Bar Harbor reporters Hayley and Bruce are newlywed and preparing to ditch town for a honeymoon cruise when Hayley's mom, Sheila, arrives for an impromptu visit, prompting an informal class reunion. When Sheila gets together with her bffs Jane and Celeste, quite coincidentally the moms of Hayley's bffs Mona and Liddy, it doesn't take long for them to be embroiled in a mystery when their high school rival, Cassie, is found brutally murdered! An absolute hoot of a mystery, Lee Hollis' Death of a Blueberry Tart, the 12th Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery, kept me on my toes following the antics of both sets of besties, each one trying to beat the other to solve the crime! 5 stars!!!

This is the 12th installment in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktail Series. Before Hayley and husband Ben can hit their honeymoon she must save her Mom from being framed for a murder. This book starts right where the last book left off. I read this series on and off and have not read all in the series, however, you can definitely read this one without having read all in the series. Hayley’s Mother Shelia shows up and high school nemesis (seems silly that issues from high school still carries thru to middle age but it does or at least some people think so) is dead and Hayley’s Mom is the prime suspect. Hayley works with her friends Mona and Liddy and Shelia reconnects with Celeste (Liddy’s Mom) and Jane (Mona’s Mom) and there are 2 sets of sleuthers trying to find out the real murderer. Two generations of ladies going after the culprit no way was he or she going to get away with it. This story made me laugh and definitely entertained me. This series is still solid and has only gotten better. Look forward to the next installment. Love the recipes as well and will need to try some. Love blueberries.

Another great installment in the series. We get to meet Haley's mom who drops in on her newlywed daughter and husband Bruce. Stressful but Haley can handle it. Bruce however, is not handling Blueberry the cat, and gives his wife an ultimatum. I loved going along for the ride with the whole gang.

Death of a Blueberry Tart by Lee Hollis is the twelfth installment in the Hayley Powell Food and Cocktails Mystery series.

This starts off immediately after its predecessor Death of a Wedding Cake Baker. Finally Hayley and Bruce are married and of course in only Hayley style, they can’t even get in their honeymoon as Hayley’s mom, Sheila, shows up unannounced to visit and unfortunately gets tangled into a double murder. Hijinks ensue and we get to follow along to find the culprit.


I have always loved this series and I think Hayley is hilarious. She is down to earth, realistic, like able, smart, and has such witty comments. I have also always enjoyed the banter and one-liners that these authors create with every book. It is fresh, easily-flowing, entertaining, and caused several laugh out loud moments for me. I also enjoyed the mystery plot as well.

I have read all 12 of these books, as well as the 3 novellas. I love the themes, the recipes, and the characters. I cannot wait until the next book comes out! Also, I am totally going to try to make the Blueberry Snack cake recipe with the blueberries I have washed and ready in the fridge tomorrow. It sounds so tasty (and the best part....easy).

5/5 stars

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington for this ARC and in return I am submitting my unbiased and voluntary review and opinion.

I am posting this review to my GR and Bookbub accounts immediately and will post it to my Amazon and B&N accounts upon publication.

Description
It may not be front page news, but Island Times food and cocktails columnist Hayley Powell is now happily married. Before she can set sail on her honeymoon cruise, however, Hayley's mom, Sheila, pays an impromptu visit—and promptly becomes the prime suspect in a murder.

The victim is Sheila's old high school rival, Caskie Lemon-Hogg, known for her homemade blueberry pies and her home-wrecking flirtations. As Hayley teams up with her BFFs Liddy and Mona to clear her mother's name, Sheila reunites with Liddy's mom Celeste and Mona's mom Jane for their own amateur sleuthing. The race is on between the moms and the daughters to find out who served this blueberry tart her just desserts . . .

My Review
Death of a Blueberry Tart is book 12 of the Hayley Powerll Mystery Series.

This is the kind of cozy mystery that makes you laugh and those are books i thoroughly enjoy reading. The characters are well-defined and lovable.

The novel starts off with Reverend Staples asking that dreaded question..."If anyone here has just cause..." As you can imagine things are not all coming up roses for Haley who is about to tie the knot. Haley does get married though, but before she can embark on her honeymoon she has to solve a murder. Things only get more interesting after the wedding day.... no spoilers but you need to buy this book you will not regret it. Loved it!

This ARC was provided in exchange for my honest opinion, thank you! I give this a definite 5 Star.

Love this series. Hayley's mom comes for a visit when someone's is killed and her mom and friends become suspects. Hayley and friends sent out to find the killer.. There were parts in this book that made me laugh so hard

I don't feel like this book is as good as previous books in the series. I feel that this book is a little chaotic, with Hadley's mother and friends investigating at the same time as she is. There is a feeling of everyone bumping into everyone else. I enjoyed the book. especially the look backs at high school and the teen antics that the women had gotten up to., although blueberries are mentioned many times. I liked the scene where the killer is disclothed, it is interesting who it turned out to be. I wasn't expecting it, although I'm not sure how Hadley figured it out. #DeathofaBlueberryTart #NetGalley

Hayley Powell is laugh out loud funny. And this book, with its loving family, good friends, beautiful Maine island setting and delicious blueberry recipes is a joy to read. Hayley and her new husband Bruce are about to set out on a honeymoon cruise when Hayley's mother Sheila calls to tell her that she is on her way for a long visit after breaking up with her boyfriend. Sheila volunteers to house sit while Bruce and Hayley are on their cruise, but when one of Sheila's high school enemies is murdered and Sheila becomes a suspect, the cruise is off while Hayley and her BFF's Mona and Liddy investigate. At the same time Sheila and her two childhood BFF's , Liddy and Mona's mothers,launch their own investigation and it is a race between the mothers and their daughters to see who solves the crime first. I loved this book and can't wait to try many of Hayley's blueberry recipes.