I've also read the second book in this series, and I really love how Nettmann has a different wine recommendation for each chapter.

I still think you could enjoy this book without knowing the other books or rest of the story. There is obviously a tie between them, but you can easily enjoy each book on its own without being lost.

Yes, it's your typical cozy mystery, but I still enjoyed it. Not as cheesy as a lot of them, and it seems like the writing matures each book. I enjoy these books because I learn more about wine and can quickly and easily dive into the story.

*Thank you to Netgalley and Midnight Ink for the ARC, for which I have given an honest and unbiased review*

This is the third book in the series and I found it just as enjoyable as the others even though I know nothing about wine.

Katie will be taking her Master Sommelier test soon but she was wanting to go with Dean to the Food and Wine festival nearby so she promised to study while she was there. Things didn’t go so well when they happen on a dead body of a lady they had just met and it’s outside the hotel room of one of the Master Sommeliers.

She really hopes that Hudson didn’t have anything to do with it but she doesn’t really know him. Her boyfriend Detective Dean has to go back home to work on a case for a day and tells her to stay out of trouble but we all know that won’t happen. She can’t help but want to figure out what happened. She is pretty sure it has to do with a winery but not sure why or who might want to kill the woman.

I like Katie and Dean and think they make a cute couple. I love that Dean is trying to learn more about wine and his always quizing her on her flash cards and helping her study. Katie is fun and very inquisitive and seems to know her wine but I have not clue as I couldn’t tell one wine from another I don’t drink. 🙂

Overall I thought it was a good cozy and if you like cozies and wine (nor not like me) you might enjoy this series.

Katie Stillwell has been practicing for the Advanced Sommelier test but has taken the last week "off" to go to a food and wine festival with her boyfriend. She did volunteer to pour some wine on the last day which gave her special access to staff areas. The festival is being hosted by a Master Sommelier and when one of the attendees is found murdered outside his hotel room, Katie feels compelled to figure out who did it. Otherwise the Master will not be able to proctor her test the following week and she'll have to wait months.

I love mysteries, I love wine and these are a good combination. I especially like the wine pairing tips that were included as well as the characters tips on wine tasting.

Katie Stillwell takes most everything in stride, including her boyfriend having to rush back to the city for his job in the middle of their romantic weekend. She isn't intentionally investigating, not much, but she is putting together a number of clues. Detective Dean is the romantic interest who gets called back to his job a few times in the course of this novel. Thus, there wasn't much revealed about him in this novel other than he is trying to make the relationship work. Hudson Wiley, the Master Sommelier and prime suspect exhibits plenty of strange behavior and you never quite know what his deal is. This time around there is no wine tasting group or friends in the story, but there is an eclectic group of festive attendees.

The setting of the wine festive works well. The plot was a little disjointed for me (may just be me), and the pacing stayed steady, perhaps a little too steady.

The climax had a slight killer confrontation that was okay, but I didn't really feel it. I really prefer a killer reveal that has me flipping pages with my heart pounding - this didn't do that for me. I have even enjoyed books that have less suspense for more realistic with the police involved in the killer reveal, but that wasn't the case here either.

This was a fast read in that it seemed short and compact (a mere 240 pages). The story was entertaining enough, but I didn't feel a sense of urgency for Katie to solve the crime. I would have liked a bit more suspenseful killer confrontation or romance to get the blood pumping and invest me in the story, but others may like the even emotions of the story. I really enjoyed the wine references and notes throughout and the setting.

Good - A fun read with good qualities for those who enjoy a tamer mystery.

How many lovers of mysteries are also wine lovers? While there may be many, before this book was written, I enjoyed those passions separately. “Pairing a Deception” brings them together in a wine and food festival setting.

The hero of Nadine Nettman’s book is a female sommelier named Katie Stillwell. She is studying for her advance sommelier test while attending a wine and food festival with her boyfriend, a San Francisco detective. Unfortunately, her boyfriend’s crime-solving skills in this book pale in relation to Stillwell’s. This would be unlikely in real life, but the book is about a female crime-fighting sommelier so the story must focus on her to be interesting.

We learn in the book that Katie Stillwell’s estranged father is a detective in LA. While Stillwell once attended the police academy, she ultimately dropped out to her father’s disappointment. It is her insatiable curiosity, however, that compels her to get involved in criminal investigations and results in her risking her life whenever a crime is committed near her. Despite that drive, she still much prefers her sommelier duties at a San Francisco restaurant.

Included in this book is wine and food pairing advice as well as tasting notes for Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, and a few other varietals. This information was woven within the who-dun-it plot that kept me reading. The plot involves a number of innocent-seeming characters, none of whose characteristics make them a suspect. It’s not until the last few chapters that you begin to suspect who the killer may be.

I liked this book due to its action taking place in a setting familiar to me and due to the non-traditional hero it portrays. There is a second Sommelier Crime Mystery by Nettman currently on sale at Amazon. I plan on procuring that second episode in Stillwell’s sommelier’s crime-fighting life soon.

I enjoyed the wine aspect of this novel. However, I felt that this was the weakest in the series and was disappointed in the outcome. The characters appeared to be weak and not believable in their relationship. All in all, a nice cozy read. I will continue with the series and see how the characters develop.

What bad could ever happen at a wine festival?

When a female festival attendee is found dead in front of a hotel room of a famous sommelier with a bottle of wine, it certainly puts some suspicions on a said sommelier. But he is obviously uncomfortable, not giving off the guilty vibes. Besides, Katie Stillwell has her gut, which is telling her that there might be some deception going on.

Unfortunately, this is the weakest in the series - this might be because I feel that Dean, Katie’s boyfriend, is definitely playing the second fiddle, and I like the guy too much to want him to be just an overprotective figure without any life of his own. The plot has been stretching my patience a bit, too, as it is a bit unbelievable and a bit prolonged, too.
But having said all that, the charm of wine is still here. Being a wine lover, I have gathered a lot of new information. So - cheers!

I loved how much I learned about wine with this novel! As a big wine drinker, I thought I would be going into this prepared with the knowledge that I had, but, I learned more things about scents and tastes in certain varietals in California which was nice.
The characters were likeable and realistic. I enjoyed that Katie was still a little unsure in her extensive knowledge, she was very humble and always willing to learn more, which was a breathe of fresh air from a lot of whiny, know it all female MCs that have been in books lately.
All in all, a great cozy mystery and a great learning experience!

What could be more relaxing than a weekend wine retreat right before the big Advanced Sommelier test? At least that is what Katie Stillwell and her boyfriend Detective John Dean thought when they went away for the weekend.

What a great way to get a peek into what a wine tasting and educational weekend could look like with a little extra excitement. Truly educational and informative while being equally entertaining. I learned a lot including the proper pronunciation for sommelier (some-all-yay) after all don't we all say YAY when it comes to some good cozy ready and some good tasting wine. The story was a page turner that had me second guessing "who done it" and why. Looking forward to the next installment to enjoy with a nice bottle of red.

Katie and Detective Dean are attending a wine & food festival in Santa Barbara. They're both looking forward to this weekend away to get to know each other a little better. What they didn't expect was to find the dead body of an attendee. Detective Dean reports their find to the local police but can't help being involved when Katie is in danger.

This is the third in the series, but my first to read. Not a problem as a stand alone book. Each chapter starts with a sentence or two about a wine (that you can pair with the chapter?) I know very little about wine and found it interesting.

I had borrowed both of the first two books of this series from my library and enjoyed them so much, I was thrilled when this one was available for request on NetGalley before its recent release. I am voluntarily reviewing the book after reading it.

It was such a fun theme, a Wine and Food Festival and I love how Katie and Dean's relationship had developed in the six months that passed from the last book, obviously in a good direction since he was with her for the weekend. I was really fooled by who the killer was, had no idea until the clues started pointing that way. Even then I wasn't really sure since the author did such a good of having several other likely suspects or maybe unlikely ;)

Katie Stillwell and her boyfriend Dean were attending a Wine and Food Festival as a relaxing getaway, or about as relaxing as it can get when one of the festival guests ends up murdered outside of the festival emcee's hotel room. Katie and Dean were on the case and by the last day they had it wrapped up, maybe not as neatly as they'd hoped since she managed to get hurt in the take down. But she was ready as ever to take her Advanced Sommelier exam since the festival had given her some practice especially with blind testing.

Katie and Dean were the only regulars in this installment since they were actually on a little getaway for the weekend. Darius from the restaurant showed up towards the end. The festival characters of Walt and Ben were absolutely hilarious at times. I can just see these two old married guys ditching their wives for a weekend of drinking as many different kinds of wines as they could. Hudson, the festival emcee who was a Master Sommelier and would proctor the Advanced exam, seemed like a likable enough guy. He was definitely not stuffy and had a good personality for running a big festival. I liked how he was willing to hang out with festival members.
I would love to see Katie continue with her police training from earlier years since she and Dean make a really good team solving these mysteries. But I can tell her heart is really into her sommelier job. I can't wait to find out if she passed her Advanced Sommelier exam in the next book--at least I'm hoping for more books in the series.

One of my roommates is a sommelier, so I'm familiar with a (very) little bit of what's involved in her job and the prestige of the Court of Sommelier. She's currently working towards her Certificate and has piles of wine encyclopedias and books everywhere. I don't like wine but I do find the whole tasting process quite fascinating - refining your senses to discern the different flavours, nuances and grapes - down the very vineyard they grew! - is quite an achievement. Despite my current dislike of wine, I'd like to do tastings to try it out and develop an appreciation for it. There's so much more to it than there first appears!

When I mentioned this series to her, she was excited and wants to read it. I think her appreciation of it will be more genuine.

I struggled a bit with the book because I haven't read the first two in the series, and jumping into the already developed characters and relationships was slightly awkward but I managed to get a decent feel for them all relatively quickly despite that. The mystery was good although I did figure out the murderer just before Katie did (not necessarily a bad thing!). I was unaware that Katie had a background in karate, however, so when she got the murderer onto the ground in some kind of hold, it felt quite unbelievable!

Overall, though, I read it quickly and enjoyed it enough that I'd like to go back to the beginning of the series. The sommelier theme is unique and interesting, and there are lots of opportunities during festivals, exams, visits to vineyards and wineries, etc. for dead bodies to appear! I'll definitely be adding the series to my TBR pile.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to review it. All opinions are my own.

Katie Stillwell and her boyfriend, Dean, are out of town for the weekend, spending it at a food and wine festival outside of Santa Barbara. Several times on opening night, they witness a woman who seems to be stalking festival emcee, Hudson Wiley. When a dead body turns up, they begin to wonder what is going on.

With Katie and Dean out of town, they are the only two real returning characters in the series, but I loved getting to spend more time with them. The new characters are good. The mystery is a little light, but once we get past some set up, Katie uncovers some surprises before we reach the logical and suspenseful conclusion. I’m not a wine lover, but the facts about wine certainly make me want to taste some and see if I can tell the differences that Katie talks about, and those who do love wine will enjoy the pairing suggestions at the beginning of each chapter.

Pairing a Deception

by Nadine Nettmann

Have you ever met a wine snob? You know, the person who likes to show off their knowledge of wines? Well, I am the exact opposite. If you ask me what my favorite wine is, I would be likely to reply with (cringe)…a color choice or a description of a cute label. Not bad considering I came to the game rather late in life.

Enter Nadine Nettman with her latest cozy mystery Pairing a Deception. Nettmann, a Certified Sommelier from California has all the knowledge needed to create an interesting mystery based on the amazing varieties of wines available at a food and wine festival.

The main character, Katie, is studying for her three day Advanced Sommelier exam, but decides to squeeze in a festival in Santa Barbara with her selfless boyfriend, Detective Dean. While there, Katie gets to practice blind wine tasting skills, share her enthusiasm for wines as an emergency substitute speaker, and investigate a murder. Katie has a background of karate as a child and attended the Police Academy. Skills learned in both venues come in handy when she discovers the murderer.

I thought I might be overwhelmed or bored with all the wine talk, but it seemed natural considering the setting. I learned a lot about wine, especially wine tastings, liked the main characters, and found the plot interesting. The ending was a surprise, but believable.

I would like to extend my thanks to netgalley.com and to Midnight Ink for giving me the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 5/5

Category: General Fiction (Adult), Mystery

Notes: #3 in the Sommelier Mystery Series, but worked well for me as a standalone

Publication: May 8, 2018—Midnight Ink

Memorable Lines:

The opportunity to taste the exact same grape grown in different areas, therefore each creating a unique wine, was one of the key elements I loved about wine and food festivals.

“We’d like to order wine. Which ones do you have?” “Oh, we have all the colors,” the waiter remarked. I paused, not sure how to respond.

I like helping people learn about wine and choosing the right one for their meal as I share the story of each bottle.

Sommelier Katie Stillwell and Detective John Dean are planning to enjoy a weekend together at the Harvest Days Wine and Food Festival in Santa Barbara. But the fun turns deadly when they find the dead body of a woman lying against the door of Master Sommelier Hudson Wiley. The victim had been anxious to meet Hudson but why? Katie cannot resist using her investigative skills to find the truth. Meanwhile, her romantic relationship with Dean is developing nicely in this book.

I received an eARC via Netgalley and Midnight Ink with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book and provided this review.

Katie Stillwell is back in the third volume of the Sommelier Mysteries. In this volume Katie and Dean finally have a whole weekend to spend together at a Food and Wine Festival - what could possibly go wrong? Katie is thrust into solving the murder of a young woman, whose body was discovered slumped against the hotel room door of the festival's master of ceremonies. Katie and Dean work together to sniff out the killer.
Nadine Nettman has written a satisfying cozy mystery. I enjoyed the deepening of Katie and Dean's relationship and how well they work together. The setting was really fun - it definitely inspired me to go to a wine festival. The mystery was exciting and fast-paced. I am excited for the fourth book. The Sommelier Mystery series is on my must read list.

PAIRING A DECEPTION by Nadine Nettmann
The Third Sommelier Mystery

Katie Stillwell and Detective Dean have finally coordinated their schedules and plan to enjoy their first weekend away as a couple at the Harvest Days Wine and Food Festival in Santa Barbara. A romantic wine filled getaway turns murderous when the pair discover the dead body of a woman lying against the door of Master Sommelier Hudson Wiley; the same woman who was desperate to talk with him. Could he have killed her? Although it's not Dean's jurisdiction he's certain to have an opinion, and Katie is sure to ask some questions. Who killed Jocelyn Rivers? And if the Master Sommelier is guilty, who will proctor Katie's Exam?

I find that I like the characters in the Sommelier Mysteries more and more as the series progresses. Although filled with self doubt, Katie Stillwell is nonetheless a strong woman. Determined to do what she does best, Katie sticks to her guns and doesn't let anybody stop her! Detective Dean is an amazing romantic counterpart. Dean is supportive, encouraging, and thoughtful. He listens and remembers the little things.

One of my favorite bits of the series is the wine pairing given at the start of each chapter. I love and appreciate the wine knowledge shared. The love of wine is not only evident in Katie Stillwell, but it flows from the author, Nadine Nettmann, herself. Her joy and enthusiasm for the fruit of the vine is evident in every page, and it doesn't detract from the mystery, but rather enriches it.

PAIRING A DECEPTION is another gold medal winner from Nadine Nettmann. Great characters in a wonderful setting bring an intriguing and enjoyable mystery to life.

PAIRING A DECEPTION, the third book in Nadine Nettmann’s Sommelier Mystery series, will make you want to open a nice bottle of wine to enjoy while you savor each word written until the last page is turned. I love how each chapter begins with a wine pairing (so many wines introduced by Ms. Nettmann, who is a certified sommelier) and weaves in wine information throughout this fast-paced mystery. The protagonist, Katie Stillwell, is an admirable character. She is intelligent and driven to pass her advanced sommelier exam in her quest to become a Master Sommelier. She uses her wine analytical skills to help solve the murder of a young woman she befriends while at a wine and food festival in Santa Barbara, which provides an appealing setting. Joining her is her fairly new boyfriend, Detective Dean. They work well together and it’s obvious that Detective Dean not only cares for Katie, he highly respects her opinions and insight into the brutal crime. With plenty of twists and turns to keep the reader guessing, the exciting conclusion will have the reader turning pages faster and faster!

An engaging cozy mystery. Especially enjoyable for wine lovers. Lots of wine and spirits are consumed during the event. Clever mystery. Some surprises.

This is a engaging fun cozy mystery series. This next in A Sommelier Mystery is book three in the series. I have enjoyed the first in series and highly recommend the series.
In this next addition Katie is preparing for her advanced Sommelier exam . Katie and her boyfriend go to Santa Barbara for a special weekend for a wine event. She plans on studying and perhaps learning at the wine event. The beautiful setting of Santa Barbara sets the stage for a perfect location for this story.
At the event a murder of someone attending occurs and Katie becomes involved in investigating against the wishes of her boyfriend . She soon finds deceit exist among the head sommelier and others involved in the murder. As she digs deeper into the murder she soon places herself in danger.
I enjoyed this next in series. The location is elegant and the wine information is fascinating. Katie is a very likable and smart protagonist who happens to be skilled at solving crimes as well as being a wine expert. I liked the mystery and the twist and turns to the conclusion. I look forward to the next in series. I highly recommend this series.
Thank you for the ARC which does not influence my review.