. On an ill-fated quest for cat toys in the dead of the night, Libby finds a corpse. 

Blame The Beignets

 by Ginger Bolton 
With mouthwatering treats selling fast in October, Emily is delighted to welcome her assistant’s younger sister, Hannah, to help at the donut shop while taking a semester off from college. But Hannah’s talent for dishing powdered pastries without dropping a crumb attracts some unusual customers, as two admirers with opposite personalities begin to show up during her shifts—much to her older sister’s disappointment . . . 

Planes, Candy Canes, and Hearses by Catherine Bruns 
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas for Sally Muccio. The part-time sleuth and full-time baker is up to her elbows in sugar and a puzzling mystery that threatens to ruin her jolly holiday…As Sal and her good friend Josie prepare to close their bakery to enjoy Christmas Eve, as well as Sal’s daughter’s birthday, a last-minute sojourn to the airport interferes. Sal mistakenly thinks this will be a quick outing to pick up her father from a business trip. But with the weather outside frightful, and her delightful father nowhere to be found, her fears quickly begin to escalate. 

Deadly Crush

by Maddie Day 
After a mostly stress-free Christmas with her college-age daughter, and despite enjoying a current budding romance with fellow newcomer, Benjamin Cohen, it’s time for Cece to focus on Vino y Vida, the Colinas wine bar she manages. Electrical work and an outdoor security camera are needed, and she’s hired local electrician Karl Meier to do the job, along with the help of his nephew Ian. But she regrets her choice when she witnesses Karl needlessy berating Ian in her presence. On top of that, Karl leers at her, then presents her with an inflated bill before the work is complete. Still, she’s shocked when she gets a call from Karl’s ex-wife, Josie, that she’s found Karl . . . crushed to death beneath the lift in her automotive shop.  

Death By Caramel Macchiato

 by Alex Erickson 

The unique weekend-long event—a combination of a live-action role playing game and a theatrical production—draws competitors from all the neighboring towns, including Pine Hills’ own Krissy and Rita. Although the actors, clues, and performances are spread across the community, somehow Krissy’s team lands at the one location with an actual body. . 

Cutting Remarks

 by Christine Falcone 

Melanie Bass is slated to be maid of honor at her good friend Lynn Duncan’s wedding to Dermatologist Alex Drover. When Lynn askes her to join her at a pre wedding get to know you brunch at her wealthy future mother-in-law’s house Melanie is curious to see if the woman is the Dragon Lady she has heard about. She soon learns that Mrs. Drover has a razor sharp tongue and that she isn’t thrilled about her son marrying Lynn. The troubled relationship between Mrs. Drover and Lynn becomes (an issue) when Mrs. Drover is found stabbed to death and Lynn becomes the prime suspect. Melanie must help her friend prove her innocence by investigating the multitude of people who also had reason to want Mrs. Drover dead, before she’d found dead herself. 

The Herrington Harbor Mystery 

by Sally Goldenbaum 

The Yarn Studio’s Seaside Knitters have their hands full designing new classes for vacationers, as well as testing each other’s originality by creating a single blanket together. Birdie’s teenage granddaughter is also visiting for the season, and soon has plans with her friend Daisy to start a dog-walking business. Meanwhile, the Lazy Lobster and Soup Café’s local fare is gaining newfound attention with the addition of a well-known Boston chef. It’s sure to be another beautiful, busy time in their tightknit town . . . 

Murder At The Lemonberry Tea

 by Darci Hannah 

Lindsey’s patrons have a new outdoor patio where they can eat their treats in the glorious summer weather. But even more exciting is that the Beacon Bakeshop is going to host British celebrity chef Vivi Lemonberry—and what could be a more appropriate event than a tea party? 

A Trinket For The Taking

 by Victoria Laurie 

Dovey Van Dalen has a gorgeous day planned for her 200th birthday: driving her new Porsche, admiring the cherry blossoms abloom in her adopted city of Washington, D.C., and a little pampering. But her boss has other ideas. A powerful artifact has been stolen, and he fears it’s causing chaos in the unmagical world . . .  

A Trinket For The Taking 

by Victoria Gilbert

Dovey Van Dalen has a gorgeous day planned for her 200th birthday: driving her new Porsche, admiring the cherry blossoms abloom in her adopted city of Washington, D.C., and a little pampering. But her boss has other ideas. A powerful artifact has been stolen, and he fears it’s causing chaos in the unmagical world . . 

Mint Flavored Trouble 

by Tyora Moody

After completing the previous season of her true crime podcast, barista Joss Miller is ready to hang up her microphone for good. But when she meets Lily Hartman, the widow of a renowned choir director found dead last Christmas Eve, Joss’s sense of justice won’t let her walk away. 

Madrigals and Mayhem

 by Elizabeth Penney 

Molly is eager to experience her first English Christmas with family and friends now that she’s adjusted to her move to Cambridge and her restoration of her family’s ancestral bookshop, Thomas Marlowe—Manuscripts and Folios. When local toyshop Pemberly’s Emporium reopens, Molly is excited to meet the new owner, Charlotte Pemberly, who is determined to make the toy store a success after unexpectedly becoming her grandfather Arthur’s sole heir