Songs of Wine and Murder
(Tourist Trap 15)
Lynn Cahoon



Welcome back to South Cove!

It’s early summer in South Cove, and we interrupt the business-to-business meeting, being held a Coffee, Books & More. Jill offers her shop and refreshments on the 1st Tuesday of every month to discuss any small business and community affairs. Darla’s part owner in a winery and she runs the promotions for the council. Talking after the meeting the friends decide on a girls' night out at a new bar Lumberjack City. This leads Jill to meet the band drummer Jules and a night of ax throwing.

Darla has worked really hard to sign bands and get sponsors for the inaugural Moonstone Beach festival. An album recording contract is on the line for the grand prize-winning band. Matt, Darla’s boyfriend plays in the band Atlantis Survivors. They have a four-song contract and have been on the road playing shows since reuniting. His band's lead singer Axel is murdered the night before the festival start. Tina, the mayors wife accuses Jill and Darla of trying to sabotage her nephews' band Destinys Run, chances by stealing their lead singer. She is now on the warpath threatening Jill and her friends.

Jill has promised to stop investigating crimes, but will she be able to?

4**** I would recommend this book. It doesn’t matter if you haven’t read a previous book in this series you will be able to dive in and get lost in the story! No profanity or graphic violence.


Lynn Cahoon is a prolific writer of both mystery and romance, with more than six series to her name.

*During this time Esmeralda goes to Nick in New Orleans but returns early. Nick is her fiance, the brother of Eddie Cayce, from her Haunted Life mystery series. This intersects during the third book in the series Medium Life.







Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC.
#Netgalley #SouthCove #LynnCahoon #Bookstore #Mystery

Another great story by Lynn Cahoon. Songs of Wine and Murder is the 15th book in the Tourist Trap Mystery series. I am late to the game with this series and just started reading it with book 14. But I am loving it. You can start with the newest book like I did. This can be read as a standalone. Although, I do find myself wanting to start from the beginning just so I can learn more about the cast of characters origin stories.

There is another festival going on in town and one of Jill's friends is organizing it. Battle of the bands is a great tourist draw for this little town and even a murder can't put a damper on the festivities. Is there a murder to solve? Yes there is. But I really don't feel as if I can call this a cozy mystery. It's really a character driven comfy story with some drama happening with the festival and a friend's band. I did NOT find it boring. Quite the opposite. It was a who done it up until the end. That's when the reader realizes it isn't a typical cozy murder mystery with our lead in dire straights as she solves the mystery and reveals the murderer. Nope. It's more of a comfort read on Jill's life during the festival and her in the wrong place at the wrong time or perfectly in the right place at the right time to over hear, to casually see and to just be plain nosy and find clues to pass on to her detective boyfriend.

The writing is wonderful and I do enjoy reading about all the characters. I highly recommend it especially for those who want just a little mystery with cozy.

Songs of Wine and Murder is the latest Tourist Trap Mystery from one of my favorite cozy mystery writers. Lynn Cahoon has created a cast of characters that I just can't get enough of, somebody please make this into a Hallmark Murder and Mystery series. I would definitely want to hang out with the Coffee, Books and More crew. Jill and Greg are humming along but I want to see love interests for Toby and Deek. Solving this murder took a backseat to the every day drama, Tina is off her rocker and I think that is going to come to a head some time soon. I also don't understand why Tilly didn't own up to her life issues from the get go, I don't want to spoil this for anyone so I won't say more.. Esmerelda is the coolest, way to go Sadie and I need more Amy. A delightful read from beginning to end.

#SongsofWineandMurder #NetGalley is the newest installment in the Tourist Trap series.
Jill and Greg are in the early stages of wedding planning, and I'm so happy that they are getting married. I love Jill's independence, and Greg seems to be the kind of guy a lot of women would happy with.
Preparations for the Moonstone Beach Festival are underway, but long time readers know this is the perfect time for a murder.
Jill really has a talent for asking questions and fitting the pieces together, and even though Greg worries about her safety, I think he's actually quite proud and impressed with her skills.
I enjoyed the secondary stories going on in the background, I love how Jill always makes time to read, not all protagonists make a point of doing it, and I get a kick out of it when she has to help a customer, right at "the best part!"
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for selecting me to read an advanced copy of this book.
This is another great cozy mystery I'm happy to recommend.

When a member of a band is murdered during a battle of the bands event. Jill gets involved in yet another murder investigation. There is no love lost between the bands vying for the prize of a lucrative band contract. This time around, Jill passes on all the information she learns, but takes more of a backseat in the investigation, letting her police detective fiance. Greg, take the lead. This was a fun quick read with plenty of suspects. I can't wait to read the next book in this series

Songs of Wine and Murder is the 15th book in the wonderful Tourist Trap Mystery series. The characters are what makes this series so enjoyable! Jill Gardner owns Coffee, Books & More and she is engaged to Greg King who is the town's Police Detective. Jill's Aunt Jackie works at the bookstore along with Toby, Deek, Judith, Evie, and now Tilly. There is a Band Competition in town. Jill's friend Darla is in charge of the event and Darla's boyfriend Matt is in a band entered in the competition. One of the band members ends up dead. Jill of course is curious and finds out some clues which helps Greg. Jill's barrista Toby dated the new hire Tilly in high school. This causes some minor drama but is satisfactorily resolved. Aunt Jackie is keeping a secret. Jill and Greg are taking financial classes that are required for them to get married. It all keeps Jill very busy! The ending is low key which is nice once in awhile. This is a very enjoyable book and series! I always look forward to the next book. #SongsOfWineAndMurder #NetGalley #TouristTrapMysteries #KensingtonBooks

I really enjoyed this book. It’s nice to see the relationship between Jill and Gregg deepening. I love that all my favorite characters are here. The story is interesting and fun. I didn’t like the ending of the book, it really didn’t convince me of who the killer is, it seemed iffy since they had already been convinced that someone else was the killer and then wasn’t so can’t that be the case in this last suspect.? #SongsofWineandMurder #NetGalley

Songs of Wine and Murder is the 15th book in the Tourist Trap Mystery series. It takes place in the town of South Cove, California. Jill Gardner is the main character who owns the Coffee, Books and More store. Greg King is her fiancé who is a detective. Many of the characters make up the town from the first book. The rest add to the story.

The story opens with the town getting ready and having the first Moonstore Beach Festival. Jill plans to have her food truck there. The highlight of the festival is a band contest for a contract with a large music producer company. Two main bands compete for the prize. The two main bands complete and Axel Poser the lead singer for the band, Atlantis Survivors is murdered. This is where the story takes off with Jill trying to figure out who killed him and why. The story has so much going on that I will leave it to the reader to follow and enjoy to the climax of the story of who killed Axel Poser.

This book was a fun read. I have enjoyed all the characters that make the town. I look forward to the next book in the series and the upcoming adventures that Jill and Greg have.

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Publishing Corp. for this ARC.

This is a 15th installment in this much loved cozy series by cozy author Lynn Cahoon. I have enjoyed the entire series as one of my top favorite cozy series. This new release was full of excitment,, a great sleuth and all the charcters we love.

Jill and her soon to be husband are planning their wedding and taking couples finance cousling at the local church with their friend the Pastor and his girlfriend. Jill has quite a substantial trust fund so they agreed the finance class is necessary to learn how to best merge their lives. They have merged their lives living together before the wedding and have found they are meant to be .

A music festival in town has Jill busy contributing her food truck and hiring new employees. Her bookstore and coffe shop continue to be the most popular in town with respect from the local population. Jill is involved in another murder although she does promise Greg she will not become "to" involved. She has her hands full running the two businesses and enjoing life with her husband to be and her many friends. Esmeralda has a larger part now as she and Jill have become trusted friends, her employee Deek is a charcter we love and her lovely Golden Retriever adds humor to the fun with attiitude and devotion to Jill. . Her Aunt is a charcter who adds sarcasam and keeps Jill on her toes. The addtiion to this series of the different foods are enough to make each reader hungry between the food at the local restaurant, the cheesecakes and the meals they prepare. We see Jill in this next in series step away from the murder investigating but she happens to overhear key information that will help Greg solve the crime. Her instincts for suspects and clues are always done to perfection.

The charcters are all enjoyable , the coastal California setting is atmospheric and lovely to read about, The sleuth although not center stage in this book was surprising to conclusion. This is a must read cozy series that is endearing and we hope will last for many more years. This is a wonderful addtion to the series. My only complaint is the new releases are only once a year.

Who killed Axel? Was it one of his bandmates or someone else? Jill, the usual star of this long running series, steps back and lets her fiance Detective Greg take the lead this time because she's got some other stuff going on. Well, know that she won't let everything alone. Jill and Greg are preparing for their wedding but it seems like there are a few speed bumps. Nothing bad, just bumps like many experience. The mystery seemed less important than the personal relationships this time out but those who have been following along will be pleased. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. A very fast read - it's very short.

Lynn Cahoon is undoubtedly one of the queens of the cozy mystery; such a prolific writer with 5 or 6 series often in the works. Songs of Wine and Murder is her latest release in the Tourist Trap Mysteries, a collection set in a seaside California town where local Chamber of Commerce coordinator, Jill, finds herself keeping her fellow business owners from squabbling and finding killers when murder strikes the town. In this installment, a music festival brings great fun to South Cove as well as the murder of a band singer. Was it one of his bandmates, a rival band who wanted to win the competition, a family member with a grudge, or someone closer to home? Jill and Greg's relationship takes center stage too, as they learn how to merge their financial lives together in preparation for an upcoming wedding. The mystery kept me interested, and I enjoyed the various relationships between the bands and local residents. I am constantly surprised at the mayor and his wife's behavior. Tina needs to be a future victim or a killer to get her out of South Cove. What a nasty woman! Well done, Ms. Cahoon - already excited for the next one.

Loved reading this book and author. If you haven't tried this series yet. I highly recommend her books. She has several different series to read.

The inaugural battle of the bands is going to be part of South Cove's Moonstone Beach Festival alongside the annual kite flying contest. This means Jill Gardner, owner of Coffee, Books, and More, is trading on two fronts, at her Main Street store where it's business as usual and the food truck which is busily enticing the crowds flocking to the nearby sands. Hoping to spend her limited downtime with fiancé Detective Greg King, Jill is dismayed when a body is found and he is immediately working round the clock.

As the investigation progresses, Jill has worries of her own to deal with far closer to home. Facing secrets and painful recollections alongside early preparations for her forthcoming wedding it seems as if neither she or Greg will be enjoying quality time together any time soon.

This is book fifteen in one of my go to cozy crime series but unfortunately, for me, it fell a little short. While all the familiar protagonists were there to catch up with and a murder was waiting to be solved there seemed to be very little suspense or jeopardy anywhere along the way and all of a sudden it was all over a bit too neatly. I am sure this will still be a very popular addition to the Tourist Trap Mystery Series but it wasn't one of my favourites.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this thanks to NetGalley and the publishers but the opinions expressed are my own. Although this wasn't for me I'm not ready to give up on this series yet and will keep my eyes open for book 16.

Through NetGalley, I received a free copy of SONGS OF WINE AND MURDER (Book 15 of the Tourist Trap Mysteries) by Lynn Cahoon in exchange for an honest review. Jill Gardner, the owner of Coffee, Books, & More, and her young staff are participating in the Moonstone Beach Festival by serving coffee from their food truck. The main attraction of the festival is a battle of bands with a record deal as the prize. When one of the lead singers is murdered, the boyfriend of Darla, the owner of the South Cove Winery and local reporter, becomes a person of interest. With the bands all leaving after the festival, the local law enforcement, i.e., Jill’s fiancé, has a short time to solve the murder. Jill, again, finds her curiosity piqued and her investigation inevitable. Of course, there’s political and family drama to go along with the murder investigation.

I liked this book and enjoy the series. I recommend the series to fans of cozy murder mysteries featuring small coastal towns, festivals, and small businesses.

#SongsofWineandMurder #NetGalley

Kindle Copy for Review from Net Galley, Kensington Books and Lyrical Underground.

I received a free, advance copy of this book and this is my unbiased and voluntary review.

After a slow spring, the annual Moonstone Beach Festival is about to happen as Jill looks to increase her sales. Besides food trucks there is a big battle of the band contest is the highlight of the festivities.

There will be more than just food and music to be consumed as murder is in the air. Will this festival survive just one murder, or will they be a slew of them?

A charming read in this long running series as the main characters continue to grow and beloved.

Battle of the Bands comes to town for a festival with the winner receiving a recording contract. Will Darla’s boyfriends band win or will the mayor’s wife family member band win? With the festival in town for the weekend both Jill and Greg are busy with their jobs. Add a murder into the mix and their only time together is a couples finance class. Love this series.
Goodreads

I was so excited to see there's another book in this series. This one seemed a bit different than the rest. Jill actually stayed out of the investigation just like Greg wanted. There was no life or death situation where a hero had to help save. I'd really like to get more information on Esmeralda and Deek, I love their paranormal-ness. This seems more cozy than actual mystery. Emma the golden retriever should always be believed.

bookseller, coffee-shop, California, small-business, small-town, local-law-enforcement, local-politics, former-lawyer, pet-dog, cozy-mystery, amateur-sleuth, suspense, divorced, murder, murder-investigation, festivals, musicians, recipes****

The storyline and characters are very enjoyable, but I was a little at sea by starting with book 15 of a series I was unaware of. It's a cute cozy and a refreshing change from the ordinary.
I requested and received an EARC from Kensington Books/Lyrical Underground via NetGalley.

Songs of Wine and Murder by Lynn Cahoon is book #15 in the Tourist Trap Mystery series. This is a long-running cozy mystery series and there's good reason for the long run. The whole series has been excellent and this is a great addition. I love the two main characters, Coffee Books, and More shop owner Jill Gardner and her fiance Detective Greg King. I have enjoyed following along through the series as their relationship progressed to their engagement to be married. Greg is very caring and protective of Jill. Even though Jill gets herself involved in police murder cases that hasn't harmed their relationship. Jill appreciates Greg's protective instincts but I think she trusts her own too. In this book the murder happens in a music festival scenario. That made it a fun read for me.

One of the things I want to mention up front is how much I enjoyed not just the easy give-and-take between Jill and Greg but that all the characters rang true.They care about each other and are easy to like, well, mostly, and had distinct personalities. Even Emma, Jill's lovely Golden Retriever, has a way of making her opinions known, which any dog owner can vouch were realistic. Oddly enough, Jill didn't seem as involved as usual in Greg's murder investigation although we do discover that she's not bad at axe throwing. Keep that in mind, Greg.

So, who killed the lead singer of Matt's band? They're on the verge of a record contract if they can win the town festival's battle of the bands. Then, whoa, Axle turns up dead, strangled, but a replacement is found almost instantly. Suspicious much? Although Matt doesn't quite seem as driven as drummer Jules, would he kill to win the contract that would help him fulfill other, non-musical dreams? Or, maybe it was Jules? She seems to crave being a real "rock star". Would any of them have stood to benefit from the death of a lead singer? Hmm, maybe the almost-instant replacement singer? He sure had reasons to see the gig as a potential route to fame and fortune. Someone in the town? Who was determined to see their favorite win?

Jill is a worrier. She's also got the knack of being in the right place at the, sigh, right or wrong time. The things she overhears. Why is the police station suddenly in such a state of disorganization? Can Jill's chocolate chip cookies help? Will Jill and Greg find time to take the couple's pre-wedding finance class with Pastor Bill? Speaking of Pastor Bill, what's going on with him and Sadie? And, hmm, what secret is Aunt Jackie keeping? Hmm, and that isn't the half of it for Jill. There's Toby's confused sadness and a major author event to put on and....well, lots more.

Bottom line, although the intro seemed a slow build, it was setting the scene nicely for what was to come. As noted, the characters are realistic and likable, and though I marvel how Jill keeps everything moving along smoothly, we see the role her friends and co-workers play. It's a character driven book, my favorite kind. Music festivals are fun but lots of work, let's just say. Relationships need work and change is inevitable, but Jill tends to look for the good in everyone.

I did get a kick out of the pleasure Jill is finding in learning to utilize a planner and lists, all while trying to eat a more healthy meal....occasionally. Fish-and-Chips is her go-to comfort meal, however, which the author notes is a trait she shares with Jill, so it's a bit of a struggle. Thanks #NetGalley and #KensigntonBooks - #LyricalUnderground for letting me spend some time hanging out with Jill and her friends and family. Loved the music theme and am looking forward on checking up on Jill's success with her best intentions of eating better next visit.