Ellery Adams Murder In The Reading Room

I did it! I was able to buy, download, and read within three days ! My first cozy mystery of 2020!!! This for me is a dream come true, being able to concentrate, retain and complete a cozy written by one of my favorite authors feels amazing. For those of you who may be new to my blog, I have dyslexia, and have worked on my reading for years. In 2018 I read and reviewed more than 200 + cozy mysteries, but in 2019 I had to step back, finding looking after my father, made it next to impossible for me to read or retain anything. My father passed away last March and I have made many changes to my own life, reading however did not bounce back as I had hoped.  I am beyond thrilled to have been able to set aside time to read and thoroughly enjoy the simple joy of curling up with a good book and a cup of tea.

I have read each book in Ellery Adams Book Retreat Mystery series, and I just finished reading Murder in the Reading Room. I ordered my kindle copy from Amazon.ca and I absolutely loved it. I have gotten to know and love each character and story line in this series as if I was a member of the "Fins" a group of trained people sworn to protect main character Jane and her family as they are guardians of  a powerful and mysterious secret library. They operate a book retreat that any book lover would dream of attending, the best food, like minded bibliophiles, a picturesque location and a set of twin boys that will melt your heart. This book sent me on twists and turns I had not expected and thrilled me to no end. Putting it down felt like saying good bye again to some truly remarkable friends, this book has left me with one of the best book hangovers, so long over due.

  Storyton Hall, Virginia, is a paradise for book lovers who come from all over for literary getaways. But manager Jane Steward is temporarily leaving for another renowned resort—in hopes of solving a twist-filled mystery . . .
 Jane’s boyfriend is missing, and she thinks she may find him at North Carolina’s historic Biltmore Estate. Officially, she’s there to learn about luxury hotel management, but she’s also prowling around the breathtaking buildings and grounds looking for secret passageways and clues. One of the staff gardeners promises to be helpful . . . that is, until his body turns up in the reading room of his cottage, a book on his lap. When she finally locates the kidnapped Edwin, his captor insists that she lead him back to Storyton Hall, convinced that it houses Ernest Hemingway’s lost suitcase, stolen from a Paris train station in 1922. But before they can turn up the treasure, the bell may toll for another victim . . .

*I am not an amazon affiliate and I will not get paid if you follow the link here to the kindle addition on amazon.ca  

Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a long over due Cozy Mystery Review post. I would love to hear from you so please leave me comment here or email me at karnemowen@gmail.com 

Murder In The Locked Library by Ellery Adams

Murder in the Locked Library by Ellery Adams is a late April release but one I could not wait to get my hands on and review. I love this series. The Book Retreat series centers around a young mother, widow and guardian of a super secret book library. Her ancestral home has been turned into the most amazing retreat for booklovers. They hold teas, balls, conferences and give book lovers the opportunity of a lifetime. Right down to the ability to stay in literary themed rooms and libraries. This is one of the most exciting of the series I read. Main character Jane is a literary superhero of sorts raising the most adorable twin boys, living on the estate and working to carry on with day to day life, while protecting the most important books of all time. She is not alone, having trained guards called Fins that work with her and she is up against book thieves professional and amature. I found myself holding my breath several times in this book. Great mysteries with in mysteries, cozy for sure and a healthy dose of adventure. This is a spectacular read and one not to be missed.

Welcome to Storyton Hall, Virginia, where book lovers travel from near and far to enjoy the singular comforts of the Agatha Christie Tea Room, where they can discuss the merits of their favorite authors no matter how deadly the topic . . .  With her twins, Fitzgerald and Hemingway, back in school, Jane Steward can finally focus on her work again—managing Storyton Hall, and breaking ground on the resort’s latest attraction: a luxurious, relaxing spa named in honor of Walt Whitman. But when the earth is dug up to start laying the spa’s foundation, something else comes to the surface—a collection of unusual bones and the ragged remnants of a very old book. The attendees of the Rare Book Conference are eager to assist Jane with this unexpected historical mystery—until a visitor meets an untimely end in the Henry James Library. As the questions—and suspects—start stacking up, Jane will have to uncover a killer before more unhappy endings ensue . . . 

Published by Kensington and out April 24th you can preorder it on Amazon by clicking here. 

Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery review. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

On my table and in my cup September 30th- October 7th

On my table this weekend is Jenny Kales Secrets and Pies, the third book in the Callie's Kitchen Mystery series. Just started it and will share my review in a few days!

Don't forget later this month I have a great event to celebrate for the release on the 19th on the Beyond The Bookmarks Event page! You can RSVP by clicking here.

In my cup this week in addition to my Murchie's Vanilla Black stand by, I have also enjoyed my Fortnum and Mason Cranberry black tea, this weekend is Thanksgiving here in Canada and I will be spending the weekend basically eating.  I realized the other day as I took my bunny bowl out of the cupboard that I have used this bowl for 42 years. It's in pretty good shape and it has stood the test of time. Royal Doulton still makes Bunnykins and I really think this is one of my favorite patterns.

I did a bit of reading this week and The Quiche and the Dead by Kirsten Weiss is coming up for review tomorrow.

Later this month I will be reviewing Delia James Familiar Motives, I am thrilled my own familiar Squirrel joined me in the photo!

I got the most lovely surprise in the mail this week, a teacup from my friend Jennifer and I loved how it paired so well with the cover of The Secret Book & Scone Society. I loved this book and I anxiously await what will happen next.

Also on my table this week was Much Ado About Murder, this one was a lovely  cozy and highly dramatic! Theater cozies are so much fun.

I wish you all the very best this holiday weekend and look forward to sharing more with you tomorrow! Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and a week in review. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

The Secret, Book & Scone Society by Ellery Adams

Let me first start by saying, how grateful I am to have been selected to read and review The Secret, Book & Scone Society by Ellery Adams. This book is going to be out October 31st, 2018 and is published by Kensington.  This is a book that needs to be on my shelf and and will be forever in my heart! I wished that the world would pause so I could have finished it in one go, but at least this way I savored it! Not your average cozy, and a book that touched me very deeply. It has the trademarks of a cozy, the main characters all starting over, some in a new place and some just deciding then and there to make changes in their lives and alter their paths forever exactly where they are. One of the things I took away most from this book was that it is really never too late to start over and begin again new. 

The book reminds me that changes do not have to be monumental to affect monumental change. I felt emotionally connected to each woman in the story, being able to relate to them and hearing their stories throughout the mystery solidified my feeling of emotional involvement in this book. When I wasn't reading the book, I was thinking about the book, its characters and what was going to happen next. Feeling like I was apart of not just the story but The Secret Book & Scone Society as well. The themes and lessons of learning to trust, taking risks, and moving on are ones in my 40's I feel like I am still learning. This book reminds me to take those risks, make that effort and look for those opportunities to find more meaningful and less superficial people in my own life.  
Each character's story is raw and wonderful in its own way. I can not wait to learn more about each member of the Secret, Book & Scone Society. I loved the cover, the characters and the possibilities for this new series. 

Miracle Springs, North Carolina, is a place of healing. Strangers flock here hoping the natural hot springs, five-star cuisine, and renowned spa can cure their ills. If none of that works, they often find their way to Miracle Books, where, over a fresh-baked “comfort” scone from the Gingerbread House bakery, they exchange their stories with owner Nora Pennington in return for a carefully chosen book. That’s Nora’s special talent—prescribing the perfect novel to ease a person’s deepest pain and lighten their heaviest burden. When a visiting businessman reaches out to Nora for guidance, she knows exactly which novels will help. But before he can keep their appointment at Miracle Books, he’s found dead on the train tracks.  Stunned, Nora forms the Secret, Book, and Scone Society, a group of damaged souls yearning to gain trust and earn redemption by helping others. To join the society, members must divulge their darkest secret—the terrible truth that brought each of them to Miracle Springs in the first place.  Determined to uncover the truth behind the businessman’s demise, the women meet in Nora’s cramped and cozy bookstore to share stories and trade support. And as they untangle a web of corruption, they also discover their own courage, purpose, and a sisterhood that will carry them through every challenge—proving it’s never too late to turn the page and start over . . .

                                    "The same water that softens the potato, hardens the egg"
You can find The Secret, Book &Scone Society on Amazon by clicking here. 
You can find it with free shipping on The Book Depository by clicking here. 
Thank you for joining me here for a cup of tea and a cozy mystery review. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmial.com

On My Table and In my Cup September 16-September 23rd

First chapter, hook line and sinker, wishing I could put the world on hold to have read this one in one sitting. Still working my way through it, wishing time would stand still, knowing when I finish it I will have to wait that much longer for the next one. Ellery Adams is one of my most favorite authors and this subject  is right up my alley!

This book by Linda Lovely is out near the end of October and I finished this one and dreamed all about it, review for this one will be out October 1st. 

Oh what fun to have had Barbara  Early's book to read and finish this week, review coming up soon. Loved this toy themed cozy.

I read and enjoyed Canal Days Calamity this week by Jamie M. Blair, a dog lover's delight for sure.

I got a sweet surprise in my mailbox from Karen K this week, I love Doctor Who as you may know and she kindly sent me the above books! My kids were as excited as I was! I also got to break out my Doctor Who themed Teacup I had made...see the tiny tardis on the saucer.  Each cup of tea is really like a Tardis, the flavor is so much bigger on the inside....Tea in the cup is Carrot Cake by Murchie's...

In my cup this week I have had my lovely Murchie's Black Tea but I have also had their new Rooibos Tea called Carrot Cake. I went in store to get more of the Black tea and while there they were sampling the Carrot Cake one which I normally would not go for but it smelled so nice and it had full flavor, it tasted to me more like a coffee cake my mom used to make and I loved it.

Great flavor, color and taste, this one really surprised me. Find out more by clicking here. 

If you missed my post on Wednesday, it is the one where I shared my photos from my annual witches tea. I really am so grateful to my friends for joining me year after year and making this such a fun event. You are never too old to have a fancy dress party and I hope that next years will be even larger and include more friends!

Thank you for joining me for this weeks look back at what has been on my table and in my cup. I love having you join me and hearing from you. Please leave me a comment below or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Five Amigos Fall-O-ween Fun- Week 3

Week three already and we are moving along!

We have our winner of A FRYING SHAME! The random draw was done and our winner is Patricia P.   Congrats to her and thank you to all who entered. Special thank you to Linda Reilly for sponsoring this give away.

Karen and I have another Double Double for you this fine Monday morning. First up this week is Karen K and her selection A Scone To Die For!

This is a new favourite series of mine! I could not put it down. Colourful and vibrant characters. Real personalities! I now want to visit Oxford. The whodunit had me riveted and left me second guessing myself until the conclusion.

When an American tourist is murdered with a scone in her quaint Oxfordshire tearoom, Gemma must solve the mystery with the help of the nosy Old Biddies and a mischievous little feline named Muesli. But between her bossy, matchmaking mother and the return of her old college love as a handsome CID detective, Gemma soon has her hands full and her head spinning!Murder is bad for business, especially when customers think your scones are more deadly than delicious. With the body count rising and her tearoom going bust, can Gemma find the killer before things turn to custard?


You can find A Scone To Die For on Amazon by clicking here.

My turn! I choose Ellery Adams Murder in the Mystery Suite! Seriously who would not like to pack up and go to Storyton with me? All books and cozy rooms, rolling hills and quaint town and they have afternoon tea every day! This is one of my most favorite series and so many great characters in this one, an adventure cozy in the perfect setting, doesn't get much better than this!

Tucked away in the rolling hills of rural western Virginia is the storybook resort of Storyton Hall, catering to book lovers who want to get away from it all. To increase her number of bookings, resort manager Jane Steward has decided to host a Murder and Mayhem week so that fans of the mystery genre can gather together for some role-playing and fantasy crime solving.But when the winner of the scavenger hunt, Felix Hampden, is found dead in the Mystery Suite, and the valuable book he won as his prize is missing, Jane realizes one of her guests is an actual murderer. Amid a resort full of fake detectives, Jane is bound and determined to find a real-life killer. There’s no room for error as Jane tries to unlock this mystery before another vacancy opens up…

You can find Ellery Adams Murder in the Mystery Suite on Amazon by clicking here.

Find out what Mary has in store for you today by clicking here.

Walk on over to see what Lisa has ready for you today! 

Check out what Sheryl has for you at Booth Talks Books!

Karen K and I thank you for joining us here today, we all would love to hear from you so please leave us a comment below or email us at karenmowen@gmail.com 

Don't forget to join us next Monday for more Fall-O-ween Fun! 

On My Table and In My Cup August 19th- 26th

Making my way through Death Overdue a Haunted Library Mystery by Allison Brook this weekend. Makes being mostly couch bound bearable. If you follow my blog or social media you know I have been unwell for more than a month now and I am slowly fighting my way back to health. Spending most of my day couch bound. Lovely to have such amazing books to read and I have even been able to enjoy more of my Murchies Vanilla Tea this week, I also finished my cranberry cream tea I bought earlier this summer, thinking of making the ten hour drive to get more...dreaming really. I have been doing lots of reading, and a bit of visiting, having my Uncle Ross, my dad's brother, drive more than 3,000 miles with his truck stacked full of photos of the family from the 1800's for me to have. Unbelieveable how these photos of many times removed relatives look just like family members alive today! DNA Wow! I can not wait to share some photos with you soon, also a gem was a photo my family took during the second world war of the then Queen of England touring Canada, that will go in a frame for sure!

 I am getting really excited for Buy a Friend A Book Day which is August 31st! This is one of my most favorite days of the year and I am hoping I will be well enough to shop locally, otherwise I may have to do my shopping on line for a few people! Be sure to remember to pick up a book for someone in your life on August 31st! 

I am excited to announce that I am co-hosting an event on October 3rd for the Release day party of author Joyce Tremel's A Room With A Brew on my Beyond The Bookmarks Facebook Page and you are invited! Great prizes, recipes, and so much more, I hope you will join us for an evening of fun and get to know other cozy lovers, we all want to go somewhere where everyone knows your name, come make a new friend and learn about this series! Click here to RSVP to the event! 

I meant to share this last week, something I put together to share a bit about why I love cozy mysteries and one of the lessons I take away from some of my favorites. While I don't have daughters I do love the books about eccentric aunts who do something that guides them and helps them makethe changes that lead to a direction change in their life trajectory!As you can see above I have a few nieces, and what I think is a great goal!

Announced earlier this week over on Lisa Ks Book Review, we have enjoyed so much our Summer Three Amigos reading club that we have decided to expand and continue with our Five Amigos Fall-O-ween Fun Series. Adding My dear Friend Karen Kenyon to my blog here as a guest blogger, and our dear friend Sheryl of Booth Talks Books! We will be sharing our favorite Fall themed cozies and then in October switch to our Halloween themed, or paranormal cozy favorites.

Lisa, Mary, Sheryl, Karen K and I look forward to sharing with you and seeing what each other chooses for our fall selections and our Halloween ones we hope you will join in the fun too! We hope you will welcome our new Amigos and love our new series! This all starts September 4th.

The Witching Hour was my Witchy Wednesday selection for review this week, I enjoyed this book and shared a bit about this October release, I would not mind having this one on my shelf either.

Tonya Kappes has some wonderful books and this is a series I adore, I know you are going to love ax to Grind, do check this one out! I read it in one sitting not wanting to put the book down.

I read and reviewed the up coming release of From Ice To Ashes, this book is going to be out soon as an e-copy for you to enjoy!

Learn more about it at our Beyond The Bookmarks Event on September 24th! Click here to RSVP to this event

I have a review of Dressed to Confess for you tomorrow I hope you will come back and see what I thought of this third book in series.

I made a point of getting my Friday spotlight video made and this weeks video is a spotlight on Ellery Adam's Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery Series. It is up on my Youtube Channel, I invite you to stop by and subscribe!  Click here for the video if it doesn't play above.


Thank you all for joining me here for what has been on my table, in my cup and on my mind this week. I love having you stop by and I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmail.com

Three Amigos Summer Reading Club Week 6

Welcome back to our Three Amigos Summer Reading Club and my pick for this our 6th week and a theme I am so passionate about, Lighthouses.

This was me last year in the top of the Cape Mears Lighthouse, such a treat and a dream come true!

This is the outside I was actually right there in the light part!

But on to my selection and there are so many to choose from. 

My selection this week is Ellery Adams and her Books by the bay series. READ THE SERIES. 

I most recently read Killer Characters which is book 8 so if you have not yet read this series start with book one (A Killer Plot ) you will be glad you did!

Restaurant owner and aspiring novelist Olivia Limoges is happily enjoying her new marriage. Sadly, the same doesn’t hold true for Laurel, a fellow Bayside Book Writer. While struggling with a demanding job, twin boys, and a terminally ill mother-in-law, Laurel learns that her perfect marriage is mostly fictional. When she catches her husband fooling around with his mother’s hospice nurse, she issues impassioned threats that will later come back to haunt her.   After the nurse meets a deadly denouement, Chief Rawlings is forced to take Laurel into custody. While Olivia protests the arrest, the rest of the Bayside Book Writers become a group divided, with Rawlings and Harris on one side and Olivia and Millay on the other. Now the women must race against the clock to prove that Laurel’s not the sort for murder before her story ends in tragedy…

Find it on Amazon by clicking here.

You can order it with free worldwide shipping from The Book Depository by clicking here.

Now it is time to see what my Amigos have picked for you...

Click here to see what Mary has in mind for you this week...

Click here to see what Lisa has chosen for you this week...

We would all love to hear from you so please leave us comments on our blogs and let us know what you think of our choices and give us some of your own selections!
Thank you for joining me for a cup of tea and this weeks Three Amigos Summer Reading Club selection. I would love to hear from you so please leave me a comment here or email me at karenmowen@gmial.com